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Liu Z, Jing C, Kong F. From clinical management to personalized medicine: novel therapeutic approaches for ovarian clear cell cancer. J Ovarian Res 2024; 17:39. [PMID: 38347608 PMCID: PMC10860311 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01359-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian clear-cell cancer is a rare subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer with unique clinical and biological features. Despite optimal cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy being the standard of care, most patients experience drug resistance and a poor prognosis. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches have been developed, including immune checkpoint blockade, angiogenesis-targeted therapy, ARID1A synthetic lethal interactions, targeting hepatocyte nuclear factor 1β, and ferroptosis. Refining predictive biomarkers can lead to more personalized medicine, identifying patients who would benefit from chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. Collaboration between academic research groups is crucial for developing prognostic outcomes and conducting clinical trials to advance treatment for ovarian clear-cell cancer. Immediate progress is essential, and research efforts should prioritize the development of more effective therapeutic strategies to benefit all patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zesi Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Chunli Jing
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Fandou Kong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, Liaoning Province, China.
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Irshaid L, Costigan DC, Dong F, Matulonis UA, Nucci MR, Kolin DL. Molecular Landscape of Mullerian Clear Cell Carcinomas Identifies The Cancer Genome Atlas-like Prognostic Subgroups. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100123. [PMID: 36857998 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100123] [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: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mullerian clear cell carcinoma (CCC) is often aggressive and chemoresistant. The prognostic significance of molecular subclassification of endometrioid carcinomas is well established. However, less is known about the molecular landscape of CCC. The aim of this study was to better characterize the genetic landscape of a large cohort of CCC and correlate these findings with clinicopathologic features. CCC of the ovary (n = 72), endometrium (n = 24), and peritoneum/abdominal wall (n = 5) were retrospectively identified. Tumors had undergone tumor-only targeted sequencing using a hybrid capture next-generation sequencing panel. Median tumor mutational burden was 6.8 mutations/megabase (range, 1.3-185, 21% were ≥10 mutations/Mb). The most frequently mutated genes were ARID1A (48%), PIK3CA (45%), TP53 (23%), and PTEN (10%). ERBB2 amplification occurred in 4%. When classified according to the Cancer Genome Atlas/the Proactive Molecular Risk Classifier for Endometrial Cancer endometrial carcinoma molecular subgroups, 3 (3%) were POLE ultramutated, 5 (5%) were microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), 20 (20%) were TP53-mutant subgroup, and 73 (72%) were no specific molecular profile (NSMP). Immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and programmed death-ligand 1 were not associated with the molecular subgroup. POLE and MSI-H tumors were characterized by an excellent prognosis, and the TP53-mutant subgroup had a worse disease-free survival than NSMP. NSMP tumors could be further substratified as high-risk NSMP if they lacked PIK3CA, PIK3R1, and ARID1A mutations, and/or harbored a TERT-promoter mutation. The Cancer Genome Atlas and NSMP-specific stratifications were prognostic for both the entire cohort and the subset of stage I ovarian tumors. On multivariable analysis, stage, lymphovascular invasion, and tumor mutational burden were prognostic for disease-free survival, whereas advanced stage and TP53-mutant subgroup - but not a TP53 mutation in isolation - were negative prognostic factors for overall survival. These data suggest that routine molecular profiling of Mullerian CCC may be warranted for both prognosis and identification of potential targeted treatments, such as immunotherapy and anti-HER2 agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Irshaid
- Division of Women's and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Danielle C Costigan
- Division of Women's and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Caroline
| | - Fei Dong
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ursula A Matulonis
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marisa R Nucci
- Division of Women's and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David L Kolin
- Division of Women's and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Mori S, Gotoh O, Kiyotani K, Low SK. Genomic alterations in gynecological malignancies: histotype-associated driver mutations, molecular subtyping schemes, and tumorigenic mechanisms. J Hum Genet 2021; 66:853-868. [PMID: 34092788 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-021-00940-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
There are numerous histological subtypes (histotypes) of gynecological malignancies, with each histotype considered to largely reflect a feature of the "cell of origin," and to be tightly linked with the clinical behavior and biological phenotype of the tumor. The recent advances in massive parallel sequencing technologies have provided a more complete picture of the range of the genomic alterations that can persist within individual tumors, and have highlighted the types and frequencies of driver-gene mutations and molecular subtypes often associated with these histotypes. Several large-scale genomic cohorts, including the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), have been used to characterize the genomic features of a range of gynecological malignancies, including high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma, uterine cervical carcinoma, and uterine carcinosarcoma. These datasets have also been pivotal in identifying clinically relevant molecular targets and biomarkers, and in the construction of molecular subtyping schemes. In addition, the recent widespread use of clinical sequencing for the more ubiquitous types of gynecological cancer has manifested in a series of large genomic datasets that have allowed the characterization of the genomes, driver mutations, and histotypes of even rare cancer types, with sufficient statistical power. Here, we review the field of gynecological cancer, and seek to describe the genomic features by histotype. We also will demonstrate how these are linked with clinicopathological attributes and highlight the potential tumorigenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiichi Mori
- Project for Development of Innovative Research on Cancer Therapeutics, Cancer Precision Medicine Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Osamu Gotoh
- Project for Development of Innovative Research on Cancer Therapeutics, Cancer Precision Medicine Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuma Kiyotani
- Project for Immunogenomics, Cancer Precision Medicine Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Siew Kee Low
- Project for Immunogenomics, Cancer Precision Medicine Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
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Lapke N, Chen CH, Chang TC, Chao A, Lu YJ, Lai CH, Tan KT, Chen HC, Lu HY, Chen SJ. Genetic alterations and their therapeutic implications in epithelial ovarian cancer. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:499. [PMID: 33947352 PMCID: PMC8097933 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08233-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic alterations for epithelial ovarian cancer are insufficiently characterized. Previous studies are limited regarding included histologies, gene numbers, copy number variant (CNV) detection, and interpretation of pathway alteration patterns of individual patients. METHODS We sequenced 410 genes to analyze mutations and CNV of 82 ovarian carcinomas, including high-grade serous (n = 37), endometrioid (n = 22) and clear cell (n = 23) histologies. Eligibility for targeted therapy was determined for each patient by a pathway-based approach. The analysis covered DNA repair, receptor tyrosine kinase, PI3K/AKT/MTOR, RAS/MAPK, cell cycle, and hedgehog pathways, and included 14 drug targets. RESULTS Postulated PARP, MTOR, and CDK4/6 inhibition sensitivity were most common. BRCA1/2 alterations, PTEN loss, and gain of PIK3CA and CCND1 were characteristic for high-grade serous carcinomas. Mutations of ARID1A, PIK3CA, and KRAS, and ERBB2 gain were enriched in the other histologies. PTEN mutations and high tumor mutational burden were characteristic for endometrioid carcinomas. Drug target downstream alterations impaired actionability in all histologies, and many alterations would not have been discovered by key gene mutational analysis. Individual patients often had more than one actionable drug target. CONCLUSIONS Genetic alterations in ovarian carcinomas are complex and differ among histologies. Our results aid the personalization of therapy and biomarker analysis for clinical studies, and indicate a high potential for combinations of targeted therapies.
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MESH Headings
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/genetics
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/pathology
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/therapy
- Carcinoma/genetics
- Carcinoma/pathology
- Carcinoma/therapy
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/genetics
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/pathology
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/therapy
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/genetics
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/pathology
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/therapy
- Cell Cycle/genetics
- DNA Copy Number Variations
- DNA Mutational Analysis/methods
- DNA Repair/genetics
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Hedgehog Proteins/genetics
- High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods
- Humans
- Mutation
- Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics
- Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology
- Ovarian Neoplasms/therapy
- Precision Medicine
- Retrospective Studies
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Lapke
- ACT Genomics, Co. Ltd., 3F., No.345, Xinhu 2nd Rd., Neihu Dist, Taipei City, 114, Taiwan
- ACT Genomics, Co. Ltd., Units 803 - 807, 8F, Building 15W, No.15 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok. NT, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chien-Hung Chen
- ACT Genomics, Co. Ltd., 3F., No.345, Xinhu 2nd Rd., Neihu Dist, Taipei City, 114, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Chang Chang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Linkou Medical Center, 5 Fushin St., Guishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
- Gynecologic Cancer Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fushin St., Guishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Angel Chao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Linkou Medical Center, 5 Fushin St., Guishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
- Gynecologic Cancer Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fushin St., Guishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Jung Lu
- ACT Genomics, Co. Ltd., 3F., No.345, Xinhu 2nd Rd., Neihu Dist, Taipei City, 114, Taiwan.
| | - Chyong-Huey Lai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Linkou Medical Center, 5 Fushin St., Guishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
- Gynecologic Cancer Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fushin St., Guishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Kien Thiam Tan
- ACT Genomics, Co. Ltd., 3F., No.345, Xinhu 2nd Rd., Neihu Dist, Taipei City, 114, Taiwan
| | - Hua-Chien Chen
- ACT Genomics, Co. Ltd., 3F., No.345, Xinhu 2nd Rd., Neihu Dist, Taipei City, 114, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Yun Lu
- ACT Genomics, Co. Ltd., 3F., No.345, Xinhu 2nd Rd., Neihu Dist, Taipei City, 114, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Jen Chen
- ACT Genomics, Co. Ltd., 3F., No.345, Xinhu 2nd Rd., Neihu Dist, Taipei City, 114, Taiwan
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Liu J, Wang H, Zheng M, Deng L, Zhang X, Lin B. p53 and ANXA4/NF‑κB p50 complexes regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis and tumor progression in ovarian clear cell carcinoma. Int J Mol Med 2020; 46:2102-2114. [PMID: 33125094 PMCID: PMC7595666 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Annexin IV (ANXA4) is highly expressed in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC); however, its underlying molecular mechanism in OCCC remains unknown. The present study aimed to identify the molecule that ANXA4 may act on and to determine its underlying molecular mechanism. Immunohistochemistry, co‑immunoprecipitation and western blotting were performed to detect the expression and interaction of ANXA4, and its associated proteins. Furthermore, MTT assay, flow cytometry, western blotting and gene expression profile enrichment analysis were performed to identify the potential role and molecular mechanism of ANXA4 in OCCC. The results demonstrated that ANXA4 and nuclear factor‑κ‑light‑chain‑enhancer of activated B cells (NF‑κB) p50 nuclear expression levels were significantly higher in OCCC tissues compared with other subtypes of ovarian cancer, such as serous and mucinous. In addition, a significantly positive correlation was observed between ANXA4 and NF‑κB p50 expression in OCCC; however, the expression levels of mutant p53 and ANXA4 were negatively correlated in a linear manner. These results suggest that ANXA4 and NF‑κB p50 may be potential independent risk factors for poor prognosis. ANXA4 and NF‑κB p50 were demonstrated to interact and their expression was co‑localized. The cBioPortal database was used to construct a protein‑protein interaction network between ANXA4, NF‑κB p50 and p53, and functional pathway analysis indicated that the genes were predominantly enriched in the cell cycle and during apoptosis. Transfection of the ANXA4 gene increased the expression of NF‑κB p50, as well as its downstream targets, Cyclin D1 and B‑cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2). Furthermore, transfection of the ANXA4 gene increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis of OCCC cells. Treatment with the NF‑κB inhibitor, BAY 11‑7082, decreased Cyclin D1 and Bcl‑2 expression levels. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that wild p53 activates ANXA4 transcription, promotes its expression and enhances NF‑κB p50 and ANXA4 interaction. This in turn activates the NF‑κB signaling pathway, promotes cell cycle progression and inhibits apoptosis, thus contributing to the malignant progression of OCCC. Thus, ANXA4 and NF‑κB p50 may be used as prognostic biomarkers, and may be molecular therapeutic targets in OCCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjuan Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Huimin Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Mingjun Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Lu Deng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Bei Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
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Iida Y, Okamoto A, Hollis RL, Gourley C, Herrington CS. Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary: a clinical and molecular perspective. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2020; 31:605-616. [PMID: 32948640 DOI: 10.1136/ijgc-2020-001656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary has distinct biology and clinical behavior. There are significant geographical and racial differences in the incidence of clear cell carcinoma compared with other epithelial ovarian tumors. Patients with clear cell carcinoma are younger, tend to present at an early stage, and their tumors are commonly associated with endometriosis, which is widely accepted as a direct precursor of clear cell carcinoma and has been identified pathologically in approximately 50% of clear cell carcinoma cases. The most frequent and important specific gene alterations in clear cell carcinoma are mutations of AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A) (~50% of cases) and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) (~50% cases). More broadly, subgroups of clear cell carcinoma have been identified based on C-APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like) and C-AGE (age-related) mutational signatures. Gene expression profiling shows upregulation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) and oxidative stress-related genes, and has identified epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like tumor subgroups. Although the benefit of platinum-based chemotherapy is not clearly defined it remains the mainstay of first-line therapy. Patients with early-stage disease have a favorable clinical outcome but the prognosis of patients with advanced-stage or recurrent disease is poor. Alternative treatment strategies are required to improve patient outcome and the development of targeted therapies based on molecular characteristics is a promising approach. Improved specificity of the histological definition of this tumor type is helping these efforts but, due to the rarity of clear cell carcinoma, international collaboration will be essential to design appropriately powered, large-scale clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasushi Iida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aikou Okamoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Robert L Hollis
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Charlie Gourley
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Edinburgh, UK
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Khalique S, Lord CJ, Banerjee S, Natrajan R. Translational genomics of ovarian clear cell carcinoma. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 61:121-131. [PMID: 31698086 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian clear cell carcinomas (OCCC) are rare aggressive, chemo-resistant tumours comprising approximately 13% of all epithelial ovarian cancers, which have distinct clinical and molecular features, when compared to other gynaecological malignancies. At present, there are no specific licensed targeted therapies for OCCC, although a number of candidate targets have been identified. This review focuses on recent knowledge underpinning our understanding of the pathogenesis of OCCC including direct and synthetic-lethal therapeutic strategies in particular focussing on ARID1A deficiency. We also discuss current targeted clinical trials and immunotherapeutic approaches.
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MESH Headings
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/diagnosis
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/etiology
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/metabolism
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/therapy
- Biomarkers
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/diagnosis
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/etiology
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/therapy
- DNA Copy Number Variations
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Disease Management
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Female
- Genetic Association Studies
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Genomics/methods
- Humans
- Mutation
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Translational Research, Biomedical
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Affiliation(s)
- Saira Khalique
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Christopher J Lord
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Susana Banerjee
- Gynaecology Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Rachael Natrajan
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
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Sahni S, Moon EA, Howell VM, Mehta S, Pavlakis N, Chan D, Ahadi MS, Gill AJ, Samra J, Mittal A. Tissue biomarker panel as a surrogate marker for squamous subtype of pancreatic cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol 2020; 46:1539-1542. [PMID: 32061458 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been recently classified into four subtypes based on the gene expression levels, with squamous subtype having worst prognostic outcomes. However, gene expression analysis for each individual patient is not clinically feasible due to very high associated cost. We previously reported that levels of three biomarkers (S100A4, Ca-125 and Mesothelin) can be used to classify PDAC patients based on their survival outcomes. This project aimed to determine if this novel biomarker panel can be used as a surrogate to identify squamous PDAC subtype. METHODS Using the Nanostring gene expression platform, tumor tissue from 24 PDAC patients were analysed for our novel biomarkers and markers associated with four PDAC subtypes. RESULTS Gene expression of our biomarker panel (S100A4, Ca-125 and Mesothelin) closely clustered together with markers for squamous PDAC subtype. CONCLUSION These results highlight the potential of our biomarkers to be utilized for identification of squamous PDAC subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Sahni
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Australian Pancreatic Centre, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Moon
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Viive M Howell
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Shreya Mehta
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Australian Pancreatic Centre, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nick Pavlakis
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Northern Sydney Cancer Center, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia; Northern Cancer Institute, St Leonards and Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia
| | - David Chan
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Northern Sydney Cancer Center, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia; Northern Cancer Institute, St Leonards and Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia
| | - Mahsa S Ahadi
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia
| | - Anthony J Gill
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia
| | - Jaswinder Samra
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Australian Pancreatic Centre, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia; Upper GI Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital, Australia
| | - Anubhav Mittal
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Australian Pancreatic Centre, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia; Upper GI Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital, Australia.
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9
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Taylor SE, Chu T, Elvin JA, Edwards RP, Zorn KK. Phase II study of everolimus and bevacizumab in recurrent ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2019; 156:32-37. [PMID: 31739991 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers have limited potential for cure with traditional therapies. Preliminary results from a phase I study of everolimus and bevacizumab in advanced solid tumors showed it to be a promising combination. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the 6-month progression-free survival for everolimus and bevacizumab in recurrent ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancer. Secondary objectives included evaluation of efficacy and safety. METHODS In this open-label, single-institution, phase II trial, patients received everolimus 10 mg/day by mouth and bevacizumab 10 mg/kg intravenously every 14 days on a 28-day cycle. Treatment continued until disease progression or adverse event. RESULTS Fifty patients were enrolled. Median age was 60.5 years (range 28-82). Forty-six (92%) subjects had measurable disease. Thirteen (26%) (24% adjusted) were progression-free at 6 months (95% CI 16.67-42.71%). One patient had a complete response, while six had a partial response and 35 had stable disease as their best response. Patients with both platinum-sensitive and -resistant disease demonstrated responses, as did some prior bevacizumab exposure. There were two grade 4 and 31 grade 3 toxicities noted in 25 distinct patients. The most common reported toxicities included oral mucositis, fatigue, diarrhea, hypertension, pain, nausea and anorexia. Thirty-eight (76%) patients came off study because of disease progression. Unique molecular profiles were identified in long-term responders. CONCLUSIONS Combining everolimus and bevacizumab does not distinctly improve response compared to bevacizumab alone, but further study of selected patients with alterations in the PI3K/mTOR pathway may document benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Taylor
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Tianjiao Chu
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Robert P Edwards
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kristin K Zorn
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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Zhou G, Zhu Z, Li L, Ding J. Resibufogenin inhibits ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) growth in vivo, and migration of OCCC cells in vitro, by down-regulating the PI3K/AKT and actin cytoskeleton signaling pathways. Am J Transl Res 2019; 11:6290-6303. [PMID: 31737183 PMCID: PMC6834496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC), a rare histologic subtype of ovarian cancer, often experience poor prognosis owing to the chemoresistance of their disease. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic options for these patients. A drug screen of 172 traditional Chinese herbs identified resibufogenin as a compound that inhibited the growth of cultured OCCC cells. Resibufogenin, a bioactive compound originally isolated from toad venom, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat several malignancies. The current study examined the impact of resibufogenin treatment on proliferation, migration, and invasion of ES-2 and TOV-21G OCCC cells in vitro. Flow cytometric analyses were employed to determine if resibufogenin affects apoptosis in OCCC cells. Additionally, the ability of resibufogenin to inhibit tumor growth in vivo was evaluated in murine xenograft models. RNA sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCR), immunohistochemical assays, and western blotting were used to identify and verify cellular pathways potentially targeted by resibufogenin. Resibufogenin inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of OCCC cells, and induced apoptosis in them. Resibufogenin also suppressed the growth of xenograft tumors, which consequently showed lower Ki-67 and higher terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) expression. We observed down-regulation of (a) PI3K and AKT in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and (b) MDM2 and myosin in the actin cytoskeleton pathway upon resibufogenin treatment. Thus, resibufogenin inhibits growth and migration of OCCC cells in vitro and suppresses OCCC growth in vivo through the PI3K/AKT and actin cytoskeleton signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guannan Zhou
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghai 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related DiseasesShanghai 200011, China
| | - Zhongyi Zhu
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghai 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related DiseasesShanghai 200011, China
| | - Lihua Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Taizhou University1139 Shifu Road Jiaojiang District, Taizhou, China
| | - Jingxin Ding
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghai 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related DiseasesShanghai 200011, China
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11
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Abstract
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) arising from aerodigestive or anogenital epithelium that are associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) are far more readily cured with radiation therapy than HPV-negative SCCs. The mechanism behind this increased radiosensitivity has been proposed to be secondary to defects in DNA repair, although the specific repair pathways that are disrupted have not been elucidated. To gain insight into this important biomarker of radiosensitivity, we first examined genomic patterns reflective of defects in DNA double-strand break repair, comparing HPV-associated and HPV-negative head and neck cancers (HNSCC). Compared to HPV-negative HNSCC genomes, HPV+ cases demonstrated a marked increase in the proportion of deletions with flanking microhomology, a signature associated with a backup, error-prone double-strand break repair pathway known as microhomology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ). Then, using 3 different methodologies to comprehensively profile double-strand break repair pathways in isogenic paired cell lines, we demonstrate that the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein suppresses canonical nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) and promotes error-prone MMEJ, providing a mechanistic rationale for the clinical radiosensitivity of these cancers.
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12
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Beaver JA, Coleman RL, Arend RC, Armstrong DK, Bala S, Mills GB, Sood AK, Herzog TJ. Advancing Drug Development in Gynecologic Malignancies. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:4874-4880. [PMID: 31126961 PMCID: PMC6697564 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-0619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Gynecologic malignancies continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States despite recent advances in oncologic therapies. To realize the promise of immunotherapy and biomarker-driven approaches to improve clinical outcomes for patients, better communication among stakeholders in the drug development and approval pathways is needed. To this end, the FDA-AACR-SGO Drug Development in Gynecologic Malignancies Workshop brought together clinicians, patient advocates, researchers, industry representatives, and regulators in June 2018, to review the state of the science in gynecologic cancers and explore how scientific advances impact approval processes. Topics of discussion and key takeaways are summarized in this Perspectives in Regulatory Science and Policy article. Single-agent immunotherapies have demonstrated variable and often modest response rates among gynecologic cancers. Combination therapies and other novel approaches, such as cell-based therapies, may show improved efficacy compared with single-agent immunotherapies; however, utilizing innovative clinical trial designs will be necessary to progress further. Companion and complementary diagnostics inform physicians of potential benefits of specific therapeutics for patients; however, they serve different functions that have important regulatory implications, thus trialists should understand the distinctions between diagnostic types. PARP inhibitors hold great promise for treating ovarian cancers, both as monotherapies and in combination with chemotherapeutics, other targeted agents, and immunotherapies. Rare gynecologic cancers often exhibit unique molecular characteristics that can serve as effective targets to which novel therapeutics can be developed. This workshop highlighted the importance of future open discussions on scientific and regulatory challenges in drug development for gynecologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Beaver
- FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Robert L Coleman
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Rebecca C Arend
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Deborah K Armstrong
- Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sanjeeve Bala
- FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Anil K Sood
- Departments of Gynecologic Oncology and Cell Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas
| | - Thomas J Herzog
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Matias-Guiu X, Stewart CJR. Endometriosis-associated ovarian neoplasia. Pathology 2017; 50:190-204. [PMID: 29241974 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews the most relevant pathological and molecular features of ovarian tumours that are associated with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common condition, affecting 5-15% of all women, and it has been estimated that 0.5-1% of cases are complicated by neoplasia. The most common malignant tumours in this setting are endometrioid adenocarcinoma and clear cell adenocarcinoma, each accounting for approximately 10% of ovarian carcinomas in Western countries. A minority of cases are associated with Lynch syndrome. These carcinomas are often confined to the ovaries at presentation in which case they have relatively favourable outcomes. However, high-stage tumours, particularly clear cell carcinomas, generally have a poor prognosis and this partly reflects relative resistance to current treatment. Histological diagnosis is straightforward in the majority of cases but some variants, for example endometrioid carcinomas with sex cord-like appearances or oxyphil cells, may create diagnostic difficulty. Similarly, clear cell carcinomas can show a range of architectural and cytological patterns that overlap with other tumours, both primary and metastatic, involving the ovaries. Endometriosis-associated borderline tumours are less common, and they often show mixed patterns of differentiation (seromucinous tumours). Atypical endometriosis may represent an intermediate step in neoplastic progression and some of these lesions demonstrate immunohistological and molecular alterations similar to those observed in endometriosis-related tumours. ARID1A mutations are relatively common in all of these tumours, but each has additional characteristic molecular alterations which are likely to be of increasing clinical relevance as targeted therapies are developed. Less is known of the pathogenesis of rarer endometriosis-associated ovarian tumours including endometrioid stromal sarcoma, mesodermal (Müllerian) adenosarcoma, and carcinosarcoma. This article also briefly reviews the issue of synchronous endometrioid carcinomas of the endometrium and the ovary, including the most recent developments on pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Matias-Guiu
- Department of Pathology, Hospital U Arnau de Vilanova and Hospital U de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, IRBLleida, University of Lleida, and CIBERONC, Spain
| | - Colin J R Stewart
- Department of Histopathology, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, and School for Women's and Infants' Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
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Kawahara N, Ogawa K, Nagayasu M, Kimura M, Sasaki Y, Kobayashi H. Candidate synthetic lethality partners to PARP inhibitors in the treatment of ovarian clear cell cancer. Biomed Rep 2017; 7:391-399. [PMID: 29109859 DOI: 10.3892/br.2017.990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) are new types of personalized treatment of relapsed platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer harboring BRCA1/2 mutations. Ovarian clear cell cancer (CCC), a subset of ovarian cancer, often appears as low-stage disease with a higher incidence among Japanese. Advanced CCC is highly aggressive with poor patient outcome. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential synthetic lethality gene pairs for PARP inhibitions in patients with CCC through virtual and biological screenings as well as clinical studies. We conducted a literature review for putative PARP sensitivity genes that are associated with the CCC pathophysiology. Previous studies identified a variety of putative target genes from several pathways associated with DNA damage repair, chromatin remodeling complex, PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, Notch signaling, cell cycle checkpoint signaling, BRCA-associated complex and Fanconi's anemia susceptibility genes that could be used as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for PARP inhibition. BRCA1/2, ATM, ATR, BARD1, CCNE1, CHEK1, CKS1B, DNMT1, ERBB2, FGFR2, MRE11A, MYC, NOTCH1 and PTEN were considered as candidate genes for synthetic lethality gene partners for PARP interactions. When considering the biological background underlying PARP inhibition, we hypothesized that PARP inhibitors would be a novel synthetic lethal therapeutic approach for CCC tumors harboring homologous recombination deficiency and activating oncogene mutations. The results showed that the majority of CCC tumors appear to have indicators of DNA repair dysfunction similar to those in BRCA-mutation carriers, suggesting the possible utility of PARP inhibitors in a subset of CCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Kawahara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Nara 634-8522, Japan
| | - Kenji Ogawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Nara 634-8522, Japan
| | - Mika Nagayasu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Nara 634-8522, Japan
| | - Mai Kimura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Nara 634-8522, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Sasaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Nara 634-8522, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kobayashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Nara 634-8522, Japan
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15
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Arildsen NS, Jönsson JM, Bartuma K, Ebbesson A, Westbom-Fremer S, Måsbäck A, Malander S, Nilbert M, Hedenfalk IA. Involvement of Chromatin Remodeling Genes and the Rho GTPases RhoB and CDC42 in Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2017; 7:109. [PMID: 28611940 PMCID: PMC5447048 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Ovarian clear cell carcinomas (OCCCs) constitute a rare ovarian cancer subtype with distinct clinical features, but may nonetheless be difficult to distinguish morphologically from other subtypes. There is limited knowledge of genetic events driving OCCC tumorigenesis beyond ARID1A, which is reportedly mutated in 30–50% of OCCCs. We aimed to further characterize OCCCs by combined global transcriptional profiling and targeted deep sequencing of a panel of well-established cancer genes. Increased knowledge of OCCC-specific genetic aberrations may help in guiding development of targeted treatments and ultimately improve patient outcome. Methods Gene expression profiling of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from a cohort of the major ovarian cancer subtypes (cohort 1; n = 67) was performed using whole-genome cDNA-mediated Annealing, Selection, extension and Ligation (WG-DASL) bead arrays, followed by pathway, gene module score, and gene ontology analyses, respectively. A second FFPE cohort of 10 primary OCCCs was analyzed by targeted DNA sequencing of a panel of 60 cancer-related genes (cohort 2). Non-synonymous and non-sense variants affecting single-nucleotide variations and insertions or deletions were further analyzed. A tissue microarray of 43 OCCCs (cohort 3) was used for validation by immunohistochemistry and chromogenic in situ hybridization. Results Gene expression analyses revealed a distinct OCCC profile compared to other histological subtypes, with, e.g., ERBB2, TFAP2A, and genes related to cytoskeletal actin regulation being overexpressed in OCCC. ERBB2 was, however, not overexpressed on the protein level and ERBB2 amplification was rare in the validation cohort. Targeted deep sequencing revealed non-synonymous variants or insertions/deletions in 11/60 cancer-related genes. Genes involved in chromatin remodeling, including ARID1A, SPOP, and KMT2D were frequently mutated across OCCC tumors. Conclusion OCCCs appear genetically heterogeneous, but harbor frequent alterations in chromatin remodeling genes. Overexpression of TFAP2A and ERBB2 was observed on the mRNA level in relation to other ovarian cancer subtypes. However, overexpression of ERBB2 was not reflected by HER2 amplification or protein overexpression in the OCCC validation cohort. In addition, Rho GTPase-dependent actin organization may also play a role in OCCC pathogenesis and warrants further investigation. The distinct biological features of OCCC discovered here may provide a basis for novel targeted treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolai Skovbjerg Arildsen
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jenny-Maria Jönsson
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Katarina Bartuma
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Ebbesson
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,CREATE Health Strategic Center for Translational Cancer Research, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sofia Westbom-Fremer
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Måsbäck
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Susanne Malander
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mef Nilbert
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Clinical Research Centre, Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen University, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Ingrid A Hedenfalk
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,CREATE Health Strategic Center for Translational Cancer Research, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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