1
|
Galant N, Krawczyk P, Monist M, Obara A, Gajek Ł, Grenda A, Nicoś M, Kalinka E, Milanowski J. Molecular Classification of Endometrial Cancer and Its Impact on Therapy Selection. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5893. [PMID: 38892080 PMCID: PMC11172295 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115893] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) accounts for 90% of uterine cancer cases. It is considered not only one of the most common gynecological malignancies but also one of the most frequent cancers among women overall. Nowadays, the differentiation of EC subtypes is based on immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques. It is considered that patients' prognosis and the implementation of the appropriate treatment depend on the cancer subtype. Patients with pathogenic variants in POLE have the most favorable outcome, while those with abnormal p53 protein have the poorest. Therefore, in patients with POLE mutation, the de-escalation of postoperative treatment may be considered, and patients with abnormal p53 protein should be subjected to intensive adjuvant therapy. Patients with a DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) deficiency are classified in the intermediate prognosis group as EC patients without a specific molecular profile. Immunotherapy has been recognized as an effective treatment method in patients with advanced or recurrent EC with a mismatch deficiency. Thus, different adjuvant therapy approaches, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy, are being proposed depending on the EC subtype, and international guidelines, such as those published by ESMO and ESGO/ESTRO/ESP, include recommendations for performing the molecular classification of all EC cases. The decision about adjuvant therapy selection has to be based not only on clinical data and histological type and stage of cancer, but, following international recommendations, has to include EC molecular subtyping. This review describes how molecular classification could support more optimal therapeutic management in endometrial cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Galant
- Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Allergology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (N.G.); (P.K.); (M.N.); (J.M.)
| | - Paweł Krawczyk
- Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Allergology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (N.G.); (P.K.); (M.N.); (J.M.)
| | - Marta Monist
- II Department of Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Adrian Obara
- Institute of Genetics and Immunology GENIM LCC, 20-609 Lublin, Poland; (A.O.); (Ł.G.)
| | - Łukasz Gajek
- Institute of Genetics and Immunology GENIM LCC, 20-609 Lublin, Poland; (A.O.); (Ł.G.)
| | - Anna Grenda
- Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Allergology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (N.G.); (P.K.); (M.N.); (J.M.)
| | - Marcin Nicoś
- Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Allergology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (N.G.); (P.K.); (M.N.); (J.M.)
| | - Ewa Kalinka
- Department of Oncology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Łódź, Poland;
| | - Janusz Milanowski
- Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Allergology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (N.G.); (P.K.); (M.N.); (J.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yu L, Lin N, Ye Y, Zhou S, Xu Y, Chen J, Zhuang W, Wang Q. Prognostic and chemotherapeutic response prediction by proliferation essential gene signature: Investigating POLE2 in bladder cancer progression and cisplatin resistance. J Cancer 2024; 15:1734-1749. [PMID: 38370377 PMCID: PMC10869977 DOI: 10.7150/jca.93023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the most common genitourinary malignancy. Proliferation essential genes (PEGs) are crucial to the survival of cancer cells. This study aimed to build a PEG signature to predict BLCA prognosis and treatment efficacy. Methods: BLCA PEGs and differentially expressed PEGs were identified using DepMap and TCGA-BLCA datasets, respectively. Based on the prognostic analysis of the differentially expressed PEGs, a PEG model was constructed. Subsequently, we analyzed the relationship between the PEG signature and prognosis of BLCA patients as well as their response to chemotherapy. Finally, we performed random forest analysis to target and functional experiments to validate the most significant PEG which is associated with BLCA progression. CCK-8, invasion, migration, and chemosensitivity assays were performed to assess effects of gene knockdown on BLCA cell proliferation, invasion and migration abilities, and cisplatin chemosensitivity. Results: We screened 10 prognostic PEGs from 201 differentially expressed PEGs and used them to construct a PEG signature model. Patients with high PEG signature score (PEGs-high) exhibited worse OS and lower sensitivity to chemotherapy than those with PEGs-low. We also found significant correlations between the PEG score and previously defined BLCA molecular subtypes. This suggests that the PEG score may effectively predict the molecular subtypes which have distinct clinical outcomes. Random forest analysis revealed that POLE2 (DNA polymerase epsilon subunit 2) was the most significant PEG differentiating BLCA tissue and normal tissue. Bioinformatic analysis and an immunohistochemistry staining assay confirmed that POLE2 was significantly up-regulated in tumor tissues and was associated with poor survival in BLCA patients. Moreover, POLE2 knockdown inhibited the ability of cell clone formation, proliferation, invasion, immigration and IC50 of cisplatin. Conclusion: The PEG signature acts as a potential predictor for prognosis and chemotherapy response in BLCA patients. POLE2 is a key PEG and plays a remarkable role in promoting the malignant progression and cisplatin resistance of BLCA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liying Yu
- Central Laboratory, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Na Lin
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Yan Ye
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, the Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital of Nanchang University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, China
| | - Shuang Zhou
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, 362000, China
| | - Yanjuan Xu
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Jiabi Chen
- Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 34 Zhongshan North Road, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian
| | - Wei Zhuang
- Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 34 Zhongshan North Road, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian
| | - Qingshui Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian-Macao Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Oriented Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, Innovation and Transformation Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 361000, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jiang D, Zhang H, Yin B, He M, Lu X, He C. The Prognostic Hub Gene POLE2 Promotes BLCA Cell Growth via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2024; 27:1984-1998. [PMID: 38963027 DOI: 10.2174/0113862073273633231113060429] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND BLCA is a common urothelial malignancy characterized by a high recurrence rate. Despite its prevalence, the molecular mechanisms underlying its development remain unclear. AIMS This study aimed to explore new prognostic biomarkers and investigate the underlying mechanism of bladder cancer (BLCA). OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to identify key prognostic biomarkers for BLCA and to elucidate their roles in the disease. METHODS We first collected the overlapping DEGs from GSE42089 and TCGA-BLCA samples for the subsequent weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to find a key module. Then, key module genes were analyzed by the MCODE algorithm, prognostic risk model, expression and immunohistochemical staining to identify the prognostic hub gene. Finally, the hub gene was subjected to clinical feature analysis, as well as cellular function assays. RESULTS In WGCNA on 1037 overlapping genes, the blue module was the key module. After a series of bioinformatics analyses, POLE2 was identified as a prognostic hub gene in BLCA from potential genes (TROAP, POLE2, ANLN, and E2F8). POLE2 level was increased in BLCA and related to different clinical features of BLCA patients. Cellular assays showed that si-POLE2 inhibited BLCA proliferation, and si-POLE2+ 740Y-P in BLCA cells up-regulated the PI3K and AKT protein levels. CONCLUSION In conclusion, POLE2 was identified to be a promising prognostic biomarker as an oncogene in BLCA. It was also found that POLE2 exerts a promoting function by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in BLCA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongzhen Jiang
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Huawei Zhang
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Bingde Yin
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Minke He
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Xuwei Lu
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Chang He
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sun MY, Wang L, Shen ZY. POLE2 Regulates Apoptosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells through the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway. Curr Med Sci 2023; 43:1162-1172. [PMID: 38079056 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-023-2813-7] [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: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the head and neck, but its occurrence and progression mechanisms remain unclear. In addition-there is a lack of effective targeting drugs. The second major subunit of DNA polymerase (POLE2) catalyzes the prolongation of new strand replication and modifies exonuclease domain activity. Our previous study found that POLE2 was associated with OSCC progression, but the mechanism remains unclear. METHODS The expression of POLE2 in OSCC tissues was detected using immunological assays. Mann-Whitney U analysis was used to investigate the relationship between POLE2 gene expression and tumor classification and prognosis of OSCC. POLE2 expression was inhibited in OSCC cells, and the effects of gene and protein expression were detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting. The POLE2 knockout model was constructed by transfecting a lentiviral vector. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were detected using various assays including colony formation, MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, and the Human Apoptosis Antibody Array. The animal model of OSCC was established by subcutaneous injection of transfected HN6 into 4-week-old female nude mice. After 30 days, tumors were removed under anesthesia and tumor weight and dimension were recorded. Tumor cell proliferation was analyzed using Ki67 staining. RESULTS POLE2 gene levels were significantly higher in the OSCC tissues than in the normal tissues. In addition, POLE2 gene levels were statistically correlated with tumor classification and prognosis. Silencing POLE2 inhibited the proliferation of oral cancer cells and promoted apoptosis in vitro. Animal experiments also supported a positive correlation between POLE2 and OSCC tumor formation. We further demonstrated that POLE2 could upregulate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as caspase-3, CD40, CD40L, DR6, Fas, IGFBP-6, p21, and SMAC. In addition, POLE2 regulated OSCC development by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSION POLE2 is closely related to the progression of OSCC. Thus, POLE2 may be a potential target for OSCC treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Yu Sun
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China
- Key Laboratory of Oral Clinical Medicine, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Zheng-Yu Shen
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Catalano M, Iannone LF, Nesi G, Nobili S, Mini E, Roviello G. Immunotherapy-related biomarkers: Confirmations and uncertainties. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023; 192:104135. [PMID: 37717881 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy profoundly changed oncology treatment, becoming one of the main therapeutical strategies. Remarkable improvement has been achieved in survival outcomes, but the percentage of patients who benefit from immunotherapy is still limited. Only one-third of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) achieve long-term response. Several patients are not responsive to treatment or relapse after an initial response. To date, programmed death-ligand 1, microsatellite instability, and tumor mutational burden are the three biomarkers validated to predict the ICIs response, but a single variable seems still insufficient in the patient's selection. Considering the substantial and increasing use of these drugs, the identification of new predictive biomarkers of ICI response is of paramount importance. We summarize the state of the art and the clinical use of immune biomarkers in oncology, highlighting the strength and weaknesses of currently approved biomarkers, describing the emerging tissues and circulating biomarkers, and outlining future perspectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Catalano
- 1 Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Luigi Francesco Iannone
- 1 Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Gabriella Nesi
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Nobili
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Enrico Mini
- 1 Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Giandomenico Roviello
- 1 Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yang C, Zhao L, Lin Y, Wang S, Ye Y, Shen Z. Improving the efficiency of immune checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic pMMR/MSS colorectal cancer: Options and strategies. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023; 200:104204. [PMID: 37984588 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104204] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment and been extensively used for patients with metastastic colorectal cancer (mCRC), especially those harboring deficient mismatch repair/ microsatellite instability (dMMR/MSI). However, the majority of mCRC are classified as proficient mismatch repair/microsatellite stability(pMMR/MSS) type characterized by a cold immune microenvironment, rendering them generally unresponsive to ICIs. How to improve the efficacy of ICIs for these patients is an important issue to be solved. On the one hand, it is urgent to discover the predictive biomarkers and clinical characteristics associated with effectiveness and expand the subset of pMMR/MSS mCRC patients who benefit from ICIs. Additionally, combined strategies are being explored to modulate the immune microenvironment of pMMR/MSS CRC and facilitate the conversion of cold tumors into hot tumors. In this review, we have focused on the recent advancements in the predictive biomarkers and combination therapeutic strategies with ICIs for pMMR/MSS mCRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changjiang Yang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Yilin Lin
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Shan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Yingjiang Ye
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Zhanlong Shen
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mur P, Viana-Errasti J, García-Mulero S, Magraner-Pardo L, Muñoz IG, Pons T, Capellá G, Pineda M, Feliubadaló L, Valle L. Recommendations for the classification of germline variants in the exonuclease domain of POLE and POLD1. Genome Med 2023; 15:85. [PMID: 37848928 PMCID: PMC10580551 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01234-y] [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: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Germline variants affecting the proofreading activity of polymerases epsilon and delta cause a hereditary cancer and adenomatous polyposis syndrome characterized by tumors with a high mutational burden and a specific mutational spectrum. In addition to the implementation of multiple pieces of evidence for the classification of gene variants, POLE and POLD1 variant classification is particularly challenging given that non-disruptive variants affecting the proofreading activity of the corresponding polymerase are the ones associated with cancer. In response to an evident need in the field, we have developed gene-specific variant classification recommendations, based on the ACMG/AMP (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology) criteria, for the assessment of non-disruptive variants located in the sequence coding for the exonuclease domain of the polymerases. METHODS A training set of 23 variants considered pathogenic or benign was used to define the usability and strength of the ACMG/AMP criteria. Population frequencies, computational predictions, co-segregation data, phenotypic and tumor data, and functional results, among other features, were considered. RESULTS Gene-specific variant classification recommendations for non-disruptive variants located in the exonuclease domain of POLE and POLD1 were defined. The resulting recommendations were applied to 128 exonuclease domain variants reported in the literature and/or public databases. A total of 17 variants were classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic, and 17 as benign or likely benign. CONCLUSIONS Our recommendations, with room for improvement in the coming years as more information become available on carrier families, tumor molecular characteristics and functional assays, are intended to serve the clinical and scientific communities and help improve diagnostic performance, avoiding variant misclassifications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Mur
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Health of Catalonia, Catalan Cancer Plan, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Julen Viana-Errasti
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra García-Mulero
- Department of Health of Catalonia, Catalan Cancer Plan, Barcelona, Spain
- Unit of Biomarkers and Susceptibility, Oncology Data Analytics Program (ODAP), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Magraner-Pardo
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK
| | - Inés G Muñoz
- Protein Crystallography Unit, Structural Biology Program, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Tirso Pons
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, National Center for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Capellá
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Pineda
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Feliubadaló
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Valle
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ge S, Wang K, Meng Y, He Z, Yang X, Shang W, Wang L. Silencing POLE2 promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinomas by inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Med Oncol 2023; 40:304. [PMID: 37733085 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02158-8] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in the head and neck at present, but the mechanism of its occurrence and development is still unclear, and there is still a lack of effective targeting drugs. The second major subunit of DNA polymerase (POLE2) has exonuclease activity and can catalyze the replication and modification of new chains. Our previous studies have found that it is associated with OSCC progression, but the mechanism is unclear.The expression of POLE2 in OSCC was detected by immunological method. The expression of POLE2 was inhibited in OSCC cells, and the biological function of the cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western Blot. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration were detected by colony formation, MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell. The expression level of POLE2 gene in OSCC was significantly higher than that in normal tissues. In addition, the expression level of POLE2 gene was significantly different from the tumor type and prognosis. During the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma, silencing POLE2 inhibits the proliferation of oral cancer cells and promotes apoptosis. The results of animal experiments also support the positive correlation between POLE2 and OSCC progression. We further demonstrated that POLE2 can up-regulate the downregulation of apoptosis-related proteins such as Caspase3, CD40, CD40L, DR6, Fas, IGFBP-6, P21, and SMAC. In addition, POLE2 regulates OSCC progression by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway. POLE2 is closely related to the progression of OSCC, and POLE2 may be a potential target for OSCC treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shengyou Ge
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Yuxiang Meng
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Zongxuan He
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaochen Yang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Shang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kasprzak A. Prognostic Biomarkers of Cell Proliferation in Colorectal Cancer (CRC): From Immunohistochemistry to Molecular Biology Techniques. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4570. [PMID: 37760539 PMCID: PMC10526446 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and severe malignancies worldwide. Recent advances in diagnostic methods allow for more accurate identification and detection of several molecular biomarkers associated with this cancer. Nonetheless, non-invasive and effective prognostic and predictive testing in CRC patients remains challenging. Classical prognostic genetic markers comprise mutations in several genes (e.g., APC, KRAS/BRAF, TGF-β, and TP53). Furthermore, CIN and MSI serve as chromosomal markers, while epigenetic markers include CIMP and many other candidates such as SERP, p14, p16, LINE-1, and RASSF1A. The number of proliferation-related long non-coding RNAs (e.g., SNHG1, SNHG6, MALAT-1, CRNDE) and microRNAs (e.g., miR-20a, miR-21, miR-143, miR-145, miR-181a/b) that could serve as potential CRC markers has also steadily increased in recent years. Among the immunohistochemical (IHC) proliferative markers, the prognostic value regarding the patients' overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) has been confirmed for thymidylate synthase (TS), cyclin B1, cyclin D1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and Ki-67. In most cases, the overexpression of these markers in tissues was related to worse OS and DFS. However, slowly proliferating cells should also be considered in CRC therapy (especially radiotherapy) as they could represent a reservoir from which cells are recruited to replenish the rapidly proliferating population in response to cell-damaging factors. Considering the above, the aim of this article is to review the most common proliferative markers assessed using various methods including IHC and selected molecular biology techniques (e.g., qRT-PCR, in situ hybridization, RNA/DNA sequencing, next-generation sequencing) as prognostic and predictive markers in CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aldona Kasprzak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Medical Sciences, Swiecicki Street 6, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang Y, Wang X, Zhu Y, Liang C, Zhao L, Meng Q, Yin JC, Shi Y, Wang F, Qin F, Xuan J. Case Report: Cancer spectrum and genetic characteristics of a de novo germline POLD1 p.L606M variant-induced polyposis syndrome. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1222873. [PMID: 37746257 PMCID: PMC10516538 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1222873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Germline variations in the DNA polymerase genes, POLE and POLD1, can lead to a hereditary cancer syndrome that is characterized by frequent gastrointestinal polyposis and multiple primary malignant tumors. However, because of its rare occurrence, this disorder has not been extensively studied. In this report, we present the case of a 22-year-old female patient who had been diagnosed with gastrointestinal polyposis, breast fibroadenoma, multiple primary colorectal cancers, and glioblastoma (grade IV) within a span of 4 years. Next-generation sequencing analysis revealed a germline variant in POLD1 (c.1816C>A; p.L606M). In silico analysis using protein functional predicting software, including SIFT, Polyphen, GERP++, and CADD, further confirmed the pathogenicity of POLD1 p.L606M (classified as ACMG grade Class 4). In line with polymerase deficiency, both rectal cancer and glioblastoma tissues exhibited a high tumor mutation burden, with 16.9 muts/Mb and 347.1 muts/Mb, respectively. Interestingly, the patient has no family history of cancer, and gene examination of both parents confirms that this is a de novo germline variant. Therefore, molecular screening for POLD1 may be necessary for patients with such a cancer spectrum, regardless of their family history.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaolu Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuning Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chong Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lijun Zhao
- Medical Science Liaison, Genetron Health Inc., Beijing, China
| | - Qi Meng
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiani C. Yin
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuqian Shi
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fufeng Wang
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feng Qin
- Cancer Center, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ji Xuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, School of Medicine, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Heinze K, Cairns ES, Thornton S, Harris B, Milne K, Grube M, Meyer C, Karnezis AN, Fereday S, Garsed DW, Leung SC, Chiu DS, Moubarak M, Harter P, Heitz F, McAlpine JN, DeFazio A, Bowtell DD, Goode EL, Pike M, Ramus SJ, Pearce CL, Staebler A, Köbel M, Kommoss S, Talhouk A, Nelson BH, Anglesio MS. The Prognostic Effect of Immune Cell Infiltration Depends on Molecular Subtype in Endometrioid Ovarian Carcinomas. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3471-3483. [PMID: 37339172 PMCID: PMC10472107 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-3815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Endometrioid ovarian carcinoma (ENOC) is the second most-common type of ovarian carcinoma, comprising 10%-20% of cases. Recently, the study of ENOC has benefitted from comparisons to endometrial carcinomas including defining ENOC with four prognostic molecular subtypes. Each subtype suggests differential mechanisms of progression, although tumor-initiating events remain elusive. There is evidence that the ovarian microenvironment may be critical to early lesion establishment and progression. However, while immune infiltrates have been well studied in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, studies in ENOC are limited. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We report on 210 ENOC, with clinical follow-up and molecular subtype annotation. Using multiplex IHC and immunofluorescence, we examine the prevalence of T-cell lineage, B-cell lineage, macrophages, and populations with programmed cell death protein 1 or programmed death-ligand 1 across subtypes of ENOC. RESULTS Immune cell infiltrates in tumor epithelium and stroma showed higher densities in ENOC subtypes with known high mutation burden (POLEmut and MMRd). While molecular subtypes were prognostically significant, immune infiltrates were not (overall survival P > 0.2). Analysis by molecular subtype revealed that immune cell density was prognostically significant in only the no specific molecular profile (NSMP) subtype, where immune infiltrates lacking B cells (TILB minus) had inferior outcome (disease-specific survival: HR, 4.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-14.7; P < 0.05). Similar to endometrial carcinomas, molecular subtype stratification was generally superior to immune response in predicting outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Subtype stratification is critical for better understanding of ENOC, in particular the distribution and prognostic significance of immune cell infiltrates. The role of B cells in the immune response within NSMP tumors warrants further study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karolin Heinze
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- OVCARE - British Columbia's Gynecological Cancer Research Program, BC Cancer, Vancouver General Hospital, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Evan S. Cairns
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Shelby Thornton
- OVCARE - British Columbia's Gynecological Cancer Research Program, BC Cancer, Vancouver General Hospital, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Core (MCIC), Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, Canada
| | - Bronwyn Harris
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Core (MCIC), Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, Canada
| | - Katy Milne
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Core (MCIC), Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, Canada
| | - Marcel Grube
- Department of Women's Health, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Charlotte Meyer
- OVCARE - British Columbia's Gynecological Cancer Research Program, BC Cancer, Vancouver General Hospital, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Women's Health, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anthony N. Karnezis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | - Sian Fereday
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dale W. Garsed
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samuel C.Y. Leung
- OVCARE - British Columbia's Gynecological Cancer Research Program, BC Cancer, Vancouver General Hospital, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Derek S. Chiu
- OVCARE - British Columbia's Gynecological Cancer Research Program, BC Cancer, Vancouver General Hospital, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Malak Moubarak
- Kliniken Essen Mitte, Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Essen, Germany
| | - Philipp Harter
- Kliniken Essen Mitte, Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Essen, Germany
| | - Florian Heitz
- Kliniken Essen Mitte, Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Essen, Germany
- Department for Gynecology with the Center for Oncologic Surgery Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jessica N. McAlpine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- OVCARE - British Columbia's Gynecological Cancer Research Program, BC Cancer, Vancouver General Hospital, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anna DeFazio
- Centre for Cancer Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David D.L. Bowtell
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ellen L. Goode
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Health Science Research, Division of Epidemiology, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Malcolm Pike
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Susan J. Ramus
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group (Consortium)
| | - C. Leigh Pearce
- Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group (Consortium)
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Annette Staebler
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martin Köbel
- Department of Pathology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stefan Kommoss
- Department of Women's Health, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Aline Talhouk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- OVCARE - British Columbia's Gynecological Cancer Research Program, BC Cancer, Vancouver General Hospital, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brad H. Nelson
- OVCARE - British Columbia's Gynecological Cancer Research Program, BC Cancer, Vancouver General Hospital, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Core (MCIC), Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, Canada
- Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group (Consortium)
| | - Michael S. Anglesio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- OVCARE - British Columbia's Gynecological Cancer Research Program, BC Cancer, Vancouver General Hospital, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zheng S, Cao Y, Randall J, Yu H, Thomas TO. Integrating POLE/POLD1 mutated for immunotherapy treatment planning of advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer. Thorac Cancer 2023; 14:2269-2274. [PMID: 37345618 PMCID: PMC10423654 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.15012] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study, we evaluated the potential of DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE) and DNA polymerase delta 1 (POLD1) as prognostic biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment in patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS Disease stage, PD-L1 positivity, histological subtypes, POLE/POLD1 mutation status, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and response to ICIs in NSCLC cases were derived from AACR GENIE dataset (n = 24 120), TCGA-Pan Lung Cancer dataset (n = 1144), AACR GENIE BPC NSCLC v2.0-public (n = 2004), and Memorial Sloan Kettering-Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets dataset (n = 350). The smoking history from TCGA and AACR GENIE datasets was grouped into current, former or never-smokers. RESULTS POLE and POLD1 genetic alterations were identified in 5% and 2.6% of NSCLC patients, respectively. Current smokers had 9% and 4% of POLE/POLD1 mutations, respectively, versus 1.7% for both POLE and POLD1 mutations prevalence in never-smokers. POLE/POLD1 mutations were associated with elevated mutation counts than those with wild-type (median mutation counts 16 vs. 7, p < 0.0001), more advanced disease stages (stage I disease 15.19% vs. 29.42%), more prevalent squamous histology subtype (21.69% vs. 9.05%, p = 0.0427), and a higher percentage of PD-L1 positivity (66.67% vs. 43.87%, p < 0.001). Treatment with ICIs improved survival in patients with both POLE/POLD1 mutated and those with TMB > 18 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Current smokers have a five-fold increased risk of having POLE mutations than never-smokers. POLE/POLD1 mutation status and TMB > 18 can be a composite biomarker for selecting NSCLC patients with survival benefits to ICI treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuhua Zheng
- Department of Radiation OncologyRobert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Yenong Cao
- Division of Hematology/OncologyTufts Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - James Randall
- Department of Radiation OncologyRobert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Haomin Yu
- Department of MathematicsUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Tarita O. Thomas
- Department of Radiation OncologyRobert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Joo JE, Mahmood K, Walker R, Georgeson P, Candiloro I, Clendenning M, Como J, Joseland S, Preston S, Graversen L, Wilding M, Field M, Lemon M, Wakeling J, Marfan H, Susman R, Isbister J, Edwards E, Bowman M, Kirk J, Ip E, McKay L, Antill Y, Hopper JL, Boussioutas A, Macrae FA, Dobrovic A, Jenkins MA, Rosty C, Winship IM, Buchanan DD. Identifying primary and secondary MLH1 epimutation carriers displaying low-level constitutional MLH1 methylation using droplet digital PCR and genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of colorectal cancers. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:95. [PMID: 37270516 PMCID: PMC10239107 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01511-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MLH1 epimutation is characterised by constitutional monoallelic MLH1 promoter hypermethylation, which can cause colorectal cancer (CRC). Tumour molecular profiles of MLH1 epimutation CRCs were used to classify germline MLH1 promoter variants of uncertain significance and MLH1 methylated early-onset CRCs (EOCRCs). Genome-wide DNA methylation and somatic mutational profiles of tumours from two germline MLH1: c.-11C > T and one MLH1: c.-[28A > G; 7C > T] carriers and three MLH1 methylated EOCRCs (< 45 years) were compared with 38 reference CRCs. Methylation-sensitive droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used to detect mosaic MLH1 methylation in blood, normal mucosa and buccal DNA. RESULTS Genome-wide methylation-based Consensus Clustering identified four clusters where the tumour methylation profiles of germline MLH1: c.-11C > T carriers and MLH1 methylated EOCRCs clustered with the constitutional MLH1 epimutation CRCs but not with the sporadic MLH1 methylated CRCs. Furthermore, monoallelic MLH1 methylation and APC promoter hypermethylation in tumour were observed in both MLH1 epimutation and germline MLH1: c.-11C > T carriers and MLH1 methylated EOCRCs. Mosaic constitutional MLH1 methylation in MLH1: c.-11C > T carriers and 1 of 3 MLH1 methylated EOCRCs was identified by methylation-sensitive ddPCR. CONCLUSIONS Mosaic MLH1 epimutation underlies the CRC aetiology in MLH1: c.-11C > T germline carriers and a subset of MLH1 methylated EOCRCs. Tumour profiling and ultra-sensitive ddPCR methylation testing can be used to identify mosaic MLH1 epimutation carriers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon E Joo
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia.
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Khalid Mahmood
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Melbourne Bioinformatics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Romy Walker
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter Georgeson
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ida Candiloro
- Beacon Biomarkers Lab, Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark Clendenning
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Julia Como
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sharelle Joseland
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Susan Preston
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lise Graversen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mathilda Wilding
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael Field
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Lemon
- Genetic Health Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Janette Wakeling
- Genetic Health Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
- Tasman Health Care, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Helen Marfan
- Genetic Health Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Rachel Susman
- Genetic Health Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Joanne Isbister
- Genomic Medicine and Family Cancer Clinic, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Emma Edwards
- Familial Cancer Service, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Michelle Bowman
- Familial Cancer Service, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Judy Kirk
- Familial Cancer Service, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Emilia Ip
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Lynne McKay
- The Cabrini Family Cancer Clinic, Cabrini Health, Malvern, VIC, Australia
| | - Yoland Antill
- Genomic Medicine and Family Cancer Clinic, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Cabrini Family Cancer Clinic, Cabrini Health, Malvern, VIC, Australia
| | - John L Hopper
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Alex Boussioutas
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Finlay A Macrae
- Genomic Medicine and Family Cancer Clinic, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Colorectal Medicine and Genetics, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Alexander Dobrovic
- Beacon Biomarkers Lab, Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark A Jenkins
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Christophe Rosty
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Envoi Specialist Pathologists, Brisbane, Australia
- University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ingrid M Winship
- Genomic Medicine and Family Cancer Clinic, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Daniel D Buchanan
- Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Genomic Medicine and Family Cancer Clinic, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Labrousse G, Vande Perre P, Parra G, Jaffrelot M, Leroy L, Chibon F, Escudie F, Selves J, Hoffmann JS, Guimbaud R, Lutzmann M. The hereditary N363K POLE exonuclease mutant extends PPAP tumor spectrum to glioblastomas by causing DNA damage and aneuploidy in addition to increased mismatch mutagenicity. NAR Cancer 2023; 5:zcad011. [PMID: 36915289 PMCID: PMC10006997 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The exonuclease domain of DNA polymerases epsilon's catalytic subunit (POLE) removes misincorporated nucleotides, called proofreading. POLE-exonuclease mutations cause colorectal- and endometrial cancers with an extreme burden of single nucleotide substitutions. We recently reported that particularly the hereditary POLE exonuclease mutation N363K predisposes in addition to aggressive giant cell glioblastomas. We knocked-in this mutation homozygously into human cell lines and compared its properties to knock-ins of the likewise hereditary POLE L424V mutation and to a complete proofreading-inactivating mutation (exo-null). We found that N363K cells have higher mutation rates as both L424V- or exo-null mutant cells. In contrast to L424V cells, N363K cells expose a growth defect, replication stress and DNA damage. In non-transformed cells, these burdens lead to aneuploidy but macroscopically normal nuclei. In contrast, transformed N363K cells phenocopy the enlarged and disorganized nuclei of giant cell glioblastomas. Taken together, our data characterize a POLE exonuclease domain mutant that not only causes single nucleotide hypermutation, but in addition DNA damage and chromosome instability, leading to an extended tumor spectrum. Our results expand the understanding of the polymerase exonuclease domain and suggest that an assessment of both the mutational potential and the genetic instability might refine classification and treatment of POLE-mutated tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Labrousse
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Vande Perre
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Oncogenetics Department, Institute Claudius Regaud, IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Genis Parra
- Center for Genomic Analysis, CNAG, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac 4, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marion Jaffrelot
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Oncogenetics Department, Institute Claudius Regaud, IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Department of Digestive Oncology, IUCT Rangueil-Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Laura Leroy
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
| | - Frederic Chibon
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
| | - Frederic Escudie
- Laboratoire d’Excellence Toulouse Cancer (TOUCAN), Laboratoire de Pathologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Toulouse, Oncopole, 1 Avenue Irene-Joliot-Curie, 31059Toulouse, France
| | - Janick Selves
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence Toulouse Cancer (TOUCAN), Laboratoire de Pathologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Toulouse, Oncopole, 1 Avenue Irene-Joliot-Curie, 31059Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Sebastien Hoffmann
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence Toulouse Cancer (TOUCAN), Laboratoire de Pathologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Toulouse, Oncopole, 1 Avenue Irene-Joliot-Curie, 31059Toulouse, France
| | - Rosine Guimbaud
- Oncogenetics Department, Institute Claudius Regaud, IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Department of Digestive Oncology, IUCT Rangueil-Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Malik Lutzmann
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Institute of Human Genetics, IGH, UMR 9002, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Montpellier, 34396Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bikhchandani M, Amersi F, Hendifar A, Gangi A, Osipov A, Zaghiyan K, Atkins K, Cho M, Aguirre F, Hazelett D, Alvarez R, Zhou L, Hitchins M, Gong J. POLE-Mutant Colon Cancer Treated with PD-1 Blockade Showing Clearance of Circulating Tumor DNA and Prolonged Disease-Free Interval. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14051054. [PMID: 37239414 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Colon cancer with high microsatellite instability is characterized by a high tumor mutational burden and responds well to immunotherapy. Mutations in polymerase ɛ, a DNA polymerase involved in DNA replication and repair, are also associated with an ultra-mutated phenotype. We describe a case where a patient with POLE-mutated and hypermutated recurrent colon cancer was treated with pembrolizumab. Treatment with immunotherapy in this patient also led to the clearance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). ctDNA is beginning to emerge as a marker for minimal residual disease in many solid malignancies, including colon cancer. Its clearance with treatment suggests that the selection of pembrolizumab on the basis of identifying a POLE mutation on next-generation sequencing may increase disease-free survival in this patient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mihir Bikhchandani
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Farin Amersi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Andrew Hendifar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, AC 1042B, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Alexandra Gangi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Arsen Osipov
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, AC 1042B, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Karen Zaghiyan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Katelyn Atkins
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - May Cho
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92868, USA
| | - Francesca Aguirre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Dennis Hazelett
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Rocio Alvarez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Lisa Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Megan Hitchins
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Jun Gong
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, AC 1042B, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Washif M, Ahmad T, Hosen MB, Rahman MR, Taniguchi T, Okubo H, Hirota K, Kawasumi R. CTF18-RFC contributes to cellular tolerance against chain-terminating nucleoside analogs (CTNAs) in cooperation with proofreading exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase ε. DNA Repair (Amst) 2023; 127:103503. [PMID: 37099849 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2023.103503] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapeutic nucleoside analogs, such as cytarabine (Ara-C), are incorporated into genomic DNA during replication. Incorporated Ara-CMP (Ara-cytidine monophosphate) serves as a chain terminator and inhibits DNA synthesis by replicative polymerase epsilon (Polε). The proofreading exonuclease activity of Polε removes the misincorporated Ara-CMP, thereby contributing to the cellular tolerance to Ara-C. Purified Polε performs proofreading, and it is generally believed that proofreading in vivo does not need additional factors. In this study, we demonstrated that the proofreading by Polε in vivo requires CTF18, a component of the leading-strand replisome. We found that loss of CTF18 in chicken DT40 cells and human TK6 cells results in hypersensitivity to Ara-C, indicating the conserved function of CTF18 in the cellular tolerance of Ara-C. Strikingly, we found that proofreading-deficient POLE1D269A/-, CTF18-/-, and POLE1D269A/-/CTF18-/- cells showed indistinguishable phenotypes, including the extent of hypersensitivity to Ara-C and decreased replication rate with Ara-C. This observed epistatic relationship between POLE1D269A/- and CTF18-/- suggests that they are interdependent in removing mis-incorporated Ara-CMP from the 3' end of primers. Mechanistically, we found that CTF18-/- cells have reduced levels of chromatin-bound Polε upon Ara-C treatment, suggesting that CTF18 contributes to the tethering of Polε on fork at the stalled end and thereby facilitating the removal of inserted Ara-C. Collectively, these data reveal the previously unappreciated role of CTF18 in Polε-exonuclease-mediated maintenance of the replication fork upon Ara-C incorporation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mubasshir Washif
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Tasnim Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Md Bayejid Hosen
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Md Ratul Rahman
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Tomoya Taniguchi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Hiromori Okubo
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Kouji Hirota
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Ryotaro Kawasumi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gola M, Stefaniak P, Godlewski J, Jereczek-Fossa BA, Starzyńska A. Prospects of POLD1 in Human Cancers: A Review. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061905. [PMID: 36980791 PMCID: PMC10047664 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, exceeded only by cardiovascular disease. Despite the introduction of several survival-prolonging treatment modalities, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy, the overall prognosis for the metastatic disease remains challenging. Therefore, the identification of new molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets related to cancer diagnosis and prognosis is of paramount importance. DNA polymerase delta 1 (POLD1), a catalytic and proofreading subunit of the DNA polymerase δ complex, performs a crucial role in DNA replication and repair processes. Recently, germline and somatic mutations of the POLD1 gene have been acknowledged in several malignancies. Moreover, diversified POLD1 expression profiles have been reported in association with clinicopathological features in a variety of tumor types. With this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge on the role of POLD1 in cancers. In addition, we discuss the future prospects and clinical applications of the assessment of POLD1 mutation and expression patterns in tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michał Gola
- Department of Human Histology and Embryology, Collegium Medicum, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Przemysław Stefaniak
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Hospital Ministry of Internal Affairs with Warmia and Mazury Oncology Centre, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Janusz Godlewski
- Department of Human Histology and Embryology, Collegium Medicum, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Hospital Ministry of Internal Affairs with Warmia and Mazury Oncology Centre, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa
- Division of Radiation Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Starzyńska
- Department of Oral Surgery, Medical University of Gdańsk, 7 Dębinki Street, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zhu LH, Dong J, Li WL, Kou ZY, Yang J. Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in Autosomal Dominant and Recessive APC Mutation-Negative Colorectal Adenomatous Polyposis. Dig Dis Sci 2023:10.1007/s10620-023-07890-9. [PMID: 36862359 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-023-07890-9] [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: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
The most prevalent type of intestinal polyposis, colorectal adenomatous polyposis (CAP), is regarded as a precancerous lesion of colorectal cancer with obvious genetic characteristics. Early screening and intervention can significantly improve patients' survival and prognosis. The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) mutation is believed to be the primary cause of CAP. There is, however, a subset of CAP with undetectable pathogenic mutations in APC, known as APC (-)/CAP. The genetic predisposition to APC (-)/CAP has largely been associated with germline mutations in some susceptible genes, including the human mutY homologue (MUTYH) gene and the Nth-like DNA glycosylase 1 (NTHL1) gene, and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) can cause autosomal recessive APC (-)/CAP. Furthermore, autosomal dominant APC (-)/CAP could occur as a result of DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE)/DNA polymerase delta 1 (POLD1), axis inhibition protein 2 (AXIN2), and dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2) mutations. The clinical phenotypes of these pathogenic mutations vary greatly depending on their genetic characteristics. Therefore, in this study, we present a comprehensive review of the association between autosomal recessive and dominant APC (-)/CAP genotypes and clinical phenotypes and conclude that APC (-)/CAP is a disease caused by multiple genes with different phenotypes and interaction exists in the pathogenic genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Hua Zhu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 295 Xichang Rd, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Jian Dong
- Department of Internal Medicine-Oncology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Wen-Liang Li
- Colorectal Cancer Clinical Research Center, Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Kou
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 295 Xichang Rd, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 295 Xichang Rd, Kunming, 650032, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Rocque MJ, Leipart V, Kumar Singh A, Mur P, Olsen MF, Engebretsen LF, Martin-Ramos E, Aligué R, Sætrom P, Valle L, Drabløs F, Otterlei M, Sjursen W. Characterization of POLE c.1373A > T p.(Tyr458Phe), causing high cancer risk. Mol Genet Genomics 2023; 298:555-566. [PMID: 36856825 PMCID: PMC10133059 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-023-02000-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: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
The cancer syndrome polymerase proofreading-associated polyposis results from germline mutations in the POLE and POLD1 genes. Mutations in the exonuclease domain of these genes are associated with hyper- and ultra-mutated tumors with a predominance of base substitutions resulting from faulty proofreading during DNA replication. When a new variant is identified by gene testing of POLE and POLD1, it is important to verify whether the variant is associated with PPAP or not, to guide genetic counseling of mutation carriers. In 2015, we reported the likely pathogenic (class 4) germline POLE c.1373A > T p.(Tyr458Phe) variant and we have now characterized this variant to verify that it is a class 5 pathogenic variant. For this purpose, we investigated (1) mutator phenotype in tumors from two carriers, (2) mutation frequency in cell-based mutagenesis assays, and (3) structural consequences based on protein modeling. Whole-exome sequencing of two tumors identified an ultra-mutator phenotype with a predominance of base substitutions, the majority of which are C > T. A SupF mutagenesis assay revealed increased mutation frequency in cells overexpressing the variant of interest as well as in isogenic cells encoding the variant. Moreover, exonuclease repair yeast-based assay supported defect in proofreading activity. Lastly, we present a homology model of human POLE to demonstrate structural consequences leading to pathogenic impact of the p.(Tyr458Phe) mutation. The three lines of evidence, taken together with updated co-segregation and previously published data, allow the germline variant POLE c.1373A > T p.(Tyr458Phe) to be reclassified as a class 5 variant. That means the variant is associated with PPAP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariève J Rocque
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, St. Olavs Hospital, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Vilde Leipart
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NMBU, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Ashish Kumar Singh
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, St. Olavs Hospital, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Pilar Mur
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maren F Olsen
- Department of Medical Genetics, St. Olavs Hospital, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Lars F Engebretsen
- Department of Medical Genetics, St. Olavs Hospital, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Edgar Martin-Ramos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa Aligué
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pål Sætrom
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Computer and Information Science, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
- Bioinformatics Core Facility-BioCore, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Laura Valle
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Finn Drabløs
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Marit Otterlei
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Wenche Sjursen
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030, Trondheim, Norway.
- Department of Medical Genetics, St. Olavs Hospital, 7030, Trondheim, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Murdocca M, Spitalieri P, D'Apice MR, Novelli G, Sangiuolo F. From cue to meaning: The involvement of POLD1 gene in DNA replication, repair and aging. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 211:111790. [PMID: 36764464 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111790] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Aging is an extremely complex biological process. Aging, cancer and inflammation represent a trinity, object of many interesting researches. The accumulation of DNA damage and its consequences progressively interfere with cellular function and increase susceptibility to developing aging condition. DNA Polymerase delta (Pol δ), encoded by POLD1 gene (MIM#174761) on 19q13.3, is well implicated in many steps of the replication program and repair. Thanks to its exonuclease and polymerase activities, the enzyme is involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, DNA synthesis, and DNA damage repair processes. Damaging variants within the exonuclease domain predispose to cancers, while those occurring in the polymerase active site cause the autosomal dominant Progeroid Syndrome called MDPL, Mandibular hypoplasia, Deafness and Progeroid features with concomitant Lipodystrophy Since DNA damage represents the main cause of ageing and age-related pathologies, an overview of critical Pol δ activities will allow to better understand the associations between DNA damage and nearly every aspect of the ageing process, helping the researchers to counteract all the ageing-pathologies at the same time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michela Murdocca
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Spitalieri
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; University of Nevada, Department of Pharmacology, Reno, USA; Neuromed Institute, IRCCS, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
| | - Federica Sangiuolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Chung J, Negm L, Bianchi V, Stengs L, Das A, Liu ZA, Sudhaman S, Aronson M, Brunga L, Edwards M, Forster V, Komosa M, Davidson S, Lees J, Tomboc P, Samuel D, Farah R, Bendel A, Knipstein J, Schneider KW, Reschke A, Zelcer S, Zorzi A, McWilliams R, Foulkes WD, Bedgood R, Peterson L, Rhode S, Van Damme A, Scheers I, Gardner S, Robbins G, Vanan MI, Meyn MS, Auer R, Leach B, Burke C, Villani A, Malkin D, Bouffet E, Huang A, Taylor MD, Durno C, Shlien A, Hawkins C, Getz G, Maruvka YE, Tabori U. Genomic Microsatellite Signatures Identify Germline Mismatch Repair Deficiency and Risk of Cancer Onset. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:766-777. [PMID: 36240479 PMCID: PMC10489375 DOI: 10.1200/jco.21.02873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Diagnosis of Mismatch Repair Deficiency (MMRD) is crucial for tumor management and early detection in patients with the cancer predisposition syndrome constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD). Current diagnostic tools are cumbersome and inconsistent both in childhood cancers and in determining germline MMRD. PATIENTS AND METHODS We developed and analyzed a functional Low-pass Genomic Instability Characterization (LOGIC) assay to detect MMRD. The diagnostic performance of LOGIC was compared with that of current established assays including tumor mutational burden, immunohistochemistry, and the microsatellite instability panel. LOGIC was then applied to various normal tissues of patients with CMMRD with comprehensive clinical data including age of cancer presentation. RESULTS Overall, LOGIC was 100% sensitive and specific in detecting MMRD in childhood cancers (N = 376). It was more sensitive than the microsatellite instability panel (14%, P = 4.3 × 10-12), immunohistochemistry (86%, P = 4.6 × 10-3), or tumor mutational burden (80%, P = 9.1 × 10-4). LOGIC was able to distinguish CMMRD from other cancer predisposition syndromes using blood and saliva DNA (P < .0001, n = 277). In normal cells, MMRDness scores differed between tissues (GI > blood > brain), increased over time in the same individual, and revealed genotype-phenotype associations within the mismatch repair genes. Importantly, increased MMRDness score was associated with younger age of first cancer presentation in individuals with CMMRD (P = 2.2 × 10-5). CONCLUSION LOGIC was a robust tool for the diagnosis of MMRD in multiple cancer types and in normal tissues. LOGIC may inform therapeutic cancer decisions, provide rapid diagnosis of germline MMRD, and support tailored surveillance for individuals with CMMRD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiil Chung
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Logine Negm
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vanessa Bianchi
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lucie Stengs
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anirban Das
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata, India
| | - Zhihui Amy Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sumedha Sudhaman
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Melyssa Aronson
- Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ledia Brunga
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Melissa Edwards
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Victoria Forster
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Martin Komosa
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Scott Davidson
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jodi Lees
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patrick Tomboc
- Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
| | | | - Roula Farah
- Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Anne Bendel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Jeffrey Knipstein
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Kami Wolfe Schneider
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Agnes Reschke
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Shayna Zelcer
- Department of Pediatrics, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - Alexandra Zorzi
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - William D. Foulkes
- Departments of Oncology and Human Genetics, McGill University Health Centre, Cancer Genetics Program, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Lindsay Peterson
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University, St Louis, MO
| | - Sara Rhode
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - An Van Damme
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Scheers
- Universite Catholique de Louvain La Faculte de Medecine, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Sharon Gardner
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Gabriel Robbins
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Magimairajan Issai Vanan
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - M. Stephen Meyn
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | - Rebecca Auer
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Brandie Leach
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Carol Burke
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Anita Villani
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David Malkin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eric Bouffet
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Annie Huang
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D. Taylor
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carol Durno
- Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Adam Shlien
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cynthia Hawkins
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Pathology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gad Getz
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Yosef E. Maruvka
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, The Lokey Center for Life Science and Engineering, TECHNION – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Uri Tabori
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Whole-Genome Sequencing Reveals Mutational Signatures Related to Radiation-Induced Sarcomas and DNA-Damage-Repair Pathways. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100004. [PMID: 36788076 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2022.100004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Radiation-induced sarcoma (RIS) is a rare but serious late complication arising from radiotherapy. Despite unfavorable clinical outcomes, the genomic footprints of ionizing radiation in RIS development remain largely unknown. Hence, this study aimed to characterize RIS genomes and the genomic alterations in them. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing in 11 RIS genomes matched with normal genomes to identify somatic alterations potentially associated with RIS development. Furthermore, the abundance of mutations, mutation signatures, and structural variants in RIS were compared with those in radiation-naïve spontaneous sarcomas. The mutation abundance in RIS genomes, including one hypermutated genome, was variable. Cancer-related genes might show different types of genomic alterations. For instance, NF1, NF2, NOTCH1, NOTCH2, PIK3CA, RB1, and TP53 showed singleton somatic mutations; MYC, CDKN2A, RB1, and NF1 showed recurrent copy number alterations; and NF2, ARID1B, and RAD51B showed recurrent structural variations. The genomic footprints of nonhomologous end joining are prevalent at indels of RIS genomes compared with those in spontaneous sarcoma genomes, representing the genomic hallmark of RIS genomes. In addition, frequent chromothripsis was identified along with predisposing germline variants in the DNA-damage-repair pathways in RIS genomes. The characterization of RIS genomes on a whole-genome sequencing scale highlighted that the nonhomologous end joining pathway was associated with tumorigenesis, and it might pave the way for the development of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for RIS.
Collapse
|
23
|
Eikenboom EL, Moen S, van Leeuwen L, Geurts-Giele WR, Tops CM, van Ham TJ, Dinjens WN, Dubbink HJ, Spaander MC, Wagner A. Unexplained mismatch repair deficiency: Case closed. HGG ADVANCES 2022; 4:100167. [PMID: 36624813 PMCID: PMC9823207 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2022.100167] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify Lynch syndrome (LS) carriers, DNA mismatch repair (MMR) immunohistochemistry (IHC) is performed on colorectal cancers (CRCs). Upon subsequent LS diagnostics, MMR deficiency (MMRd) sometimes remains unexplained (UMMRd). Recently, the importance of complete LS diagnostics to explain UMMRd, involving MMR methylation, germline, and somatic analyses, was stressed. To explore why some MMRd CRCs remain unsolved, we performed a systematic review of the literature and mapped patients with UMMRd diagnosed in our center. A systematic literature search was performed in Ovid Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar for articles on UMMRd CRCs after complete LS diagnostics published until December 15, 2021. Additionally, UMMRd CRCs diagnosed in our center since 1993 were mapped. Of 754 identified articles, 17 were included, covering 74 patients with UMMRd. Five CRCs were microsatellite stable. Upon complete diagnostics, 39 patients had single somatic MMR hits, and six an MMR germline variant of unknown significance (VUS). Ten had somatic pathogenic variants (PVs) in POLD1, MLH3, MSH3, and APC. The remaining 14 patients were the only identifiable cases in the literature without a plausible identified cause of the UMMRd. Of those, nine were suspected to have LS. In our center, complete LS diagnostics in approximately 5,000 CRCs left seven MMRd CRCs unexplained. All had a somatic MMR hit or MMR germline VUS, indicative of a missed second MMR hit. In vitually all patients with UMMRd, complete LS diagnostics suggest MMR gene involvement. Optimizing detection of currently undetectable PVs and VUS interpretation might explain all UMMRd CRCs, considering UMMRd a case closed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellis L. Eikenboom
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sarah Moen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte van Leeuwen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Willemina R.R. Geurts-Giele
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carli M.J. Tops
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tjakko J. van Ham
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Winand N.M. Dinjens
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hendrikus J. Dubbink
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Manon C.W. Spaander
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anja Wagner
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, the Netherlands,Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Borelli B, Antoniotti C, Carullo M, Germani MM, Conca V, Masi G. Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) Patients beyond Microsatellite Instability. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:4974. [PMID: 36291761 PMCID: PMC9599678 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14204974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) showed impressive results in terms of activity and efficacy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients bearing tumors with deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H). Despite that microsatellite status is the major predictive biomarker for the efficacy of ICIs, a proportion of dMMR/MSI-H mCRC tumors do not achieve benefit from immunotherapy due to the primary resistance. Deeper knowledge of biological mechanisms regulating dMMR/MSI-H CRC tumors and immune response may be useful to find new predictive biomarkers of ICIs benefit and tailor the use of immunotherapy even in dMMR/MSI-H mCRC patients. Moreover, several issues are still open, such as the secondary resection of metastases and the optimal duration of ICIs therapy in dMMR/MSI-H mCRC patients. Looking beyond microsatellite status, in a future perspective, several tools (i.e., Tumor Mutational Burden and PD-L1 expression) have been investigated to clarify their possible role as predictive biomarkers. Furthermore, a small subgroup of pMMR/MSS CRC tumors with a POLE mutation of the proofreading domain is characterized by hypermutated phenotype and might derive benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition. In the present work, we aim to review the most recent literature regarding treatment with ICIs in mCRC, focusing on dMMR/MSI-H and special subgroups of CRC patients. Hence, we summarize possible future targets and the most promising predictive biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Borelli
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Carlotta Antoniotti
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Carullo
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Maria Germani
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Veronica Conca
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Gianluca Masi
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Barbari SR, Beach AK, Markgren JG, Parkash V, Moore EA, Johansson E, Shcherbakova PV. Enhanced polymerase activity permits efficient synthesis by cancer-associated DNA polymerase ϵ variants at low dNTP levels. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8023-8040. [PMID: 35822874 PMCID: PMC9371911 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acid substitutions in the exonuclease domain of DNA polymerase ϵ (Polϵ) cause ultramutated tumors. Studies in model organisms suggested pathogenic mechanisms distinct from a simple loss of exonuclease. These mechanisms remain unclear for most recurrent Polϵ mutations. Particularly, the highly prevalent V411L variant remained a long-standing puzzle with no detectable mutator effect in yeast despite the unequivocal association with ultramutation in cancers. Using purified four-subunit yeast Polϵ, we assessed the consequences of substitutions mimicking human V411L, S459F, F367S, L424V and D275V. While the effects on exonuclease activity vary widely, all common cancer-associated variants have increased DNA polymerase activity. Notably, the analog of Polϵ-V411L is among the strongest polymerases, and structural analysis suggests defective polymerase-to-exonuclease site switching. We further show that the V411L analog produces a robust mutator phenotype in strains that lack mismatch repair, indicating a high rate of replication errors. Lastly, unlike wild-type and exonuclease-dead Polϵ, hyperactive variants efficiently synthesize DNA at low dNTP concentrations. We propose that this characteristic could promote cancer cell survival and preferential participation of mutator polymerases in replication during metabolic stress. Our results support the notion that polymerase fitness, rather than low fidelity alone, is an important determinant of variant pathogenicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie R Barbari
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Annette K Beach
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Joel G Markgren
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Vimal Parkash
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elizabeth A Moore
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Erik Johansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Polina V Shcherbakova
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ma X, Dong L, Liu X, Ou K, Yang L. POLE/POLD1 mutation and tumor immunotherapy. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:216. [PMID: 35780178 PMCID: PMC9250176 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02422-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
POLE and POLD1 encode the catalytic and proofreading subunits of DNA polymerase ε and polymerase δ, and play important roles in DNA replication and proofreading. POLE/POLD1 exonuclease domain mutations lead to loss of proofreading function, which causes the accumulation of mutant genes in cells. POLE/POLD1 mutations are not only closely related to tumor formation, but are also a potential molecular marker for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in pan-carcinomatous species. The association of POLE/POLD1 mutation, ultra-high mutation load, and good prognosis have recently become the focus of clinical research. This article reviews the function of POLE/POLD1, its relationship with deficient mismatch repair/high microsatellite instability, and the role of POLE/POLD1 mutation in the occurrence and development of various tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Lin Dong
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiu Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Kai Ou
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Rousseau B, Bieche I, Pasmant E, Hamzaoui N, Leulliot N, Michon L, de Reynies A, Attignon V, Foote MB, Masliah-Planchon J, Svrcek M, Cohen R, Simmet V, Augereau P, Malka D, Hollebecque A, Pouessel D, Gomez-Roca C, Guimbaud R, Bruyas A, Guillet M, Grob JJ, Duluc M, Cousin S, de la Fouchardiere C, Flechon A, Rolland F, Hiret S, Saada-Bouzid E, Bouche O, Andre T, Pannier D, El Hajbi F, Oudard S, Tournigand C, Soria JC, Champiat S, Gerber DG, Stephens D, Lamendola-Essel MF, Maron SB, Diplas BH, Argiles G, Krishnan AR, Tabone-Eglinger S, Ferrari A, Segal NH, Cercek A, Hoog-Labouret N, Legrand F, Simon C, Lamrani-Ghaouti A, Diaz LA, Saintigny P, Chevret S, Marabelle A. PD-1 Blockade in Solid Tumors with Defects in Polymerase Epsilon. Cancer Discov 2022; 12:1435-1448. [PMID: 35398880 PMCID: PMC9167784 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-21-0521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Missense mutations in the polymerase epsilon (POLE) gene have been reported to generate proofreading defects resulting in an ultramutated genome and to sensitize tumors to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. However, many POLE-mutated tumors do not respond to such treatment. To better understand the link between POLE mutation variants and response to immunotherapy, we prospectively assessed the efficacy of nivolumab in a multicenter clinical trial in patients bearing advanced mismatch repair-proficient POLE-mutated solid tumors. We found that only tumors harboring selective POLE pathogenic mutations in the DNA binding or catalytic site of the exonuclease domain presented high mutational burden with a specific single-base substitution signature, high T-cell infiltrates, and a high response rate to anti-PD-1 monotherapy. This study illustrates how specific DNA repair defects sensitize to immunotherapy. POLE proofreading deficiency represents a novel agnostic biomarker for response to PD-1 checkpoint blockade therapy. SIGNIFICANCE POLE proofreading deficiency leads to high tumor mutational burden with high tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and predicts anti-PD-1 efficacy in mismatch repair-proficient tumors. Conversely, tumors harboring POLE mutations not affecting proofreading derived no benefit from PD-1 blockade. POLE proofreading deficiency is a new tissue-agnostic biomarker for cancer immunotherapy. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1397.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Rousseau
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ivan Bieche
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France
- Institut Cochin, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, CARPEM, Paris, France
| | - Eric Pasmant
- Institut Cochin, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, CARPEM, Paris, France
- Fédération de Génétique et Médecine Génomique, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP.Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nadim Hamzaoui
- Institut Cochin, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, CARPEM, Paris, France
- Fédération de Génétique et Médecine Génomique, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP.Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Leulliot
- Cibles Thérapeutiques et Conception de Médicaments, CNRS UMR8015, Université de Paris, UFR de Pharmacie de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Lucas Michon
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Aurelien de Reynies
- Université de Paris, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, UMRS1138, AP-HP, SeqOIA-IT, Paris, France
| | | | - Michael B. Foote
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Magali Svrcek
- Pathology department, Saint Antoine Hospital
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Unité Mixte de Recherche Scientifique 938 and SIRIC CURAMUS, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, Equipe Instabilité des Microsatellites et Cancer, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Romain Cohen
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Unité Mixte de Recherche Scientifique 938 and SIRIC CURAMUS, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, Equipe Instabilité des Microsatellites et Cancer, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, F-75012 Paris, France
- Medical Oncology Department, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
| | - Victor Simmet
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut de Cancérologie de l’Ouest (ICO), Angers, France
| | - Paule Augereau
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut de Cancérologie de l’Ouest (ICO), Angers, France
| | - David Malka
- Département d’Innovation Thérapeutique et d’Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Antoine Hollebecque
- Département d’Innovation Thérapeutique et d’Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Damien Pouessel
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Claudius Regaud / IUCT Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Carlos Gomez-Roca
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Claudius Regaud / IUCT Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Amandine Bruyas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon, France
| | - Marielle Guillet
- Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon, France
| | | | - Muriel Duluc
- Dermatology and Oncology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France
| | | | | | - Aude Flechon
- Department of medical Oncology, Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, France
| | - Frederic Rolland
- Department of Medical Oncology, ICO Institut de Cancerologie de l’Ouest René Gauducheau, Saint-Herblain, France
| | - Sandrine Hiret
- Department of Medical Oncology, ICO Institut de Cancerologie de l’Ouest René Gauducheau, Saint-Herblain, France
| | - Esma Saada-Bouzid
- Medical Oncology, Centre Anticancer Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Olivier Bouche
- Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology, CHU de Reims - Hôpital Robert Debré, Reims, France
| | - Thierry Andre
- Medical Oncology Department, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Stephane Oudard
- Oncology, Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-Charles Soria
- Département d’Innovation Thérapeutique et d’Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Stephane Champiat
- Département d’Innovation Thérapeutique et d’Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Drew G. Gerber
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dennis Stephens
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Steven B. Maron
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bill H. Diplas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Guillem Argiles
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Asha R. Krishnan
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Anthony Ferrari
- Platform of Bioinformatics Gilles Thomas-Synergie Lyon Cancer, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon
| | - Neil H. Segal
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Cercek
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Frederic Legrand
- Research and Innovation, Institut National du Cancer, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | | | | | - Luis A. Diaz
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pierre Saintigny
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Department of medical Oncology, Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, France
| | | | - Aurelien Marabelle
- Département d’Innovation Thérapeutique et d’Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
- U1015 & CIC1428, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Villejuif, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Levatić J, Salvadores M, Fuster-Tormo F, Supek F. Mutational signatures are markers of drug sensitivity of cancer cells. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2926. [PMID: 35614096 PMCID: PMC9132939 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30582-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic analyses have revealed mutational footprints associated with DNA maintenance gone awry, or with mutagen exposures. Because cancer therapeutics often target DNA synthesis or repair, we asked if mutational signatures make useful markers of drug sensitivity. We detect mutational signatures in cancer cell line exomes (where matched healthy tissues are not available) by adjusting for the confounding germline mutation spectra across ancestries. We identify robust associations between various mutational signatures and drug activity across cancer cell lines; these are as numerous as associations with established genetic markers such as driver gene alterations. Signatures of prior exposures to DNA damaging agents – including chemotherapy – tend to associate with drug resistance, while signatures of deficiencies in DNA repair tend to predict sensitivity towards particular therapeutics. Replication analyses across independent drug and CRISPR genetic screening data sets reveal hundreds of robust associations, which are provided as a resource for drug repurposing guided by mutational signature markers. Mutational signatures can reveal the impact of mutagenic processes in cancer, including exposure to therapy. Here, the authors develop an approach that can accurately predict drug responses in cancer using mutational signatures while simultaneously correcting for germline variants with an ancestry matching procedure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jurica Levatić
- Genome Data Science, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/ Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Salvadores
- Genome Data Science, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/ Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Fuster-Tormo
- Genome Data Science, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/ Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,MDS Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Ctra de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, 08916, Badalona, Spain
| | - Fran Supek
- Genome Data Science, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/ Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. .,Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig de Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Skopelitou D, Srivastava A, Miao B, Kumar A, Dymerska D, Paramasivam N, Schlesner M, Lubinski J, Hemminki K, Försti A, Reddy Bandapalli O. Whole exome sequencing identifies novel germline variants of SLC15A4 gene as potentially cancer predisposing in familial colorectal cancer. Mol Genet Genomics 2022; 297:965-979. [PMID: 35562597 PMCID: PMC9250485 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-022-01896-0] [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: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
About 15% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients have first-degree relatives affected by the same malignancy. However, for most families the cause of familial aggregation of CRC is unknown. To identify novel high-to-moderate-penetrance germline variants underlying CRC susceptibility, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) on four CRC cases and two unaffected members of a Polish family without any mutation in known CRC predisposition genes. After WES, we used our in-house developed Familial Cancer Variant Prioritization Pipeline and identified two novel variants in the solute carrier family 15 member 4 (SLC15A4) gene. The heterozygous missense variant, p. Y444C, was predicted to affect the phylogenetically conserved PTR2/POT domain and to have a deleterious effect on the function of the encoded peptide/histidine transporter. The other variant was located in the upstream region of the same gene (GRCh37.p13, 12_129308531_C_T; 43 bp upstream of transcription start site, ENST00000266771.5) and it was annotated to affect the promoter region of SLC15A4 as well as binding sites of 17 different transcription factors. Our findings of two distinct variants in the same gene may indicate a synergistic up-regulation of SLC15A4 as the underlying genetic cause and implicate this gene for the first time in genetic inheritance of familial CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diamanto Skopelitou
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aayushi Srivastava
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beiping Miao
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Abhishek Kumar
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India
| | - Dagmara Dymerska
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Nagarajan Paramasivam
- Computational Oncology, Molecular Diagnostics Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Schlesner
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jan Lubinski
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Kari Hemminki
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Center in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, 30605 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Asta Försti
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Obul Reddy Bandapalli
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Mitiushkina NV, Yanus GA, Kuligina ES, Laidus TA, Romanko AA, Kholmatov MM, Ivantsov AO, Aleksakhina SN, Imyanitov EN. Preparation of Duplex Sequencing Libraries for Archival Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Samples Using Single-Strand-Specific Nuclease P1. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4586. [PMID: 35562977 PMCID: PMC9105346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094586] [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: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, which are frequently utilized in cancer research, is significantly affected by chemical degradation. It was suggested that approaches that are based on duplex sequencing can significantly improve the accuracy of mutation detection in FFPE-derived DNA. However, the original duplex sequencing method cannot be utilized for the analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, as FFPE DNA contains an excessive number of damaged bases, and these lesions are converted to false double-strand nucleotide substitutions during polymerase-driven DNA end repair process. To resolve this drawback, we replaced DNA polymerase by a single strand-specific nuclease P1. Nuclease P1 was shown to efficiently remove RNA from DNA preparations, to fragment the FFPE-derived DNA and to remove 5'/3'-overhangs. To assess the performance of duplex sequencing-based methods in FFPE-derived DNA, we constructed the Bottleneck Sequencing System (BotSeqS) libraries from five colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) using either DNA polymerase or nuclease P1. As expected, the number of identified mutations was approximately an order of magnitude higher in libraries prepared with DNA polymerase vs. nuclease P1 (626 ± 167/Mb vs. 75 ± 37/Mb, paired t-test p-value 0.003). Furthermore, the use of nuclease P1 but not polymerase-driven DNA end repair allowed a reliable discrimination between CRC tumors with and without hypermutator phenotypes. The utility of newly developed modification was validated in the collection of 17 CRCs and 5 adjacent normal tissues. Nuclease P1 can be recommended for the use in duplex sequencing library preparation from FFPE-derived DNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V. Mitiushkina
- Department of Tumor Growth Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, 197758 St.-Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.M.); (G.A.Y.); (E.S.K.); (T.A.L.); (A.A.R.); (M.M.K.); (A.O.I.); (S.N.A.)
| | - Grigory A. Yanus
- Department of Tumor Growth Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, 197758 St.-Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.M.); (G.A.Y.); (E.S.K.); (T.A.L.); (A.A.R.); (M.M.K.); (A.O.I.); (S.N.A.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, St.-Petersburg Pediatric Medical University, 194100 St.-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ekatherina Sh. Kuligina
- Department of Tumor Growth Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, 197758 St.-Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.M.); (G.A.Y.); (E.S.K.); (T.A.L.); (A.A.R.); (M.M.K.); (A.O.I.); (S.N.A.)
| | - Tatiana A. Laidus
- Department of Tumor Growth Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, 197758 St.-Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.M.); (G.A.Y.); (E.S.K.); (T.A.L.); (A.A.R.); (M.M.K.); (A.O.I.); (S.N.A.)
| | - Alexandr A. Romanko
- Department of Tumor Growth Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, 197758 St.-Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.M.); (G.A.Y.); (E.S.K.); (T.A.L.); (A.A.R.); (M.M.K.); (A.O.I.); (S.N.A.)
| | - Maksim M. Kholmatov
- Department of Tumor Growth Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, 197758 St.-Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.M.); (G.A.Y.); (E.S.K.); (T.A.L.); (A.A.R.); (M.M.K.); (A.O.I.); (S.N.A.)
| | - Alexandr O. Ivantsov
- Department of Tumor Growth Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, 197758 St.-Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.M.); (G.A.Y.); (E.S.K.); (T.A.L.); (A.A.R.); (M.M.K.); (A.O.I.); (S.N.A.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, St.-Petersburg Pediatric Medical University, 194100 St.-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Svetlana N. Aleksakhina
- Department of Tumor Growth Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, 197758 St.-Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.M.); (G.A.Y.); (E.S.K.); (T.A.L.); (A.A.R.); (M.M.K.); (A.O.I.); (S.N.A.)
| | - Evgeny N. Imyanitov
- Department of Tumor Growth Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, 197758 St.-Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.M.); (G.A.Y.); (E.S.K.); (T.A.L.); (A.A.R.); (M.M.K.); (A.O.I.); (S.N.A.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, St.-Petersburg Pediatric Medical University, 194100 St.-Petersburg, Russia
- Department of Oncology, I.I. Mechnikov North-Western Medical University, 191015 St.-Petersburg, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Durando ML, Menghani SV, Baumann JL, Robles DG, Day TA, Vaziri C, Scott AJ. Four-Year Disease-Free Remission in a Patient With POLE Mutation-Associated Colorectal Cancer Treated Using Anti-PD-1 Therapy. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2022; 20:218-223. [PMID: 35276675 DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2021.7115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The stability of the human genome depends upon a delicate balance between replication by high- and low-fidelity DNA polymerases. Aberrant replication by error-prone polymerases or loss of function of high-fidelity polymerases predisposes to genetic instability and, in turn, cancer. DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol ε) is a high-fidelity, processive polymerase that is responsible for the majority of leading strand synthesis, and mutations in Pol ε have been increasingly associated with various human malignancies. The clinical significance of Pol ε mutations, including how and whether they should influence management decisions, remains poorly understood. In this report, we describe a 24-year-old man with an aggressive stage IV high-grade, poorly differentiated colon carcinoma who experienced a dramatic response to single-agent checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy after rapidly progressing on standard chemotherapy. His response was complete and durable and has been maintained for more than 48 months. Genetic testing revealed a P286R mutation in the endonuclease domain of POLE and an elevated tumor mutational burden of 126 mutations per megabase, both of which have been previously associated with response to immunotherapy. Interestingly, tumor staining for PD-L1 was negative. This case study highlights the importance of genetic profiling of both early and late-stage cancers, the clinical significance of POLE mutations, and how the interplay between genetic instability and immune-checkpoint blockade can impact clinical decision-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Durando
- 1Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson, Arizona.,2Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine.,3University of Arizona Cancer Center
| | | | - Jessica L Baumann
- 5Department of Pathology, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, Tucson, Arizona.,6Now with Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Danny G Robles
- 1Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson, Arizona.,7Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Tovah A Day
- 8Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - Cyrus Vaziri
- 9Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Aaron J Scott
- 1Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson, Arizona.,2Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine.,3University of Arizona Cancer Center
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Jumaah AS, Al-Haddad HS, McAllister KA, Yasseen AA. The clinicopathology and survival characteristics of patients with POLE proofreading mutations in endometrial carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263585. [PMID: 35139130 PMCID: PMC8827442 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is classified into four distinct molecular subgroups. Patients with polymerase epsilon exonuclease domain mutated (POLE-EDM) tumors have the best prognosis of all. This meta-analysis consolidated the clinicopathology variations reported in the POLE-mutant subtype and survival parameters in patients with EC. Methods The following internet data bases were searched: PubMed, Web of science, Embase and Scimage directory. Data was extracted from eligible studies including sample size, number of positive POLE-mutant cases, EDM sequencing information, clinicopathologic, and survival data. Meta-analysis and a random-effects model produced pooled estimates of POLE prognostic parameters using 95% confidence intervals (CI), hazard ratios (HR), and odds ratios (OR). Results The meta-analysis included 11 cohort studies comprising 5508 EC patients (442 POLE EDM tumors). Patients with POLE mutant EC were associated with improved disease specific survival (HR = 0.408, 95% CI: 0.306 to 0.543) and progression-free survival (HR = 0.231, 95% CI: 0.117 to 0.456). POLE-mutated tumors were mostly endometrioid histology (84.480%; 95% CI: 77.237 to 90.548), although not significantly more than wild type tumors (OR = 1.386; p = 0.073). The POLE mutant tumors significantly present (p<0.001) at Federation of International of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) lower stages I-II (OR = 2.955, p<0.001) and highest grade III (OR = 1.717, P = 0.003). The tumors are significantly associated with invasion less than half (<50%) of the myometrium (OR = 1.765, p = 0.001), but not deeply invasive EC (MI>50%, OR = 0.83, p = 0.34). POLE mutations significantly protected against lymph node metastases (OR = 0.202, p = 0.001), and have no clear association with lymph-vascular space invasion (OR = 0.967, 95% 0.713–1.310, p = 0.826). The tumors are predominantly of low ESMO risk stratification distribution (40.356%; 95% CI: 27.577 to 53.838). Conclusions POLE mutations serve as an important biomarker of favorable prognosis in EC. The tumors are characteristically high grade, early stage, and remain localized in the endometrium with reduced likelihood of lymph node metastasis for improved survival prospects and the lowest risk classification. These findings have implications for medical management of EC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alaa Salah Jumaah
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
| | | | - Katherine Ann McAllister
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Akeel Abed Yasseen
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Miao B, Skopelitou D, Srivastava A, Giangiobbe S, Dymerska D, Paramasivam N, Kumar A, Kuświk M, Kluźniak W, Paszkowska-Szczur K, Schlesner M, Lubinski J, Hemminki K, Försti A, Bandapalli OR. Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies a Novel Germline Variant in PTK7 Gene in Familial Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031295. [PMID: 35163215 PMCID: PMC8836109 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide. Only 5% of all CRC cases are due to germline mutations in known predisposition genes, and the remaining genetic burden still has to be discovered. In this study, we performed whole-exome sequencing on six members of a Polish family diagnosed with CRC and identified a novel germline variant in the protein tyrosine kinase 7 (inactive) gene (PTK7, ENST00000230419, V354M). Targeted screening of the variant in 1705 familial CRC cases and 1674 healthy elderly individuals identified the variant in an additional familial CRC case. Introduction of this variant in HT-29 cells resulted in increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; it also caused down-regulation of CREB, p21 and p53 mRNA and protein levels, and increased AKT phosphorylation. These changes indicated inhibition of apoptosis pathways and activation of AKT signaling. Our study confirmed the oncogenic function of PTK7 and supported its role in genetic predisposition of familial CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beiping Miao
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.M.); (D.S.); (A.S.); (S.G.); (A.K.); (A.F.)
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Diamanto Skopelitou
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.M.); (D.S.); (A.S.); (S.G.); (A.K.); (A.F.)
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aayushi Srivastava
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.M.); (D.S.); (A.S.); (S.G.); (A.K.); (A.F.)
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sara Giangiobbe
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.M.); (D.S.); (A.S.); (S.G.); (A.K.); (A.F.)
| | - Dagmara Dymerska
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71252 Szczecin, Poland; (D.D.); (M.K.); (W.K.); (K.P.-S.); (J.L.)
| | - Nagarajan Paramasivam
- Computational Oncology, Molecular Diagnostics Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Abhishek Kumar
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.M.); (D.S.); (A.S.); (S.G.); (A.K.); (A.F.)
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bengaluru 560066, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104, India
| | - Magdalena Kuświk
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71252 Szczecin, Poland; (D.D.); (M.K.); (W.K.); (K.P.-S.); (J.L.)
| | - Wojciech Kluźniak
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71252 Szczecin, Poland; (D.D.); (M.K.); (W.K.); (K.P.-S.); (J.L.)
| | - Katarzyna Paszkowska-Szczur
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71252 Szczecin, Poland; (D.D.); (M.K.); (W.K.); (K.P.-S.); (J.L.)
| | - Matthias Schlesner
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Jan Lubinski
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71252 Szczecin, Poland; (D.D.); (M.K.); (W.K.); (K.P.-S.); (J.L.)
| | - Kari Hemminki
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.M.); (D.S.); (A.S.); (S.G.); (A.K.); (A.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Center in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, 30605 Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (K.H.); (O.R.B.); Tel.: +49-6221-421809 (O.R.B.); Fax: +49-6221-424639 (O.R.B.)
| | - Asta Försti
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.M.); (D.S.); (A.S.); (S.G.); (A.K.); (A.F.)
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Obul Reddy Bandapalli
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.M.); (D.S.); (A.S.); (S.G.); (A.K.); (A.F.)
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Correspondence: (K.H.); (O.R.B.); Tel.: +49-6221-421809 (O.R.B.); Fax: +49-6221-424639 (O.R.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhang P, Chen X, Zhang L, Cao D, Chen Y, Guo Z, Chen J. POLE2 facilitates the malignant phenotypes of glioblastoma through promoting AURKA-mediated stabilization of FOXM1. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:61. [PMID: 35039475 PMCID: PMC8763902 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04498-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a type of brain cancer with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The clinical significance, biological roles, and underlying molecular mechanisms of DNA poly ε-B subunit (POLE2) in GBM were investigated in the study. Firstly, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database found that POLE2 was highly expressed in GBM. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results further confirmed that POLE2 was abnormally elevated in GBM. In addition, loss-of-function assays revealed that POLE2 knockdown could inhibit the malignant behaviors of GBM, especially reduce cell viability, weaken cell clone formation, enhance the sensitivity of apoptosis, restrain migration and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. In vivo experiments further clarified the suppressive effects of reduced POLE2 expression on tumors. Mechanically, POLE2 knockdown promoted the ubiquitination as well as reduced the stability of Forkhead transcription factor (FOXM1), which is a known tumor promotor in GBM, through Aurora kinase A (AURKA). Moreover, the knockdown of FOXM1 could weaken the promoting effects of POLE2 on malignant behaviors of GBM. In conclusion, our study revealed crucial roles and a novel mechanism of POLE2 involved in GBM through AURKA-mediated stability of FOXM1 and may provide the theoretical basis of molecular therapy for GBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, No.1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.
| | - LingYun Zhang
- Department of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Dan Cao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
| | - ZhengQian Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Sehested A, Meade J, Scheie D, Østrup O, Bertelsen B, Misiakou MA, Sarosiek T, Kessler E, Melchior LC, Munch-Petersen HF, Pai RK, Schmuth M, Gottschling H, Zschocke J, Gallon R, Wimmer K. Constitutional POLE variants causing a phenotype reminiscent of constitutional mismatch repair deficiency. Hum Mutat 2022; 43:85-96. [PMID: 34816535 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Heterozygous POLE or POLD1 germline pathogenic variants (PVs) cause polymerase proofreading associated polyposis (PPAP), a constitutional polymerase proofreading deficiency that typically presents with colorectal adenomas and carcinomas in adulthood. Constitutional mismatch-repair deficiency (CMMRD), caused by germline bi-allelic PVs affecting one of four MMR genes, results in a high propensity for the hematological, brain, intestinal tract, and other malignancies in childhood. Nonmalignant clinical features, such as skin pigmentation alterations, are found in nearly all CMMRD patients and are important diagnostic markers. Here, we excluded CMMRD in three cancer patients with highly suspect clinical phenotypes but identified in each a constitutional heterozygous POLE PV. These, and two additional POLE PVs identified in published CMMRD-like patients, have not previously been reported as germline PVs despite all being well-known somatic mutations in hyper-mutated tumors. Together, these five cases show that specific POLE PVs may have a stronger "mutator" effect than known PPAP-associated POLE PVs and may cause a CMMRD-like phenotype distinct from PPAP. The common underlying mechanism, that is, a constitutional replication error repair defect, and a similar tumor spectrum provide a good rationale for monitoring these patients with a severe constitutional polymerase proofreading deficiency according to protocols proposed for CMMRD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Sehested
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julia Meade
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David Scheie
- Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Olga Østrup
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Bertelsen
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Anna Misiakou
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Elena Kessler
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Linea C Melchior
- Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Reetesh K Pai
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Matthias Schmuth
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hendrik Gottschling
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes Zschocke
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Richard Gallon
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Katharina Wimmer
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Du F, Liu Y. Predictive molecular markers for the treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in colorectal cancer. J Clin Lab Anal 2022; 36:e24141. [PMID: 34817097 PMCID: PMC8761449 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and, hence, has become one of the most important public health issues in the world. Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) successfully improves the survival rate of patients with melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and other malignancies, and its application in metastatic colorectal cancer is being actively explored. However, a few patients develop drug resistance. Predictive molecular markers are important tools to precisely screen patient groups that can benefit from treatment with ICIs. The current article focused on certain important predictive molecular markers for ICI treatment in colorectal cancer, including not only some of the mature molecular markers, such as deficient mismatch repair (d-MMR), microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), tumor mutational burden (TMB), programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1), tumor immune microenvironment (TiME), and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), but also some of the novel molecular markers, such as DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE), polymerase delta 1 (POLD1), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and consensus molecular subtypes (CMS). We have reviewed these markers in-depth and presented the results from certain important studies, which suggest their applicability in CRC and indicate their advantages and disadvantages. We hope this article is helpful for clinicians and researchers to systematically understand these markers and can guide the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fenqi Du
- Department of Colorectal SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Yanlong Liu
- Department of Colorectal SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Jiang L, Chen X, Zheng J, Wang M, Bo H, Liu G. Case report: A Chinese boy with facial dysmorphism, immunodeficiency, livedo, and short stature syndrome. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:933108. [PMID: 36071887 PMCID: PMC9441657 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.933108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Facial dysmorphism, immunodeficiency, livedo, and short stature (FILS) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease. In this study we reported the first Chinese patient with FILS syndrome. The patient had short stature and suffered from recurrent respiratory infections up to the age of 4 years. Other symptoms of the disease included livedo on the inner side of upper limbs and thigh skin, prominent forehead, low anterior and posterior hairline, short and down-slanting palpebral fissure, low-set ears, long nasal tip and columella, and a small mouth with irregular teeth. A whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed and revealed two variants within the polymerase ε (POLE) gene. One of the variants was a splicing variant (c.5811 + 2T > C) derived from the mother, while the other was a nonsense variant (c.2006G > A) derived from the father. These two variants were not reported in previous FILS syndrome cases. Therefore this case provides further insight into the POLE gene variant spectrum that enriches the clinical phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiaqi Zheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Meilin Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui Bo
- Jinghai Clinical College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pediatrics, Jinghai District Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Geli Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Zhu C, Zhu L, Gu Y, Liu P, Tong X, Wu G, Zhu W, Shen W, Bao H, Ma X, Yu R, Wu X, Zhu D, Shu Y, Feng J. Genomic Profiling Reveals the Molecular Landscape of Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers in Chinese Patients. Front Genet 2021; 12:608742. [PMID: 34594355 PMCID: PMC8478156 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.608742] [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: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal tract cancers have high incidence and mortality in China, but their molecular characteristics have not been fully investigated. We sequenced 432 tumor samples from the colorectum, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, and biliary tract to investigate cancer-related mutations and detail the landscape of microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutation burden (TMB), and chromosomal instability (CIN). We observed the highest TMB in colorectal and gastric cancers and the lowest TMB in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Twenty-four hyper-mutated tumors were identified only in colorectal and gastric cancers, with a significant enrichment of mutations in the polymerase genes (POLE, POLD1, and POLH) and mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Additionally, CIN preferentially occurred in colorectal and gastric cancers, while pancreatic, gallbladder, and biliary duct cancers had a much lower CIN. High CIN was correlated with a higher prevalence of malfunctions in chromosome segregation and cell cycle genes, including the copy number loss of WRN, NAT1, NF2, and BUB1B, and the copy number gain of MYC, ERBB2, EGFR, and CDK6. In addition, TP53 mutations were more abundant in high-CIN tumors, while PIK3CA mutations were more frequent in low-CIN tumors. In colorectal and gastric cancers, tumors with MSI demonstrated much fewer copy number changes than microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors. In colorectal and gastric cancers, the molecular characteristics of tumors revealed the mutational diversity between the different anatomical origins of tumors. This study provides novel insights into the molecular landscape of Chinese gastrointestinal cancers and the genetic differences between tumor locations, which could be useful for future clinical patient stratification and targeted interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunrong Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Liangjun Zhu
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanhong Gu
- Jiangsu Province Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Jiangsu Province Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | | | | | - Wenyu Zhu
- Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | | | - Hua Bao
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangyuan Ma
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, China
| | - Ruoying Yu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, China
| | - Xue Wu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, China
| | - Dongqin Zhu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, China
| | - Yongqian Shu
- Jiangsu Province Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jifeng Feng
- Jiangsu Provincial Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
POLE, POLD1, and NTHL1: the last but not the least hereditary cancer-predisposing genes. Oncogene 2021; 40:5893-5901. [PMID: 34363023 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01984-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
POLE, POLD1, and NTHL1 are involved in DNA replication and have recently been recognized as hereditary cancer-predisposing genes, because their alterations are associated with colorectal cancer and other tumors. POLE/POLD1-associated syndrome shows an autosomal dominant inheritance, whereas NTHL1-associated syndrome follows an autosomal recessive pattern. Although the prevalence of germline monoallelic POLE/POLD1 and biallelic NTHL1 pathogenic variants is low, they determine different phenotypes with a broad tumor spectrum overlapping that of other hereditary conditions like Lynch Syndrome or Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. Endometrial and breast cancers, and probably ovarian and brain tumors are also associated with POLE/POLD1 alterations, while breast cancer and other unusual tumors are correlated with NTHL1 pathogenic variants. POLE-mutated colorectal and endometrial cancers are associated with better prognosis and may show favorable responses to immunotherapy. Since POLE/POLD1-mutated tumors show a high tumor mutational burden producing an increase in neoantigens, the identification of POLE/POLD1 alterations could help select patients suitable for immunotherapy treatment. In this review, we will investigate the role of POLE, POLD1, and NTHL1 genetic variants in cancer predisposition, discussing the potential future therapeutic applications and assessing the utility of performing a routine genetic testing for these genes, in order to implement prevention and surveillance strategies in mutation carriers.
Collapse
|
40
|
Chang E, Pelosof L, Lemery S, Gong Y, Goldberg KB, Farrell AT, Keegan P, Veeraraghavan J, Wei G, Blumenthal GM, Amiri‐Kordestani L, Singh H, Fashoyin‐Aje L, Gormley N, Kluetz PG, Pazdur R, Beaver JA, Theoret MR. Systematic Review of PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Oncology: From Personalized Medicine to Public Health. Oncologist 2021; 26:e1786-e1799. [PMID: 34196068 PMCID: PMC8488782 DOI: 10.1002/onco.13887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To review and summarize all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals of programmed death (PD)-1 and PD-ligand 1 blocking antibodies (collectively referred to as PD-[L]1 inhibitors) over a 6-year period and corresponding companion/complementary diagnostic assays. MATERIALS AND METHODS To determine the indications and pivotal trials eligible for inclusion, approval letters and package inserts available on Drugs@FDA were evaluated for approved PD-[L]1 inhibitors to identify all new indications granted from the first approval of a PD-[L]1 inhibitor on September 4, 2014, through September 3, 2020. The corresponding FDA drug and device reviews from the marketing applications for the approved indications were identified through FDA internal records. Two reviewers independently extracted information for the endpoints, efficacy data, basis for approval, type of regulatory approval, and corresponding in vitro diagnostic device test. The results were organized by organ system and tumor type. RESULTS Of 70 Biologic Licensing Application or supplement approvals that resulted in new indications, 32 (46%) were granted based on response rate (ORR) and durability of response, 26 (37%) on overall survival, 9 (13%) on progression-free survival, 2 (3%) on recurrence-free survival, and 1 (1%) on complete response rate. Most ORR-based approvals were granted under the accelerated approval provisions and were supported with prolonged duration of response. Overall, 21% of approvals were granted with a companion diagnostic. Efficacy results according to tumor type are discussed. CONCLUSION PD-[L]1 inhibitors are an effective anticancer therapy in a subset of patients. This class of drugs has provided new treatment options for patients with unmet need across a wide variety of cancer types. Yet, the modest response rates in several tumor types signal a lack of understanding of the biology of these diseases. Further preclinical and clinical investigation may be required to identify a more appropriate patient population, particularly as drug development continues and additional treatment alternatives become available. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE The number of PD-[L]1 inhibitors in drug development and the associated companion and complementary diagnostics have led to regulatory challenges and questions regarding generalizability of trial results. The interchangeability of PD-L1 immunohistochemical assays between PD-1/PD-L1 drugs is unclear. Furthermore, robust responses in some patients with low levels of PD-L1 expression have limited the use of PD-L1 as a predictive biomarker across all cancers, particularly in the setting of diseases with few alternative treatment options. This review summarizes the biomarker thresholds and assays approved as complementary and companion diagnostics and provides regulatory perspective on the role of biomarkers in oncology drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Chang
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver SpringMarylandUSA
| | | | - Steven Lemery
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver SpringMarylandUSA
| | - Yutao Gong
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver SpringMarylandUSA
| | | | - Ann T. Farrell
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver SpringMarylandUSA
| | | | | | - Guo Wei
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver SpringMarylandUSA
| | | | | | - Harpreet Singh
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver SpringMarylandUSA
| | | | - Nicole Gormley
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver SpringMarylandUSA
| | - Paul G. Kluetz
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver SpringMarylandUSA
| | - Richard Pazdur
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver SpringMarylandUSA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Villy MC, Masliah-Planchon J, Melaabi S, Trabelsi Grati O, Girard E, Bataillon G, Vincent-Salomon A, Le Gall J, Golmard L, Stoppa-Lyonnet D, Bieche I, Colas C. Tumor BRCA testing can reveal a high tumor mutational burden related to POLE pathogenic variants. Gynecol Oncol Rep 2021; 37:100855. [PMID: 34541275 PMCID: PMC8435919 DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2021.100855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Some gynecologic tumors harbor a POLE pathogenic variant, raising prognostic and therapeutic issues. Tumors harboring a POLE pathogenic variant exhibit multiple BRCA1/2 variants, reflecting the high tumor mutational burden. Tumor BRCA testing could be a way to detect tumors harboring a highly mutagenic POLE pathogenic variant.
Objective Tumors harboring a POLE pathogenic variant, associated with high tumor mutational burden, are good candidates for immunotherapy. However, POLE pathogenic variants are not currently screened in routine clinical practice. Can these tumors be identified by means of an already available test? Methods We describe seven tumors harboring a POLE pathogenic variant, among eight patients with tumors harboring multiple BRCA1/2 variants (from 4 to 20). All patients were managed at Institut Curie, Paris. Five patients were selected because of unexpected tumor BRCA testing results with multiple variants and another three patients were selected because of a POLE pathogenic variant detected by large tumor testing. We looked for other tumor variants by Next-Generation Sequencing in tumors harboring multiple BRCA1/2 variants, and for multiple BRCA1/2 variants in tumors harboring a POLE pathogenic variant. Results Four of the five tumors selected because of multiple BRCA1/2 variants exhibited a POLE pathogenic variant, and all three tumors selected for POLE pathogenic variants exhibited multiple BRCA1/2 variants. Conclusions Tumor BRCA testing could be a way to detect tumors harboring a highly mutagenic POLE pathogenic variant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M-C Villy
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - J Masliah-Planchon
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - S Melaabi
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - O Trabelsi Grati
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - E Girard
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - G Bataillon
- Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, Paris, France.,Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - A Vincent-Salomon
- Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, Paris, France.,Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - J Le Gall
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - L Golmard
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - D Stoppa-Lyonnet
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Inserm U830, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - I Bieche
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - C Colas
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, Paris, France.,Inserm U830, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Rochefort P, Desseigne F, Bonadona V, Dussart S, Coutzac C, Sarabi M, la Fouchardiere CD. Immune checkpoint inhibitor sensitivity of DNA repair deficient tumors. Immunotherapy 2021; 13:1205-1213. [PMID: 34494466 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0024] [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: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Faithful DNA replication is necessary to maintain genome stability and implicates a complex network with several pathways depending on DNA damage type: homologous repair, nonhomologous end joining, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair and mismatch repair. Alteration in components of DNA repair machinery led to DNA damage accumulation and potentially carcinogenesis. Preclinical data suggest sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors in tumors with DNA repair deficiency. Here, we review clinical studies that explored the use of immune checkpoint inhibitor in patient harboring tumor with DNA repair deficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Rochefort
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, 69008, Lyon, France
| | | | - Valérie Bonadona
- Unit of Genetic Epidemiology & Prevention, Centre Léon Bérard, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Sophie Dussart
- Unit of Genetic Epidemiology & Prevention, Centre Léon Bérard, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Clélia Coutzac
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Matthieu Sarabi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, 69008, Lyon, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ying J, Yang L, Yin JC, Xia G, Xing M, Chen X, Pang J, Wu Y, Bao H, Wu X, Shao Y, Zhu L, Cheng X. Additive effects of variants of unknown significance in replication repair-associated DNA polymerase genes on mutational burden and prognosis across diverse cancers. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002336. [PMID: 34479923 PMCID: PMC8420654 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Defects in replication repair-associated DNA polymerases often manifest an ultra-high tumor mutational burden (TMB), which is associated with higher probabilities of response to immunotherapies. The functional and clinical implications of different polymerase variants remain unclear. METHODS Targeted next-generation sequencing using a 425-cancer gene panel, which covers all exonic regions of three polymerase genes (POLE, POLD1, and POLH), was conducted in a cohort of 12,266 patients across 16 different tumor types from January 2017 to January 2019. Prognostication of POL variant-positive patients was performed using a cohort of 4679 patients from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. RESULTS The overall prevalence of somatic and germline polymerase variants was 4.2% (95% CI 3.8% to 4.5%) and 0.7% (95% CI 0.5% to 0.8%), respectively, with highest frequencies in endometrial, urinary, prostate, and colorectal cancers (CRCs). While most germline polymerase variants showed no clear functional consequences, we identified a candidate p.T466A affecting the exonuclease domain of POLE, which might be underlying the early onset in a case with childhood CRC. Low frequencies of known hot-spot somatic mutations in POLE were detected and were associated with younger age, the male sex, and microsatellite stability. In both the panel and TCGA cohorts, POLE drivers exhibited high frequencies of alterations in genes in the DNA damage and repair (DDR) pathways, including BRCA2, ATM, MSH6, and ATR. Variants of unknown significance (VUS) of different polymerase domains showed variable penetrance with those in the exonuclease domain of POLE and POLD1 displaying high TMB. VUS in POL genes exhibited an additive effect as carriers of multiple VUS had exponentially increased TMB and prolonged overall survival. Similar to cases with driver mutations, the TMB-high POL VUS samples showed DDR pathway involvement and polymerase hypermutation signatures. Combinatorial analysis of POL and DDR pathway status further supported the potential additive effects of POL VUS and DDR pathway genes and revealed distinct prognostic subclasses that were independent of cancer type and TMB. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the pathogenicity and additive prognostic value of POL VUS and DDR pathway gene alterations and suggest that genetic testing may be warranted in patients with diverse solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jieer Ying
- Department of Abdominal Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiani C Yin
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guojie Xia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, China
| | - Minyan Xing
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoxi Chen
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiaohui Pang
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Wu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hua Bao
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Wu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Shao
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lingjun Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Sir Run Run Hospital Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangdong Cheng
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China .,Department of Gastric Surgery, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Steiner M, Gassner FJ, Parigger T, Neureiter D, Egle A, Geisberger R, Greil R, Zaborsky N. A POLE Splice Site Deletion Detected in a Patient with Biclonal CLL and Prostate Cancer: A Case Report. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179410. [PMID: 34502317 PMCID: PMC8431722 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is considered a clonal B cell malignancy. Sporadically, CLL cases with multiple productive heavy and light-chain rearrangements were detected, thus leading to a bi- or oligoclonal CLL disease with leukemic cells originating either from different B cells or otherwise descending from secondary immunoglobulin rearrangement events. This suggests a potential role of clonal hematopoiesis or germline predisposition in these cases. During the screening of 75 CLL cases for kappa and lambda light-chain rearrangements, we could detect a single case with CLL cells expressing two distinct kappa and lambda light chains paired with two separate immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable regions. Furthermore, this patient also developed a prostate carcinoma. Targeted genome sequencing of highly purified light-chain specific CLL clones from this patient and from the prostate carcinoma revealed the presence of a rare germline polymorphism in the POLE gene. Hence, our data suggest that the detected SNP may predispose for cancer, particularly for CLL.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Alternative Splicing
- DNA Polymerase II/genetics
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/complications
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins/genetics
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Prognosis
- Prostatic Neoplasms/complications
- Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Steiner
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute—Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (LIMCR), Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (M.S.); (F.J.G.); (T.P.); (A.E.); (R.G.); (R.G.)
| | - Franz J. Gassner
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute—Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (LIMCR), Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (M.S.); (F.J.G.); (T.P.); (A.E.); (R.G.); (R.G.)
| | - Thomas Parigger
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute—Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (LIMCR), Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (M.S.); (F.J.G.); (T.P.); (A.E.); (R.G.); (R.G.)
- Department of Biosciences, Paris-Lodron-University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Daniel Neureiter
- Institute of Pathology, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria;
| | - Alexander Egle
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute—Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (LIMCR), Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (M.S.); (F.J.G.); (T.P.); (A.E.); (R.G.); (R.G.)
| | - Roland Geisberger
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute—Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (LIMCR), Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (M.S.); (F.J.G.); (T.P.); (A.E.); (R.G.); (R.G.)
| | - Richard Greil
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute—Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (LIMCR), Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (M.S.); (F.J.G.); (T.P.); (A.E.); (R.G.); (R.G.)
| | - Nadja Zaborsky
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute—Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (LIMCR), Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (M.S.); (F.J.G.); (T.P.); (A.E.); (R.G.); (R.G.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Tumour mutational burden, microsatellite instability, and actionable alterations in metastatic colorectal cancer: Next-generation sequencing results of TRIBE2 study. Eur J Cancer 2021; 155:73-84. [PMID: 34365081 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We performed a comprehensive genomic profiling of tumour samples from metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients enrolled in the TRIBE2 study to assess the concordance among different techniques to evaluate mismatch repair (MMR) and microsatellite instability (MSI) status, to characterize tumours according to the tumour mutational burden (TMB) and explore the clinical relevance of different TMB cutpoints, and to investigate the prevalence of alterations actionable with targeted approaches or immune checkpoint inhibitors. MATERIAL AND METHODS Tumour samples of 296 (44%) of 679 enrolled patients underwent 592-gene DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS). MMR status was assessed by immunohistochemistry (MMR-IHC), and MSI status was assessed by NGS (MSI-NGS). TMB was defined as low, intermediate, or high if <7, 7-16, or ≥17 mutations/megabase (mut/Mb) were found. The performance of TMB to predict MSI status was tested by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Actionable alterations included BRAF V600E, KRAS G12C, POLE mutations, HER2 amplification and mutations, and MSI-H. RESULTS Of 216 paired cases, concordance between MMR-IHC and MSI-NGS was 98.6%. Among 11 TMB-high tumours, eight (73%) were MSI-H and three (27%) were microsatellite stable and harboured POLE or MSH6 mutations. High TMB had a trend for a better outcome than low/intermediate TMB (hazard ratio for overall survival 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.28-1.33; P = 0.106). No interaction effect between TMB and treatment arm was observed. Seventeen mut/Mb was identified as the optimal threshold of TMB for predicting MSI status. Actionable alterations were found in 62 (21%) of 296 patients. CONCLUSIONS Genomic profiling provides an overview of the genomic landscape of mCRC in a single analysis, including actionable targets and markers of immune sensitivity.
Collapse
|
46
|
Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) guidelines 2020 for the Clinical Practice of Hereditary Colorectal Cancer. Int J Clin Oncol 2021; 26:1353-1419. [PMID: 34185173 PMCID: PMC8286959 DOI: 10.1007/s10147-021-01881-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hereditary colorectal cancer (HCRC) accounts for < 5% of all colorectal cancer cases. Some of the unique characteristics commonly encountered in HCRC cases include early age of onset, synchronous/metachronous cancer occurrence, and multiple cancers in other organs. These characteristics necessitate different management approaches, including diagnosis, treatment or surveillance, from sporadic colorectal cancer management. There are two representative HCRC, named familial adenomatous polyposis and Lynch syndrome. Other than these two HCRC syndromes, related disorders have also been reported. Several guidelines for hereditary disorders have already been published worldwide. In Japan, the first guideline for HCRC was prepared by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR), published in 2012 and revised in 2016. This revised version of the guideline was immediately translated into English and published in 2017. Since then, several new findings and novel disease concepts related to HCRC have been discovered. The currently diagnosed HCRC rate in daily clinical practice is relatively low; however, this is predicted to increase in the era of cancer genomic medicine, with the advancement of cancer multi-gene panel testing or whole genome testing, among others. Under these circumstances, the JSCCR guidelines 2020 for HCRC were prepared by consensus among members of the JSCCR HCRC Guideline Committee, based on a careful review of the evidence retrieved from literature searches, and considering the medical health insurance system and actual clinical practice settings in Japan. Herein, we present the English version of the JSCCR guidelines 2020 for HCRC.
Collapse
|
47
|
Lam KK, Thean LF, Cheah PY. Advances in colorectal cancer genomics and transcriptomics drive early detection and prevention. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2021; 137:106032. [PMID: 34182137 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106032] [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: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a high incidence cancer and leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The advances in genomics and transcriptomics in the past decades have improved the detection and prevention of CRC in familial CRC syndromes. Nevertheless, the ultimate goal of personalized medicine for sporadic CRC is still not within reach due no less to the difficulty in integrating population disparity and clinical data to combat what essentially is a very heterogenous disease. This minireview highlights the achievement of the past decades and present possible direction in the hope of early detection and metastasis prevention for reducing CRC-associated morbidity and mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kuen Kuen Lam
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lai Fun Thean
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Peh Yean Cheah
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Cao W, Ma X, Fischer JV, Sun C, Kong B, Zhang Q. Immunotherapy in endometrial cancer: rationale, practice and perspectives. Biomark Res 2021; 9:49. [PMID: 34134781 PMCID: PMC8207707 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00301-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy has attracted more and more attention nowadays, and multiple clinical trials have confirmed its effect in a variety of solid tumors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer (ACT), and lymphocyte-promoting cytokines are the main immunotherapy methods. Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most frequent tumors in women and the prognosis of recurrent or metastatic EC is poor. Since molecular classification has been applied to EC, immunotherapy for different EC subtypes (especially POLE and MSI-H) has gradually attracted attention. In this review, we focus on the expression and molecular basis of the main biomarkers in the immunotherapy of EC firstly, as well as their clinical application significance and limitations. Blocking tumor immune checkpoints is one of the most effective strategies for cancer treatment in recent years, and has now become the focus in the field of tumor research and treatment. We summarized clinical date of planned and ongoing clinical trials and introduced other common immunotherapy methods in EC, such as cancer vaccine and ACT. Hormone aberrations, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and p53 mutant and that affect the immunotherapy of endometrial cancer will also be discussed in this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 West Wenhua Road, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China.,Gynecology Oncology Key Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China
| | - Xinyue Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 West Wenhua Road, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China.,Gynecology Oncology Key Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China
| | - Jean Victoria Fischer
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern Medicine, Gynecologic Pathology Fellow, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Chenggong Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 West Wenhua Road, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China.,Gynecology Oncology Key Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China
| | - Beihua Kong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 West Wenhua Road, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China.,Gynecology Oncology Key Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 West Wenhua Road, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China. .,Gynecology Oncology Key Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, P.R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Beta2-microglobulin(B2M) in cancer immunotherapies: Biological function, resistance and remedy. Cancer Lett 2021; 517:96-104. [PMID: 34129878 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies have made much headway during the past decades. Techniques including the immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) and adoptive cell therapy (ACT) have harvested impressive efficacy and provided far-reaching tools for treating cancer patients. However, due to inadequate priming of the immune system, a certain subgroup of patients remains resistant to cancer immunotherapies during or after the treatment. β2-microglobulin (B2M) is an important subunit of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I which exerts substantive biological functions in tumorigenesis and immune control. Accumulating evidence has shown that alterations of B2M gene and B2M proteins contribute to poor reaction to cancer immunotherapies by dampening antigen presentation. Here, we discuss the basic biological functions of B2M, its distribution in a spectrum of cancers, and current understanding of its role in ICI, cancer vaccines and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapies. Furthermore, we summarize some promising therapeutic strategies to improve the efficacy inhibited by B2M defects.
Collapse
|
50
|
Wang C, Fakih M. Targeting MSS colorectal cancer with immunotherapy: are we turning the corner? Expert Opin Biol Ther 2021; 21:1347-1357. [PMID: 34030532 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2021.1933940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibition has shown potent antitumor activity in patients with microsatellite instability (MSI) metastatic cancer. Microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer has long been considered resistant to immunotherapy. AREAS COVERED In this review, we provide an overview of current progress on strategies to overcome the resistance to immunotherapy in MSS colorectal cancer. EXPERT OPINION Emerging evidence suggest that combination of immune modulators such as regorafenib may improve the responsiveness of MSS colorectal cancer to checkpoint blockade. In addition, signs of clinical activity have also been observed in other combination strategies, such as the combination of checkpoint blockade with Stat3 inhibitor, or bispecific T-cell engagers. Nevertheless, predictive biomarkers that can identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapy are key for its implementation in clinical setting. Metastatic disease sites may predict for the response or resistance to checkpoint blockade, with liver metastases emerging as a strong predictive biomarker of lack of benefit from PD-1 targeting, even with combination therapies. Additional efforts are required to study the mechanism of resistance and to develop novel therapeutic strategies to overcome immune resistance. ABBREVIATIONS CEA: carcinoembryonic antigen; CR: complete response; CTLA-4: cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4; DCR: disease control rate; MSI-H: microsatellite instability-high; MSS: Microsatellite stable (MSS); OS: overall survival; PD-1: programmed cell death protein 1; PD-L1: programmed death-ligand receptor 1; PR: partial response; PFS: progression-free survival; SD: stable disease; TMB: tumor mutation burden; VEGFR: vascular endothelial growth factor receptor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chongkai Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Marwan Fakih
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|