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Jin WM, Zhu Y, Cai ZQ, He N, Yu ZQ, Li S, Yang JY. Progress of Clinical Studies Targeting Claudin18.2 for the Treatment of Gastric Cancer. Dig Dis Sci 2024:10.1007/s10620-024-08435-4. [PMID: 38769225 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-024-08435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Claudin18.2 is a tight junction protein, highly selective, generally expressed only in normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells, which can effectively maintain the polarity of epithelial and endothelial cells, thus effectively regulating the permeability and conductance of the paracellular pathway. Abnormal expression of Claudin18.2 can occur in various primary malignant tumors, especially gastrointestinal tumors, and even in metastatic foci. It regulates its expression by activating the aPKC/MAPK/AP-1 pathway, and therefore, the Claudin18.2 protein is a pan-cancer target expressed in primary and metastatic lesions in human cancer types. Zolbetuximab (IMAB362), an antibody specific for Claudin18.2, has been successfully tested in a phase III clinical trial, and the results of the study showed that combining Zolbetuximab with chemotherapy notably extends patients' survival and is expected to be a potential first-line treatment for patients with Claudin18.2(+)/HER-2(-) gastric cancer. Here, we systematically describe the biological properties and oncogenic effects of Claudin18.2, centering on its clinical-pathological aspects and the progress of drug studies in gastric cancer, which can help to further explore its clinical value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu-Mei Jin
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhu
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Cai
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Na He
- Department of General, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Qiong Yu
- Department of Respiratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji-Yuan Yang
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China.
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Nakayama I, Qi C, Chen Y, Nakamura Y, Shen L, Shitara K. Claudin 18.2 as a novel therapeutic target. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:354-369. [PMID: 38503878 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-024-00874-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Claudin 18.2, a tight-junction molecule predominantly found in the nonmalignant gastric epithelium, becomes accessible on the tumour cell surface during malignant transformation, thereby providing an appealing target for cancer therapy. Data from two phase III trials testing the anti-claudin 18.2 antibody zolbetuximab have established claudin 18.2-positive advanced-stage gastric cancers as an independent therapeutic subset that derives benefit from the addition of this agent to chemotherapy. This development has substantially increased the percentage of patients eligible for targeted therapy. Furthermore, newer treatments, such as high-affinity monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor T cells and antibody-drug conjugates capable of bystander killing effects, have shown considerable promise in patients with claudin 18.2-expressing gastric cancers. This new development has resulted from drug developers moving beyond traditional targets, such as driver gene alterations or growth factors. In this Review, we highlight the biological rationale and explore the clinical activity of therapies that target claudin 18.2 in patients with advanced-stage gastric cancer and explore the potential for expansion of claudin 18.2-targeted therapies to patients with other claudin 18.2-positive solid tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izuma Nakayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Changsong Qi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yoshiaki Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
- Translational Research Support Office, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
- International Research Promotion Office, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Lin Shen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.
| | - Kohei Shitara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
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3
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Jiang K, Cao F, Yin L, Hu Y, Zhao X, Huang X, Ma X, Li J, Lu M, Sun Y. Claudin 18.2 expression in digestive neuroendocrine neoplasms: a clinicopathological study. J Endocrinol Invest 2024; 47:1251-1260. [PMID: 38060154 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02245-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Claudin 18.2-targeted therapy has shown significant efficacy in treating claudin 18.2-positive cancers. However, limited systematic studies have investigated characteristics of claudin 18.2 expression in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). METHODS Data and specimens from 403 cases of digestive NENs were retrospectively collected, and claudin 18.2 expression was detected using immunochemical staining. RESULTS Claudin 18.2 was positive in 19.6% (79/403) of the digestive NENs. The highest positive rate of claudin 18.2 was observed in gastric NENs (72/259, 27.8%), accounting for 91.1% (72/79) of all positive cases. The positivity rate was significantly higher in gastric NENs compared to pancreatic (2/78, 2.6%) or colorectal NENs (2/38, 5.3%; p < 0.05). For digestive NENs, claudin 18.2 positivity was significantly higher in neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) (37/144, 25.7%) than in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs; 14/160, 8.8%; p < 0.001), but no significant difference was found between gastric NECs (59/213, 27.7%) and gastric NETs (13/46, 28.3%; p > 0.05). The positivity was significantly higher in large-cell NECs (LCNECs; 28/79, 35.4%) and MiNEN (mixed neuroendocrine-non- neuroendocrine neoplasms)-LCNECs (23/66, 34.8%) compared to small-cell NECs (SCNECs; 9/65, 13.8%) and MiNEN-SCNECs (5/33, 15.2%; p < 0.05). Claudin 18.2 expression was more prevalent in gastric NENs than in pancreatic (12.5 ×; p = 0.001) and colorectal NENs (5.9 ×; p = 0.021). Claudin 18.2 staining was a useful method for identify the gastric origins of NETs, with a sensitivity of 28.3% and a specificity of 99.1%. CONCLUSION The expression characteristics of claudin 18.2 in NENs were characterized, which may provide a clinicopathological reference for targeted therapies in patients with NENs.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - F Cao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - L Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Y Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - X Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - X Huang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - X Ma
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - J Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - M Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China.
| | - Y Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China.
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Waters R, Sewastjanow-Silva M, Yamashita K, Abdelhakeem A, Iwata KK, Moran D, Elsouda D, Guerrero A, Pizzi M, Vicentini ER, Shanbhag N, Ta A, Chatterjee D, Ajani JA. Retrospective Study of Claudin 18 Isoform 2 Prevalence and Prognostic Association in Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma. JCO Precis Oncol 2024; 8:e2300543. [PMID: 38781542 DOI: 10.1200/po.23.00543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Claudin 18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2) is an emerging biomarker and therapeutic target in gastric and gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to obtain deeper understanding of CLDN18.2 positivity patterns, prognostic implications, and associations with various demographic, clinical, and molecular characteristics in G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. METHODS Archived tumor tissue samples from 304 patients with G/GEJ adenocarcinoma in the United States were assessed for CLDN18.2 positivity by immunohistochemistry. CLDN18.2 positivity was defined as ≥50% or ≥75% of tumor cells with CLDN18 staining intensity ≥2+. CLDN18.2 positivity patterns were analyzed for association with prognosis and clinicopathologic/demographic characteristics. Where possible, CLDN18.2 positivity was analyzed for matched tissue samples to assess concordance between primary and metastatic tumors and concordance before and after chemotherapy. RESULTS The overall prevalence of CLDN18.2-positive tumors (with ≥75% cutoff) was 44.4% (n = 135 of 304). CLDN18.2-positive tumors had a prevalence of 51.4% (n = 91 of 177) in gastric and 34.6% (n = 44 of 127) in GEJ adenocarcinoma. With a ≥50% cutoff, the prevalence of CLDN18.2-positive tumors was 64.4% (n = 114 of 177) in gastric adenocarcinoma and 44.9% (n = 57 of 127) in GEJ adenocarcinoma. There was no association between overall survival and CLDN18.2 positivity using either threshold. Statistically significant associations were noted between CLDN18.2 positivity and sex, histologic type of G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, and adenocarcinoma subtype (≥75% cutoff), and metastasis site and tumor grade (≥50% cutoff). The overall concordance of CLDN18.2 positivity (≥75% cutoff) was 73% (27 of 37) for matched primary versus metastatic tumor samples and 74% (29 of 39) for matched samples before and after chemotherapy. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that CLDN18.2 positivity did not correlate with survival in G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, consistent with published data. On the basis of matched sample analysis, CLDN18.2 appears to demonstrate >70% concordance as a biomarker. Observed correlations with certain patient/tumor characteristics warrant further study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anh Ta
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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5
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Hana C, Thaw Dar NN, Galo Venegas M, Vulfovich M. Claudins in Cancer: A Current and Future Therapeutic Target. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4634. [PMID: 38731853 PMCID: PMC11083183 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094634] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Claudins are a family of 27 proteins that have an important role in the formation of tight junctions. They also have an important function in ion exchange, cell mobility, and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, the latter being very important in cancer invasion and metastasis. Therapeutic targeting of claudins has been investigated to improve cancer outcomes. Recent evidence shows improved outcomes when combining monoclonal antibodies against claudin 18.2 with chemotherapy for patients with gastroesophageal junction cancer. Currently, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells targeting claudin 18 are under investigation. In this review, we will discuss the major functions of claudins, their distribution in the normal as well as cancerous tissues, and their effect in cancer metastasis, with a special focus on the therapeutic targeting of claudins to improve cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Hana
- Hematology/Oncology Department, Memorial Healthcare System, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028, USA; (N.N.T.D.); (M.G.V.)
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Ma Z, Zhou Z, Duan W, Yao G, Sheng S, Zong S, Zhang X, Li C, Liu Y, Ou F, Dahar MR, Huang Y, Yu L. DR30318, a novel tri-specific T cell engager for Claudin 18.2 positive cancers immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:82. [PMID: 38554200 PMCID: PMC10981630 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03673-x] [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: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) is a highly anticipated target for solid tumor therapy, especially in advanced gastric carcinoma and pancreatic carcinoma. The T cell engager targeting CLDN18.2 represents a compelling strategy for enhancing anti-cancer efficacy. METHODS Based on the in-house screened anti-CLDN18.2 VHH, we have developed a novel tri-specific T cell engager targeting CLDN18.2 for gastric and pancreatic cancer immunotherapy. This tri-specific antibody was designed with binding to CLDN18.2, human serum albumin (HSA) and CD3 on T cells. RESULTS The DR30318 demonstrated binding affinity to CLDN18.2, HSA and CD3, and exhibited T cell-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (TDCC) activity in vitro. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed a half-life of 22.2-28.6 h in rodents and 41.8 h in cynomolgus monkeys, respectively. The administration of DR30318 resulted in a slight increase in the levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) in cynomolgus monkeys. Furthermore, after incubation with human PBMCs and CLDN18.2 expressing cells, DR30318 induced TDCC activity and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Notably, DR30318 demonstrated significant tumor suppression effects on gastric cancer xenograft models NUGC4/hCLDN18.2 and pancreatic cancer xenograft model BxPC3/hCLDN18.2 without affecting the body weight of mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Ma
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhenxing Zhou
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wenwen Duan
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Gaofeng Yao
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Shimei Sheng
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Sidou Zong
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Changkui Li
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Fengting Ou
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua, 321036, China
| | - Maha Raja Dahar
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yanshan Huang
- Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Lushan Yu
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China.
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua, 321036, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine), Shaoxing, 312000, China.
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Qi C, Chong X, Zhou T, Ma M, Gong J, Zhang M, Li J, Xiao J, Peng X, Liu Z, Li Z, Shen L, Zhang X. Clinicopathological significance and immunotherapeutic outcome of claudin 18.2 expression in advanced gastric cancer: A retrospective study. Chin J Cancer Res 2024; 36:78-89. [PMID: 38455365 PMCID: PMC10915633 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2024.01.08] [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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Immunotherapeutic outcomes and clinical characteristics of claudin 18 isoform 2 positive (CLDN18.2-positive) gastric cancer (GC) vary in different clinical studies, making it difficult to optimize anti-CLDN18.2 therapy. We conducted a retrospective analysis to explore the association of CLDN18.2 expression with clinicopathological characteristics and immunotherapeutic outcomes in GC. Methods A total of 536 advanced GC patients from 2019 to 2021 in the CT041-CG4006 and CT041-ST-01 clinical trials were included in the analysis. CLDN18.2 expression on ≥40% of tumor cells (2+, 40%) and CLDN18.2 expression on ≥70% of tumor cells (2+, 70%) were considered the two levels of positively expressed GC. The clinicopathological characteristics and immunotherapy outcomes of GC patients were analyzed according to CLDN18.2 expression status. Results CLDN18.2 was expressed in 57.6% (cut-off: 2+, 40%) and 48.9% (cut-off: 2+, 70%) of patients. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and CLDN18.2 were co-expressed in 19.8% [combined positive score (CPS)≥1, CLDN18.2 (cut-off: 2+, 40%)] and 17.2% [CPS≥5, CLDN18.2 (cut-off: 2+, 70%)] of patients. CLDN18.2 expression positively correlated with younger age, female sex, non-gastroesophageal junction (non-GEJ), and diffuse phenotype (P<0.001). HER2 and PD-L1 expression were significantly lower in CLDN18.2-positive GC (both P<0.05). Uterine adnexa metastasis (P<0.001) was more frequent and liver metastasis (P<0.001) was less common in CLDN18.2-positive GC. Overall survival and immunotherapy-related progression-free survival (irPFS) were inferior in the CLDN18.2-positive group. Conclusions CLDN18.2-positive GC is associated with poor prognosis and worse immunotherapeutic outcomes. The combination of anti-CLDN18.2 therapy, anti-PD-L1/PD-1 therapy, and chemotherapy for GC requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changsong Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Xiaoyi Chong
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Ting Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Mingyang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jifang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- CARsgen Therapeutics Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200231, China
| | - Xiaohui Peng
- CARsgen Therapeutics Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200231, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- CARsgen Life Sciences Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Zonghai Li
- CARsgen Therapeutics Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200231, China
| | - Lin Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
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8
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Li D, Ding L, Chen Y, Wang Z, Zeng Z, Ma X, Huang H, Li H, Qian X, Yang Z, Zhu H. Exploration of radionuclide labeling of a novel scFv-Fc fusion protein targeting CLDN18.2 for tumor diagnosis and treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 266:116134. [PMID: 38266552 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116134] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2), due to its highly selective expression in tumor cells, has made breakthrough progress in clinical research and is expected to be integrated into routine tumor diagnosis and treatment. METHODS In this research, we obtained an scFv-Fc fusion protein (SF106) targeting CLDN18.2 through hybridoma technology. The scFv-Fc fusion protein was labeled with radioactive isotopes (124I and 177Lu) to generate the radio-probes. The targeting and specificity of the radio-probes were tested in cellular models, and its diagnostic and therapeutic potential was further evaluated in tumor-bearing models. RESULTS The molecular probes [124I]I-SF106 and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-SF106 possess high radiochemical purity (RCP, 98.18 ± 0.93 % and 97.05 ± 1.1 %) and exhibit good stability in phosphate buffer saline and 5 % human serum albumin (92.44 ± 4.68 % and 91.03 ± 2.42 % at 120 h). [124I]I-SF106 uptake in cells expressing CLDN18.2 was well targeted and specific, and the dissociation constant was 17.74 nM [124I]I-SF106 micro-PET imaging showed that the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was significantly higher than CLDN18.2-negative tumors (1.83 ± 0.02 vs. 1.23 ± 0.04, p < 0.001). The maximum uptake was attained in tumors expressing CLDN18.2 at 48 h after injection. [124I]I-SF106 and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-SF106 dosimetric study showed that the effective dose in humans complies with the medical safety standards required for their clinical application. The results of treatment experiments showed that 3 MBq of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-SF106 in CLDN18.2-expressing tumor-bearing mice could significantly inhibit tumor growth. CONCLUSION These results indicate that radionuclide-labeled scFv-Fc molecular probes ([124I]I-SF106 and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-SF106) provide a new possibility for the diagnosis and treatment of CLDN18.2-positive cancer patients in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Li
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Lei Ding
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Zilei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Ziqing Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xiaopan Ma
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Haifeng Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Hongjun Li
- Suzhou Transcenta Therapeutics Co., Ltd, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Xueming Qian
- Suzhou Transcenta Therapeutics Co., Ltd, Suzhou, 215000, China.
| | - Zhi Yang
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China.
| | - Hua Zhu
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China.
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Wagner P, Gass P, Pöschke P, Eckstein M, Gloßner L, Hartmann A, Beckmann MW, Fasching PA, Ruebner M, Emons J, Erber R. Spatial expression of claudin 18.2 in matched primaries and metastases of tubo-ovarian carcinoma of all subtypes. Virchows Arch 2024:10.1007/s00428-024-03756-1. [PMID: 38326579 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-024-03756-1] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Physiologically, claudin 18 splice variant 2 (CLDN18.2) expression is restricted to the gastric epithelium, but its expression has been detected in solid cancers. Zolbetuximab, a chimeric IgG1 antibody targeting CLDN18.2, has demonstrated promising effects in patients suffering from CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced gastric cancer and is currently being studied further. To date, little is known about CLDN18.2 expression in other histological subtypes of tubo-ovarian carcinoma (TOC) and their matching metastases.Using a cohort of all histological TOC subtypes, we investigated the immunohistochemical (IHC) CLDN18.2 expression in both TOCs (n = 536), their matching metastatic tissue (n = 385) and in 93 metastases without primary. Tissue microarrays comprised both the tumor center and periphery. IHC positivity was defined as biomarker expression of ≥ 75% in tumor cells with moderate-to-strong membranous staining.Overall CLDN18.2 positivity was 4.1% (21/515) in the TOC centers and 3.6% (18/498) in their peripheries. In primaries of mucinous tubo-ovarian carcinoma (MTOC), CLDN18.2 positivity rates were 45% (18/40) and 36.6% (15/41), respectively. Positivity rates for the corresponding metastases were 33% (4/12, center) and 27% (3/11, periphery). The expression was relatively homogenous throughout all tumor sites. With no expression in 99.5% of nonmucinous tumors, CLDN18.2 positivity was almost exclusively seen in the mucinous subtype.In tubo-ovarian carcinoma, CLDN18.2 expression was, with rare exceptions, restricted to the mucinous subtype. Among them, 33% of metastasized MTOCs presented with CLDN18.2 positivity. Hence, CLDN18.2 might display a promising target for personalized therapy in patients with advanced MTOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Wagner
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Paul Gass
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Patrik Pöschke
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Eckstein
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Laura Gloßner
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias Wilhelm Beckmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter Andreas Fasching
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias Ruebner
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julius Emons
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ramona Erber
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
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Mathias-Machado MC, de Jesus VHF, Jácome A, Donadio MD, Aruquipa MPS, Fogacci J, Cunha RG, da Silva LM, Peixoto RD. Claudin 18.2 as a New Biomarker in Gastric Cancer-What Should We Know? Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:679. [PMID: 38339430 PMCID: PMC10854563 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030679] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) remains a formidable global health challenge, ranking among the top-five causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The majority of patients face advanced stages at diagnosis, with a mere 6% five-year survival rate. First-line treatment for metastatic GC typically involves a fluoropyrimidine and platinum agent combination; yet, predictive molecular markers have proven elusive. This review navigates the evolving landscape of GC biomarkers, with a specific focus on Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) as an emerging and promising target. Recent phase III trials have unveiled the efficacy of Zolbetuximab, a CLDN18.2-targeting antibody, in combination with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for CLDN18.2-positive metastatic GC. As this novel therapeutic avenue unfolds, understanding the nuanced decision making regarding the selection of anti-CLDN18.2 therapies over other targeted agents in metastatic GC becomes crucial. This manuscript reviews the evolving role of CLDN18.2 as a biomarker in GC and explores the current status of CLDN18.2-targeting agents in clinical development. The aim is to provide concise insights into the potential of CLDN18.2 as a therapeutic target and guide future clinical decisions in the management of metastatic GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cecília Mathias-Machado
- Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Oncoclínicas, São Paulo 04538-132, Brazil; (M.D.D.); (M.P.S.A.); (R.D.P.)
| | | | - Alexandre Jácome
- Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Oncoclínicas, Belo Horizonte 30360-680, Brazil;
| | - Mauro Daniel Donadio
- Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Oncoclínicas, São Paulo 04538-132, Brazil; (M.D.D.); (M.P.S.A.); (R.D.P.)
| | | | - João Fogacci
- Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Oncoclínicas, Rio de Janeiro 22775-003, Brazil;
| | - Renato Guerino Cunha
- Cellular Therapy Program, Division of Hematology, Oncoclínicas, São Paulo 04538-132, Brazil;
| | | | - Renata D’Alpino Peixoto
- Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Oncoclínicas, São Paulo 04538-132, Brazil; (M.D.D.); (M.P.S.A.); (R.D.P.)
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11
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Angerilli V, Ghelardi F, Nappo F, Grillo F, Parente P, Lonardi S, Luchini C, Pietrantonio F, Ugolini C, Vanoli A, Fassan M. Claudin-18.2 testing and its impact in the therapeutic management of patients with gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas: A literature review with expert opinion. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 254:155145. [PMID: 38277741 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Claudin-18.2 (CLDN18.2) is a member of the tight junction protein family and is a highly selective biomarker with frequent abnormal expression during the occurrence and development of various primary malignant tumors, including gastric cancer (GC) and esophago-gastric junction adenocarcinomas (EGJA). For these reasons, CLDN18.2 has been investigated as a therapeutic target for GC/EGJA malignancies. Recently, zolbetuximab has been proposed as a new standard of care for patients with CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced and metastatic GC/EGJA. The use of CLDN18 IHC assays to select patients who might benefit from anti-CLDN18.2 therapy is currently entering clinical practice. In this setting, pathologists play a central role in therapeutic decision-making. Accurate biomarker assessment is essential to ensure the best therapeutic option for patients. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive overview of available evidence on CLDN18.2 testing and its impact on the therapeutic management of patients with GC/EGJA, as well as some practical suggestions for CLDN18.2 staining interpretation and potential pitfalls in the real-world setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Angerilli
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Surgical Pathology & Cytopathology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Filippo Ghelardi
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Floriana Nappo
- Medical Oncology 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Federica Grillo
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy; Anatomic Pathology, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genova, Italy.
| | - Paola Parente
- Unit of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy.
| | - Sara Lonardi
- Medical Oncology 3, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Claudio Luchini
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Filippo Pietrantonio
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Ugolini
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vanoli
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia and Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Surgical Pathology & Cytopathology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Veneto Institute of Oncology (IOV-IRCCS), Padua, Italy
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12
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Kubota Y, Shitara K. Zolbetuximab for Claudin18.2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2024; 16:17588359231217967. [PMID: 38188462 PMCID: PMC10768589 DOI: 10.1177/17588359231217967] [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: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Claudins (CLDNs) are a family of major membrane proteins that form components of tight junctions. In normal tissues, CLDNs seal the intercellular space in the epithelial sheets to regulate tissue permeability, paracellular transport, and signal transduction. Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2), a member of the CLDN family, is expressed specifically in gastric mucosal cells in normal tissue, and its expression is often retained in gastric cancer cells. CLDN18.2 is ectopically expressed in many cancers other than gastric cancer such as esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, biliary tract cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, and ovarian cancer. Structurally, CLDN18.2 is localized on the apical side of the cell membrane and has extracellular loops capable of binding monoclonal antibodies. Upon malignant transformation, CLDN18.2 is exposed to the cell surface of the whole membrane, which enables the binding of monoclonal antibodies. Based on these characteristics, CLDN18.2 was considered to be optimal for target therapy, and zolbetuximab was developed which is a first-in-class chimeric immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody highly specific for CLDN18.2. It binds to CLDN18.2 on the tumor cell surface and stimulates cellular and soluble immune effectors that activate antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Recently, zolbetuximab combined with chemotherapy demonstrated a survival benefit in patients with CLDN18.2-positive and HER-2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancers in the global phase III SPOTLIGHT and GLOW trials. From these clinically meaningful results, CLDN18.2-targeting therapy including zolbetuximab has attracted a lot of attention. In this review, we summarize the clinical implications of CLDN18.2-positive gastric or GEJ cancer, and CLDN18.2-targeting therapy, mainly for zolbetuximab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Kubota
- Department of Clinical Oncology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kohei Shitara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
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13
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Kim IH. Emerging Targets for Systemic Treatment of Gastric Cancer: HER2 and Beyond. J Gastric Cancer 2024; 24:29-56. [PMID: 38225765 PMCID: PMC10774754 DOI: 10.5230/jgc.2024.24.e6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in the molecular profiling of gastric cancer. This progress has led to the development of various molecular classifications to uncover subtype-specific dependencies that can be targeted for therapeutic interventions. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a crucial biomarker for advanced gastric cancer. The recent promising results of novel approaches, including combination therapies or newer potent agents such as antibody-drug conjugates, have once again brought attention to anti-HER2 targeted treatments. In HER2-negative diseases, the combination of cytotoxic chemotherapy and programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors has become the established standard of care in first-line settings. In the context of gastric cancer, potential biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression, Epstein-Barr virus, microsatellite instability, and tumor mutational burden are being considered for immunotherapy. Recently, promising results have been reported in studies on anti-Claudin18.2 and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 treatments. Currently, many ongoing trials are aimed at identifying potential targets using novel approaches. Further investigations will be conducted to enhance the progress of these therapies, addressing challenges such as primary and acquired resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and clonal evolution. We believe that these efforts will improve patient prognoses. Herein, we discuss the current evidence of potential targets for systemic treatment, clinical considerations, and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Ho Kim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Gastric Cancer Centre, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea,.
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14
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Inamoto R, Takahashi N, Yamada Y. Claudin18.2 in Advanced Gastric Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5742. [PMID: 38136288 PMCID: PMC10741608 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245742] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, the fifth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality is gastric cancer (GC). Recent clinical trials on solid tumors enrolled patients who possess druggable genetic alterations, protein expression, and immune characteristics. In gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers, trastuzumab combined with first-line chemotherapy in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive patients and ramucirumab combined with second-line paclitaxel remarkably prolonged overall survival (OS) compared with chemotherapy alone, according to phase 3 trial results. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy was approved as third- or later-line treatment. Chemotherapy plus ICIs as first-line treatment exhibited improved survival compared with chemotherapy alone in HER2-negative patients according to Checkmate 649 trial results. Conversely, systemic chemotherapy prognosis remains poor. although some patients may achieve durable response to treatment and prolonged survival in advanced GC. Recently, a first-in-class, chimeric immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody (zolbetuximab) that targets and binds to claudin 18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2) has emerged as a new target therapy in GC treatment. Global phase Ⅲ trials revealed that the addition of zolbetuximab to first-line chemotherapy prolonged OS in CLDN18.2-positive and HER2-negative GC patients. This review summarizes recent clinical trials of CLDN18.2-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rin Inamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saitama Cancer Center, 780 Komuro, Ina-machi, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
| | - Naoki Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saitama Cancer Center, 780 Komuro, Ina-machi, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
| | - Yasuhide Yamada
- Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan;
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15
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Kim HD, Choi E, Shin J, Lee IS, Ko CS, Ryu MH, Park YS. Clinicopathologic features and prognostic value of claudin 18.2 overexpression in patients with resectable gastric cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20047. [PMID: 37973935 PMCID: PMC10654731 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47178-6] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Claudin 18.2 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in gastric cancer based on phase 3 studies. However, clinicopathologic features associated with claudin 18.2 overexpression have not been comprehensively studied specifically for patients with resectable gastric cancer. This retrospective study included 299 patients with stage I-III resectable gastric cancer who underwent curative surgical resection. Possible associations between claudin 18.2 overexpression (moderate-to-strong expression in ≥ 75% by the 43-14A clone) and clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes were analyzed. There were 90 (30.1%), 96 (32.1%), and 113 (37.8%) patients with stage I, II, and III disease, respectively. Claudin 18.2 overexpression was noted in 139 out of 299 patients (46.5%). Claudin 18.2 overexpression was associated with a younger age, a lower invasion depth limited to the mucosa/submucosa, and less frequent lymphovascular invasion. Claudin 18.2 overexpression was also associated with Borrmann type 4 among patients with advanced gastric cancer and the diffuse histological type. Claudin 18.2 overexpression was not an independent factor for survival outcomes. In conclusion, claudin 18.2 was overexpressed in almost half of resectable gastric cancer patients. Claudin 18.2 overexpression was associated with some clinicopathological characteristics, but was not an independent prognostic factor in a localized setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyung-Don Kim
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Eugene Choi
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinho Shin
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Seob Lee
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Seok Ko
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Hee Ryu
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
| | - Young Soo Park
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
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16
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Shin M, Gabriel T, Coffey RJ, Huh WJ. Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Claudin 18.2 as a Diagnostic Biomarker of Ménétrier's Disease and the Role of Hedgehog Signaling in Pathogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.03.565570. [PMID: 37986961 PMCID: PMC10659353 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.03.565570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Both Ménétrier's disease (MD) and juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) are rare premalignant conditions that can lead to gastric cancer development. MD is an acquired disease without known causative mutations. MD patients are characterized by an increased expression of EGF receptor (EGFR) ligand and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) in the stomach. JPS is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and is caused by BMPR1A or SMAD4 mutations. It is characterized by multiple polyps throughout the gastrointestinal tract along with certain SMAD4 mutations that can result in gastric polyposis. Although there are many distinct clinico- endoscopic and histopathologic features that differ between the two diseases, they also share similar features that often lead to misdiagnosis. This study aimed to identify markers that can help distinguish MD from JPS and to better understand the pathogenesis of MD by comparing differential gene expression patterns. Upon examination of MD and JPS microscopically, we found almost all cases have patchy areas mimicking each other, making it difficult to make a correct diagnosis with histopathologic examination alone. Comparative analysis between MD and JPS using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) revealed both common and differential gene signatures. Common gene signatures included estrogen receptor signaling, integrin signaling, mTOR signaling, and others, which may be responsible for histopathologic similarities. Among differential gene signatures, we found that claudin 18 ( CLDN18 ) is upregulated in MD and confirmed that CLDN18.2 (isoform of CLDN18) protein expression is higher in MD than JPS by immunohistochemistry. Comparative analysis between MD and normal control revealed the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is upregulated in MD. Treatment with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor partially rescued the histopathologic phenotypes in a MD mouse model. The current study provides valuable insight into the potential underlying mechanism of why MD and JPS show similar clinico-pathologic features. We also identified a diagnostic marker CLDN18.2 that can help distinguish MD from JPS, genetically. Furthermore, it also shows that Hh signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of MD and can function as a potential therapeutic target.
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Tao D, Guan B, Li H, Zhou C. Expression patterns of claudins in cancer. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21338. [PMID: 37954388 PMCID: PMC10637965 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21338] [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: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Claudins are four-transmembrane proteins, which were found in tight junctions. They maintain cell barriers and regulate cell differentiation and proliferation. They are involved in maintaining cellular polarity and normal functions. Different claudins show different expression patterns. The expression level and localization of claudins are altered in various cancers. They promote or inhibit proliferation, invasion, and migration of cancer cells through multiple signaling pathways. Therefore, claudins may serve as diagnostic markers, novel therapeutic targets, and prognostic risk factors. The important roles of claudins in cancer aroused our great interest. In the present review, we provide a summary of insights into expression patterns of claudins in cancer, which is more comprehensive and provides new ideas for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daoyu Tao
- Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Bingxin Guan
- Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Chengjun Zhou
- Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
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18
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Cheng R, Li B, Wang H, Zeng Y. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and cellular immunotherapy for advanced gastric, gastroesophageal cancer: a long pathway. Clin Transl Oncol 2023; 25:3122-3138. [PMID: 37036597 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-023-03181-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Although the incidence rate and mortality of gastric/gastroesophageal cancer (G/GEJC) are declining globally, G/GEJC remains a health issue in East Asia. When diagnosed as advanced stage, treatment after serial lines of chemotherapy is limited, with a median overall survival of less than 1 year. Immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and cellular immunotherapy, has changed the prospects of cancer therapy by reversing immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. As part of this review, we enumerated the clinical uses of ICIs related to the immunosuppressive signaling axis PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4/B7. ICIs were initially approved as a secondary treatment option for patients with severe pretreating advanced gastric and gastroesophageal cancer (AG/GEJC). Till now, it has become the mainstream therapy in combination with chemotherapy and targeted therapy for patients identified by biomarkers. Numerous evidence showed microsatellite instability (MSI), programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, tumor mutation burden (TMB) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status might be indicative to the use of ICIs. In addition, we discussed the current limitations and prospects of ICIs in AG/GGEJC, as well as the first clinical application of novel CAR-T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runzi Cheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, People's Republic of China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People's Republic of China
| | - Baizhi Li
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People's Republic of China
| | - Huaiming Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongming Zeng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, People's Republic of China.
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19
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Pan C, Xu A, Ma X, Yao Y, Zhao Y, Wang C, Chen C. Research progress of Claudin-low breast cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1226118. [PMID: 37904877 PMCID: PMC10613467 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1226118] [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: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Claudin-low breast cancer (CLBC) is a subgroup of breast cancer discovered at the molecular level in 2007. Claudin is one of the primary proteins that make up tight junctions, and it plays crucial roles in anti-inflammatory and antitumor responses as well as the maintenance of water and electrolyte balance. Decreased expression of claudin results in the disruption of tight junction structures and the activation of downstream signaling pathways, which can lead to tumor formation. The origin of Claudin-low breast cancer is still in dispute. Claudin-low breast cancer is characterized by low expression of Claudin3, 4, 7, E-cadherin, and HER2 and high expression of Vimentin, Snai 1/2, Twist 1/2, Zeb 1/2, and ALDH1, as well as stem cell characteristics. The clinical onset of claudin-low breast cancer is at menopause age, and its histological grade is higher. This subtype of breast cancer is more likely to spread to lymph nodes than other subtypes. Claudin-low breast cancer is frequently accompanied by increased invasiveness and a poor prognosis. According to a clinical retrospective analysis, claudin-low breast cancer can achieve low pathological complete remission. At present, although several therapeutic targets of claudin-low breast cancer have been identified, the effective treatment remains in basic research stages, and no animal studies or clinical trials have been designed. The origin, molecular biological characteristics, pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of CLBC are extensively discussed in this article. This will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of CLBC and serve as the foundation for the individualization of breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Pan
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Anqi Xu
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Department of Anesthesia, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yanfei Yao
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Youmei Zhao
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Nicoletti A, Vitale F, Quero G, Paratore M, Fiorillo C, Negri M, Carlino A, Inzani F, Gasbarrini A, Alfieri S, Zileri Dal Verme L. Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Expression of Specific Membrane Antigens in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4586. [PMID: 37760554 PMCID: PMC10526869 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184586] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies. The lack of validated disease biomarkers makes timely diagnosis challenging in most cases. Cell membrane and surface proteins play a crucial role in several routes of oncogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of six membrane antigens on PDAC (CA 19-9, mucin 1 and 4 (MUC1, MUC4), mesothelin (MSLN), Annexin A10 (ANXA10), Glypican-1 (GPC-1)) and their correlation with oncologic outcomes. (2) Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for CA 19.9, MUC1, MUC4, MSLN, ANXA10, and GPC-1 of surgical samples of 50 consecutive patients with PDAC was performed. Antigen expression for tumor, ductal, and acinar tissues was classified according to the histo-score (H-score) by two pathologists. (3) Results: Recurrence rate was 47% and 18 patients (36%) deceased (median follow-up 21.5 months). Immunostaining for CA 19-9 and MUC1 showed a significantly higher expression in the neoplastic tissue compared to non-tumor ductal and acinar tissues (p < 0.001). MUC4, MSLN, ANXA10, and GPC-1 were selectively expressed in the neoplastic tissue (p < 0.001). A CA 19-9 H-score value >270 was independently associated with a worse overall survival (p = 0.05) and disease-free survival (p = 0.05). (4) Conclusions: CA 19-9 and MUC1 are highly expressed in PDAC cells. The histological expression of CA 19-9 may predict prognosis. MUC4, MSLN, ANXA10, and GPC-1 are selectively expressed by neoplastic tissue and may represent a potential histological biomarker of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Nicoletti
- Pancreas Unit, CEMAD Centro Malattie dell’Apparato Digerente, Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.N.); (F.V.); (M.P.); (M.N.); (L.Z.D.V.)
| | - Federica Vitale
- Pancreas Unit, CEMAD Centro Malattie dell’Apparato Digerente, Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.N.); (F.V.); (M.P.); (M.N.); (L.Z.D.V.)
| | - Giuseppe Quero
- Chirurgia Digestiva, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.Q.); (C.F.); (S.A.)
| | - Mattia Paratore
- Pancreas Unit, CEMAD Centro Malattie dell’Apparato Digerente, Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.N.); (F.V.); (M.P.); (M.N.); (L.Z.D.V.)
| | - Claudio Fiorillo
- Chirurgia Digestiva, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.Q.); (C.F.); (S.A.)
| | - Marcantonio Negri
- Pancreas Unit, CEMAD Centro Malattie dell’Apparato Digerente, Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.N.); (F.V.); (M.P.); (M.N.); (L.Z.D.V.)
| | - Angela Carlino
- Anatomia Patologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (F.I.)
| | - Frediano Inzani
- Anatomia Patologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (F.I.)
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- Pancreas Unit, CEMAD Centro Malattie dell’Apparato Digerente, Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.N.); (F.V.); (M.P.); (M.N.); (L.Z.D.V.)
| | - Sergio Alfieri
- Chirurgia Digestiva, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.Q.); (C.F.); (S.A.)
| | - Lorenzo Zileri Dal Verme
- Pancreas Unit, CEMAD Centro Malattie dell’Apparato Digerente, Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.N.); (F.V.); (M.P.); (M.N.); (L.Z.D.V.)
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Wang C, Wang Y, Chen J, Wang Y, Pang C, Liang C, Yuan L, Ma Y. CLDN18.2 expression and its impact on prognosis and the immune microenvironment in gastric cancer. BMC Gastroenterol 2023; 23:283. [PMID: 37582713 PMCID: PMC10428652 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-023-02924-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The investigational use of zolbetuximab (IMAB362), a groundbreaking monoclonal antibody medication targeting claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2), for treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancers is currently underway. The unclear clinicopathological characteristics and tumour immune microenvironment of CLDN18.2-positive gastric cancer (GC) make it difficult to develop and optimize CLDN18.2-targeted therapies. METHODS A total of 451 tumour tissues, 342 matched paraneoplastic tissues, and 107 matched metastatic lymph nodes were collected from GC patients. These specimens were stained for CLDN18.2 expression and quantified using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Correlations between CLDN18.2 expression and clinicopathological features as well as immune-related factors were analysed. Survival curves were drawn using the Kaplan‒Meier approach, and independent factors affecting GC prognosis were identified using Cox regression analysis. Information from relevant databases was used for corroboration. RESULTS Expression of the CLDN18.2 gene was significantly lower in gastric tumour tissues than in normal tissues (p < 0.001) but comparable in metastatic lymph nodes (p = 0.851). CLDN18.2 expression was significantly associated with Borrmann type, degree of differentiation, PD-L1 expression, and survival in GC patients and was identified as an independent risk factor for patient prognosis (HR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.16-2.11, p = 0.003). There was no correlation between CLDN18.2 expression and HER2, Lauren type, tumour size, TNM stage, or any other clinicopathological characteristic. In CLDN18.2-positive tumours, fractions of CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells were significantly higher than those in CLDN18.2-negative tumours. Patients with CLDN18.2-negative expression and significant CD4 + T-cell or CD8 + T-cell infiltration had the best prognosis (5-year OS: 61.0%, P = 0.036; 5-year OS: 62.2%, P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS CLDN18.2 is expressed at a low level in tumour tissues and serves as an independent prognostic factor for patients with GC. Furthermore, CLDN18.2 correlates with immune infiltrating cells and PD-L1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canming Wang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yukai Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, Guizhou, China
| | - Jinxia Chen
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chuhong Pang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chen Liang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li Yuan
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yubo Ma
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, China.
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22
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Takasawa A, Takasawa K, Murata M, Osanai M, Sawada N. Emerging roles of transmembrane-type tight junction proteins in cancers. Pathol Int 2023; 73:331-340. [PMID: 37449777 DOI: 10.1111/pin.13349] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Tight junctions (TJs) are the most apical components of the cell-cell adhesion machinery in epithelial and endothelial cells and they play essential roles in homeostasis. Recent studies have revealed that aberrant expression of tight junction proteins (TJPs) is frequently observed in various type of cancers. Here we review cancer-associated aberrant expression of TJPs with focus on transmembrane-type TJPs including claudins, junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A), and occludin. Some transmembrane-type TJPs are upregulated at the early neoplastic stage and their expression persists during dedifferentiation. Aberrant expression of TJPs contributes to proliferation, invasion, and dysregulated signaling of cancer cells. In addition to an increase in their expression level, their localization is altered from a TJ-restricted pattern to distribution throughout the whole cell membrane, making them suitable as therapeutic targets. Extracellular domains of transmembrane-type TJPs can be approached by target drugs not only from the lumen side (apical side) but also from the extracellular matrix side (basal side), including blood vessels. Aberrantly expressed TJPs are potential useful diagnostic markers as well as therapeutic targets for cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Takasawa
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kumi Takasawa
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masaki Murata
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Tokeidai Memorial Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Makoto Osanai
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Norimasa Sawada
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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23
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Effer B, Perez I, Ulloa D, Mayer C, Muñoz F, Bustos D, Rojas C, Manterola C, Vergara-Gómez L, Dappolonnio C, Weber H, Leal P. Therapeutic Targets of Monoclonal Antibodies Used in the Treatment of Cancer: Current and Emerging. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2086. [PMID: 37509725 PMCID: PMC10377242 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading global causes of death and disease, and treatment options are constantly evolving. In this sense, the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in immunotherapy has been considered a fundamental aspect of modern cancer therapy. In order to avoid collateral damage, it is indispensable to identify specific molecular targets or biomarkers of therapy and/or diagnosis (theragnostic) when designing an appropriate immunotherapeutic regimen for any type of cancer. Furthermore, it is important to understand the currently employed mAbs in immunotherapy and their mechanisms of action in combating cancer. To achieve this, a comprehensive understanding of the biology of cancer cell antigens, domains, and functions is necessary, including both those presently utilized and those emerging as potential targets for the design of new mAbs in cancer treatment. This review aims to provide a description of the therapeutic targets utilized in cancer immunotherapy over the past 5 years, as well as emerging targets that hold promise as potential therapeutic options in the application of mAbs for immunotherapy. Additionally, the review explores the mechanisms of actin of the currently employed mAbs in immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Effer
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Isabela Perez
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Daniel Ulloa
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Carolyn Mayer
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Francisca Muñoz
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Diego Bustos
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Claudio Rojas
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
- Centro de Estudios Morfológicos y Quirúrgicos de La, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Carlos Manterola
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
- Centro de Estudios Morfológicos y Quirúrgicos de La, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Luis Vergara-Gómez
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Camila Dappolonnio
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Helga Weber
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Pamela Leal
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
- Department of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4810296, Chile
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24
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Liu H, Zhang X, Fang C, Li S. Resveratrol induces the growth inhibition of CDX-deficient gastric cancer cells using CDX2 and RUNX3 via the β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway. Transl Oncol 2023; 35:101727. [PMID: 37354639 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101727] [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: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the expression levels of runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) and caudal-related homeobox 2 (CDX2) in patients with chronic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, atypical hyperplasia, and gastric cancer (GC). To analyze the overexpression of CDX2 and the effects of resveratrol (Res) on MKN7 and TMK1 cells, immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the protein expression levels in tissue samples. The biological activity of MKN7 and TMK1 cells was determined. Relative mRNA and protein expression levels were also determined. RUNX3 expression was positively correlated with CDX2 expression and negatively correlated with β-catenin and transcription factor 4 (TCF-4) levels in GC tissues. Interestingly, RUNX3 expression was negatively correlated with CDX2 expression in other tissues. CDX2 overexpression or Res treatment inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while inducing cell apoptosis. Furthermore, RUNX3 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein (Bax) expression levels were increased, while those of of β-catenin, TCF-4, and Bcl-2 were decreased in the CDX2 group. Upon treatment with lithium chloride (LiCl), the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CDX2-overexpressing MKN7 and TMK1 cells were enhanced. Our results indicate that Res inhibits the growth of MKN7 and TMK1 cells by increasing RUNX3 and CDX2 expression levels, with the potential involvement of the β-catenin/TCF-4 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Can Fang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Shuguang Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Yantai, Shandong, China.
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25
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Pihlak R, Fong C, Starling N. Targeted Therapies and Developing Precision Medicine in Gastric Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3248. [PMID: 37370858 PMCID: PMC10296575 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is an aggressive disease with survival remaining poor in the advanced setting. More than a decade after the first targeted treatment was approved, still only HER2, MSI and PDL-1 status have reached everyday practice in terms of guiding treatment options for these patients. However, various new targets and novel treatments have recently been investigated and have shown promise in improving survival outcomes. In this review, we will summarise previous and currently ongoing studies on predictive biomarkers, possible new targeted treatments, potential reasons for conflicting trial results and hope for the future of precision medicine in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Naureen Starling
- Gastrointestinal/Lymphoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK; (R.P.); (C.F.)
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26
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Grizzi G, Venetis K, Denaro N, Bonomi M, Celotti A, Pagkali A, Hahne JC, Tomasello G, Petrelli F, Fusco N, Ghidini M. Anti-Claudin Treatments in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma: Mainstream and Upcoming Strategies. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12082973. [PMID: 37109309 PMCID: PMC10142079 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12082973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Claudins (CLDNs) are a multigene family of proteins and the principal components of tight junctions (TJs), which normally mediate cell-cell adhesion and selectively allow the paracellular flux of ions and small molecules between cells. Downregulation of claudin proteins increases the paracellular permeability of nutrients and growth stimuli to malignant cells, which aids the epithelial transition. Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) was identified as a promising target for the treatment of advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEAC), with high levels found in almost 30% of metastatic cases. CLDN18.2 aberrations, enriched in the genomically stable subgroup of GEAC and the diffuse histological subtype, are ideal candidates for monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T cells. Zolbetuximab, a highly specific anti-CLDN18.2 monoclonal antibody, demonstrated efficacy in phase II studies and, more recently, in the phase III SPOTLIGHT trial, with improvements in both PFS and OS with respect to standard chemotherapy. Anti-CLDN18.2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells showed a safety profile with a prevalence of hematologic toxicity in early phase clinical trials. The aim of this review is to present new findings in the treatment of CLDN18.2-positive GEAC, with a particular focus on the monoclonal antibody zolbetuximab and on the use of engineered anti-CLDN18.2 CAR-T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Grizzi
- Operative Unit of Oncology, ASST of Cremona, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - Kostantinos Venetis
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Nerina Denaro
- Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Bonomi
- Operative Unit of Oncology, ASST of Cremona, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - Andrea Celotti
- Department of Surgery, ASST of Cremona, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - Antonia Pagkali
- School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Jens Claus Hahne
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Gianluca Tomasello
- Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Fausto Petrelli
- Oncology Unit, Medical Sciences Department, ASST Bergamo Ovest, 24047 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Nicola Fusco
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Ghidini
- Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
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27
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Entezam M, Sanaei MJ, Mirzaei Y, Mer AH, Abdollahpour-Alitappeh M, Azadegan-Dehkordi F, Bagheri N. Current progress and challenges of immunotherapy in gastric cancer: A focus on CAR-T cells therapeutic approach. Life Sci 2023; 318:121459. [PMID: 36720453 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a severe malignancy, accounting for the third most common cancer death worldwide. Despite the development of chemo-radiation therapy, there has not been sufficient survival advantage in patients with GC who were treated by these methods. GC immunogenicity is hampered by a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment; therefore, further understanding of the molecular biology of GC is the potential to achieve new therapeutic strategies in GC therapy, including specific immunotherapy. Current immunotherapies are mainly based on cytokines, immune checkpoints, monoclonal antibodies (mAb), bispecific antibodies (BisAbs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Immunotherapy has made significant progress in the treatment of GC, so that studies show that nivolumab as a programmed death 1 (PD1) inhibitor has proper safety and effectiveness as a third-line treatment for GC patients. Multiple monoclonal antibodies like ramucirumab and claudiximab were effective in treating GC patients, especially in combination with other treatments. Despite the challenges of CAR therapy in solid tumors, CAR therapy targets various GC cells targets; among them, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 CAR-T cell and CLDN18.2 CAR-T cell have shown promising results. Although responses to all these treatments are encouraging and in some cases, durable, these successes are not seen in all treated patients. The present review represents the development of various immunotherapies especially CAR-T cell therapy, its current use, clinical data in GC, and their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahshad Entezam
- Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran; Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Javad Sanaei
- Clinical Biochemistry Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Yousef Mirzaei
- Department of Medical Biochemical Analysis, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Ali Hussein Mer
- Department of Nursing, Mergasour Technical Institute, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Iraq
| | | | - Fatemeh Azadegan-Dehkordi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
| | - Nader Bagheri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
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Chen MZ, Dai XF, Sun Y, Yu YC, Yang F. Cyclosporine A-induced gingival overgrowth in renal transplant patients accompanied by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. J Periodontal Res 2023; 58:511-519. [PMID: 36924118 DOI: 10.1111/jre.13115] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between the prevalence of cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth and the expression of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition factors in the gingival tissues of renal transplant patients. BACKGROUND Gingival overgrowth (GO) is a frequent complication in organ transplant patients treated with the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A (CsA). The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is considered a factor contributing to CsA-induced GO. However, current knowledge on this topic is sparse. METHODS Sixty-three renal transplant patients were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of GO: those with gingival overgrowth (GO+ group) and those without gingival overgrowth (GO- group). Data on age, sex, and use of immunosuppressant and calcium channel blocker medications, serum creatinine values, peak concentrations of blood CsA, and gingival hyperplasia scores were recorded to identify clinically pathogenic factors. Gingival tissues from five patients with CsA-induced GO and five healthy subjects were selected for histomorphological observation with hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemical staining. The mRNA expression of EMT factors was detected with reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. RESULTS The use of CsA significantly increased the prevalence of GO in renal transplant patients. The expression of α-SMA, SMAD4, and TGM2 was upregulated and that of E-cadherin was downregulated in the gingival tissues of patients with CsA-induced GO compared with those of the corresponding controls. CONCLUSION Treatment with CsA is closely related to the occurrence of GO in renal transplant patients and EMT plays an important role in CsA-induced gingival tissue hyperplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhi Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Jing-An Dental Clinic, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Yang Sun
- Department of Stomatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - You Cheng Yu
- Department of Stomatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Stomatology, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Stomatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Stomatology, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, China
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Chen J, Xu Z, Hu C, Zhang S, Zi M, Yuan L, Cheng X. Targeting CLDN18.2 in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract: New drugs and new indications. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1132319. [PMID: 36969060 PMCID: PMC10036590 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1132319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract greatly contribute to the global cancer burden and cancer-related death. Claudin-18.2(CLDN18.2), a transmembrane protein, is a major component of tight junctions and plays an important role in the maintenance of barrier function. Its characteristic widespread expression in tumour tissues and its exposed extracellular loops make it an ideal target for researchers to develop targeted strategies and immunotherapies for cancers of the GI tract. In the present review, we focus on the expression pattern of CLDN18.2 and its clinical significance in GI cancer. We also discuss the tumour-promoting and/or tumour-inhibiting functions of CLDN18.2, the mechanisms regulating its expression, and the current progress regarding the development of drugs targeting CLDN18.2 in clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxia Chen
- Department of Gastric Surgery, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institutes of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyuan Xu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institutes of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Lab of Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Can Hu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institutes of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Lab of Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shengjie Zhang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institutes of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Lab of Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengli Zi
- Department of Gastric Surgery, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institutes of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Yuan
- Department of Gastric Surgery, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institutes of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Lab of Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Li Yuan, ; Xiangdong Cheng,
| | - Xiangdong Cheng
- Department of Gastric Surgery, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institutes of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Lab of Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Li Yuan, ; Xiangdong Cheng,
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Holm B, Barsuhn S, Behrens HM, Krüger S, Röcken C. The tumor biological significance of RNF43 and LRP1B in gastric cancer is complex and context-dependent. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3191. [PMID: 36823311 PMCID: PMC9950470 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30294-8] [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: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world with a poor prognosis. Both RNF43 and LRP1B function as tumor suppressors in the Wnt signaling pathway and have been described to be frequently mutated in GC. In this study of a large and well characterized cohort of 446 GCs we explored the significance of expression of RNF43 and LRP1B and their correlations with clinicopathological patient characteristics. Immunostaining of whole mount tissue sections was documented with the histoscore. Dichotomized at the median, we separated the cohort into a low/negative and a high/positive group of RNF43 and LRP1B expression, respectively. Apart from the entire cohort, we also examined the intestinal and diffuse type GCs separately. Regarding the entire cohort, the expression of RNF43 and LRP1B correlated significantly with the Lauren phenotype and with each other. Interestingly, differences were noted regarding RNF43 between the intestinal and diffuse type GCs. Survival analysis of the intestinal type GCs showed that RNF43 low/negative GCs tended to have a better outcome compared with RNF43 high/positive GCs [24.5 months overall survival (OS) and 25.0 months tumor-specific survival (TSS) vs. 14.1 months OS and 17.9 months TSS, respectively]. To the contrary, diffuse type GCs with RNF43 low/negative had a worse outcome compared with RNF43 high/positive GCs (12.9 months OS and 18.2 months TSS vs. 17.1 months OS and 21.5 months TSS, respectively). On multivariate analysis, RNF43 low/negative versus high/positive was an independent prognosticator of survival in diffuse type GC (hazard ratio 2.393 for OS and 2.398 for TSS). These data support the contention that the expression and biological effect of RNF43 and LRP1B in GC is context-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bente Holm
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Department of Pathology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Stephan Barsuhn
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Department of Pathology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hans-Michael Behrens
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Department of Pathology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sandra Krüger
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Department of Pathology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christoph Röcken
- Department of Pathology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany. .,Department of Pathology, Christian-Albrechts-University, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus 14, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
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31
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Kayikcioglu E, Yüceer RO, Cetin B, Yüceer K, Karahan N. Prognostic value of claudin 18.2 expression in gastric adenocarcinoma. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:343-351. [PMID: 36908327 PMCID: PMC9994048 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i2.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) is a cell surface protein expressed by gastric cancer cells. The monoclonal antibody zolbetuximab binds CLDN18.2-positive cancer cells and causes cancer cell death. A few studies researched the prognostic effect of CLDN18.2 expression in metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.
AIM To identify the prognostic value of CLDN18.2 expression in patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.
METHODS This study was conducted with 65 patients over the age of 18 who were diagnosed with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma. We investigated the effect of CLDN18.2 expression on clinicopathological characteristics (age, sex, histological grade, Lauren classification, family history, metastatic site, HER2 expression) and prognosis for patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.
RESULTS CLDN18.2 expression was positive in 73.8% (48) of the patients. During the median 17.7-mo follow-up period, 89.2% (58) of the patients died. Median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 6 mo (95% confidence interval: 1.6-10.4) and 12 mo (95% confidence interval: 7.5-16.5). There was no statistically significant correlation between CLDN18.2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients. In univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, there was no correlation between clinicopathological characteristics of patients and progression-free survival or OS.
CONCLUSION CLDN18.2 expression was quite high in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, identifying the proportion of the patients in whom zolbetuximab would be efficacious. There is no statistically significant correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and OS. CLDN18.2 is not a prognostic marker in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, although it is predictive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkan Kayikcioglu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta 32260, Turkey
| | | | - Bulent Cetin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Isparta 32360, Turkey
| | - Kamuran Yüceer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Isparta 32360, Turkey
| | - Nermin Karahan
- Department of Pathology, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta 32360, Turkey
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Kubota Y, Kawazoe A, Mishima S, Nakamura Y, Kotani D, Kuboki Y, Bando H, Kojima T, Doi T, Yoshino T, Kuwata T, Shitara K. Comprehensive clinical and molecular characterization of claudin 18.2 expression in advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. ESMO Open 2023; 8:100762. [PMID: 36610262 PMCID: PMC10024138 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We conducted comprehensive clinical and molecular characterization of claudin 18.2 expression (CLDN18.2) in advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with advanced GC/GEJC who received systemic chemotherapy from October 2015 to December 2019 with available tumor specimens were analyzed. We evaluated clinicopathological features of CLDN18.2 expression with four molecular subtypes: mismatch repair deficient, Epstein-Barr virus-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, and others. In addition, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS), genomic alterations, and the expression of immune cell markers were assessed. Clinical outcomes of standard first- or second-line chemotherapy and subsequent anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy were also investigated according to CLDN18.2 expression. RESULTS Among 408 patients, CLDN18.2-positive (moderate-to-strong expression in ≥75%) was identified in 98 patients (24.0%) with almost equal distribution in the four molecular subtypes or CPS subgroups. CLDN18.2-positive was associated with Borrmann type 4, KRAS amplification, low CD16, and high CD68 expression. Overall survival with first-line chemotherapy was not significantly different between CLDN18.2-positive and -negative groups [median 18.4 versus 20.1 months; hazard ratio 1.26 (95% confidence interval 0.89-1.78); P = 0.191] regardless of stratification by PD-L1 CPS ≥5. Progression-free survival and objective response rates of first- and second-line chemotherapy, and anti-PD-1 therapy also showed no significant differences according to CLDN18.2 status. CONCLUSIONS CLDN18.2 expression in advanced GC/GEJC was associated with some clinical and molecular features but had no impact on treatment outcomes with chemotherapy or checkpoint inhibition. CLDN18.2-positive also had no impact on overall survival. This information could be useful to interpret the results from currently ongoing clinical trials of CLDN18.2-targeted therapies for advanced GC/GEJC and to consider a treatment strategy for CLDN18.2-positive GC/GEJC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Kubota
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba; Department of Clinical Oncology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa
| | - A Kawazoe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba
| | - S Mishima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba
| | - Y Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba
| | - D Kotani
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba
| | - Y Kuboki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba
| | - H Bando
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba
| | - T Kojima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba
| | - T Doi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba
| | - T Yoshino
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba
| | - T Kuwata
- Departments of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan; Genetics and Clinical Laboratories, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan
| | - K Shitara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba.
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Zhao ZX, Zhang YQ, Sun H, Chen ZQ, Chang JJ, Wang X, Wang X, Tan C, Ni SJ, Weng WW, Zhang M, Wang L, Huang D, Feng Y, Sheng WQ, Xu MD. Calcipotriol abrogates cancer-associated fibroblast-derived IL-8-mediated oxaliplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells via blocking PI3K/Akt signaling. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:178-188. [PMID: 35676532 PMCID: PMC9813133 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-00927-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has been implicated in hesitating tumor progression and chemoresistance of several human malignancies. Yet, the role of VDR in CAF-induced chemotherapy resistance of gastric cancer (GC) cells remains elusive. In this study we first conducted immunohistochemistry analysis on tissue microarrays including 88 pairs of GC and normal mucosa samples, and provided clinical evidence that VDR was mainly expressed in gastric mucous cells but almost invisible in CAFs, and VDR expression was negatively correlated with malignant clinical phenotype and advanced stages, low VDR expression confers to poor overall survival rate of patients with GC. In a co-culture system of primary CAFs and cancer cells, we showed that treatment of HGC-27 and AGS GC cells with VDR ligand calcipotriol (Cal, 500 nM) significantly inhibited CAF-induced oxaliplatin resistance. By using RNA-sequencing and Human Cytokine Antibody Array, we demonstrated that IL-8 secretion from CAFs induced oxaliplatin resistance via activating the PI3K/AKT pathway in GC, whereas Cal treatment greatly attenuated the tumor-supportive effect of CAF-derived IL-8 on GC cells. Taken together, this study verifies the specific localization of VDR in GC tissues and demonstrates that activation of VDR abrogates CAF-derived IL-8-mediated oxaliplatin resistance in GC via blocking PI3K/Akt signaling, suggesting vitamin D supplementation as a potential strategy of enhancing the anti-tumor effect of chemotherapy in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Xiong Zhao
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yan-Qiu Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zi-Qi Chen
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Jin-Jia Chang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Cong Tan
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shu-Juan Ni
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei-Wei Weng
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Dan Huang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yun Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China.
| | - Wei-Qi Sheng
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Mi-Die Xu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Wang C, Wu N, Pei B, Ma X, Yang W. Claudin and pancreatic cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1136227. [PMID: 36959784 PMCID: PMC10027734 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1136227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the lack of timely and accurate screening modalities and treatments, most pancreatic cancer (PCa) patients undergo fatal PCa progression within a short period since diagnosis. The claudin(CLDN) family is expressed specifically as tight junction structure in a variety of tumors, including PCa, and affects tumor progression by changing the cell junctions. Thus far, many of the 27 members of the claudin family, including claudin-18.2 and claudin-4, have significantly aberrantly expression in pancreatic tumors. In addition, some studies have confirmed the role of some claudin proteins in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic tumors. By targeting different targets of claudin protein and combining chemotherapy, further enhance tumor cell necrosis and inhibit tumor invasion and metastasis. Claudins can either promote or inhibit the development of pancreatic cancer, which indicates that the diagnosis and treatment of different kinds of claudins require to consider different biological characteristics. This literature summarizes the functional characteristics and clinical applications of various claudin proteins in Pca cells, with a focus on claudin-18.2 and claudin-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/ Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Na Wu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Beibei Pei
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Wenhui Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/ Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- *Correspondence: Wenhui Yang,
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Petrillo A, Smyth EC, van Laarhoven HWM. Emerging targets in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: what the future looks like. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2023; 15:17588359231173177. [PMID: 37197225 PMCID: PMC10184253 DOI: 10.1177/17588359231173177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) is a heterogeneous disease with a poor prognosis. Chemotherapy has been the cornerstone in treating metastatic diseases. Recently, the introduction of immunotherapy demonstrated improved survival outcomes in localized and metastatic diseases. Beyond immunotherapy, several attempts were made to improve patient survival by understanding the molecular mechanisms of GEA and several molecular classifications were published. In this narrative review, we will discuss emerging targets in GEA, including fibroblast growth factor receptor and Claudin 18.2, as well as the accompanying drugs. In addition, novel agents directed against well-known targets, such as HER2 and angiogenesis, will be discussed, as well as cellular therapies like CAR-T and SPEAR-T cells.
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Liu J, Yang H, Yin D, Jia Y, Li S, Liu Y. Expression and prognostic analysis of CLDN18 and Claudin18.2 in lung adenocarcinoma. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 238:154068. [PMID: 36007395 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.154068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CLDN encodes a member of the claudin family. Claudin is a tight junction protein that is mainly involved in cell migration. Claudin family is of interest as a potential therapeutic target. Claudin18.2 is one of its important isoforms and is mainly expressed in the stomach. Its expression and prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between CLDN18 and claudin18.2 expression and prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS Two cohorts were introduced in this study: one from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) CLDN18 mRNA public data (TCGA-LUAD, N = 551); the other from 1079 cases of lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China, with immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of claudin18.2 in tissue microarrays. the IHC-positive cases were again verified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS The mRNA expression of CLDN18 was significantly lower in lung adenocarcinoma tissues than in normal lung tissues (P < 0.05). Among 1079 Chinese lung adenocarcinoma cases, the overall positive rate of IHC for Claudin18.2 was 7.78% (84/1079). Among those positive for IHC, the positive rate of FISH was 11.9% (10/84), which accounted for 0.9% of the total number of cases (10/1079). To explore the best scoring scheme for Claudin 18.2, we used a four-group (IHC4) and two-group (IHC2) scoring method for evaluation. We found that IHC4 better explained Claudin 18.2 expression and helped us to find specific differences in clinical factors for weak, moderate and strong Claudin 18.2 expression. This difference was not discernible in the IHC2 score. By survival analysis, we found that Claudin 18.2 (IHC4) was able to stratify the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients, with strongly positive patients having a better prognosis than the other subgroups (p < 0.05). We also found that patients with EGFR wild type or PD-L1 < 1% accompanied by strong positive claudin18.2 had a significantly better prognosis than other subgroups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Claudin18.2 (IHC4) better reveals the clinical and prognostic characteristics of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Patients with EGFR wild type and PD-L1 < 1% have a better prognosis and partially overlap with claudin18.2 expression, so claudin18.2 may also be an important biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma testing, which is particularly important for EGFR wild type and PD-L1 < 1%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junying Liu
- Department of pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12, Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang 050011, PR China
| | - Huichai Yang
- Department of pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12, Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang 050011, PR China
| | - Danjing Yin
- Department of pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12, Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang 050011, PR China
| | - Ying Jia
- Department of pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12, Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang 050011, PR China
| | - Shi Li
- Department of pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12, Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang 050011, PR China
| | - Yueping Liu
- Department of pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12, Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang 050011, PR China.
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Konno H, Lin T, Wu R, Dai X, Li S, Wang G, Chen M, Li W, Wang L, Sun BC, Luo Z, Huang T, Chen Y, Zhang J, Ye Q, Bellovin D, Wan B, Kang L, Szeto C, Hsu K, Kabbarah O. ZL-1211 Exhibits Robust Antitumor Activity by Enhancing ADCC and Activating NK Cell-mediated Inflammation in CLDN18.2-High and -Low Expressing Gastric Cancer Models. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:937-950. [PMID: 36922936 PMCID: PMC10010325 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
CLDN18.2 (Claudin18.2)-targeting therapeutic antibodies have shown promising clinical efficacy in approximately 30% of gastric cancers expressing high levels of CLDN18.2 and less pronounced activity in low expressing malignancies. Here, we report that ZL-1211 is a mAb targeting CLDN18.2 engineered to promote enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) with the goal of achieving more potent activity in a wider spectrum of high- and low-CLDN18.2 expressing tumors. ZL-1211 demonstrated more robust in vitro ADCC activity than clinical benchmark not only in CLDN18.2-high but also CLDN18.2-low expressing gastric tumor cell lines. Greater antitumor efficacy was also observed in mouse xenograft models. Natural killer (NK) cell played critical roles in ZL-1211 efficacy and NK-cell depletion abrogated ZL-1211-mediated ADCC activity in vitro. ZL-1211 efficacy in vivo was also dependent on the presence of an NK compartment. Strikingly, NK cells strongly induced an inflammatory response in response to ZL-1211 treatment, including increased IFNγ, TNFα, and IL6 production, and were recruited into tumor microenvironment in patient-derived gastric tumors expressing CLDN18.2 upon ZL-1211 treatment to lyse the tumor cells. Taken together, our data suggest that ZL-1211 more effectively targets CLDN18.2-high gastric cancers as well as -low expressing malignancies that may not be eligible for treatment with the leading clinical benchmark by inducing enhanced ADCC response and activating NK cells with robust inflammation to enhance antitumor efficacy. Clinical activity of ZL-1211 is currently under evaluation in a phase I clinical trial (NCT05065710). Significance ZL-1211, anti-CLDN18.2 therapeutic antibody can target CLDN18.2-high as well as -low gastric cancers that may not be eligible for treatment with clinical benchmark. ZL-1211 treatment induces NK-cell activation with robust inflammation to further activate antitumor immunity in tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tracey Lin
- Zai Lab (US) LLC, Menlo Park, California
| | - Renyi Wu
- Zai Lab (US) LLC, Menlo Park, California
| | - Xinchuan Dai
- Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Pudong, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Shou Li
- Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Pudong, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Grace Wang
- Zai Lab (US) LLC, Menlo Park, California
| | - Min Chen
- Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Pudong, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Wenying Li
- Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Pudong, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Lina Wang
- Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Pudong, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | | | - Zhen Luo
- Zai Lab (US) LLC, Menlo Park, California
| | - Tom Huang
- Zai Lab (US) LLC, Menlo Park, California
| | | | - John Zhang
- Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Pudong, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Qiuping Ye
- Zai Lab (US) LLC, Menlo Park, California
| | | | - Bing Wan
- Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Pudong, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Lishan Kang
- Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Pudong, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | | | - Karl Hsu
- Zai Lab (US) LLC, Menlo Park, California
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38
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Stein L, Brunner N, Amasheh S. Functional Analysis of Gastric Tight Junction Proteins in Xenopus laevis Oocytes. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12080731. [PMID: 35893449 PMCID: PMC9330571 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12080731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The epithelial barrier is crucial for proper gastrointestinal function, preventing the unwanted passage of solutes and therefore representing a prerequisite for vectorial transport. Claudin-4 and claudin-18.2, two critical tight junction proteins of the gastric epithelium, seal neighboring cells in a physically and mechanically challenging environment. As the Xenopus laevis oocyte allows the functional and molecular analyses of claudin interaction, we have addressed the hypothesis that this interaction is not only dependent on mechanical force but also on pH. We expressed human claudin-4 and claudin-18 in Xenopus oocytes, and analyzed them in a two-cell model approach. Cells were clustered in pairs to form contact areas expressing CLDN18 + CLDN18, CLDN4/18 + CLDN4/18, and compared to controls, respectively. Contact areas in cells incubated in medium at pH 5.5 and 7.4 were quantified by employing transmitted light microscopy. After 24 h at pH 5.5, clustering of CLDN18 + CLDN18 and CLDN4/18 + CLDN4/18-expressing oocytes revealed a contact area reduced by 45% and 32%, compared with controls, respectively. A further approach, high-pressure impulse assay, revealed a stronger tight junction interaction at pH 5.5 in oocyte pairs expressing CLDN18 + CLDN18 or CLDN4/18 + CLDN4/18 indicating a protective role of claudin-18 for tight junction integrity during pH challenge. Thus, our current analysis of gastric tight junction proteins further establishes oocytes as an expression and two-cell screening model for tight junction integrity analysis of organ- and tissue-specific claudins by the characterization of homo- and heterophilic trans-interaction dependent on barrier effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Salah Amasheh
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-30-838-62602; Fax: +49-30-838-462602
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Wang X, Zhang CS, Dong XY, Hu Y, Duan BJ, Bai J, Wu YY, Fan L, Liao XH, Kang Y, Zhang P, Li MY, Xu J, Mao ZJ, Liu HT, Zhang XL, Tian LF, Li EX. Claudin 18.2 is a potential therapeutic target for zolbetuximab in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14:1252-1264. [PMID: 36051096 PMCID: PMC9305579 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i7.1252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is frequently diagnosed and treated in advanced tumor stages with poor prognosis. More effective screening programs and novel therapeutic means are urgently needed. Recent studies have regarded tight junction protein claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) as a candidate target for cancer treatment, and zolbetuximab (formerly known as IMAB362) has been developed against CLDN18.2. However, there are few data reported thus far related to the clinicopathological characteristics of CLDN18.2 expression for PDAC.
AIM To investigate the expression of CLDN18.2 in PDAC patients and subsequently propose a new target for the treatment of PDAC.
METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression, Gene Expression Omnibus, and European Genome-phenome Archive databases were first employed to analyze the CLDN18 gene expression in normal pancreatic tissue compared to that in pancreatic cancer tissue. Second, we analyzed the expression of CLDN18.2 in 93 primary PDACs, 86 para-cancer tissues, and 13 normal pancreatic tissues by immunohistochemistry. Immunostained tissues were assessed applying the histoscore. subsequently, they fell into two groups according to the expression state of CLDN18.2. Furthermore, the correlations between CLDN18.2 expression and diverse clinicopathological characteristics, including survival, were investigated.
RESULTS The gene expression of CLDN18 was statistically higher (P < 0.01) in pancreatic tumors than in normal tissues. However, there was no significant correlation between CLDN18 expression and survival in pancreatic cancer patients. CLDN18.2 was expressed in 88 (94.6%) of the reported PDACs. Among these tumors, 50 (56.8%) cases showed strong immunostaining. The para-cancer tissues were positive in 81 (94.2%) cases, among which 32 (39.5%) of cases were characterized for strong staining intensities. Normal pancreatic tissue was identified solely via weak immunostaining. Finally, CLDN18.2 expression significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, nerve invasion, stage, and survival of PDAC patients, while there was no correlation between CLDN18.2 expression and localization, tumor size, patient age and sex, nor any other clinicopathological characteristic.
CONCLUSION CLDN18.2 expression is frequently increased in PDAC patients. Thus, it may act as a potential therapeutic target for zolbetuximab in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an 710068, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Cheng-Sheng Zhang
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, Med-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xu-Yuan Dong
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yuan Hu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Bao-Jun Duan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an 710068, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jun Bai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an 710068, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yin-Ying Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Lin Fan
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xin-Hua Liao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Ye Kang
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, Med-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Meng-Yang Li
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, Med-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jiao Xu
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, Med-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Mao
- Department of General Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an 710068, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Hui-Tong Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an 710068, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xiao-Long Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an 710068, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Li-Fei Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an 710068, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - En-Xiao Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
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Jia K, Chen Y, Sun Y, Hu Y, Jiao L, Ma J, Yuan J, Qi C, Li Y, Gong J, Gao J, Zhang X, Li J, Zhang C, Shen L. Multiplex immunohistochemistry defines the tumor immune microenvironment and immunotherapeutic outcome in CLDN18.2-positive gastric cancer. BMC Med 2022; 20:223. [PMID: 35811317 PMCID: PMC9272556 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02421-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The FAST study identified claudin-18 (CLDN18.2) as a promising novel therapeutic target for gastric cancer (GC). However, the tumor immune microenvironment and clinicopathological features of CLDN18.2-positive GC are unclear, making it difficult to develop and optimize CLDN18.2-targeted treatments. METHODS This study included 80 GC patients, 60 of whom received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. CD4/CD8/CD20/CD66b/CD68/CD163/PD-1/PD-L1/TIM-3/LAG-3/FoxP3/CTLA-4/HLA-DR/STING, and CLDN18.2 were labeled using multiplex immunohistochemistry (m-IHC) to decipher the rate and spatial distribution of T cells, B cells, macrophages, and neutrophils in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues isolated from these patients. Tumor immune-microenvironmental features and patient survival stratified by CLDN18.2 expression were analyzed using two independent-sample t-tests and log-rank tests, respectively. RESULTS We considered moderate-to-strong CLDN18.2 expression ≥ 40% of tumor cells as the cut-off for positivity. The proportion of CD8+PD-1-, CD8+LAG-3-, and CD8+TIM-3- T cells was significantly higher in CLDN18.2-positive tumors than in negative tumors (0.039 vs. 0.026, P = 0.009; 0.050 vs.0.035, P = 0.024; 0.045 vs. 0.032, P = 0.038, respectively). In addition, the number of neutrophils (CD66b+) was higher in the CLDN18.2-positive group than in the negative group (0.081 vs. 0.055, P = 0.031, respectively), while the rates of M1 (CD68+CD163-HLA-DR+), M2 macrophages (CD68+CD163+HLA-DR-), and B cells (CD20+) were comparable between the CLDN18.2-positive and negative groups. The average numbers of CD8+PD-1-, CD8+LAG-3-, and CD8+TIM-3-T cells surrounding tumor cells within a 20-μm range were higher in CLDN18.2-positive tumors than in the CLDN18.2-negative tumors (0.16 vs. 0.09, P = 0.011; 0.20 vs. 0.12, P = 0.029; 0.18 vs. 0.12, P = 0.047, respectively). In addition, in the CLDN18.2-positive group, tumor cells surrounded by CD8+PD-1-, CD8+LAG-3- T cells, or M1 macrophages within a 20-μm range accounted for a higher proportion of all tumor cells than those in the CLDN18.2-negative group (10.79% vs. 6.60%, P = 0.015; 12.68% vs. 8.70%, P = 0.049; 9.08% vs. 6.56%, P = 0.033, respectively). These findings suggest that CLDN18.2-positive GC harbors complex immune-microenvironmental features. Additionally, CLDN18.2-positive group had shorter OS and irOS than CLDN18.2-negative group (median OS: 23.33 vs.36.6 months, P < 0.001; median irOS: 10.03 vs. 20.13 months, P = 0.044, respectively). CONCLUSIONS CLDN18.2-positive GC displayed unique immune-microenvironmental characteristics, which is of great significance for the development of CLDN18.2-targeted therapies. However, the impact of CLDN18.2-related microenvironmental features on prognosis requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keren Jia
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yajie Hu
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Jiao
- Panovue Biotechnology (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Panovue Biotechnology (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajia Yuan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Changsong Qi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yanyan Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Jifang Gong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Gao
- National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.
| | - Lin Shen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.
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Cao W, Xing H, Li Y, Tian W, Song Y, Jiang Z, Yu J. Claudin18.2 is a novel molecular biomarker for tumor-targeted immunotherapy. Biomark Res 2022; 10:38. [PMID: 35642043 PMCID: PMC9153115 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00385-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) protein, an isoform of claudin18, a member of the tight junction protein family, is a highly selective biomarker with limited expression in normal tissues and often abnormal expression during the occurrence and development of various primary malignant tumors, such as gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction (GC/GEJ) cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer, bronchial cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer. CLDN18.2 participates in the proliferation, differentiation and migration of tumor cells. Recent studies have identified CLDN18.2 expression as a potential specific marker for the diagnosis and treatment of these tumors. With its specific expression pattern, CLDN18.2 has become a unique molecule for targeted therapy in different cancers, especially in GC; for example, agents such as zolbetuximab (claudiximab, IMAB362), a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against CLDN18.2, have been developed. In this review, we outline recent advances in the development of immunotherapy strategies targeting CLDN18.2, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells redirected to target CLDN18.2, and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Cao
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Haizhou Xing
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Yingmei Li
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Wenliang Tian
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Yongping Song
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Zhongxing Jiang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Jifeng Yu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
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Zhao C, Rong Z, Ding J, Wang L, Wang B, Ding L, Meng L, Meng X, Wang F, Yang Z, Shou C, Zhu H. Targeting Claudin 18.2 Using a Highly Specific Antibody Enables Cancer Diagnosis and Guided Surgery. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:3530-3541. [PMID: 35344359 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) is a new potential target for cancer therapy, especially for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). A molecular targeting probe is of importance for patient stratification and therapeutic guidance. Here, we explored an antibody-dependent molecular imaging strategy for specific detection and surgery guidance based on a CLDN18.2-specific antibody, 5C9. Two imaging probes, 124I-5C9 and Cy5.5-5C9, were synthesized. The specificity to CLDN18.2 being evidenced in the cellular experiments with control, the diagnostic utility was assessed by immunopositron emission tomography (immuno-PET) and fluorescence imaging using xenograft models. A near-infrared fluorescent II imaging probe FD1080-5C9 was designed to facilitate the comprehensive surgical removal of lesions. 124I-5C9 immuno-PET imaging clearly delineated subcutaneous CLDN18.2-positive tumors, with a peak uptake (maximum standardized uptake value; SUVmax) of 2.25 ± 0.30, whereas the highest values for the 124I-IgG and blocking groups were 0.70 ± 0.13 and 0.66 ± 0.12, respectively. Cy5.5-5C9 fluorescence imaging showed similar results. As proof of the diagnosis and guided surgery (DGS) concept, 124I-5C9 and FD1080-5C9 were simultaneously administered in orthotopic CLDN18.2-positive tumor models, facilitating the comprehensive resection of tumor tissue. Combined, 124I-5C9 and FD1080-5C9 are both promising DGS tools: the former reveals CLDN18.2 in lesions as a PET probe, and the latter can guide surgery. These results provide a utility molecular imaging strategy for specific detection and surgery guidance based on a CLDN18.2-specific antibody both in AGC and other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanke Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Zhuona Rong
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jin Ding
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Lixin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Lei Ding
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Lin Meng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Xiangxi Meng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Zhi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Chengchao Shou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
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43
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Ooki A, Yamaguchi K. The dawn of precision medicine in diffuse-type gastric cancer. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2022; 14:17588359221083049. [PMID: 35281349 PMCID: PMC8908406 DOI: 10.1177/17588359221083049] [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: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The histology- and morphology-based Lauren classification of GC has been widely used for over 50 years in clinical practice. The Lauren classification divides GC into intestinal and diffuse types, which have distinct etiology, molecular profiles, and clinicopathological features. Diffuse-type GC (DGC) accounts for approximately 30% of GCs. Tumor cells lack adhesion and infiltrate the stroma as single cells or small subgroups, leading to easy dissemination in the abdominal cavity. Clinically, DGC has aggressive traits with a high risk of recurrence and metastasis, which results in unfavorable prognosis. Although systemic chemotherapy is the main therapeutic approach for recurrent or metastatic GC patients, clinical benefits are limited for patients with DGC. Therefore, it is urgent to develop effective therapeutic strategies for DGC patients. Considerable research studies have characterized the molecular and genomic landscape of DGC, of which tight junction protein claudin-18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2) and fibroblast growing factors receptor-2 isoform IIIb (FGFR2-IIIb) are the most attractive targets because of their close association with DGC. Recently, the impressive results of two phase II FAST and FIGHT trials demonstrate proof-of-concept, suggesting that anti-CLDN18.2 antibody (zolbetuximab) and FGFR2-IIIb antibody (bemarituzumab) are promising approaches for patients with CLDN18.2-positive and FGFR2-IIIb-positive GC, respectively. In this review, we summarize the clinicopathological features and molecular profiles of DGC and highlight a potential therapeutic target based on the findings of pivotal clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Ooki
- Department of Gastroenterological Chemotherapy, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Kensei Yamaguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Chemotherapy, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
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44
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Faghfuri E, Shadbad MA, Faghfouri AH, Soozangar N. Cellular immunotherapy in gastric cancer: adoptive cell therapy and dendritic cell-based vaccination. Immunotherapy 2022; 14:475-488. [PMID: 35232264 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies. Recent studies have highlighted cellular immunotherapy (CI) as a promising approach for treating this disease. Among the CI-based approaches, adoptive cell therapy and dendritic cell-based vaccination are commonly studied in preclinical and clinical trials. Here we review the current evidence on the potentiality of CI in treating GC, the targets for adoptive cell therapy, ongoing clinical trials, constraints and the future outlook. The results suggest that there is a need to identify novel biomarkers that predict which GC patients will most likely respond to these approaches. Also, CI plus chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors can improve the survival of patients with late-stage GC. Therefore, this approach can be promising for treating these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Faghfuri
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | | | | | - Narges Soozangar
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
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45
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Gastric Cancer: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Approaches. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030543. [PMID: 35327345 PMCID: PMC8945014 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the most common deadly malignancies worldwide. Recently, several targeted therapeutics for treating unresectable or metastatic GC have been developed. Comprehensive characterization of the molecular profile and of the tumor immune microenvironment of GC has allowed researchers to explore promising biomarkers for GC treatment and has enabled a new paradigm in precision-targeted immunotherapy. In this article, we review established and promising new biomarkers relevant in GC, with a focus on their clinical implications, diagnostic methods, and the efficacy of targeted agents.
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46
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Claudins and Gastric Cancer: An Overview. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020290. [PMID: 35053454 PMCID: PMC8773541 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers and the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with a high frequency of recurrence and metastasis, and a poor prognosis. This review presents novel biological and clinical significance of claudin (CLDN) expression in GC, especially CLDN18, and clinical trials centered around CLDN18.2. It also presents new findings for other CLDNs. Abstract Despite recent improvements in diagnostic ability and treatment strategies, advanced gastric cancer (GC) has a high frequency of recurrence and metastasis, with poor prognosis. To improve the treatment results of GC, the search for new treatment targets from proteins related to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell–cell adhesion is currently being conducted. EMT plays an important role in cancer metastasis and is initiated by the loss of cell–cell adhesion, such as tight junctions (TJs), adherens junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions. Among these, claudins (CLDNs) are highly expressed in some cancers, including GC. Abnormal expression of CLDN1, CLDN2, CLDN3, CLDN4, CLDN6, CLDN7, CLDN10, CLDN11, CLDN14, CLDN17, CLDN18, and CLDN23 have been reported. Among these, CLDN18 is of particular interest. In The Cancer Genome Atlas, GC was classified into four new molecular subtypes, and CLDN18–ARHGAP fusion was observed in the genomically stable type. An anti-CLDN18.2 antibody drug was recently developed as a therapeutic drug for GC, and the results of clinical trials are highly predictable. Thus, CLDNs are highly expressed in GC as TJs and are expected targets for new antibody drugs. Herein, we review the literature on CLDNs, focusing on CLDN18 in GC.
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Kyuno D, Takasawa A, Takasawa K, Ono Y, Aoyama T, Magara K, Nakamori Y, Takemasa I, Osanai M. Claudin-18.2 as a therapeutic target in cancers: cumulative findings from basic research and clinical trials. Tissue Barriers 2022; 10:1967080. [PMID: 34486479 PMCID: PMC8794250 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2021.1967080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Claudins are major components of tight junctions that maintain cell polarity and intercellular adhesion. The dynamics of claudins in cancer cells have attracted attention as a therapeutic target. During carcinogenesis, claudin expression is generally downregulated; however, overexpression of claudin-18.2 has been observed in several types of cancers. Upregulated and mislocalized claudin-18.2 expression in cancer cells has been suggested as a therapeutic target. Research on claudin-18.2 has revealed its involvement in carcinogenesis. Clinical trials using zolbetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting claudin-18.2, for patients with advanced cancer yielded positive results with few high-grade adverse events; thus, it is expected to be a novel and effective therapeutic. Here, we review current insights into the role that claudin-18.2 plays in basic cancer research and clinical applications. A better understanding of these roles will facilitate the development of new treatment strategies for cancer patients with poor prognoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Kyuno
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Surgical Oncology and Science, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Akira Takasawa
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kumi Takasawa
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Ono
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Aoyama
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kazufumi Magara
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuna Nakamori
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ichiro Takemasa
- Department of Surgery, Surgical Oncology and Science, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Makoto Osanai
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
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Arpa G, Fassan M, Guerini C, Quaquarini E, Grillo F, Angerilli V, Guzzardo V, Lonardi S, Bergamo F, Lenti MV, Pedrazzoli P, Paulli M, Di Sabatino A, Vanoli A. Claudin-18 expression in small bowel adenocarcinoma: a clinico-pathologic study. Virchows Arch 2022; 481:853-863. [PMID: 35925388 PMCID: PMC9734203 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-022-03393-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Non-ampullary small bowel adenocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm with an ominous prognosis, whose incidence is higher in some chronic immuno-inflammatory conditions, such as coeliac and Crohn's disease. Recently, claudin 18.2, a transmembrane protein normally expressed in gastric mucosa, has been recognized as a novel pan-cancer therapeutic target, and several clinical trials with claudin-18-directed drugs have shown promising results on various gastrointestinal malignancies. This is the first study focusing on claudin-18 expression in small bowel adenocarcinomas. The immunohistochemical expression of claudin-18 (clone 43-14A) was assessed in 81 small bowel adenocarcinomas of diverse aetiologies and correlated with several clinico-pathologic features and patient survival. We found that 28% of adenocarcinomas were immunoreactive for claudin-18, with cutoff values of ≥1% at any intensity, while 6% of cancers showed immunoexpression of ≥75% with 2+/3+ score. Moreover, claudin-18 (≥1%) was positively associated with cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and MUC5AC expression, showing CK7+/MUC5AC+ carcinomas the highest rate of positive cases, whereas a negative correlation was found between claudin-18 and CDX2 expression. In addition, some cancer-adjacent dysplastic growths and foci of gastric-type metaplasia in Crohn's disease-associated cases showed claudin-18 immunoreactivity. Survival analysis showed a non-significant trend towards a worse cancer-specific survival for claudin-18-positive cases. A fraction of small bowel adenocarcinomas, mainly sporadic or Crohn's disease-associated, and often exhibiting a non-intestinal immunoprofile, expressed claudin-18, suggesting that claudin-18-directed targeted therapy is worth investigating in such cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Arpa
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Anatomic Pathology, University of Pavia, Via Carlo Forlanini 16-27100, Pavia, Italy ,grid.419425.f0000 0004 1760 3027Anatomic Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Medicine, DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy ,grid.419546.b0000 0004 1808 1697Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Camilla Guerini
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Anatomic Pathology, University of Pavia, Via Carlo Forlanini 16-27100, Pavia, Italy ,grid.419425.f0000 0004 1760 3027Anatomic Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy
| | - Erica Quaquarini
- Medical Oncology Unit, ICS Maugeri-IRCCS SpA SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Federica Grillo
- grid.5606.50000 0001 2151 3065Pathology Unit, Department of Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy ,grid.410345.70000 0004 1756 7871IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valentina Angerilli
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Medicine, DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Vincenza Guzzardo
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Medicine, DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Sara Lonardi
- grid.419546.b0000 0004 1808 1697Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Bergamo
- grid.419546.b0000 0004 1808 1697Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Vincenzo Lenti
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736First Department of Internal Medicine, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paolo Pedrazzoli
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736First Department of Internal Medicine, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy ,grid.419425.f0000 0004 1760 3027Oncology Unit, IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Paulli
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Anatomic Pathology, University of Pavia, Via Carlo Forlanini 16-27100, Pavia, Italy ,grid.419425.f0000 0004 1760 3027Anatomic Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Sabatino
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736First Department of Internal Medicine, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vanoli
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Anatomic Pathology, University of Pavia, Via Carlo Forlanini 16-27100, Pavia, Italy ,grid.419425.f0000 0004 1760 3027Anatomic Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy
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RhoA, Claudin 18, and c-MET in Gastric Cancer: Clinicopathological Characteristics and Prognostic Significance in Curative Resected Patients. Med Sci (Basel) 2021; 10:medsci10010004. [PMID: 35076580 PMCID: PMC8788521 DOI: 10.3390/medsci10010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Recently, markers related to molecular classification were suggested as promising therapeutic targets for treatment and prediction of prognosis in gastric cancer (GC), including c-MET, RhoA, and Claudin-18 (CLDN18). This study aimed to investigate their expression in GC and its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and survival. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated GC patients who underwent curative gastrectomy. c-MET, RhoA, and CLDN18 were analyzed through immunohistochemistry (IHC), and groups for analysis were determined according to the median values obtained for each marker. Results: Among the 349 GC evaluated, 180 (51.6%), 59 (16.9%), and 61 (17.5%) patients were completely negative for c-MET, RhoA, and CLDN18, respectively. Total gastrectomy, D1 lymphadenectomy, poorly differentiated histology, and greater inflammatory infiltrate were more frequent in the c-MET-negative group. Diffuse type, greater inflammatory infiltrate, and advanced pT and pTNM stage were associated with low-RhoA GC. The venous invasion was more frequent in the low-CLDN18 group. Furthermore, c-MET was positively correlated with RhoA and negatively with CLDN18. HER2 expression was associated with c-MET-positive and high-CLDN18 GC; and loss of E-cadherin expression in c-MET-negative and low-RhoA GC. c-MET-negative and Low-RhoA were significantly associated with worse disease-free survival. Conclusions: c-MET, RhoA, and CLD18 expression occurred frequently in GC. RhoA GC had distinct clinicopathological characteristics related to prognosis. c-MET and RhoA were associated with survival but were not independent predictors of prognosis.
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50
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Pellino A, Brignola S, Riello E, Niero M, Murgioni S, Guido M, Nappo F, Businello G, Sbaraglia M, Bergamo F, Spolverato G, Pucciarelli S, Merigliano S, Pilati P, Cavallin F, Realdon S, Farinati F, Dei Tos AP, Zagonel V, Lonardi S, Loupakis F, Fassan M. Association of CLDN18 Protein Expression with Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis in Advanced Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinomas. J Pers Med 2021; 11:1095. [PMID: 34834447 PMCID: PMC8624955 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11111095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The tight junction protein claudin-18 (CLDN18), is often expressed in various cancer types including gastric (GC) and gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (GECs). In the last years, the isoform CLDN18.2 emerged as a potential drug target in metastatic GCs, leading to the development of monoclonal antibodies against this protein. CLDN18.2 is the dominant isoform of CLDN18 in normal gastric and gastric cancer tissues. In this work, we evaluated the immunohistochemical (IHC) profile of CLDN18 and its correlation with clinical and histopathological features including p53, E-cadherin, MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, PMS2, HER2, EBER and PD-L1 combined positive score, in a large real-world and mono-institutional series of advanced GCs (n = 280) and GECs (n = 70). The association of IHC results with survival outcomes was also investigated. High membranous CLDN18 expression (2+ and 3+ intensity ≥75%) was found in 117/350 (33.4%) samples analyzed. CLDN18 expression correlated with age <70 (p = 0.0035), positive EBV status (p = 0.002), high stage (III, IV) at diagnosis (p = 0.003), peritoneal involvement (p < 0.001) and lower incidence of liver metastases (p = 0.013). CLDN18 did not correlate with overall survival. The predictive value of response of CLDN18 to targeted agents is under investigation in several clinical trials and further studies will be needed to select patients who could benefit from these therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Pellino
- Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (F.N.); (F.B.); (V.Z.); (F.L.)
| | - Stefano Brignola
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (S.B.); (E.R.); (M.G.); (G.B.); (M.S.); (A.P.D.T.)
- Department of Pathology, Azienda ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
| | - Erika Riello
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (S.B.); (E.R.); (M.G.); (G.B.); (M.S.); (A.P.D.T.)
| | - Monia Niero
- Department of Pathology, Azienda ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
| | - Sabina Murgioni
- Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (F.N.); (F.B.); (V.Z.); (F.L.)
| | - Maria Guido
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (S.B.); (E.R.); (M.G.); (G.B.); (M.S.); (A.P.D.T.)
- Department of Pathology, Azienda ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
| | - Floriana Nappo
- Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (F.N.); (F.B.); (V.Z.); (F.L.)
| | - Gianluca Businello
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (S.B.); (E.R.); (M.G.); (G.B.); (M.S.); (A.P.D.T.)
| | - Marta Sbaraglia
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (S.B.); (E.R.); (M.G.); (G.B.); (M.S.); (A.P.D.T.)
| | - Francesca Bergamo
- Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (F.N.); (F.B.); (V.Z.); (F.L.)
| | - Gaya Spolverato
- 1st Surgery Unit, Department of Surgical, Oncological, and Gastroenterological Sciences (DISCOG), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (G.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Salvatore Pucciarelli
- 1st Surgery Unit, Department of Surgical, Oncological, and Gastroenterological Sciences (DISCOG), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (G.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Stefano Merigliano
- 3rd Surgery Unit, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy;
| | - Pierluigi Pilati
- Surgery Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 31033 Castelfranco Veneto, Italy;
| | | | - Stefano Realdon
- Gastroenterology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy;
| | - Fabio Farinati
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgical, Oncological, and Gastroenterological Sciences (DISCOG), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy;
| | - Angelo Paolo Dei Tos
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (S.B.); (E.R.); (M.G.); (G.B.); (M.S.); (A.P.D.T.)
| | - Vittorina Zagonel
- Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (F.N.); (F.B.); (V.Z.); (F.L.)
| | - Sara Lonardi
- Oncology Unit 3, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy;
| | - Fotios Loupakis
- Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (F.N.); (F.B.); (V.Z.); (F.L.)
| | - Matteo Fassan
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (S.B.); (E.R.); (M.G.); (G.B.); (M.S.); (A.P.D.T.)
- Veneto Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy
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