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Huang R, Shu D, Li H, Hu A, Chen M, Yang W, Zhang Y, Zheng Q, An X, Xue C, Shi Y. Clinical outcome and prognostic factors for immunotherapy-based treatments in patients with platinum-refractory germ cell tumor. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 142:113042. [PMID: 39236453 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 08/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are a heterogeneous group of cancers associated with a favorable prognosis when treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. However, patients with platinum-refractory GCTs face limited options and poorer outcomes, necessitating innovative treatment approaches. This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes and identify prognostic factors associated with immunotherapy-based treatments in this challenging patient population. METHODS This retrospective analysis included individuals with platinum-refractory GCTs treated with immunotherapy between 2017 and 2023. Clinical outcomes, safety, and biomarkers were analyzed. RESULTS The study included 37 male patients with a median age of 26 years (range: 18-65). The overall response rate was 24.32 %, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 4.67 months and 22.67 months, respectively. Patients with both serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) below 100 (AFP & hCG < 100) demonstrated significantly better PFS and OS. Multivariate analysis indicated that lower serum tumor marker levels (AFP & hCG < 100) and treatment initiation at earlier lines were significantly associated with improved PFS. Notably, genomic analysis revealed that one patient with an MDM4 mutation experienced hyperprogression after the initiation of immunotherapy. Immune-related adverse events occurred in two patients: one developed grade 1 hyperthyroidism, and the other experienced grade 2 immune-related pneumonitis. CONCLUSIONS Immunotherapy offers a promising treatment option for selected patients with platinum-refractory GCTs, demonstrating moderate response rates and potential survival benefits in a real-world scenario. Identifying specific prognostic factors may help tailor treatment strategies and enhance outcomes in this challenging patient cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riqing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Ditian Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Haifeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Anqi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Meiting Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Wei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Yue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Qiufan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Xin An
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.
| | - Cong Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.
| | - Yanxia Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China; Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.
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Bernard L. Treatment of recurrent ovarian germ cell tumours: Is there a role for immune checkpoint inhibitors? Gynecol Oncol Rep 2024; 56:101502. [PMID: 39386925 PMCID: PMC11460618 DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2024.101502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2024] [Revised: 09/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/07/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian germ cell tumours predominantly affect young women and have an excellent prognosis. While most contemporary papers concentrate on reducing treatment morbidity and preserving fertility, some women still succumb to refractory or recurrent OGCTs. Despite the significant impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on many tumors, no case of a chemo-resistant ovarian germ cell tumour successfully treated with immunotherapy has been reported. In testicular cancer, only a few cases of partial response or stable disease to ICIs have been described. PD-L1 expression does not predict response, but microsatellite instability status may serve as a potential biomarker. MSI testing should be performed on a recurrent tumour sample as MSI status may evolve during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Bernard
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Alwosaibai K, Alruwaii ZI, Mashhour M, Almsned FM, Asraf R, Alrsheedy W, Alessa A, Almohanna H, Selwi W, Azam F. Dysgerminomas: germ cell tumors exhibit high expression of PD-L1 and associated with high TILs and good prognosis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:24191. [PMID: 39406772 PMCID: PMC11480429 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-74192-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian germ cell tumors (OVGCTs) account for 28% of all diagnosed ovarian cancers, and malignant germ cell tumors specifically account for approximately 13% of diagnosed ovarian cancers in Saudi Arabia. Although most germ cell tumor patients have a high survival rate, patients who experience tumor recurrence have a poor prognosis and present with more aggressive and chemoresistant tumors. The use of immunotherapeutic agents such as PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors for OVGCTs remains very limited because few studies have described the immunological characteristics of these tumors. This study is the first to investigate PD-L1 expression in ovarian germ cell tumors and explore the role of PD-L1 expression in tumor microenvironment cells and genetic alterations. A total of 34 ovarian germ cell tumors were collected from pathology archives. The collected tumor tissues included ten dysgerminomas, five yolk sac tumors, five immature teratomas, and one mature teratoma, and the remaining samples were mixed germ cell tumors. The tumors were analyzed using immunohistochemical analysis to determine PD-L1 expression, immune cell infiltration and cancer stem cell populations and their correlation with clinical outcome. Furthermore, the genetic alterations in different subtypes of germ cell tumors were correlated with PD-L1 expression and clinical outcome. Datasets for testicular germ cells (TGCTs) were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and analyzed using cBioPortal (cbioportal.org) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). Compared with yolk sac tumors, dysgerminomas highly express PD-L1 and are associated with high levels of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and stem cell markers. In addition, compared with PD-L1-negative yolk sac tissue, dysgerminomas/seminomas with high PD-L1 expression are associated with more genetic alterations and a better prognosis. Our findings will contribute to the knowledge about the potential benefits of ovarian cancer immunotherapy in specific subsets of germ cell tumor patients and the risk factors for resistance mediated by tumor microenvironment cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kholoud Alwosaibai
- Biomedical Research Department, Research Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Zainab Ibrahim Alruwaii
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Miral Mashhour
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad M Almsned
- Research Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA
| | - Reem Asraf
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Wadha Alrsheedy
- Biomedical Research Department, Research Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Alessa
- Biomedical Research Department, Research Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hani Almohanna
- Research Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Waleed Selwi
- Department of Medical Oncology, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Azam
- Department of Medical Oncology, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Farahani H, Darvishvand R, Khademolhosseini A, Erfani N. Unwrapping the immunological alterations in testicular germ cell tumors: From immune homeostasis to malignancy and emerging immunotherapies. Andrology 2024. [PMID: 39253799 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 08/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), derived from primordial germ cells, are rare malignancies with high curative potential. However, the emergence of new evidence indicating that 15% of patients experience tumor progression, leading to death, underscores the need for innovative therapeutics. OBJECTIVES This review aimed to explore the immune status in maintaining testicular health and the immune-related aspects of malignancy. Furthermore, it presents an overview of current data on the use of immunotherapy for TGCT patients. RESULTS DISCUSSION Recent advances in immunology have opened a promising avenue for studying diseases and highlighted its role in treating diseases. While the immunopathological facets of TGCTs are not fully understood, investigations suggest a complex interplay among testis-resident immune cells, testis-specific cells (i.e., Sertoli cells (SCs) and Leydig cells (LCs)), and immune-regulating mediators (e.g., sex hormones) in the normal testicle that foster the testicular immune privilege (TIP). Although TIP plays a crucial role in sperm production, it also makes testis vulnerable to tumor development. In the context of cancer-related inflammation, disruption of TIP leads to an imbalanced immune response, resulting in chronic inflammation that can contribute to testicular tissue dysfunction or loss, potentially aiding in cancer invasion and progression. CONCLUSION Comparing the immune profiles of normal and malignant testes is valuable and may provide insights into different aspects of testicular immunity and immune-based treatment approaches. For patients resistant to chemotherapy and with a poor prognosis, immunotherapy has shown promising results. However, its effectiveness in treating resistant TGCTs or preventing tumor recurrence is still uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadiseh Farahani
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Darvishvand
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Aida Khademolhosseini
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nasrollah Erfani
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Tseng JJ, Chen CY, Liang CW, Huang FL. Pediatric primary extragonadal choriocarcinoma - A study on male patients at a single tertiary medical institution. Pediatr Neonatol 2024:S1875-9572(24)00097-4. [PMID: 39054236 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary extragonadal choriocarcinoma (PEGCC) in male is rare. It is highly malignant, typically presents with distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis, and responds poorly to treatment. Because of its associated high levels of PD-L1, the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is a likely therapeutic target. Herein, we report our experience of treating pediatric PEGCC in six boys at a tertiary hospital. METHODS We analyzed the data of six boys with pathologically confirmed PEGCC between 2009 and 2021. Their clinicodemographic and histopathological characteristics as well as treatments and clinical outcomes were retrieved from their medical charts. RESULTS The patients' median age was 15 (range: 12-17) years. The most common primary tumor site was the mediastinum (67%, 4/6), with one case each in the retroperitoneum (16.7%) and brain (16.7%). Except for the patient with brain PEGCC, all presented with metastasis at the time of diagnosis. The following metastatic sites were observed: the lungs (100%, 5/5), brain (3/5, 60%), liver (3/5, 60%), kidneys (2/5, 40%), and spleen (1/5, 20%). Most patients had dry cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis at initial presentation, likely due to lung metastasis. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels were highly elevated in all patients. All patients received platinum-based cytotoxic chemotherapy. The patient with brain choriocarcinoma underwent surgical tumor resection; all others underwent only surgical biopsy. Strong positive PD-L1 immunohistochemical staining was noted for two patients. One patient received the PD-L1 inhibitor pembrolizumab and achieved a good response. Our cohort's 1-year survival rate was 33.3%, with a median survival of 4.34 months. Serum HCG levels remained normal in the two survivors during follow-up visits. CONCLUSION The poor response to current platinum-based chemotherapy remains a major challenge in the management of pediatric PEGCC. Adding pembrolizumab to a conventional chemotherapy regimen may improve the outcomes in boys with PEGCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Ju Tseng
- Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Yen Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Wen Liang
- Department of Nursing, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Liang Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan; Hung Kuang University, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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6
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Yu P, Zhu C, You X, Gu W, Wang X, Wang Y, Bu R, Wang K. The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates in the treatment of urogenital tumors: a review insights from phase 2 and 3 studies. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:433. [PMID: 38898003 PMCID: PMC11186852 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06837-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
With the high incidence of urogenital tumors worldwide, urinary system tumors are among the top 10 most common tumors in men, with prostate cancer ranking first and bladder cancer fourth. Patients with resistant urogenital tumors often have poor prognosis. In recent years, researchers have discovered numerous specific cancer antigens, which has led to the development of several new anti-cancer drugs. Using protein analysis techniques, researchers developed immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and antibody-conjugated drugs (ADCs) for the treatment of advanced urogenital tumors. However, tumor resistance often leads to the failure of monotherapy. Therefore, clinical trials of the combination of ICIs and ADCs have been carried out in numerous centers around the world. This article reviewed phase 2 and 3 clinical studies of ICIs, ADCs, and their combination in the treatment of urogenital tumors to highlight safe and effective methods for selecting individualized therapeutic strategies for patients. ICIs activate the immune system, whereas ADCs link monoclonal antibodies to toxins, which can achieve a synergistic effect when the two drugs are combined. This synergistic effect provides multiple advantages for the treatment of urogenital tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puguang Yu
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Chunming Zhu
- Department of Family Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xiangyun You
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
- Department of Urology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- Department of Urology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Wen Gu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xia Wang
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
| | - Renge Bu
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
| | - Kefeng Wang
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
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Evmorfopoulos K, Marsitopoulos K, Karachalios R, Karathanasis A, Dimitropoulos K, Tzortzis V, Zachos I, Vlachostergios PJ. The Immune Landscape and Immunotherapeutic Strategies in Platinum-Refractory Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:428. [PMID: 38275869 PMCID: PMC10814346 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are cancers with very good prognosis, even in the metastatic setting, with high curative potential mainly attributed to the introduction of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. However, approximately 15% of the patients develop platinum-refractory disease and suffer multiple relapses. Therefore, there is an unmet need for novel therapeutic agents with improved efficacy and minimal long-term side effects. Recent advances in the development of immunotherapeutic agents, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have offered an opportunity to test their activity in various tumor types, including GCTs. This review aims to analyze the immune microenvironment of these tumors and present the most recently available data from studies that have tested immunotherapeutic agents against GCTs. The majority of the available knowledge derives from case reports or small cohort studies, particularly those involving ICIs of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis alone or in combination with anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibodies. Other immunotherapeutic targeted approaches, including antibody-drug conjugates, antibody prodrugs, vaccines, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, have biological rationales and have shown preliminary activity or are currently being tested. Growing evidence on these and other approaches will assist in broadening the currently limited treatment armamentarium against platinum-refractory TGCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Evmorfopoulos
- Department of Urology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece (V.T.)
| | - Konstantinos Marsitopoulos
- Department of Urology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece (V.T.)
| | - Raphael Karachalios
- Department of Urology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece (V.T.)
| | - Athanasios Karathanasis
- Department of Urology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece (V.T.)
| | | | - Vassilios Tzortzis
- Department of Urology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece (V.T.)
| | - Ioannis Zachos
- Department of Urology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece (V.T.)
| | - Panagiotis J. Vlachostergios
- Department of Urology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece (V.T.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, IASO Thessalias Hospital, 41500 Larissa, Greece
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Lei N, Lei LL, Wang CH, Mei CR. Pure testicular choriocarcinoma, a rare and highly malignant subtype with challenging treatment: A case report and review of the literature. Mol Clin Oncol 2024; 20:1. [PMID: 38223403 PMCID: PMC10784770 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2023.2699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Testicular choriocarcinoma (CC) is the rarest subtype of germ cell tumours (GCTs) of the testis, with a high malignant potential and early haematogenous metastasis. Radical surgical resection should be performed primarily for histological diagnosis, while chemotherapy remains the mainstay of therapy for advanced disease. In the present study, the case of a 65-year-old male patient diagnosed with metastatic testicular CC, who did not fully respond to chemotherapy is reported. This patient underwent surgical removal of the testicular tumour, chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin, and radiotherapy of the intracranial lesions. Although the serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels of the patient and most of the metastases continued decreasing during chemotherapy, complete response was not achieved after six cycles of chemotherapy. The patient refused high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation due to severe side effects, and eventually developed respiratory failure on maintenance therapy with oral etoposide. A literature review was then performed, aiming to summarize the characteristics and therapeutic principles of testicular CC. In addition, the emerging therapeutic agents that could be used in maintenance therapy for GCTs, particularly for testicular CC, were also discussed. The limited clinical trials of targeted treatments showed potential benefit for long survival of patients with selected GCTs with fewer side effects. In particular, immunotherapy showed unique potential for testicular CC in preclinical studies, offering new approaches of maintenance therapy for advanced disease. Further studies should shed light on the identification of prognostic factors that predict the response to immune-based therapy in GCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Lei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region (Hospital. C. T.), Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Li-Li Lei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region (Hospital. C. T.), Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Chao-Hong Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region (Hospital. C. T.), Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Chao-Rong Mei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region (Hospital. C. T.), Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
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Guven DC, Aykan MB, Muglu H, Bayram E, Helvaci K, Dursun B, Celayir M, Chelebiyev E, Nayir E, Erman M, Sezer A, Urun Y, Demirci U, Er O, Disel U, Bilici A, Arslan C, Karadurmus N, Kilickap S. The efficacy of immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy in patients with advanced rare tumors: A Turkish oncology group (TOG) study. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e6869. [PMID: 38140782 PMCID: PMC10809296 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) were relatively slow in rare tumors. Therefore, we conducted a multi-center study evaluating the efficacy of ICI monotherapy and the combination of ICIs with chemotherapy (CT) in patients with advanced rare tumors. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we included 93 patients treated with ICIs for NCI-defined rare tumors from the 12 cancer centers in Turkey. The primary endpoints were the overall response (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). RESULTS The cohort's median age was 56, and 53.8% of the patients were male. The most frequent diagnosis was sarcoma (29%), and 81.7% of the patients were previously treated with at least one line of systemic therapy in the advanced stage. The ORR and DCR were 36.8% and 63.2%, respectively. The germ cell tumors had the lowest ORR (0%), while the Merkel cell carcinoma had the highest ORR to ICIs (57.1%). Patients treated with ICI + ICI or ICI plus chemotherapy combinations had higher ORR (55.2% vs. 27.6%, p = 0.012) and DCR (82.8% vs. 53.4%, p = 0.008). The median OS was 13.47 (95% CI: 7.79-19.15) months, and the six and 12-month survival rates were 71% and 52%. The median duration of response was 16.59 months, and the 12-month progression-free survival rate was 66% in responders. The median time-to-treatment failure was 5.06 months (95% CI: 3.42-6.71). Three patients had high-grade irAEs with ICIs (grade 3 colitis, grade 3 gastritis, and grade 3 encephalitis in one patient each). CONCLUSION We observed over 30% ORR and a 13-month median OS in patients with rare cancers treated with ICI monotherapy or ICI plus CT combinations. The response rates to ICIs or ICIs plus CT significantly varied across different tumor types. Responding patients had over 2 years of survival, highlighting a need for further trials with ICIs for patients with rare tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Can Guven
- Department of Medical OncologyHacettepe University Cancer InstituteAnkaraTurkey
| | - Musa Baris Aykan
- Department of Medical OncologyGulhane School of Medicine, University of Health SciencesAnkaraTurkey
| | - Harun Muglu
- Istanbul Medipol University Faculty of MedicineIstanbulTurkey
| | - Ertugrul Bayram
- Department of Medical OncologyCukurova UniversityAdanaTurkey
| | | | - Bengü Dursun
- Department of Medical OncologyAnkara UniversityAnkaraTurkey
| | - Melisa Celayir
- Department of Medical OncologyMAA Acıbadem UniversityİstanbulTurkey
| | - Elvin Chelebiyev
- Department of Medical OncologyHacettepe University Cancer InstituteAnkaraTurkey
| | - Erdinc Nayir
- Department of Medical OncologyMersin Medical Park HospitalMersinTurkey
| | - Mustafa Erman
- Department of Medical OncologyHacettepe University Cancer InstituteAnkaraTurkey
| | - Ahmet Sezer
- Baskent University Adana HospitalAdanaTurkey
| | - Yuksel Urun
- Department of Medical OncologyAnkara UniversityAnkaraTurkey
| | | | - Ozlem Er
- Department of Medical OncologyMAA Acıbadem UniversityİstanbulTurkey
| | - Umut Disel
- Department of Medical OncologyAcibadem Adana HospitalAdanaTurkey
| | - Ahmet Bilici
- Istanbul Medipol University Faculty of MedicineIstanbulTurkey
| | - Cagatay Arslan
- Department of Medical OncologySchool of Medicine, Medical Park Hospital, Izmir Economy UniversityIzmirTurkey
| | - Nuri Karadurmus
- Department of Medical OncologyGulhane School of Medicine, University of Health SciencesAnkaraTurkey
| | - Saadettin Kilickap
- Department of Medical OncologyIstinye University Faculty of MedicineIstanbulTurkey
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Zhang D, Xu H, Zhao C, Qin L, Wei R, Xi L, Li F. Detailed characterization of PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA4 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in yolk sac tumors. Hum Immunol 2023; 84:534-542. [PMID: 37453913 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is considered as a promising approach for cancer treatment. However, the potency of ICB therapy in yolk sac tumors (YSTs) has not been confirmed, and the comprehensive analysis of tumor immune microenvironment and the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA4 were also not thoroughly evaluated. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was performed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 23 YSTs patients to detect the density and distribution of tumor-infiltrating T cells, tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), as well as the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA4. RESULTS Overall, more than half (61 %) of all patients exhibited an immune-desert phenotype based on CD3+ T cells. PD-1 expression was identified in five tumor samples (21.7 %), and PD-L1 expression exhibited a different positive rate in tumor cells (TCs) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) (39.1 % and 17.4 %). Noteworthily, the rate of positive CTLA4 expression in both TCs and TILs was markedly higher (69.6 % and 56.5 %) than those of PD-1 and PD-L1 expression. Furthermore, TLSs were observed in 21.74 % of all tissues, and samples with TLSs exhibited significantly higher densities of TILs and higher expression of immune checkpoint molecules, particularly PD-1/PD-L1. In addition, tumors located in testes also exhibited a higher density of TILs and higher expression of immune checkpoint molecules. CONCLUSION Generally a high frequency of CTLA4 expression was found, PD-1/PD-L1 expression, the immune-inflamed phenotype, and TLSs were low frequency in YSTs, however, YSTs in testes showed a higher density of TILs and higher expression of immune checkpoint molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danya Zhang
- Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Hanjie Xu
- Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Can Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Lingzhi Qin
- Department of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Rui Wei
- Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Ling Xi
- Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Fei Li
- Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
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11
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Nze C, Msaouel P, Derbala MH, Stephen B, Abonofal A, Meric-Bernstam F, Tannir NM, Naing A. A Phase II Clinical Trial of Pembrolizumab Efficacy and Safety in Advanced Renal Medullary Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3806. [PMID: 37568622 PMCID: PMC10417298 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) is one of most aggressive renal cell carcinomas and novel therapeutic strategies are therefore needed. Recent comprehensive molecular and immune profiling of RMC tissues revealed a highly inflamed phenotype, suggesting the potential therapeutic role for immune checkpoint therapies. We present the first prospective evaluation of an immune checkpoint inhibitor in a cohort of patients with RMC. METHODS A cohort of patients with locally advanced or metastatic RMC was treated with pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 21 days in a phase II basket trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02721732). Responses were assessed by irRECIST. Tumor tissues were evaluated for PD-L1 expression and for tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels. Somatic mutations were assessed by targeted next-generation sequencing. RESULTS A total of five patients were treated. All patients had advanced disease, with the majority of patients (60%) having metastatic disease at diagnosis. All patients had rapid disease progression despite pembrolizumab treatment, with a median time to progression of 8.7 weeks. One patient (patient 5) experienced sudden clinical progression immediately after treatment initiation and was thus taken off trial less than one week after receiving pembrolizumab. CONCLUSIONS This prospective evaluation showed no evidence of clinical activity for pembrolizumab in patients with RMC, irrespective of PD-L1 or TIL levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chijioke Nze
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Pavlos Msaouel
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mohamed H. Derbala
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.H.D.); (B.S.); (F.M.-B.)
| | - Bettzy Stephen
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.H.D.); (B.S.); (F.M.-B.)
| | - Abdulrahman Abonofal
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA;
| | - Funda Meric-Bernstam
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.H.D.); (B.S.); (F.M.-B.)
| | - Nizar M. Tannir
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Aung Naing
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.H.D.); (B.S.); (F.M.-B.)
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12
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Skowron MA, Kotthoff M, Bremmer F, Ruhnke K, Parmaksiz F, Richter A, Küffer S, Reuter-Jessen K, Pauls S, Stefanski A, Ströbel P, Stühler K, Nettersheim D. Targeting CLDN6 in germ cell tumors by an antibody-drug-conjugate and studying therapy resistance of yolk-sac tumors to identify and screen specific therapeutic options. Mol Med 2023; 29:40. [PMID: 36991316 PMCID: PMC10053054 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00636-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Being the standard-of-care for four decades, cisplatin-based chemotherapy is highly efficient in treating germ cell tumors (GCT). However, often refractory patients present with a remaining (resistant) yolk-sac tumor (YST(-R)) component, resulting in poor prognosis due to lack of novel treatment options besides chemotherapy and surgery. The aim of this study was to identify novel targets for the treatment of YST by deciphering the molecular mechanisms of therapy resistance. Additionally, we screened the cytotoxic efficacy of a novel antibody-drug-conjugate targeting CLDN6 (CLDN6-ADC), as well as pharmacological inhibitors to target specifically YST. METHODS Protein and mRNA levels of putative targets were measured by flow cytometry, immunohistochemical stainings, mass spectrometry of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, phospho-kinase arrays, or qRT-PCR. Cell viability, apoptosis and cell cycle assays of GCT and non-cancerous cells were performed using XTT cell viability assays or Annexin V / propidium iodide flow cytometry, respectively. Druggable genomic alterations of YST(-R) tissues were identified by the TrueSight Oncology 500 assay. RESULTS We demonstrated that treatment with a CLDN6-ADC enhanced apoptosis induction specifically in CLDN6+ GCT cells in comparison with non-cancerous controls. In a cell line-dependent manner, either an accumulation in the G2 / M cell cycle phase or a mitotic catastrophe was observed. Based on mutational and proteome profiling, this study identified drugs targeting the FGF, VGF, PDGF, mTOR, CHEK1, AURKA, or PARP signaling pathways as promising approaches to target YST. Further, we identified factors relevant for MAPK signaling, translational initiation and RNA binding, extracellular matrix-related processes as well as oxidative stress and immune response to be involved in therapy resistance. CONCLUSIONS In summary, this study offers a novel CLDN6-ADC to target GCT. Additionally, this study presents novel pharmacological inhibitors blocking FGF, VGF, PDGF, mTOR, CHEK1, AURKA, or PARP signaling for the treatment of (refractory) YST patients. Finally, this study shed light on the mechanisms of therapy resistance in YST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaretha A Skowron
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Laboratory, Translational UroOncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mara Kotthoff
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Laboratory, Translational UroOncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Felix Bremmer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katja Ruhnke
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Laboratory, Translational UroOncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fatma Parmaksiz
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Laboratory, Translational UroOncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Annika Richter
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Küffer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Stella Pauls
- Molecular Proteomics Laboratory, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anja Stefanski
- Molecular Proteomics Laboratory, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kai Stühler
- Molecular Proteomics Laboratory, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Daniel Nettersheim
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Laboratory, Translational UroOncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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13
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Lew CZ, Liu HC, Hou JY, Huang TH, Yeh TC. Pediatric Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors: Review of Clinics and Perspectives in Application of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15071998. [PMID: 37046659 PMCID: PMC10093083 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15071998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric extracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare, accounting for approximately 3.5% of childhood cancers. Since the introduction of platinum-based chemotherapy, the survival rate of patients has improved to more than 80%. However, poor-risk subtypes of pediatric extracranial GCTs do not respond well to chemotherapy, leading to refractory or relapsed (R/R) diseases. For example, long-term survival rates of mediastinal GCTs or choriocarcinoma are less than 50%. According to reports in recent years for adult patients with R/R GCTs, the use of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) combined with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has clinical advantages; however, HDCT combined with ASCT has rarely been reported in pediatric GCTs. The R/R and poor-risk groups of pediatric GCTs could benefit from HDCT and ASCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong-Zhi Lew
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Children’s Hospital, Mackay Medical College, Taipei 104, Taiwan
| | - Hsi-Che Liu
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Children’s Hospital, Mackay Medical College, Taipei 104, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Yin Hou
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Children’s Hospital, Mackay Medical College, Taipei 104, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Huan Huang
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Chi Yeh
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Children’s Hospital, Mackay Medical College, Taipei 104, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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14
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Siegmund SE, Mehra R, Acosta AM. An update on diagnostic tissue-based biomarkers in testicular tumors. Hum Pathol 2023; 133:32-55. [PMID: 35932825 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2022.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Testicular cancer is rare overall but comprises the most common solid malignancy diagnosed in young men aged ∼20-40 years. Most testicular neoplasms generally fall into 2 broad categories: germ cell tumors (GCTs; ∼95%) and sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs ∼5%). Given the relative rarity of these tumors, diagnostic biomarkers are highly relevant for their diagnosis. Over the past several decades, diagnostic biomarkers have improved dramatically through targeted immunohistochemical and molecular characterization. Despite these recent advances, most markers are not perfectly sensitive or entirely specific. Therefore, they need to be used in combination and interpreted in context. In this review, we summarize tissue-based biomarkers relevant to the pathologist, with a focus on practical diagnostic issues that relate to testicular GCT and SCST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie E Siegmund
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Rohit Mehra
- Department of Pathology and Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan Hospital and Health Systems, 1500, East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Andres M Acosta
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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15
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Schepisi G, Gianni C, Cursano MC, Gallà V, Menna C, Casadei C, Bleve S, Lolli C, Martinelli G, Rosti G, De Giorgi U. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy: Potential treatment options against Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1118610. [PMID: 36860862 PMCID: PMC9968831 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1118610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent a heterogeneous neoplasm family affecting gonads and rarely occurring in extragonadal areas. Most of patients have a good prognosis, often even in the presence of metastatic disease; however, in almost 15% of cases, tumor relapse and platinum resistance are the main challenges. Thus, novel treatment strategies with both improved antineoplastic activity and minor treatment-related adverse events compared with platinum are really expected. In this context, the development and the high activity demonstrated by immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors and, subsequently, the interesting results obtained from the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-) T cell therapy in hematological tumors, have stimulated research in this direction also in GCTs. In this article, we will analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying the immune action in the development of GCTs, and we will report the data from the studies that tested the new immunotherapeutic approaches in these neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Schepisi
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy,*Correspondence: Giuseppe Schepisi,
| | - Caterina Gianni
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Cursano
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Valentina Gallà
- 2Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Cecilia Menna
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Chiara Casadei
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Sara Bleve
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Cristian Lolli
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rosti
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Ugo De Giorgi
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
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16
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Murray G, De Jesus O, Correa-Rivas M, Cheverez-Ocasio JI. Testicular yolk sac tumour metastasis to the L2 vertebra. BMJ Case Rep 2022; 15:e250461. [PMID: 36135998 PMCID: PMC9454083 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2022-250461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of surgery for metastases to the vertebra from yolk sac tumours has not been established. The main treatment for disseminated disease is chemotherapy. We present a man in his 30s with a left orchiectomy for a testicular mixed germ cell tumour with a prominent yolk sac component who, 12 months later, developed an asymptomatic metastasis to the L2 vertebra unresponsive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patient underwent resection of the L2 vertebral body, leaving a small residual tumour anterior to the vertebra attached to the great vessels. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of a metastatic testicular yolk sac tumour in the vertebra. The postoperative MRI 6 months later demonstrated significant expansion of the tumour at the soft tissues anterior to the expandable titanium cage encasing the great vessels and extending to the paraspinal areas. Additional salvage surgery was not recommended because of the advanced stage of the tumour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Murray
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Orlando De Jesus
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Maria Correa-Rivas
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Jorge I Cheverez-Ocasio
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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17
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Pure Ovarian Dysgerminoma in a Postmenopausal Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Management. Gynecol Oncol Rep 2022; 43:101068. [PMID: 36212092 PMCID: PMC9535265 DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2022.101068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Pure dysgerminomas in postmenopausal females are rare. Ovarian dysgerminoma symptoms are non-specific. Treatment options have traditionally included surgical resection and chemotherapy.
Background A pure ovarian dysgerminoma in a postmenopausal female is a rare phenomenon. Case A 65-year-old female presented with a large pelvic mass. Following surgical debulking, the patient was diagnosed with FIGO Stage IIB ovarian dysgerminoma. She was treated with three cycles of etoposide and cisplatin and has been disease-free for 12 months. Conclusion Dysgerminomas in postmenopausal females are uncommon. Gynecologic oncologists should be familiar with the pathological diagnosis and treatment recommendations to achieve optimal outcomes.
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Guven DC, Stephen B, Sahin TK, Cakir IY, Erul E, Aksoy S. The Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Rare Tumors: A Systematic Review of Published Clinical Trials. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2022; 174:103700. [PMID: 35533815 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) entered treatment algorithms in most tumors. However, the data on the efficacy is limited in rare tumors with no phase III studies. We systemically reviewed the clinical trials evaluating the ICI efficacy in rare tumors and included a total of 47 clinical trials in this review. The ICIs demonstrated over 30% response rates in Merkel cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and became the standard of care. Additionally, the ICI efficacy was promising in thymic epithelial tumors and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. In contrast, the ICI efficacy is limited in most sarcomas, germ cell tumors and low-grade neuroendocrine tumors. The ICI efficacy seemed to be improved with combinations targeting tumor microenvironment in sarcomas. The available evidence on ICI efficacy in rare tumors denote a need for better patient selection and novel combination strategies to improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Can Guven
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Bettzy Stephen
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Taha Koray Sahin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Yahya Cakir
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Enes Erul
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sercan Aksoy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
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19
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Kawahara T, Kawai K, Kojima T, Nagumo Y, Sakka S, Kandori S, Negoro H, Mathis BJ, Maruo K, Miura K, Sakamoto N, Shinohara N, Yamashita S, Yonemori K, Kishida T, Ukimura O, Nishimura K, Kobayashi Y, Nishiyama H. Phase II trial of nivolumab monotherapy and biomarker screening in patients with chemo‐refractory germ cell tumors. Int J Urol 2022; 29:741-747. [PMID: 35462438 PMCID: PMC9545636 DOI: 10.1111/iju.14885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Germ cell tumors are highly susceptible to chemotherapy; however, there is a lack of established treatments for consistently relapsing germ cell tumor. Therefore, in this phase II study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab for relapsed germ cell tumor. Methods Seventeen adult patients (median age 34 years) with refractory primary germ cell tumor after second‐line or higher chemotherapy were enrolled. Nivolumab was administered over 30 min at 240 mg/body every 2 weeks until disease progression or intolerable adverse event occurrence. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate. Result We performed a biomarker analysis of programmed death ligand‐1 expression and genomic sequencing. Tumor histology revealed nonseminoma and seminoma in 14 and three patients, respectively. Patients were pretreated with a median of three chemotherapy lines, and three patients received high‐dose chemotherapy. The median number of nivolumab doses was 3 (range 2–46). One patient showed a partial response and three showed stable disease. Responses were durable in one patient with a partial response and one patient with stable disease (median 90 and 68 weeks, respectively). Nivolumab was well‐tolerated, with only two Grade 3 adverse events observed. Programmed death ligand‐1 expression was not associated with objective responses. Genomic sequencing revealed a high tumor mutation burden in a patient with a durable partial response. While a small subset of chemorefractory germ cell tumors may respond to nivolumab, programmed death ligand‐1 is unreliable to measure response. Conclusions Tumor mutation burden is a potential biomarker for future testing of germ cell tumor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Kawahara
- Department of Urology University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Koji Kawai
- Department of Urology International University of Health and Welfare Narita Chiba Japan
| | - Takahiro Kojima
- Department of Urology University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Nagumo
- Department of Urology University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Shotarou Sakka
- Department of Urology University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Shuya Kandori
- Department of Urology University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Negoro
- Department of Urology University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Bryan J Mathis
- International Medical Center University of Tsukuba Affiliated Hospital Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Kazushi Maruo
- Department of Clinical Trial and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Koji Miura
- Tsukuba Clinical Research and Development Organization (T‐CReDO), Faculty of Medicine University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Noriaki Sakamoto
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Nobuo Shinohara
- Department of Urology Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Shinichi Yamashita
- Department of Urology Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Sendai Miyagi Japan
| | - Kan Yonemori
- Department of Breast and Medical Oncology National Cancer Center Hospital Chuo‐ku Tokyo Japan
| | - Takeshi Kishida
- Department of Urology Kanagawa Cancer Center Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Osamu Ukimura
- Department of Urology Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto Kyoto Japan
| | - Kazuo Nishimura
- Department of Urology Osaka International Cancer Institute Osaka Osaka Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Kobayashi
- Department of Urology Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Okayama Japan
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Országhová Z, Kalavska K, Mego M, Chovanec M. Overcoming Chemotherapy Resistance in Germ Cell Tumors. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10050972. [PMID: 35625709 PMCID: PMC9139090 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10050972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) are highly curable malignancies. Excellent survival rates in patients with metastatic disease can be attributed to the exceptional sensitivity of GCTs to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. This hypersensitivity is probably related to alterations in the DNA repair of cisplatin-induced DNA damage, and an excessive apoptotic response. However, chemotherapy fails due to the development of cisplatin resistance in a proportion of patients. The molecular basis of this resistance appears to be multifactorial. Tracking the mechanisms of cisplatin resistance in GCTs, multiple molecules have been identified as potential therapeutic targets. A variety of therapeutic agents have been evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. These include different chemotherapeutics, targeted therapies, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, CDK inhibitors, and anti-CD30 therapy, as well as immune-checkpoint inhibitors, epigenetic therapy, and others. These therapeutics have been used as single agents or in combination with cisplatin. Some of them have shown promising in vitro activity in overcoming cisplatin resistance, but have not been effective in clinical trials in refractory GCT patients. This review provides a summary of current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of cisplatin sensitivity and resistance in GCTs and outlines possible therapeutic approaches that seek to overcome this chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Országhová
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.O.); (M.M.)
| | - Katarina Kalavska
- Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Mego
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.O.); (M.M.)
- Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Michal Chovanec
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.O.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence:
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21
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Wu Z, Chen Q, Qu L, Li M, Wang L, Mir MC, Carbonara U, Pandolfo SD, Black PC, Paul AK, Di Lorenzo G, Porpiglia F, Mari A, Necchi A, Rouprêt M, Psutka SP, Autorino R. Adverse Events of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Therapy for Urologic Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials: A Collaborative Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Eur Urol 2022; 81:414-425. [PMID: 35101302 DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2022.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Therapies based on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are transforming the treatment landscape of urologic oncology. Nevertheless, an exhaustive overview of the toxicity spectrum of these novel therapies has yet to be provided. OBJECTIVE To comprehensively investigate the incidence and profile of ICI therapy-related adverse events (AEs) across urologic cancers. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION We searched for all clinical trials investigating the role of ICI therapy published between January 2010 and September 2021. Studies involving urologic cancers with reported overall incidence or tabulated data of treatment-related AEs (trAEs) or immune-related AEs (irAEs) were included. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed after protocol registration in PROSPERO (CRD42021276435). EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS We identified 2638 records, of which 92 studies (including 22942 participants) met the inclusion criteria. The pooled overall incidence was 81.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 78.0-84.7) for any-grade trAEs and 29.3% (95% CI 24.9-34.1) for grade ≥3 trAEs. The pooled overall incidence was 34.3% (95% CI 28.5-40.7) for any-grade irAEs and 10.2% (95%CI 8.2-12.7) for grade ≥3 irAEs. On a multivariable analysis, cancer type, therapy combination, clinical settings (perioperative vs advanced/metastatic), and drug exposure were independently associated with the occurrence of trAEs or irAEs. The overall rate of treatment-related mortality was 0.94% (140 of 14 899 participants), with pneumonitis (9.3%), pneumonia (7.9%), and respiratory failure (7.1%) being the most common causes. Immune-related mortality occurred in 0.26% (28 of 10 723) patients, with pneumonitis (35.7%), hepatic failure (10.7%), and hepatitis (7.1%) being most common. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides a comprehensive overview of ICI-associated AEs in urologic cancer patients. The spectrum and incidence of AEs vary across cancer types, ICI types, clinical settings, and therapy combinations. These findings provide important guidance to clinicians in counseling and management of patients with urologic cancers. PATIENT SUMMARY A high proportion of patients experience immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated toxicity. Physician and patient education is critical for early recognition and proper management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjie Wu
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Health Statistics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Le Qu
- Department of Urology, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Mingmin Li
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Linhui Wang
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Maria C Mir
- Department of Urology, Valencian Oncology Institute Foundation, FIVO, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | - Peter C Black
- Department of Urologic Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Asit K Paul
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Internal Medicine, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Giuseppe Di Lorenzo
- Oncology Unit, Andrea Tortora Hospital, ASL Salerno, Pagani, Italy; Vincenzo Tiberio Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Francesco Porpiglia
- Department of Urology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Andrea Mari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence. Unit of Oncologic Minimally-Invasive Urology and Andrology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Necchi
- Genitourinary Medical Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital and Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Morgan Rouprêt
- Department of Urology, GRC n°5, Predictive Onco-Uro, AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Sarah P Psutka
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA, USA
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22
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Moos WH, Faller DV, Glavas IP, Harpp DN, Kamperi N, Kanara I, Kodukula K, Mavrakis AN, Pernokas J, Pernokas M, Pinkert CA, Powers WR, Steliou K, Tamvakopoulos C, Vavvas DG, Zamboni RJ, Sampani K. Pathogenic mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 193:114809. [PMID: 34673016 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Herein we trace links between biochemical pathways, pathogenesis, and metabolic diseases to set the stage for new therapeutic advances. Cellular and acellular microorganisms including bacteria and viruses are primary pathogenic drivers that cause disease. Missing from this statement are subcellular compartments, importantly mitochondria, which can be pathogenic by themselves, also serving as key metabolic disease intermediaries. The breakdown of food molecules provides chemical energy to power cellular processes, with mitochondria as powerhouses and ATP as the principal energy carrying molecule. Most animal cell ATP is produced by mitochondrial synthase; its central role in metabolism has been known for >80 years. Metabolic disorders involving many organ systems are prevalent in all age groups. Progressive pathogenic mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of genetic mitochondrial diseases, the most common phenotypic expression of inherited metabolic disorders. Confluent genetic, metabolic, and mitochondrial axes surface in diabetes, heart failure, neurodegenerative disease, and even in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter H Moos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Douglas V Faller
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Cancer Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ioannis P Glavas
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David N Harpp
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Natalia Kamperi
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | - Anastasios N Mavrakis
- Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julie Pernokas
- Advanced Dental Associates of New England, Woburn, MA, USA
| | - Mark Pernokas
- Advanced Dental Associates of New England, Woburn, MA, USA
| | - Carl A Pinkert
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Whitney R Powers
- Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Anatomy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kosta Steliou
- Cancer Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; PhenoMatriX, Inc., Natick, MA, USA
| | - Constantin Tamvakopoulos
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Demetrios G Vavvas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Retina Service, Angiogenesis Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert J Zamboni
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Konstantina Sampani
- Beetham Eye Institute, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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23
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Kawai K, Tawada A, Onozawa M, Inoue T, Sakurai H, Mori I, Takiguchi Y, Miyazaki J. Rapid Response to Pembrolizumab in a Chemo-Refractory Testicular Germ Cell Cancer with Microsatellite Instability-High. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:4853-4858. [PMID: 34584425 PMCID: PMC8464369 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s323898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is highly chemo-sensitive cancer; however, there is no established treatment for TGCT relapsed after multiple chemotherapy. Although pembrolizumab showed durable stable disease in some patients, no reliable biomarker for predicting response is available. High microsatellite instability (MSI) is rare in chemo-naïve TGCT. We report a TGCT patient with a rapid response to pembrolizumab. A 34-year-old Japanese male diagnosed with advanced TGCT underwent PCR-based testing of the primary site; it did not reveal MSI. He relapsed after four chemotherapy regimens: bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin; paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin; vinblastine, ifosfamide and cisplatin; and irinotecan+nedaplatin with a total of 20 treatment cycles. Chemotherapy was thus discontinued. Re-examination by a CT-guided needle biopsy for progressing retroperitoneal lymph node (RPLN) metastases showed MSI-high; pembrolizumab was initiated. After only two doses, the human chorionic gonadotropin level decreased from 6500 to <1.0 IU/L. PET-CT showed shrinkage of the RPLN metastases with diminished metabolism. The patient is currently free from disease progression for 6 months from the start of pembrolizumab. This is the first report of refractory TGCT with MSI-high responding to pembrolizumab. We emphasize the utility of a metastatic-site biopsy to check the MSI status for refractory TGCT even when primary site is MSI-negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Kawai
- Department of Urology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita, Japan
| | - Akinobu Tawada
- Department of Medical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Mizuki Onozawa
- Department of Urology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita, Japan
| | - Takamitsu Inoue
- Department of Urology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Sakurai
- Department of Urology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita, Japan
| | - Ichiro Mori
- Department of Pathology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita, Japan
| | - Yuichi Takiguchi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jun Miyazaki
- Department of Urology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita, Japan
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