151
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Targeting of Deregulated Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling by PRI-724 and LGK974 Inhibitors in Germ Cell Tumor Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084263. [PMID: 33923996 PMCID: PMC8073733 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients with testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) can be cured with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. However, for a subset of patients present with cisplatin-refractory disease, which confers a poor prognosis, the treatment options are limited. Novel therapies are therefore urgently needed to improve outcomes in this challenging patient population. It has previously been shown that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is active in GCTs suggesting that its inhibitors LGK974 and PRI-724 may show promise in the management of cisplatin-refractory GCTs. We herein investigated whether LGK-974 and PRI-724 provide a treatment effect in cisplatin-resistant GCT cell lines. Taking a genoproteomic approach and utilizing xenograft models we found the increased level of β-catenin in 2 of 4 cisplatin-resistant (CisR) cell lines (TCam-2 CisR and NCCIT CisR) and the decreased level of β-catenin and cyclin D1 in cisplatin-resistant NTERA-2 CisR cell line. While the effect of treatment with LGK974 was limited or none, the NTERA-2 CisR exhibited the increased sensitivity to PRI-724 in comparison with parental cell line. Furthermore, the pro-apoptotic effect of PRI-724 was documented in all cell lines. Our data strongly suggests that a Wnt/β-catenin signaling is altered in cisplatin-resistant GCT cell lines and the inhibition with PRI-724 is effective in NTERA-2 CisR cells. Further evaluation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibition in GCTs is therefore warranted.
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152
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Nicholls PK, Page DC. Germ cell determination and the developmental origin of germ cell tumors. Development 2021; 148:239824. [PMID: 33913479 DOI: 10.1242/dev.198150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In each generation, the germline is tasked with producing somatic lineages that form the body, and segregating a population of cells for gametogenesis. During animal development, when do cells of the germline irreversibly commit to producing gametes? Integrating findings from diverse species, we conclude that the final commitment of the germline to gametogenesis - the process of germ cell determination - occurs after primordial germ cells (PGCs) colonize the gonads. Combining this understanding with medical findings, we present a model whereby germ cell tumors arise from cells that failed to undertake germ cell determination, regardless of their having colonized the gonads. We propose that the diversity of cell types present in these tumors reflects the broad developmental potential of migratory PGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K Nicholls
- Whitehead Institute, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
| | - David C Page
- Whitehead Institute, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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153
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Subasri M, Shooshtari P, Watson AJ, Betts DH. Analysis of TERT Isoforms across TCGA, GTEx and CCLE Datasets. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081853. [PMID: 33924498 PMCID: PMC8070023 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactivation of the multi-subunit ribonucleoprotein telomerase is the primary telomere maintenance mechanism in cancer, but it is rate-limited by the enzymatic component, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). While regulatory in nature, TERT alternative splice variant/isoform regulation and functions are not fully elucidated and are further complicated by their highly diverse expression and nature. Our primary objective was to characterize TERT isoform expression across 7887 neoplastic and 2099 normal tissue samples using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx), respectively. We confirmed the global overexpression and splicing shift towards full-length TERT in neoplastic tissue. Stratifying by tissue type we found uncharacteristic TERT expression in normal brain tissue subtypes. Stratifying by tumor-specific subtypes, we detailed TERT expression differences potentially regulated by subtype-specific molecular characteristics. Focusing on β-deletion splicing regulation, we found the NOVA1 trans-acting factor to mediate alternative splicing in a cancer-dependent manner. Of relevance to future tissue-specific studies, we clustered cancer cell lines with tumors from related origin based on TERT isoform expression patterns. Taken together, our work has reinforced the need for tissue and tumour-specific TERT investigations, provided avenues to do so, and brought to light the current technical limitations of bioinformatic analyses of TERT isoform expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathushan Subasri
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (M.S.); (A.J.W.)
| | - Parisa Shooshtari
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada;
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- The Children’s Health Research Institute—Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
| | - Andrew J. Watson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (M.S.); (A.J.W.)
- The Children’s Health Research Institute—Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Dean H. Betts
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (M.S.); (A.J.W.)
- The Children’s Health Research Institute—Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-519-661-2111 (ext. 83786)
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154
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Iida N, Takemura K, Ito M, Funata N, Yonese I, Suzuki H, Tsuzuki T, Koga F. Primary Testicular Neuroendocrine Tumor Coexisting With Seminoma Sharing Germ Cell Origin. Int J Surg Pathol 2021; 29:887-891. [PMID: 33847540 DOI: 10.1177/10668969211008980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
A 40-year-old, male, Japanese patient presented with the complaint of painless, right testicular swelling. Tumor markers for testicular cancer were normal. He underwent radical orchiectomy with the clinical diagnosis of stage I seminoma. Pathological examination revealed seminoma and coexisting neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) was present in the vicinity of seminoma, but there was no continuity between NET and seminoma. Tumor cells of both lesions displayed amplification of 12p and isochromosome 12p on fluorescence in situ hybridization, suggesting that both tumors originated from GCNIS. The present report is the first to describe a case of primary testicular NET coexisting with seminoma in an ipsilateral testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriyuki Iida
- 118084Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kosuke Takemura
- 118084Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaya Ito
- 118084Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Funata
- 118084Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ichiro Yonese
- 118084Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Suzuki
- 118084Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Fumitaka Koga
- 118084Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
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155
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Masterson TA, Tagawa ST. A 25-year review of advances in testicular cancer: Perspectives on evaluation, treatment, and future directions/challenges. Urol Oncol 2021; 39:561-568. [PMID: 33853746 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2021.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The year 2020 will be remembered for a number of different events, both good and bad. For the journal Urologic Oncology, Seminars and Original Investigations, this year represents the 25th anniversary of its inception and 1st publication. Under the encouragement of Editor-in-Chief Dr. Michael Droller, the collective editorial board has put together a reflection of the progresses made among the spectrum of genitourinary cancers across the entirety of therapeutic disciplines. In this review, we discuss the advances achieved in our knowledge and understanding of testicular germ cell tumors since 1995, and the challenges that lie ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Masterson
- Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.
| | - Scott T Tagawa
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Urology, Weill Cornell University Medicine, New York, NY
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156
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Lobo J, Constâncio V, Leite-Silva P, Guimarães R, Cantante M, Braga I, Maurício J, Looijenga LHJ, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Differential methylation EPIC analysis discloses cisplatin-resistance related hypermethylation and tumor-specific heterogeneity within matched primary and metastatic testicular germ cell tumor patient tissue samples. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:70. [PMID: 33823933 PMCID: PMC8025580 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01048-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are among the most common solid malignancies in young-adult men, and currently most mortality is due to metastatic disease and emergence of resistance to cisplatin. There is some evidence that increased methylation is one mechanism behind this resistance, stemming from individual studies, but approaches based on matched primary and metastatic patient samples are lacking. Herein, we provide an EPIC array-based study of matched primary and metastatic TGCT samples. Histology was the major determinant of overall methylation pattern, but some clustering of samples related to response to cisplatin was observed. Further differential analysis of patients with the same histological subtype (embryonal carcinoma) disclosed a remarkable increase in net methylation levels (at both promoter and CpG site level) in the patient with cisplatin-resistant disease and poor outcome compared to the patient with complete response to chemotherapy. This further confirms the recent results of another study performed on isogenic clones of sensitive and resistant TGCT cell lines. Differentially methylated promoters among groups of samples were mostly not shared, disclosing heterogeneity in patient tissue samples. Finally, gene ontology analysis of cisplatin-resistant samples indicated enrichment of differentially hypermethylated promoters on pathways related to regulation of immune microenvironment, and enrichment of differentially hypomethylated promoters on pathways related to DNA/chromatin binding and regulation. This data supports not only the use of hypomethylating agents for targeting cisplatin-resistant disease, but also their use in combination with immunotherapies and chromatin remodelers.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Lobo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Vera Constâncio
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Leite-Silva
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Guimarães
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Cantante
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isaac Braga
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joaquina Maurício
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Leendert H J Looijenga
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal.
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157
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Tateo V, Manuzzi L, Parisi C, De Giglio A, Campana D, Pantaleo MA, Lamberti G. An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical Advances. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:316. [PMID: 33915954 PMCID: PMC8066729 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic tumors are a group of rare mediastinal malignancies that include three different histological subtypes with completely different clinical behavior: the thymic carcinomas, the thymomas, and the rarest thymic neuroendocrine tumors. Nowadays, few therapeutic options are available for relapsed and refractory thymic tumors after a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. In the last years, the deepening of knowledge on thymus' biological characterization has opened possibilities for new treatment options. Several clinical trials have been conducted, the majority with disappointing results mainly due to inaccurate patient selection, but recently some encouraging results have been presented. In this review, we summarize the molecular alterations observed in thymic tumors, underlying the great biological differences among the different histology, and the promising targeted therapies for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Tateo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Lisa Manuzzi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Claudia Parisi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Andrea De Giglio
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Campana
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Abbondanza Pantaleo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lamberti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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158
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Kremer L, von Brandenstein M, Wittersheim M, Koeditz B, Paffenholz P, Hellmich M, Pfister D, Heidenreich A, Nestler T. The combination of microRNA-371a-3p and 375-5p can distinguish viable germ cell tumor and teratoma from necrosis in postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection specimens. Transl Androl Urol 2021; 10:1647-1655. [PMID: 33968653 PMCID: PMC8100847 DOI: 10.21037/tau-20-1349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To identify a combination of microRNAs (miRNA) to differentiate between viable tumor (V) or teratoma (T) and necrosis/fibrosis (N) in pcRPLND specimens of metastatic germ cell tumor (GCT) patients with residual masses ≥1 cm after chemotherapy. Biomarker guided therapy could reduce overtreatment with pcRPLND in patients with only N. Methods We selected 48 metastatic GCT patients who had undergone pcRPLND. V, pure T and N was shown in the resected tissue of 16 patients, respectively. Of these areas total RNA was isolated and miRNA expression was analyzed for miR-371a-3p, 375-3p, and 375-5p using qPCR. ROC analysis was performed for each miRNA and for all combinations in order to determine the discriminatory capacity of V and T vs. N. Results On comparing V vs. N miR-371a-3p achieved the highest fold change (FC) of 31.1 (P=0.023) while for T vs. N miR-375-5p performed best (FC 64.2; P<0.001). Likewise, the most accurate AUC for V was 0.75 using miR-371a-3p, for T 0.80 using miR-375-5p. Combining the best performing miRNAs for V and T resulted in an AUC of 0.94 with a sensitivity of 93.75, specificity of 93.75, PPV of 96.8 and NPV of 83.3. Conclusions By combining miR-371a-3p and miR-375-5p in pcRPLND tissue samples V and T could be distinguished from necrosis/fibrosis with great accuracy. This combination of miRNAs might serve as new biomarker in the future, in order to spare miRNA-negative patients from pcRPLND. However, further studies analyzing patient’s serum are needed to confirm the clinical impact of these biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Kremer
- Department of Urology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Melanie von Brandenstein
- Department of Urology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Maike Wittersheim
- Institute of Pathology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Barbara Koeditz
- Department of Urology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Pia Paffenholz
- Department of Urology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Martin Hellmich
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - David Pfister
- Department of Urology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Axel Heidenreich
- Department of Urology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tim Nestler
- Department of Urology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Department of Urology, Federal Armed Services Hospital Koblenz, Koblenz, Germany
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159
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Freitag CE, Sukov WR, Bryce AH, Berg JV, Vanderbilt CM, Shen W, Smadbeck JB, Greipp PT, Ketterling RP, Jenkins RB, Herrera-Hernandez L, Costello BA, Thompson RH, Boorjian SA, Leibovich BC, Jimenez RE, Murphy SJ, Vasmatzis G, Cheville JC, Gupta S. Assessment of isochromosome 12p and 12p abnormalities in germ cell tumors using fluorescence in situ hybridization, single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays, and next-generation sequencing/mate-pair sequencing. Hum Pathol 2021; 112:20-34. [PMID: 33798590 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The identification of isochromosome 12p [i(12p)] and 12p gains have significant clinical utility in the diagnosis of germ cell tumors (GCTs). We have summarized the results of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays to identify i(12p), performed in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-validated setting for 536 specimens. In addition, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Project GENIE registry and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data sets were evaluated for chromosome 12p gains, and a limited number of cases were concurrently evaluated using FISH, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and next-generation sequencing (NGS; including mate-pair sequencing). Specimens submitted for FISH testing were frequently from potential sites of metastases (male: 70.9% and female: 69.3%), and polysomy of chromosome 12 with or without concurrent i(12p) was a frequent finding, seen in 3% (16/536) and 35% (186/536) of cases, respectively. Our analysis suggests that 12p gains are likely to be present in approximately 73% of male GCT and in 32% of female GCT (AACR GENIE, n = 555). When comparing TCGA cases of testicular GCT (n = 149) to combined cases of sarcoma, colorectal, prostate, and urothelial carcinoma (n = 1754), 12p gains had a sensitivity of 77.2% and specificity of 97.3% for GCT. Some advantages of FISH over SNP arrays/NGS include relatively lower cost, rapid turnaround time, the ability to analyze biopsy material with a limited number of tumor cells (50 cells), and the ability to distinguish i(12p) from polysomy. The ability to spatially restrict the analysis to cells of interest is critical, as specimens submitted for testing often have low tumor purity. Disadvantages include false negative results due to an inability to detect segmental gains due to FISH probe design. With the availability of numerous testing modalities, including FISH, SNP arrays, and NGS-based assays, a nuanced understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each methodology, as has been presented in this study, may inform appropriate testing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Eric Freitag
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - William R Sukov
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - Alan H Bryce
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, 85054 USA
| | - Jamie V Berg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - Chad M Vanderbilt
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Wei Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - James B Smadbeck
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - Patricia T Greipp
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - Rhett P Ketterling
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - Robert B Jenkins
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | | | - Brian A Costello
- Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | | | | | | | - Rafael E Jimenez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - Stephen J Murphy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - George Vasmatzis
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - John C Cheville
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA
| | - Sounak Gupta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905 USA.
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160
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Syndecan-4 as a Pathogenesis Factor and Therapeutic Target in Cancer. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11040503. [PMID: 33810567 PMCID: PMC8065655 DOI: 10.3390/biom11040503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Advances in research on the biology of cancer revealed alterations in several key pathways underlying tumorigenesis and provided molecular targets for developing new and improved existing therapies. Syndecan-4, a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is a central mediator of cell adhesion, migration and proliferation. Although several studies have demonstrated important roles of syndecan-4 in cell behavior and its interactions with growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules and cytoskeletal signaling proteins, less is known about its role and expression in multiple cancer. The data summarized in this review demonstrate that high expression of syndecan-4 is an unfavorable biomarker for estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, glioma, liver cancer, melanoma, osteosarcoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma and testicular, kidney and bladder cancer. In contrast, in neuroblastoma and colorectal cancer, syndecan-4 is downregulated. Interestingly, syndecan-4 expression is modulated by anticancer drugs. It is upregulated upon treatment with zoledronate and this effect reduces invasion of breast cancer cells. In our recent work, we demonstrated that the syndecan-4 level was reduced after trastuzumab treatment. Similarly, syndecan-4 levels are also reduced after panitumumab treatment. Together, the data found suggest that syndecan-4 level is crucial for understanding the changes involving in malignant transformation, and also demonstrate that syndecan-4 emerges as an important target for cancer therapy and diagnosis.
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161
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Between a Rock and a Hard Place: An Epigenetic-Centric View of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071506. [PMID: 33805941 PMCID: PMC8036638 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This minireview focuses on the role of epigenetics in testicular cancer. A working model is developed that postulates that epigenetic features that drive testicular cancer malignancy also enable these tumors to be cured at a high rate with chemotherapy. Chemoresistance may occur by epigenetic uncoupling of malignancy and chemosensitivity, a scenario that may be amenable to epigenetic-based therapies. Abstract Compared to many common solid tumors, the main genetic drivers of most testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are unknown. Decades of focus on genomic alterations in TGCTs including awareness of a near universal increase in copies of chromosome 12p have failed to uncover exceptional driver genes, especially in genes that can be targeted therapeutically. Thus far, TGCT patients have missed out on the benefits of targeted therapies available to treat most other malignancies. In the past decade there has been a greater appreciation that epigenetics may play an especially prominent role in TGCT etiology, progression, and hypersensitivity to conventional chemotherapy. While genetics undoubtedly plays a role in TGCT biology, this mini-review will focus on the epigenetic “states” or features of testicular cancer, with an emphasis on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNAs associated with TGCT susceptibility, initiation, progression, and response to chemotherapy. In addition, we comment on the current status of epigenetic-based therapy and epigenetic biomarker development for TGCTs. Finally, we suggest a unifying “rock and a hard place” or “differentiate or die” model where the tumorigenicity and curability of TGCTs are both dependent on common but still ill-defined epigenetic states.
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162
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Cheng L, Mann SA, Lopez-Beltran A, Chovanec M, Santoni M, Wang M, Albany C, Adra N, Davidson DD, Cimadamore A, Montironi R, Zhang S. Molecular Characterization of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors Using Tissue Microdissection. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2195:31-47. [PMID: 32852755 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0860-9_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors are among the most common malignancies seen in children and young adults. Genomic studies have identified characteristic molecular profiles in testicular cancer, which are associated with histologic subtypes and may predict clinical behavior including treatment responses. Emerging molecular technologies analyzing tumor genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics may now guide precision management of testicular tumors. Laser-assisted microdissection methods such as laser capture microdissection efficiently isolate selected tumor cells from routine pathology specimens, avoiding contamination from nontarget cell populations. Laser capture microdissection in combination with next generation sequencing makes precise high throughput genetic evaluation effective and efficient. The use of laser capture microdissection (LCM) for molecular testing may translate into great benefits for the clinical management of patients with testicular cancers. This review discusses application protocols for laser-assisted microdissection to investigate testicular germ cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Steven A Mann
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Antonio Lopez-Beltran
- Department of Pathology and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.,Pathology Service, Champalimaud Clinical Center, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Michal Chovanec
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Mingsheng Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Costantine Albany
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Nabil Adra
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Darrell D Davidson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Alessia Cimadamore
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Montironi
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy
| | - Shaobo Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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163
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Ghosh A, Sirinukunwattana K, Khalid Alham N, Browning L, Colling R, Protheroe A, Protheroe E, Jones S, Aberdeen A, Rittscher J, Verrill C. The Potential of Artificial Intelligence to Detect Lymphovascular Invasion in Testicular Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061325. [PMID: 33809521 PMCID: PMC7998792 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged from 15 to 34 years. Lymphovascular invasion refers to the presence of tumours within endothelial-lined lymphatic or vascular channels, and has been shown to have prognostic significance in testicular germ cell tumours. In non-seminomatous tumours, lymphovascular invasion is the most powerful prognostic factor for stage 1 disease. For the pathologist, searching multiple slides for lymphovascular invasion can be highly time-consuming. The aim of this retrospective study was to develop and assess an artificial intelligence algorithm that can identify areas suspicious for lymphovascular invasion in histological digital whole slide images. Areas of possible lymphovascular invasion were annotated in a total of 184 whole slide images of haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained tissue from 19 patients with testicular germ cell tumours, including a mixture of seminoma and non-seminomatous cases. Following consensus review by specialist uropathologists, we trained a deep learning classifier for automatic segmentation of areas suspicious for lymphovascular invasion. The classifier identified 34 areas within a validation set of 118 whole slide images from 10 patients, each of which was reviewed by three expert pathologists to form a majority consensus. The precision was 0.68 for areas which were considered to be appropriate to flag, and 0.56 for areas considered to be definite lymphovascular invasion. An artificial intelligence tool which highlights areas of possible lymphovascular invasion to reporting pathologists, who then make a final judgement on its presence or absence, has been demonstrated as feasible in this proof-of-concept study. Further development is required before clinical deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhisek Ghosh
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (L.B.); (R.C.); (C.V.)
- Nuffield Department of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, Oxford University, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Korsuk Sirinukunwattana
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK; (K.S.); (N.K.A.); (J.R.)
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Ground Truth Labs, Oxford OX4 2HN, UK;
| | - Nasullah Khalid Alham
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK; (K.S.); (N.K.A.); (J.R.)
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Lisa Browning
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (L.B.); (R.C.); (C.V.)
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Richard Colling
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (L.B.); (R.C.); (C.V.)
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK;
| | - Andrew Protheroe
- Department of Oncology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (A.P.); (E.P.)
| | - Emily Protheroe
- Department of Oncology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (A.P.); (E.P.)
| | - Stephanie Jones
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK;
| | | | - Jens Rittscher
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK; (K.S.); (N.K.A.); (J.R.)
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Clare Verrill
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (L.B.); (R.C.); (C.V.)
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK;
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164
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Lobo J, Leão R, Jerónimo C, Henrique R. Liquid Biopsies in the Clinical Management of Germ Cell Tumor Patients: State-of-the-Art and Future Directions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052654. [PMID: 33800799 PMCID: PMC7961393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid biopsies constitute a minimally invasive means of managing cancer patients, entailing early diagnosis, follow-up and prediction of response to therapy. Their use in the germ cell tumor field is invaluable since diagnostic tissue biopsies (which are invasive) are often not performed, and therefore only a presumptive diagnosis can be made, confirmed upon examination of the surgical specimen. Herein, we provide an overall review of the current liquid biopsy-based biomarkers of this disease, including the classical, routinely used serum tumor markers—the promising microRNAs rapidly approaching the introduction into clinical practice—but also cell-free DNA markers (including DNA methylation) and circulating tumor cells. Finally, and importantly, we also explore novel strategies and challenges for liquid biopsy markers and methodologies, providing a critical view of the future directions for liquid biopsy tests in this field, highlighting gaps and unanswered questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Lobo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Leão
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (C.J.); (R.H.); Tel.: +351-22-225084000 (C.J. & R.H.); Fax: +351-22-5084199 (C.J. & R.H.)
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (C.J.); (R.H.); Tel.: +351-22-225084000 (C.J. & R.H.); Fax: +351-22-5084199 (C.J. & R.H.)
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165
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Lafin JT, Kenigsberg AP, Meng X, Abe D, Savelyeva A, Singla N, Woldu SL, Lotan Y, Mauck RJ, Lewis CM, Margulis V, Wong D, Jia L, Kapur P, Xu L, Speir RW, Chesnut GT, Frazier AL, Strand DW, Coleman N, Murray MJ, Amatruda JF, Bagrodia A. Serum Small RNA Sequencing and miR-375 Assay Do Not Identify the Presence of Pure Teratoma at Postchemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection. EUR UROL SUPPL 2021; 26:83-87. [PMID: 33997822 PMCID: PMC8121258 DOI: 10.1016/j.euros.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Existing tumor markers for testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) cannot detect the presence of pure teratoma. Serum miRNAs have strong performance detecting other subtypes of TGCT. Previous reports suggest high levels of miR-375 expression in teratoma tissue. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of serum miRNA, including miR-375, in detecting the presence of teratoma at postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND). We prospectively collected presurgical serum from 40 TGCT patients undergoing PC-RPLND (21 with teratoma at RPLND and 19 with no evidence of disease). We examined the utility of serum miR-375-3p and miR-375-5p by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and searched for other putative serum miRNAs with small RNA sequencing. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and univariate analyses were utilized to evaluate test characteristics and predictors of teratoma. Both serum miR-375-3p and miR-375-5p exhibited poor performance (miR-375-3p: 86% sensitivity, 32% specificity, AUC: 0.506; miR-375-5p: 55% sensitivity, 67% specificity, AUC: 0.556). Teratoma at orchiectomy was the only predictor of PC-RPLND teratoma. Small RNA sequencing identified three potentially discriminatory miRNAs, but further validation demonstrated no utility. Our results confirm prior reports that serum miR-375 cannot predict teratoma, and suggest that there may not exist a predictive serum miRNA for teratoma. Patient summary We found that serum miR-375 cannot detect the presence of teratoma at postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND). We are also unable to find any other serum miRNAs predictive of pure teratoma at PC-RPLND. Hence, the lack of a reliable circulating marker of teratoma remains a critical clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Lafin
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Xiaosong Meng
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Dreaux Abe
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anna Savelyeva
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nirmish Singla
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Solomon L Woldu
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yair Lotan
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ryan J Mauck
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Cheryl M Lewis
- Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Vitaly Margulis
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Urology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daniel Wong
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Liwei Jia
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Payal Kapur
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lin Xu
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population & Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ryan W Speir
- Department of Urology, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Gregory T Chesnut
- Department of Urology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - A Lindsay Frazier
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas W Strand
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nicholas Coleman
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Histopathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew J Murray
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - James F Amatruda
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aditya Bagrodia
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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166
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Astudillo P. Analysis in silico of the functional interaction between WNT5A and YAP/TEAD signaling in cancer. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10869. [PMID: 33643710 PMCID: PMC7896511 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, most data regarding the crosstalk between the Wnt signaling pathway and the YAP/TAZ transcriptional coactivators focuses on the Wnt/β-catenin branch of the pathway. In contrast, the relationship between the non-canonical Wnt pathway and YAP/TAZ remains significantly less explored. Wnt5a is usually regarded as a prototypical non-canonical Wnt ligand, and its expression has been related to cancer progression. On the other hand, YAP/TAZ transcriptional coactivators act in concert with TEAD transcription factors to control gene expression. Although one article has shown previously that WNT5A is a YAP/TEAD target gene, there is a need for further evidence supporting this regulatory relationship, because a possible YAP/Wnt5a regulatory circuit might have profound implications for cancer biology. This article analyzes publicly available ChIP-Seq, gene expression, and protein expression data to explore this relationship, and shows that WNT5A might be a YAP/TEAD target gene in several contexts. Moreover, Wnt5a and YAP expression are significantly correlated in specific cancer types, suggesting that the crosstalk between YAP/TAZ and the Wnt pathway is more intricate than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Astudillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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167
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Lobo J, Constâncio V, Guimarães-Teixeira C, Leite-Silva P, Miranda-Gonçalves V, Sequeira JP, Pistoni L, Guimarães R, Cantante M, Braga I, Maurício J, Looijenga LHJ, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Promoter methylation of DNA homologous recombination genes is predictive of the responsiveness to PARP inhibitor treatment in testicular germ cell tumors. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:846-865. [PMID: 33513287 PMCID: PMC8024740 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the most common cancers in men aged 15-39 years and are divided into two major groups, seminomas and nonseminomas. Novel treatment options are required for these patients, to limit side effects of chemotherapy. We hypothesized that promoter methylation of relevant homologous recombination (HR) genes might be predictive of response to poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) in TGCTs. We report a study pipeline combining in silico, in vitro, and clinical steps. By using several databases and in silico tools, we identified BRCA1, RAD51C, PALB2, RAD54B, and SYCP3 as the most relevant genes for further investigation and pinpointed specific CpG sites with pronounced negative correlation to gene expression. Nonseminomas displayed significantly higher methylation levels for all target genes, where increased methylation was observed in patients with more differentiated subtypes and higher disease burden. We independently performed second-line targeted validation in tissue series from TGCT patients. A moderate and/or strong anti-correlation between gene expression (assessed by RNA-sequencing) and promoter methylation (assessed by 450k array) was found, for all of the targets. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated the sensitivity of TGCT cell lines to Olaparib, which associated with differential methylation levels of a subset of targets, namely BRCA1 and RAD51C. Our findings support the use of HR genes promoter methylation as a predictor of the therapeutic response to PARPis in patients with TGCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Lobo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Portugal.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Vera Constâncio
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal
| | - Catarina Guimarães-Teixeira
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal
| | - Pedro Leite-Silva
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal
| | - Vera Miranda-Gonçalves
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal
| | - José Pedro Sequeira
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal
| | - Laura Pistoni
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal.,Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Rita Guimarães
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), Portugal
| | - Mariana Cantante
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), Portugal
| | - Isaac Braga
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), Portugal
| | - Joaquina Maurício
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), Portugal
| | | | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P, CCC), Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Portugal
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168
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Dum D, Steurer S, Simon R, Zimmermann PV, Burandt E, Clauditz TS, Fisch M, Rink M, Dahlem R, Höppner W, Zecha H, Doh O, Matthies C, Wilczak W, Sauter G, Fraune C. Mismatch repair deficiency occurs very rarely in seminomas. Transl Androl Urol 2021; 10:1048-1055. [PMID: 33850739 PMCID: PMC8039613 DOI: 10.21037/tau-20-1355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dense tumor-associated lymphocyte infiltration is linked to mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency in colorectal and endometrial cancer. MMR deficiency is of high clinical importance as MMR deficient cancers tend to react favorably to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Strong lymphocytic infiltration is a morphological hallmark of seminomas. We thus asked whether seminomas may exhibit MMR deficiency at relevant frequency. Methods To screen for tumors with MMR deficiency, protein expression of MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on a tissue microarray (TMA) containing 574 seminomas. Results In total, 536 cases were evaluable resulting in 481 seminomas with unequivocally intact MMR protein expression. In 55 cancers, one or several IHC stains were equivocal and lacked detectable MMR protein in both tumor and stromal cells. Large section IHC analysis of all 55 equivocal cases demonstrated substantial staining issues due to improper fixation in 54 cases and identified one tumor with clear-cut MLH1 and PMS2 protein loss. This seminoma showed homogeneous loss of MLH1 and PMS2 in the entire tumor mass whereas minor adjacent foci of associated germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) were MMR intact. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using the 5 microsatellite loci of the “Bethesda Panel” revealed instability in 1 of 4 interpretable loci (“MSI-low”) and additional instability of the complex tetra-penta repeat locus MYCL1 in this tumor. Conclusions In summary, one single seminoma with MMR deficiency, characterized by protein loss of MLH1 and PMS2, was identified among 536 interpretable seminomas (0.19%). MMR deficiency is not a relevant determinant of lymphocyte influx in seminoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Dum
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Steurer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ronald Simon
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Eike Burandt
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Margit Fisch
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Rink
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Roland Dahlem
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Henrik Zecha
- Department of Urology, Albertinen Clinic, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ousman Doh
- Department of Urology, Regio Medical Center Elmshorn, Elmshorn, Germany
| | - Cord Matthies
- Department of Urology, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Waldemar Wilczak
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Guido Sauter
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Fraune
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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169
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Giunchi F, Franceschini T, Fiorentino M. A narrative review of individualized treatments of genitourinary tumors: is the future brighter with molecular evaluations? Transl Androl Urol 2021; 10:1553-1561. [PMID: 33850789 PMCID: PMC8039592 DOI: 10.21037/tau-20-1185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Few molecular prognostic and predictive biomarkers have been identified so far in genitourinary tumors. We started from a literature search to explore the status of the art of molecular pathology tests as diagnostic, prognostic, predictive biomarkers in genitourinary cancers. Next generation sequencing approaches now provide mind-changing information in the fields of kidney cancer diagnosis, predictive oncology of urothelial cancer, understanding the causes of testicular and penile cancer, and the comprehension of the drivers of prostate cancer progression beyond androgen regulation. The classification of kidney cancer will be based soon on molecular changes. The causes of non-HPV related penile cancer are largely unknown. The emerging high incidence of testicular cancer could be explained only on the basis of molecular changes. The response to novel therapeutic agents in prostatic and urothelial cancer will require thorough molecular tumor characterization. The hereditary risk of patients with early onset prostate cancer and their potential treatment with targeted therapy requires germline and somatic genetic assays. The implementation of effective biomarkers for the response to immune check-point inhibitors in genitourinary cancer is based on the assessment of inflammatory expression profiles and the tumor mutational burden. This review deals with the current tests and provides a tentative foresee of the future molecular biomarkers of genitourinary cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tania Franceschini
- Metropolitan Department of Pathology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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170
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Testicular Germ Cell Tumors Acquire Cisplatin Resistance by Rebalancing the Usage of DNA Repair Pathways. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040787. [PMID: 33668653 PMCID: PMC7917736 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Germ cell tumors are a model of curable solid tumors due to their unique sensitivity to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Patients are typically young adults, and despite high cure rate, about 20% of them do not achieve remission or relapse, and 50% of them succumb to the disease. The mechanisms behind their resistance to therapy are largely unknown. By using Testicular Germ Cell Tumor (TGCT) cell lines as a model, we investigated the mechanism of acquired resistance to cisplatin. We demonstrated that resistance occurred by a fine modulation of the DNA repair pathway choice. Namely, in resistant cells, repair of double-strand breaks by non-homologous end joining was dampened by the reduced expression of TP53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs). However, cisplatin-induced damage was repaired efficiently by homologous recombination. Additionally, we demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) combined with cisplatin had an additive/synergistic effect on cisplatin-resistant cells, which represents the proof of concept for introducing PARP inhibitors in salvage therapy. Abstract Despite germ cell tumors (GCTs) responding to cisplatin-based chemotherapy at a high rate, a subset of patients does not respond to treatment and have significantly worse prognosis. The biological mechanisms underlying the resistance remain unknown. In this study, by using two TGCT cell lines that have acquired cisplatin resistance after chronic exposure to the drug, we identified some key proteins and mechanisms of acquired resistance. We show that cisplatin-resistant cell lines had a non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ)-less phenotype. This correlated with a reduced basal expression of TP53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) proteins and reduced formation of 53BP1 foci after cisplatin treatment. Consistent with these observations, modulation of 53BP1 protein expression altered the cell line’s resistance to cisplatin, and inhibition of DNA-PKcs activity antagonized cisplatin cytotoxicity. Dampening of NHEJ was accompanied by a functional increase in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by the homologous recombination repair pathway. As a result, cisplatin-resistant cells were more resistant to PARP inhibitor (PARPi) monotherapy. Moreover, when PARPi was given in combination with cisplatin, it exerted an additive/synergistic effect, and reduced the cisplatin dose for cytotoxicity. These results suggest that treatment of cisplatin-refractory patients may benefit from low-dose cisplatin therapy combined with PARPi.
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171
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Sarkis J, R Kourie H, Alkassis M, Samaha R, Sarkis P. Novel biomarkers in testicular germ cell tumors: updates of 2020. Biomark Med 2021; 15:83-86. [PMID: 33442992 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2020-0657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Sarkis
- Department of Urology, Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hampig R Kourie
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Hôtel Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Marwan Alkassis
- Department of Urology, Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ramy Samaha
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Hôtel Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Pierre Sarkis
- Department of Urology, Saint Joseph Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
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172
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Takami H, Graffeo CS, Perry A, Giannini C, Daniels DJ. Epidemiology, natural history, and optimal management of neurohypophyseal germ cell tumors. J Neurosurg 2021; 134:437-445. [PMID: 32032947 DOI: 10.3171/2019.10.jns191136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intracranial germ cell tumors (iGCTs) often arise at the neurohypophysis, their second most common origination, following the pineal region. Neurohypophyseal iGCTs present with stereotypical symptoms, including pituitary dysfunction and visual field deficit, due to their suprasellar location. The goal of this study was to present a large, longitudinal single-institution experience with neurohypophyseal iGCTs to better understand their natural history and identify opportunities for further improvement in treatment outcomes. METHODS This is a retrospective, single-institution cohort study of neurohypophyseal iGCTs treated between 1988 and 2017, with a focus on the epidemiology, presentation, natural history, and treatment. RESULTS Thirty-five neurosurgically managed patients met inclusion criteria; the median age was 18 years (3 months to 49 years), and 74% of patients were male (n = 26). Thirty-one tumors were germinomas, and 4 were nongerminomatous iGCTs. Presenting symptoms included pituitary insufficiency in 76% (n = 25), visual deficit in 45% (n = 15), and diabetes insipidus (DI) in 61% (n = 20) of patients. Index symptoms included isolated DI in 10 (36%), isolated hormone deficiency in 14 (50%), and concomitant DI and hormone deficiency symptoms in 4 (14%). Radiographic diagnostic latency was common, occurring at a median of 363 days (range 9-2626 days) after onset of the first symptoms and was significantly associated with both DI and hormone deficiency as the index symptoms (no DI vs DI: 360 vs 1083 days, p = 0.009; no hormone deficiency vs hormone deficiency: 245 vs 953 days, p = 0.004). Biochemical abnormalities were heterogeneous; each pituitary axis was dysfunctional in at least 1 patient, with most patients demonstrating at least 2 abnormalities, and pretreatment dysfunction demonstrating a nonsignificant trend toward association with long-term posttreatment hormone supplementation. Among germinomas, whole-brain or whole-ventricle radiotherapy demonstrated significantly improved progression-free and overall survival compared with local therapy (p = 0.009 and p = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Neurohypophyseal iGCTs are insidious tumors that may pose a diagnostic dilemma, as evidenced by the prolonged latency before radiographic confirmation. Serial imaging and close endocrine follow-up are recommended in patients with a characteristic clinical syndrome and negative imaging, due to the propensity for radiographic latency. Pretreatment biochemical abnormalities may indicate higher risk of posttreatment pituitary insufficiency, and all patients should receive careful endocrine follow-up. Local radiotherapy is prone to treatment failure, while whole-ventricle treatment is associated with improved survival in germinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Caterina Giannini
- 2Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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173
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Tyutyusheva N, Mancini I, Baroncelli GI, D’Elios S, Peroni D, Meriggiola MC, Bertelloni S. Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome: From Bench to Bed. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031264. [PMID: 33514065 PMCID: PMC7865707 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) is due to complete resistance to the action of androgens, determining a female phenotype in persons with a 46,XY karyotype and functioning testes. CAIS is caused by inactivating mutations in the androgen receptor gene (AR). It is organized in eight exons located on the X chromosome. Hundreds of genetic variants in the AR gene have been reported in CAIS. They are distributed throughout the gene with a preponderance located in the ligand-binding domain. CAIS mainly presents as primary amenorrhea in an adolescent female or as a bilateral inguinal/labial hernia containing testes in prepubertal children. Some issues regarding the management of females with CAIS remain poorly standardized (such as the follow-up of intact testes, the timing of gonadal removal and optimal hormone replacement therapy). Basic research will lead to the consideration of new issues to improve long-term well-being (such as bone health, immune and metabolic aspects and cardiovascular risk). An expert multidisciplinary approach is mandatory to increase the long-term quality of life of women with CAIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Tyutyusheva
- Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Division of Paediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (N.T.); (G.I.B.); (S.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Ilaria Mancini
- Gynecology and Human Reproduction Physiopathology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico di Sant’Orsola, DIMEC, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (I.M.); (M.C.M.)
| | - Giampiero Igli Baroncelli
- Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Division of Paediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (N.T.); (G.I.B.); (S.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Sofia D’Elios
- Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Division of Paediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (N.T.); (G.I.B.); (S.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Diego Peroni
- Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Division of Paediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (N.T.); (G.I.B.); (S.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Maria Cristina Meriggiola
- Gynecology and Human Reproduction Physiopathology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico di Sant’Orsola, DIMEC, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (I.M.); (M.C.M.)
| | - Silvano Bertelloni
- Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Division of Paediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (N.T.); (G.I.B.); (S.D.); (D.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050-992743; Fax: +39-050-992641
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174
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Nuclear Localization of PTTG1 Promotes Migration and Invasion of Seminoma Tumor through Activation of MMP-2. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020212. [PMID: 33430117 PMCID: PMC7826632 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Seminoma is the most common subtype of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) and its molecular patterns have not been clarified. The pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) is a securin and its overexpression is reported in many cancers. We previously demonstrated that PTTG1 is mainly localized at the neoplasm periphery and infiltration area of seminoma. Therefore, we aim to investigate in vitro the role of PTTG1 on the invasive properties of seminoma. Our results elucidate the role of nuclear PTTG1 in promoting invasiveness and the metastatic process of these cells through its transcriptional target matrix-metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). Analysis of human testicular tumors from the Atlas database revealed an exclusive PTTG1 nuclear localization and a concomitant increase of MMP-2 levels in seminoma compared to non-seminoma tumors. Our data provide insights into the molecular characterization of seminoma, promoting PTTG1 as a prognostic marker useful in human seminoma clinical management. Abstract (1) Background: PTTG1 sustains the invasiveness of several cancer types. We previously reported that in seminomas, PTTG1 was detected in the peripheral area of the tumor and in the leading infiltrative edge. Here, we investigate the PTTG1 role on the invasive properties of seminoma. (2) Methods: three seminoma cell lines were used as in vitro model. PTTG1 levels and localization were investigated by biochemical and immunofluorescence analyses. Wound-healing, Matrigel invasion assays, and zymography were applied to study migratory and invasive capability of the cell lines. RNA interference and overexpression experiments were performed to address the PTTG1 role in seminoma invasiveness. PTTG1 and its target MMP-2 were analyzed in human testicular tumors using the Atlas database. (3) Results: PTTG1 was highly and differentially expressed in the seminoma cell lines. Nuclear PTTG1 was positively correlated to the aggressive phenotype. Its modulation confirms these results. Atlas database analysis revealed that PTTG1 was localized in the nucleus in seminoma compared with non-seminoma tumors, and that MMP-2 levels were significantly higher in seminomas. (4) Conclusions: nuclear PTTG1 promotes invasiveness of seminoma cell lines. Atlas database supported these results. These data lead to the hypothesis that nuclear PTTG1 is an eligible prognostic factor in seminomas.
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175
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Warren A, Chen Y, Jones A, Shibue T, Hahn WC, Boehm JS, Vazquez F, Tsherniak A, McFarland JM. Global computational alignment of tumor and cell line transcriptional profiles. Nat Commun 2021; 12:22. [PMID: 33397959 PMCID: PMC7782593 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20294-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell lines are key tools for preclinical cancer research, but it remains unclear how well they represent patient tumor samples. Direct comparisons of tumor and cell line transcriptional profiles are complicated by several factors, including the variable presence of normal cells in tumor samples. We thus develop an unsupervised alignment method (Celligner) and apply it to integrate several large-scale cell line and tumor RNA-Seq datasets. Although our method aligns the majority of cell lines with tumor samples of the same cancer type, it also reveals large differences in tumor similarity across cell lines. Using this approach, we identify several hundred cell lines from diverse lineages that present a more mesenchymal and undifferentiated transcriptional state and that exhibit distinct chemical and genetic dependencies. Celligner could be used to guide the selection of cell lines that more closely resemble patient tumors and improve the clinical translation of insights gained from cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yejia Chen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Jones
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - William C Hahn
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesse S Boehm
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
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176
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von Eyben FE, Parraga-Alava J, Tu SM. Testicular germ cell tumors type 2 have high RNA expression of LDHB, the gene for lactate dehydrogenase subunit B. Asian J Androl 2021; 23:357-362. [PMID: 33565425 PMCID: PMC8269830 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_4_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This study analyzed RNA expression of genes for three serum tumor markers, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), in patients with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) type 2. The gene AFP encodes AFP, the gene for chorionic gonadotropin beta polypeptide 5 (CGB5) encodes a major part of the specific beta subunit of hCG, and the genes for LDH subunit A (LDHA), LDH subunit B (LDHB), and LDH subunit C (LDHC) encode three different subunits of LDH. LDHB encodes the LDHB subunit present as a tetramer in LDH isoenzyme 1 (LDH-1). We examined three datasets with 203 samples of normal testis tissue (NT) and TGCT type 2. Yolk sac tumor (YST) expressed RNA of AFP fourteen thousand times higher than seminoma (SE), embryonal carcinoma (EC), and teratoma (TER) combined (P = 0.00015). In the second microarray, choriocarcinoma (CC) expressed RNA of CGB5 ten times higher than other histologic types of TGCT combined. EC expressed RNA of LDHB twice higher than SE, YST and TER combined (P = 0.000041). EC expressed RNA of LDHB higher than that YST expressed RNA of AFP and that CC expressed RNA of CGB5. In conclusion, TGCT type 2 expressed RNA of LDHB markedly higher than the RNA of 23 other candidate genes for TGCT type 2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jorge Parraga-Alava
- Facultad de Ciencias Informáticas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo 130105, Ecuador.,Department of Informatics Engineering, Santiago University, Santiago 917020, Chile
| | - Shi-Ming Tu
- Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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177
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Lyndaker AM, Pierpont TM, Loehr AR, Weiss RS. A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Malignant Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2195:147-165. [PMID: 32852763 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0860-9_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are among the most curable solid cancers and are typically highly responsive to conventional DNA-damaging chemotherapies, even in patients with metastatic disease. It has therefore been of great interest to understand the basis for the unique chemosensitivity of these cancers, which is linked to the DNA damage sensitivity of their cancer stem cells. TGCTs have been difficult to study in the mouse, however, since most of the existing mouse models develop benign teratomas that are unlike the malignant TGCTs that afflict most testicular cancer patients. We describe here methods for generating a TGCT mouse model that closely resembles the malignant, metastatic disease observed in men with testicular cancer, and additionally include methods for analyzing the cancer stems cells and responses to chemotherapeutics in these murine TGCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Lyndaker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Elmira College, Elmira, NY, USA
| | - Timothy M Pierpont
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Amanda R Loehr
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Robert S Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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178
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To acquaint urologists with aristolochic acid nephropathy, an iatrogenic disease that poses a distinct threat to global public health. In China alone, 100 million people may currently be at risk. We illustrate the power of molecular epidemiology in establishing the cause of this disease. RECENT FINDINGS Molecular epidemiologic approaches and novel mechanistic information established a causative linkage between exposure to aristolochic acid and urothelial carcinomas of the bladder and upper urinary tract. Noninvasive tests are available that detect urothelial cancers through the genetic analysis of urinary DNA. Combined with cytology, some of these tests can detect 95% of patients at risk of developing bladder and/or upper urothelial tract cancer. Robust biomarkers, including DNA-adduct and mutational signature analysis, unequivocally identify aristolochic acid-induced tumours. The high mutational load associated with aristolochic acid-induced tumours renders them candidates for immune-checkpoint therapy. SUMMARY Guided by recent developments that facilitate early detection of urothelial cancers, the morbidity and mortality associated with aristolochic acid-induced bladder and upper tract urothelial carcinomas may be substantially reduced. The molecular epidemiology tools that define aristolochic acid-induced tumours may be applicable to other studies assessing potential environmental carcinogens.
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179
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Desimio MG, Cesari E, Sorrenti M, De Felici M, Farini D. Stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (STRA8) interacts with the germ cell specific bHLH factor SOHLH1 and represses c-KIT expression in vitro. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 25:383-396. [PMID: 33236849 PMCID: PMC7810945 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
STRA8 (Stimulated by Retinoic Acid Gene 8) controls the crucial decision of germ cells to engage meiotic division up and down‐regulating genes involved in the meiotic programme. It has been proven as an amplifier of genes involved in cell cycle control and chromosome events, however, how STRA8 functions as negative regulator are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrate that STRA8 can interact with itself and with other basic Helix‐Loop‐Helix (bHLH) transcription factors through its HLH domain and that this domain is important for its ability to negatively interfere with the Ebox‐mediated transcriptional activity of bHLH transcription factors. Significantly, we show that STRA8 interacts with TCF3/E47, a class I bHLH transcription factors, and with SOHLH1, a gonadal‐specific bHLH, in male germ cells obtained from prepuberal mouse testis. We demonstrated that STRA8, indirectly, is able to exert a negative control on the SOHLH1‐dependent stimulation of c‐KIT expression in late differentiating spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes. Although part of this results were obtained only ‘in vitro’, they support the notion that STRA8 interacting with different transcription factors, besides its established role as ‘amplifier’ of meiotic programme, is able to finely modulate the balance between spermatogonia proliferation, differentiation and acquisition of meiotic competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Giovanna Desimio
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Section of Histology and Embryology, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cesari
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Sorrenti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Section of Histology and Embryology, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo De Felici
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Section of Histology and Embryology, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Farini
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Section of Histology and Embryology, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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180
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Fichtner A, Richter A, Filmar S, Gaisa NT, Schweyer S, Reis H, Nettersheim D, Oing C, Gayer FA, Leha A, Küffer S, Ströbel P, Kaulfuß S, Bremmer F. The detection of isochromosome i(12p) in malignant germ cell tumours and tumours with somatic malignant transformation by the use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Histopathology 2020; 78:593-606. [PMID: 32970854 DOI: 10.1111/his.14258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Malignant germ cell tumours (GCTs) of the testis are rare neoplasms, but the most common solid malignancies in young men. World Health Organization guidelines divide GCTs into five types, for which numerous immunohistochemical markers allow exact histological subtyping in the majority of cases. In contrast, a germ cell origin is often hard to prove in metastatic GCTs that have developed so-called somatic malignant transformation. A high percentage, up to 89%, of GCTs are characterised by the appearance of isochromosome 12p [i(12p)]. Fluorescence in-situ hybridisation has been the most common diagnostic method for the detection of i(12p) so far, but has the disadvantages of being time-consuming, demanding, and not being a stand-alone method. The aim of the present study was to establish a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay as an independent method for detecting i(12p) and regional amplifications of the short arm of chromosome 12 by using DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. METHODS AND RESULTS A cut-off value to distinguish between the presence and absence of i(12p) was established in a control set consisting of 36 tumour-free samples. In a training set of 149 GCT samples, i(12p) was detectable in 133 tumours (89%), but not in 16 tumours (11%). In a test set containing 27 primary and metastatic GCTs, all 16 tumours with metastatic spread and/or somatic malignant transformation were successfully identified by the detection of i(12p). CONCLUSION In summary, the qPCR assay presented here can help to identify, further characterise and assign a large proportion of histologically inconclusive malignancies to a GCT origin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annika Richter
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Simon Filmar
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nadine T Gaisa
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Henning Reis
- Institute of Pathology, West German Cancer Centre, University of Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel Nettersheim
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Laboratory, Translational UroOncology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christoph Oing
- Department of Oncology, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Division of Pneumology, Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Centre HaTriCS4, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fabian A Gayer
- Department of Urology, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Leha
- Institute of Medical Statistics, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Küffer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Silke Kaulfuß
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Felix Bremmer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
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181
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Integrated Expression of Circulating miR375 and miR371 to Identify Teratoma and Active Germ Cell Malignancy Components in Malignant Germ Cell Tumors. Eur Urol 2020; 79:16-19. [PMID: 33158661 DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2020.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Active germ cell malignancies express high levels of specific circulating micro-RNAs (miRNAs), including miR-371a-3p (miR371), which is undetectable in teratoma. Teratoma markers are urgently needed for theselection of patients and treatments because of the risk of malignant transformation and growing teratoma syndrome. To assess the accuracy of plasma miR375 alone or in combination with miR371 in detecting teratoma, 100 germ cell tumor patients, divided into two cohorts, were enrolled in a prospective multi-institutional study. In the discovery cohort, patients with pure teratoma and with no/low risk of harboring teratoma were compared; the validation cohort included patients with confirmed teratoma, active germ cell malignancy, or complete response after chemotherapy. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for miR375, miR371, and miR371-miR375 were, respectively, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87-0.99), 0.59 (95% CI: 0.44-0.73), and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.90-0.99) in the discovery cohort and 0.55 (95% CI: 0.36-0.74), 0.74 (95% CI: 0.58-0.91), and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.62-0.93) in the validation cohort. Our study demonstrated that the plasma miR371-miR375 integrated evaluation is highly accurate to detect teratoma. PATIENT SUMMARY: The evaluation of two micro-RNAs (miR375-miR371) in the blood of patients with germ cell tumors is promising to predict teratoma. This test could be particularly relevant to the identification of teratoma in patients with postchemotherapy residual disease.
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182
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de Vries G, Rosas-Plaza X, Meersma GJ, Leeuwenburgh VC, Kok K, Suurmeijer AJH, van Vugt MATM, Gietema JA, de Jong S. Establishment and characterisation of testicular cancer patient-derived xenograft models for preclinical evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18938. [PMID: 33144587 PMCID: PMC7641131 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75518-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular cancer (TC) is the most common solid tumour in young men. While cisplatin-based chemotherapy is highly effective in TC patients, chemoresistance still accounts for 10% of disease-related deaths. Pre-clinical models that faithfully reflect patient tumours are needed to assist in target discovery and drug development. Tumour pieces from eight TC patients were subcutaneously implanted in NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice. Three patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of TC, including one chemoresistant model, were established containing yolk sac tumour and teratoma components. PDX models and corresponding patient tumours were characterised by H&E, Ki-67 and cyclophilin A immunohistochemistry, showing retention of histological subtypes over several passages. Whole-exome sequencing, copy number variation analysis and RNA-sequencing was performed on these TP53 wild type PDX tumours to assess the effects of passaging, showing high concordance of molecular features between passages. Cisplatin sensitivity of PDX models corresponded with patients' response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. MDM2 and mTORC1/2 targeted drugs showed efficacy in the cisplatin sensitive PDX models. In conclusion, we describe three PDX models faithfully reflecting chemosensitivity of TC patients. These models can be used for mechanistic studies and pre-clinical validation of novel therapeutic strategies in testicular cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerda de Vries
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ximena Rosas-Plaza
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Jan Meersma
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent C Leeuwenburgh
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Klaas Kok
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Albert J H Suurmeijer
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel A T M van Vugt
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jourik A Gietema
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Steven de Jong
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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183
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Meintker L, Haller F, Tögel L, Schmidt D, Waibel H, Hartmann A, Mackensen A, Meidenbauer N. Successful Targeting of BRAF V600E Mutation With Vemurafenib in a Treatment-Resistant Extragonadal Nonseminomatous Germ-Cell Tumor. JCO Precis Oncol 2020; 4:233-238. [PMID: 35050734 DOI: 10.1200/po.19.00377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Meintker
- Department of Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Florian Haller
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lars Tögel
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Daniela Schmidt
- Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Heidi Waibel
- Department of Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Mackensen
- Department of Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Norbert Meidenbauer
- Department of Medicine 5 for Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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184
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Albany C, Fazal Z, Singh R, Bikorimana E, Adra N, Hanna NH, Einhorn LH, Perkins SM, Sandusky GE, Christensen BC, Keer H, Fang F, Nephew KP, Spinella MJ. A phase 1 study of combined guadecitabine and cisplatin in platinum refractory germ cell cancer. Cancer Med 2020; 10:156-163. [PMID: 33135391 PMCID: PMC7826483 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are cured with therapy based on cisplatin, although a clinically significant number of patients are refractory and die of progressive disease. Based on preclinical studies indicating that refractory testicular GCTs are hypersensitive to hypomethylating agents (HMAs), we conducted a phase I trial combining the next‐generation HMA guadecitabine (SGI‐110) with cisplatin in recurrent, cisplatin‐resistant GCT patients. Methods Patients with metastatic GCTs were treated for five consecutive days with guadecitabine followed by cisplatin on day 8, for a 28‐day cycle for up to six cycles. The primary endpoint was safety and toxicity including dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Results The number of patients enrolled was 14. The majority of patients were heavily pretreated. MTD was determined to be 30 mg/m2 guadecitabine followed by 100 mg/m2 cisplatin. The major DLTs were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Three patients had partial responses by RECIST criteria, two of these patients, including one with primary mediastinal disease, completed the study and qualified as complete responses by serum tumor marker criteria with sustained remissions of 5 and 13 months and survival of 16 and 26 months, respectively. The overall response rate was 23%. Three patients also had stable disease indicating a clinical benefit rate of 46%. Conclusions The combination of guadecitabine and cisplatin was tolerable and demonstrated activity in patients with platinum refractory germ cell cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costantine Albany
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Zeeshan Fazal
- Department of Comparative Biosciences and the Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ratnakar Singh
- Department of Comparative Biosciences and the Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Emmanuel Bikorimana
- Department of Comparative Biosciences and the Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Nabil Adra
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Nasser H Hanna
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lawrence H Einhorn
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Susan M Perkins
- Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - George E Sandusky
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Brock C Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Harold Keer
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Pleasanton, CA, USA
| | - Fang Fang
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Kenneth P Nephew
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Michael J Spinella
- Department of Comparative Biosciences and the Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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185
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Fazal Z, Singh R, Fang F, Bikorimana E, Baldwin H, Corbet A, Tomlin M, Yerby C, Adra N, Albany C, Lee S, Freemantle SJ, Nephew KP, Christensen BC, Spinella MJ. Hypermethylation and global remodelling of DNA methylation is associated with acquired cisplatin resistance in testicular germ cell tumours. Epigenetics 2020; 16:1071-1084. [PMID: 33126827 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2020.1834926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) respond well to cisplatin-based therapy. However, cisplatin resistance and poor outcomes do occur. It has been suggested that a shift towards DNA hypermethylation mediates cisplatin resistance in TGCT cells, although there is little direct evidence to support this claim. Here we utilized a series of isogenic cisplatin-resistant cell models and observed a strong association between cisplatin resistance in TGCT cells and a net increase in global CpG and non-CpG DNA methylation spanning regulatory, intergenic, genic and repeat elements. Hypermethylated loci were significantly enriched for repressive DNA segments, CTCF and RAD21 sites and lamina associated domains, suggesting that global nuclear reorganization of chromatin structure occurred in resistant cells. Hypomethylated CpG loci were significantly enriched for EZH2 and SUZ12 binding and H3K27me3 sites. Integrative transcriptome and methylome analyses showed a strong negative correlation between gene promoter and CpG island methylation and gene expression in resistant cells and a weaker positive correlation between gene body methylation and gene expression. A bidirectional shift between gene promoter and gene body DNA methylation occurred within multiple genes that was associated with upregulation of polycomb targets and downregulation of tumour suppressor genes. These data support the hypothesis that global remodelling of DNA methylation is a key factor in mediating cisplatin hypersensitivity and chemoresistance of TGCTs and furthers the rationale for hypomethylation therapy for refractory TGCT patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeeshan Fazal
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ratnakar Singh
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Fang Fang
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Emmanuel Bikorimana
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Hannah Baldwin
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Andrea Corbet
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Megan Tomlin
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Cliff Yerby
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Nabil Adra
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Costantine Albany
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sarah Lee
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Sarah J Freemantle
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Kenneth P Nephew
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Brock C Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Michael J Spinella
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.,Carle Illinois College of Medicine and Cancer Center of Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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186
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Burton J, Umu SU, Langseth H, Grotmol T, Grimsrud TK, Haugen TB, Rounge TB. Serum RNA Profiling in the 10-Years Period Prior to Diagnosis of Testicular Germ Cell Tumor. Front Oncol 2020; 10:574977. [PMID: 33251139 PMCID: PMC7673397 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.574977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) overall is highly curable, patients may experience late effects after treatment. An increased understanding of the mechanisms behind the development of TGCT may pave the way for better outcome for patients. To elucidate molecular changes prior to TGCT diagnosis we sequenced small RNAs in serum from 69 patients who were later diagnosed with TGCT and 111 matched controls. The deep RNA profiles, with on average 18 million sequences per sample, comprised of nine classes of RNA, including microRNA. We found that circulating RNA signals differed significantly between cases and controls regardless of time to diagnosis. Different levels of TSIX related to X-chromosome inactivation and TEX101 involved in spermatozoa production are among the interesting findings. The RNA signals differed between seminoma and non-seminoma TGCT subtypes, with seminoma cases showing lower levels of RNAs and non-seminoma cases showing higher levels of RNAs, compared with controls. The differentially expressed RNAs were typically associated with cancer related pathways. Our results indicate that circulating RNA profiles change during TGCT development according to histology and may be useful for early detection of this tumor type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Burton
- Department of Lifesciences and Health, OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sinan U. Umu
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hilde Langseth
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tom Grotmol
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tom K. Grimsrud
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trine B. Haugen
- Department of Lifesciences and Health, OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trine B. Rounge
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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187
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Pai S, Weber P, Isserlin R, Kaka H, Hui S, Shah MA, Giudice L, Giugno R, Nøhr AK, Baumbach J, Bader GD. netDx: Software for building interpretable patient classifiers by multi-'omic data integration using patient similarity networks. F1000Res 2020; 9:1239. [PMID: 33628435 PMCID: PMC7883323 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.26429.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Patient classification based on clinical and genomic data will further the goal of precision medicine. Interpretability is of particular relevance for models based on genomic data, where sample sizes are relatively small (in the hundreds), increasing overfitting risk netDx is a machine learning method to integrate multi-modal patient data and build a patient classifier. Patient data are converted into networks of patient similarity, which is intuitive to clinicians who also use patient similarity for medical diagnosis. Features passing selection are integrated, and new patients are assigned to the class with the greatest profile similarity. netDx has excellent performance, outperforming most machine-learning methods in binary cancer survival prediction. It handles missing data – a common problem in real-world data – without requiring imputation. netDx also has excellent interpretability, with native support to group genes into pathways for mechanistic insight into predictive features. The netDx Bioconductor package provides multiple workflows for users to build custom patient classifiers. It provides turnkey functions for one-step predictor generation from multi-modal data, including feature selection over multiple train/test data splits. Workflows offer versatility with custom feature design, choice of similarity metric; speed is improved by parallel execution. Built-in functions and examples allow users to compute model performance metrics such as AUROC, AUPR, and accuracy. netDx uses RCy3 to visualize top-scoring pathways and the final integrated patient network in Cytoscape. Advanced users can build more complex predictor designs with functional building blocks used in the default design. Finally, the netDx Bioconductor package provides a novel workflow for pathway-based patient classification from sparse genetic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shraddha Pai
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Philipp Weber
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Ruth Isserlin
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hussam Kaka
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Shirley Hui
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Luca Giudice
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rosalba Giugno
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anne Krogh Nøhr
- The Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark.,H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Baumbach
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,TUM School of Life Sciences Wiehenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gary D Bader
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,The Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinal Hospital, Toronto, Canada
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188
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Matsumoto T, Shiota M, Uchiumi T, Ueda S, Tsukahara S, Toshima T, Matsumoto S, Noda N, Eto M, Kang D. Genomic characteristics revealed by targeted exon sequencing of testicular germ cell tumors in Japanese men. Int J Urol 2020; 28:40-46. [PMID: 33047348 DOI: 10.1111/iju.14396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the somatic mutation profiles of testicular germ cell tumors in Japanese men. METHODS We analyzed the somatic missense mutation profile of testicular germ cell tumors among 21 Japanese men with seminoma (n = 14), pure embryonic carcinoma (n = 3) and mixed testicular germ cell tumor (n = 4) by targeted next-generation sequencing of 409 cancer-related genes covering 1.23 Mb of the genome. RESULTS We identified a total of 22 missense mutations in 21 primary testicular germ cell tumor samples (0.89 mutations/Mb), of which seven mutations were confirmed to be absent from the germline. KIT:p.Asn822Tyr, KIT:p.Leu576Pro, PIK3CA:p.Glu542Lys and FBXW7:p.Arg505His were statistically and functionally potential. A total of 18 missense mutations were previously unknown in testicular germ cell tumors. PDGFRA amplification from one patient with seminoma was detected. KIT, BCR,PIK3CG, PIK3CA and PDGFRA mutations involved in aberrant signaling of the KIT-PI3K-AKT pathway was detected in 27.3% of detected mutations. CONCLUSIONS The present investigation identified a low mutation rate in testicular germ cell tumors among Asian patients, 18 novel mutations and PDGFRA amplification. Limitations of the present study are the small sample and missing normal DNA for some testicular germ cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Matsumoto
- Departments of, Department of, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of, Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masaki Shiota
- Department of, Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Uchiumi
- Departments of, Department of, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shohei Ueda
- Department of, Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shigehiro Tsukahara
- Department of, Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Toshima
- Departments of, Department of, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shinya Matsumoto
- Departments of, Department of, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Nozomi Noda
- Departments of, Department of, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Eto
- Department of, Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Dongchon Kang
- Departments of, Department of, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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189
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Kubota Y, Seki M, Kawai T, Isobe T, Yoshida M, Sekiguchi M, Kimura S, Watanabe K, Sato-Otsubo A, Yoshida K, Suzuki H, Kataoka K, Fujii Y, Shiraishi Y, Chiba K, Tanaka H, Hiwatari M, Oka A, Hayashi Y, Miyano S, Ogawa S, Hata K, Tanaka Y, Takita J. Comprehensive genetic analysis of pediatric germ cell tumors identifies potential drug targets. Commun Biol 2020; 3:544. [PMID: 32999426 PMCID: PMC7528104 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01267-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of pediatric germ cell tumors (GCTs), we performed DNA methylation array analysis, whole transcriptome sequencing, targeted capture sequencing, and single-nucleotide polymorphism array analysis using 51 GCT samples (25 female, 26 male), including 6 germinomas, 2 embryonal carcinomas, 4 immature teratomas, 3 mature teratomas, 30 yolk sac tumors, and 6 mixed germ cell tumors. Among the 51 samples, 11 were from infants, 23 were from young children, and 17 were from those aged ≥10 years. Sixteen of the 51 samples developed in the extragonadal regions. Germinomas showed upregulation of pluripotent genes and global hypomethylation. Pluripotent genes were also highly expressed in embryonal carcinomas. These genes may play essential roles in embryonal carcinomas given that their binding sites are hypomethylated. Yolk sac tumors exhibited overexpression of endodermal genes, such as GATA6 and FOXA2, the binding sites of which were hypomethylated. Interestingly, infant yolk sac tumors had different DNA methylation patterns from those observed in older children. Teratomas had higher expression of ectodermal genes, suggesting a tridermal nature. Based on our results, we suggest that KIT, TNFRSF8, and ERBB4 may be suitable targets for the treatment of germinoma, embryonal carcinomas, and yolk sac tumors, respectively. Yasuo Kubota et al. report a multi-omic analysis of pediatric germ cell tumors from 51 patients ranging in age from 2 months to 19 years. They identify unique methylation, expression, and mutational patterns for each of the main subtypes and propose potential target genes for treatments against the three main subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Kubota
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masafumi Seki
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Kawai
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoya Isobe
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Misa Yoshida
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Clinical Research Institute and Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Masahiro Sekiguchi
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Kimura
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kentaro Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aiko Sato-Otsubo
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenichi Yoshida
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Suzuki
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kataoka
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoichi Fujii
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuichi Shiraishi
- Section of Genome Analysis Platform, Center for Cancer Genomic and Advanced Therapeutics, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenichi Chiba
- Section of Genome Analysis Platform, Center for Cancer Genomic and Advanced Therapeutics, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Tanaka
- Laboratory of DNA Information Analysis, Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuteru Hiwatari
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Cell Therapy and Transplantation Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Oka
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhide Hayashi
- Institute of Physiology and Medicine, Jobu University, Takasaki, Japan
| | - Satoru Miyano
- Laboratory of DNA Information Analysis, Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seishi Ogawa
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Medicine, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Hata
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukichi Tanaka
- Clinical Research Institute and Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Junko Takita
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. .,Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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190
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) exhibit, in contrast to other cancer types, a relatively low mutational burden. However, numerous epigenetic alterations have been shown to impact TGCT. In this review, we summarize the most relevant findings of the past 2 years. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies focused on the functions of microRNAs and the impact of aberrant DNA methylation. Moreover, several epigenetic drugs with antineoplastic effects in TGCTs were identified. SUMMARY Aberrant DNA methylation and differentially expressed microRNAs have an important effect on TGCT pathogenesis. Moreover, differential DNA methylation patterns were found to be specific for different TGCT subtypes. Various microRNAs, such as miR-371a-3p, were found to be highly sensitive and specific biomarkers for TGCT. The epigenetic drugs guadecitabine, animacroxam, and JQ1 showed promising effects on TGCT in preclinical in-vivo and in-vitro studies.
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191
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Acosta AM, Sholl LM, Cin PD, Howitt BE, Otis CN, Nucci MR. Malignant tumours of the uterus and ovaries with Mullerian and germ cell or trophoblastic components have a somatic origin and are characterised by genomic instability . Histopathology 2020; 77:788-797. [PMID: 32558949 DOI: 10.1111/his.14188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Tumours of the female genital tract with a combination of malignant Mullerian and germ cell or trophoblastic tumour (MMGC/T) components are usually diagnosed in postmenopausal women, and pursue an aggressive clinical course characterised by poor response to therapy and early relapses. These clinical features suggest that MMGC/T are somatic in origin, but objective molecular data to support this interpretation are lacking. This study evaluates the molecular features of nine MMGC/T, including seven tumours containing yolk sac tumour (YST), one tumour containing choriocarcinoma and one tumour containing epithelioid trophoblastic tumour. The objectives were to: (i) investigate whether MMGC/T show a distinct genetic profile and (ii) explore the relationship between the different histological components. METHODS AND RESULTS Next-generation sequencing of paired samples demonstrated that the mutational profile of the Mullerian and non-Mullerian components of the tumour were almost identical in all cases. Moreover, the driver mutations identified were those expected in the specific subtype of Mullerian component present in each case. In contrast, variants expected in postpubertal germ cell tumours and gestational trophoblastic tumours were not identified, and FISH for i(12p) was negative in all cases tested. In this study, mismatch repair-proficient MMGC/T (eight of nine) were characterised by a complex copy-number variant profile, including numerous focal, regional, arm-level and chromosome-level events. CONCLUSIONS Comparison of paired samples supports that the YST and trophoblastic tumour components of MMGC/T have a somatic origin and often show numerous copy-number variants, suggestive of underlying genomic instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres M Acosta
- Women's and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lynette M Sholl
- Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paola D Cin
- Cytogenetics, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brooke E Howitt
- Department of Pathology, Stanford Medical Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Christopher N Otis
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Marisa R Nucci
- Women's and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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192
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Darrell CM, Montironi R, Paner GP. Potential biomarkers and risk assessment models to enhance the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging classification of urologic cancers. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2020; 20:921-932. [PMID: 32876523 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2020.1816827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The anatomic-based TNM classification is considered the benchmark in cancer staging and has been regularly updated since its inception. In the current era of precision medicine, the added intention for future TNM modifications is to heighten its impact in the more 'personalized' level of cancer care. In urologic cancers, this goal may be achieved by incorporating 'non-anatomic' factors into TNM, such as biomarkers (e.g. gene alterations, molecular subtypes, genomic classifiers) and risk assessment models (e.g. nomogram, look-up table), while maintaining the anatomic extent as the foundation of staging. These different prognosticators can be combined and integrated, may serve as substratifiers for T, N, or M categories, and perhaps, incorporated as elements in TNM stage groupings to enhance their prognostic capability in urologic cancers. AREAS COVERED This review highlights candidate biomarkers and risk assessment models that can be explored to potentially improve TNM prognostication of bladder, prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers. EXPERT OPINION Recent advances in molecular analysis have increased the understanding of the genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic features for biomarker use in prognostication of urologic cancers, which together with the available risk assessment models, may complement and overcome the limitations of the traditional TNM staging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Darrell
- Departments of Pathology, Section of Urology, University of Chicago , Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rodolfo Montironi
- School of Medicine, Section of Pathological Anatomy, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region , Ancona, Italy
| | - Gladell P Paner
- Departments of Pathology, Section of Urology, University of Chicago , Chicago, IL, USA.,Departments of Surgery, Section of Urology, University of Chicago , Chicago, IL, USA
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193
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Esteves L, Caramelo F, Ribeiro IP, Carreira IM, de Melo JB. Probability distribution of copy number alterations along the genome: an algorithm to distinguish different tumour profiles. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14868. [PMID: 32913269 PMCID: PMC7483770 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71859-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Copy number alterations (CNAs) comprise deletions or amplifications of fragments of genomic material that are particularly common in cancer and play a major contribution in its development and progression. High resolution microarray-based genome-wide technologies have been widely used to detect CNAs, generating complex datasets that require further steps to allow for the determination of meaningful results. In this work, we propose a methodology to determine common regions of CNAs from these datasets, that in turn are used to infer the probability distribution of disease profiles in the population. This methodology was validated using simulated data and assessed using real data from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Lung Adenocarcinoma, from the TCGA platform. Probability distribution profiles were produced allowing for the distinction between different phenotypic groups established within that cohort. This method may be used to distinguish between groups in the diseased population, within well-established degrees of confidence. The application of such methods may be of greater value in the clinical context both as a diagnostic or prognostic tool and, even as a useful way for helping to establish the most adequate treatment and care plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Esteves
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Polo Ciências da Saúde, 3000-354, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Caramelo
- Laboratory of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, IBILI-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-354, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ilda Patrícia Ribeiro
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Polo Ciências da Saúde, 3000-354, Coimbra, Portugal.,iCBR-CIMAGO-Center of Investigation on Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel M Carreira
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Polo Ciências da Saúde, 3000-354, Coimbra, Portugal.,iCBR-CIMAGO-Center of Investigation on Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Barbosa de Melo
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Polo Ciências da Saúde, 3000-354, Coimbra, Portugal. .,iCBR-CIMAGO-Center of Investigation on Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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194
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Lobo J, Guimarães R, Miranda-Gonçalves V, Monteiro-Reis S, Cantante M, Antunes L, Braga I, Maurício J, Looijenga LH, Jerónimo C, Henrique R. Differential expression of DNA methyltransferases and demethylases among the various testicular germ cell tumor subtypes. Epigenomics 2020; 12:1579-1592. [PMID: 32957806 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2020-0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Characterize DNA methyltransferases/demethylases expression in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). Methods:In silico analysis of TCGA database, assessment of transcript levels of most relevant enzymes in four TGCT cell lines and validation in patient cohort (real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; immunohistochemistry). Results:DNMT3A, DNMT3B and TET2 were the most differentially expressed between seminomas (SEs) and nonseminomas (NSs). DNMT3B was significantly overexpressed in NS-related cell lines, and the opposite was found for TET2. Significantly higher DNMT3A/B mRNA expression was observed in NS, indicating a role for de novo methylation in reprogramming. Significantly higher TET2 protein expression was observed in SEs, suggesting active demethylation contributes for SE hypomethylated state. More differentiated histologies disclosed distinct expression patterns. Conclusion: DNA-modifying enzymes are differentially expressed between TGCT subtypes, influencing reprogramming and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Lobo
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rita Guimarães
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vera Miranda-Gonçalves
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Monteiro-Reis
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Cantante
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Antunes
- Department of Epidemiology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
- Cancer Epidemiology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CEG CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isaac Braga
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joaquina Maurício
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Leendert Hj Looijenga
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
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195
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Hoff AM, Kraggerud SM, Alagaratnam S, Berg KCG, Johannessen B, Høland M, Nilsen G, Lingjærde OC, Andrews PW, Lothe RA, Skotheim RI. Frequent copy number gains of SLC2A3 and ETV1 in testicular embryonal carcinomas. Endocr Relat Cancer 2020; 27:457-468. [PMID: 32580154 PMCID: PMC7424350 DOI: 10.1530/erc-20-0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) appear as different histological subtypes or mixtures of these. They show similar, multiple DNA copy number changes, where gain of 12p is pathognomonic. However, few high-resolution analyses have been performed and focal DNA copy number changes with corresponding candidate target genes remain poorly described for individual subtypes. We present the first high-resolution DNA copy number aberration (CNA) analysis on the subtype embryonal carcinomas (ECs), including 13 primary ECs and 5 EC cell lines. We identified recurrent gains and losses and allele-specific CNAs. Within these regions, we nominate 30 genes that may be of interest to the EC subtype. By in silico analysis of data from 150 TGCTs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we further investigated CNAs, RNA expression, somatic mutations and fusion transcripts of these genes. Among primary ECs, ploidy ranged between 2.3 and 5.0, and the most common aberrations were DNA copy number gains at chromosome (arm) 7, 8, 12p, and 17, losses at 4, 10, 11, and 18, replicating known TGCT genome characteristics. Gain of whole or parts of 12p was found in all samples, including a highly amplified 100 kbp segment at 12p13.31, containing SLC2A3. Gain at 7p21, encompassing ETV1, was the second most frequent aberration. In conclusion, we present novel CNAs and the genes located within these regions, where the copy number gain of SLC2A3 and ETV1 are of interest, and which copy number levels also correlate with expression in TGCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas M Hoff
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sigrid M Kraggerud
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sharmini Alagaratnam
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kaja C G Berg
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bjarne Johannessen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maren Høland
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gro Nilsen
- Department of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole C Lingjærde
- Department of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Peter W Andrews
- The Centre for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ragnhild A Lothe
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Correspondence should be addressed to R A Lothe or R I Skotheim: or
| | - Rolf I Skotheim
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Correspondence should be addressed to R A Lothe or R I Skotheim: or
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196
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Cardoso AR, Lobo J, Miranda-Gonçalves V, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Epigenetic alterations as therapeutic targets in Testicular Germ Cell Tumours : current and future application of 'epidrugs'. Epigenetics 2020; 16:353-372. [PMID: 32749176 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2020.1805682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) are heterogeneous neoplasms mostly affecting young-adult men. Despite high survival rates, some patients with disseminated disease acquire cisplatin resistance, entailing the need for less toxic therapies. Epigenetic alterations constitute an important feature of TGCTs, which are also implicated in resistance mechanism(s). These alterations might be used as potential targets to design epigenetic drugs. To date, several compounds have been explored and evaluated regarding therapeutic efficacy, making use of pre-clinical studies with in vitro and in vivo models, and some have already been explored in clinical trials. This review summarizes the several epigenetic mechanisms at play in these neoplasms, the current challenges in the field of TGCTs and critically reviews available data on 'epidrugs' in those tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Cardoso
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Master in Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Lobo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vera Miranda-Gonçalves
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
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197
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Chatsirisupachai K, Kitdumrongthum S, Panvongsa W, Janpipatkul K, Worakitchanon W, Lertjintanakit S, Wongtrakoongate P, Chairoungdua A. Expression and roles of system L amino acid transporters in human embryonal carcinoma cells. Andrology 2020; 8:1844-1858. [PMID: 32741077 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the most common malignant cancer in young men. Although TGCTs are generally responsive to platinum-based chemotherapy particularly cisplatin, acquired resistance in patients with metastasis still occurs resulting in poor prognosis. Specifically, differentiation of embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells, the stem cells of TGCTs, can lead to the reduction of cisplatin responsiveness. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies for TGCTs are needed. System L amino acid transporters have been reported to be up-regulated and to play an important role in tumorigenesis. However, expression and role of system L amino acid transporters in TGCTs remain elusive. MATERIALS AND METHODS Expression of system L amino acid transporters was analyzed in TGCT samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Expression of LAT1, LAT2, and 4F2hc was examined in human embryonal carcinoma cell line NTERA2. Roles of system L amino acid transporters on NTERA2 cell survival, cell proliferation, pluripotency, and cisplatin sensitivity were evaluated. RESULTS Based upon TCGA datasets, we found that two isoforms of system L (LAT1 and LAT2) and their chaperone protein 4F2hc are highly expressed in EC samples compared with other groups. Treatment with the system L inhibitor BCH significantly suppressed leucine uptake into the pluripotent EC cell line NTERA2. The malignant phenotypes including cell viability, cell proliferation, and clonal ability were decreased following BCH treatment. Nonetheless, system L inhibition did not alter expression of stemness genes in NTERA2 cells. After NTERA2 differentiation, expressions of LAT1 and LAT2 were decreased. Finally, co-administration of BCH enhanced cisplatin sensitivity in both undifferentiated and differentiated cells. These effects were associated with the reduction in p70S6K phosphorylation. CONCLUSION Taken together, these results shed light on the roles of system L amino acid transporters in TGCTs. Therefore, system L amino acid transporters could provide novel therapeutic targets for treatment against TGCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wittaya Panvongsa
- Toxicology Graduate Program, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Sarat Lertjintanakit
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Patompon Wongtrakoongate
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Arthit Chairoungdua
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Toxicology Graduate Program, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Excellent Center for Drug Discovery (ECDD), Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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198
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Mata DA, Yang SR, Ferguson DC, Liu Y, Sharma R, Benhamida JK, Al-Ahmadie HA, Chakravarty D, Solit DB, Tickoo SK, Gupta S, Arcila ME, Ladanyi M, Feldman DR, Reuter VE, Vanderbilt CM. RAS/MAPK Pathway Driver Alterations Are Significantly Associated With Oncogenic KIT Mutations in Germ-cell Tumors. Urology 2020; 144:111-116. [PMID: 32721511 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2020.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report the mutational profile and clinical outcomes of a cohort of patients with KIT-mutant seminomas and nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors (SGCT/NSGCTs). PATIENTS AND METHODS Retrospective cohort study of all patients with KIT-mutant GCTs sequenced at Memorial Sloan Kettering between March 2014 and March 2020. Tumors were assessed with MSK-IMPACT, a DNA next-generation sequencing assay for targeted sequencing of up to 468 key cancer genes. RESULTS Among 568 patients with GCTs, 8.1% had somatic KIT mutations, including 28 seminomas and 18 mixed/NSGCTs. Exons 17 (67.3%), 11 (22.4%), and 13 (6.1%) were most commonly affected. KIT-mutant cases were enriched for oncogenic RAS/MAPK pathway alterations compared to KIT-wildtype cases (34.8% vs 19.2%, P = .02). Among KIT-mutant cases, concurrent mutations were noted in KRAS (21.7%), RRAS2 (11.8%), CBL (6.5%), NRAS (4.3%), MAP2K1 (2.2%), and RAC1 (2.2%). Mutations in KRAS, RRAS2, and NRAS were mutually exclusive. In all, 73.9% of patients developed metastases and 95.7% received chemotherapy. No patients received KIT-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Classification as a NSGCT rather than a SGCT was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 9.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1-78.4, P = .04) while the presence of a concurrent RAS/MAPK pathway alteration was not (hazard ratio 0.8, 95% confidence interval 0.1-4.3, P = .76). CONCLUSION Mitogenic driver alterations can co-occur with activating KIT mutations, which may explain the lack of efficacy of KIT-directed TKIs in prior trials. Novel KIT-directed TKIs that target exon 17 mutations may benefit chemotherapy-refractory patients with KIT-mutant GCTs without RAS/MAPK alterations. Dual MEK/KIT inhibitor therapy in KIT-mutant GCTs with concurrent RAS/MAPK alterations could also be a plausible therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas A Mata
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
| | - Soo-Ryum Yang
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Donna C Ferguson
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Jamal K Benhamida
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Hikmat A Al-Ahmadie
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Debyani Chakravarty
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - David B Solit
- Department of Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Satish K Tickoo
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Sounak Gupta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Maria E Arcila
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Darren R Feldman
- Department of Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Victor E Reuter
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Chad M Vanderbilt
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
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199
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Mallik S, Qin G, Jia P, Zhao Z. Molecular signatures identified by integrating gene expression and methylation in non-seminoma and seminoma of testicular germ cell tumours. Epigenetics 2020; 16:162-176. [PMID: 32615059 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2020.1790108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) are the most common cancer in young male adults (aged 15 to 40). Unlike most other cancer types, identification of molecular signatures in TGCT has rarely reported. In this study, we developed a novel integrative analysis framework to identify co-methylated and co-expressed genes [mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs)] modules in two TGCT subtypes: non-seminoma (NSE) and seminoma (SE). We first integrated DNA methylation and mRNA/miRNA expression data and then used a statistical method, CoMEx (Combined score of DNA Methylation and Expression), to assess differentially expressed and methylated (DEM) genes/miRNAs. Next, we identified co-methylation and co-expression modules by applying WGCNA (Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis) tool to these DEM genes/miRNAs. The module with the highest average Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (PCC) after considering all pair-wise molecules (genes/miRNAs) included 91 molecules. By integrating both transcription factor and miRNA regulations, we constructed subtype-specific regulatory networks for NSE and SE. We identified four hub miRNAs (miR-182-5p, miR-520b, miR-520c-3p, and miR-7-5p), two hub TFs (MYC and SP1), and two genes (RECK and TERT) in the NSE-specific regulatory network, and two hub miRNAs (miR-182-5p and miR-338-3p), five hub TFs (ETS1, HIF1A, HNF1A, MYC, and SP1), and three hub genes (CDH1, CXCR4, and SNAI1) in the SE-specific regulatory network. miRNA (miR-182-5p) and two TFs (MYC and SP1) were common hubs of NSE and SE. We further examined pathways enriched in these subtype-specific networks. Our study provides a comprehensive view of the molecular signatures and co-regulation in two TGCT subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurav Mallik
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guimin Qin
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peilin Jia
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , Houston, TX, USA.,Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , Houston, TX, USA.,MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville, TN, USA
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200
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Looijenga LH, Van der Kwast TH, Grignon D, Egevad L, Kristiansen G, Kao CS, Idrees MT. Report From the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Consultation Conference on Molecular Pathology of Urogenital Cancers: IV: Current and Future Utilization of Molecular-Genetic Tests for Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 2020; 44:e66-e79. [PMID: 32205480 PMCID: PMC7289140 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) organized a Consultation Conference in March 2019 dealing with applications of molecular pathology in Urogenital Pathology, including testicular tumors (with a focus on germ cell tumors [GCTs]), preceded by a survey among its members to get insight into current practices in testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) diagnostics and adoption of the ISUP immunohistochemical guidelines published in 2014. On the basis of the premeeting survey, the most commonly used immunomarker panel includes OCT3/4, placental alkaline phosphate, D2-40, SALL4, CD117, and CD30 for GCTs and the documentation of germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS). Molecular testing, specifically 12p copy gain, is informative to distinguish non-GCNIS versus GCNIS related GCTs, and establishing germ cell origin of tumors both in the context of primary and metastatic lesions. Other molecular methodologies currently available but not widely utilized for TGCTs include genome-wide and targeted approaches for specific genetic anomalies, P53 mutations, genomic MDM2 amplification, and detection of the p53 inactivating miR-371a-3p. The latter also holds promise as a serum marker for malignant TGCTs. This manuscript provides an update on the classification of TGCTs, and describes the current and future role of molecular-genetic testing. The following recommendations are made: (1) Presence of GCNIS should be documented in all cases along with extent of spermatogenesis; (2) Immunohistochemical staining is optional in the following scenarios: identification of GCNIS, distinguishing embryonal carcinoma from seminoma, confirming presence of yolk sac tumor and/or choriocarcinoma, and differentiating spermatocytic tumor from potential mimics; (3) Detection of gain of the short arm of chromosome 12 is diagnostic to differentiate between non-GCNIS versus GCNIS related GCTs and supportive to the germ cell origin of both primary and metastatic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lars Egevad
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Glen Kristiansen
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Chia-Sui Kao
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
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