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Loosen SH, Benz F, Mohr R, Reuken PA, Wirtz TH, Junker L, Jansen C, Meyer C, Praktiknjo M, Wree A, Reißing J, Demir M, Gu W, Vucur M, Schierwagen R, Stallmach A, Kunstein A, Bode J, Trautwein C, Tacke F, Luedde T, Bruns T, Trebicka J, Roderburg C. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor levels predict survival in patients with portal hypertension undergoing TIPS. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101054. [PMID: 38681861 PMCID: PMC11053213 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is the most effective therapy for complications of portal hypertension. However, clinical outcomes following TIPS placement vary widely between patients and identifying ideal candidates remains a challenge. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a circulating marker of immune activation that has previously been associated with liver inflammation, but its prognostic value in patients receiving TIPS is unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the potential clinical relevance of suPAR levels in patients undergoing TIPS insertion. Methods suPAR concentrations were measured by ELISA in hepatic vein (HV) and portal vein (PV) blood samples from 99 patients (training cohort) as well as peripheral venous blood samples from an additional 150 patients (validation cohort) undergoing TIPS placement. The association between suPAR levels and patient outcomes was assessed using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox-regression analyses. Results suPAR concentrations were significantly higher in HV samples compared to PV samples and correlated with PV concentration, the presence of ascites, renal injury, and consequently with the Child-Pugh and MELD scores. Patients with lower suPAR levels had significantly better short- and long-term survival after TIPS insertion, which remained robust after adjustment for confounders in multivariate Cox-regression analyses. Sensitivity analysis showed an improvement in risk prediction in patients stratified by Child-Pugh or MELD scores. In an independent validation cohort, higher levels of suPAR predicted poor transplant-free survival after TIPS, particularly in patients with Child-Pugh A/B cirrhosis. Conclusion suPAR is largely derived from the injured liver and its levels are predictive of outcome in patients undergoing TIPS. suPAR, as a surrogate of hepatic inflammation, may be used to stratify care in patients following TIPS insertion. Impact and implications Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is the most effective therapy for complications of portal hypertension. However, clinical outcomes following TIPS placement vary widely between patients and identification of the ideal candidates remains challenging. We show that soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), a circulating marker of immune activation that can easily be measured in routine clinical practice, is a novel marker to identify patients who will benefit from TIPS and those who will not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven H. Loosen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabian Benz
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Raphael Mohr
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Philipp A. Reuken
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Theresa H. Wirtz
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Lioba Junker
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Jansen
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Carsten Meyer
- Department of Radiology, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Praktiknjo
- Department of Internal Medicine B, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Alexander Wree
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Reißing
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Münevver Demir
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wenyi Gu
- Department of Internal Medicine B, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Robert Schierwagen
- Department of Internal Medicine B, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Andreas Stallmach
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Anselm Kunstein
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Johannes Bode
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tony Bruns
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jonel Trebicka
- Department of Internal Medicine B, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure - EF CLIF, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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Gulbiniene V, Dumalakiene I, Balciuniene G, Pilypiene I, Narkeviciute I, Novickij V, Vysniauskis G, Ramasauskaite D. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in vaginally collected amniotic fluid predicting fetal inflammatory response syndrome: a prospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:54. [PMID: 38200448 PMCID: PMC10782524 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06221-0] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improving noninvasive antenatal diagnosis of fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) can assist in the evaluation of prenatal risk and reduce perinatal outcomes. This study aimed to determine whether soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in vaginally collected amniotic fluid is significant in identifying FIRS after preterm premature rupture of membranes before 34 weeks of gestation. METHODS This was a prospective cohort study of 114 pregnant women and their newborns after preterm premature rupture of membranes at 22-34+6 weeks of gestation. SuPAR was evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in vaginally collected amniotic fluid. Patients were classified according to the presence or absence of FIRS. FIRS was defined by umbilical cord blood interleukin-6 level > 11 pg/mL or histological funisitis. The data were analyzed using the R package (R-4.0.5). RESULTS SuPAR was detected in all amniotic fluid samples with a median of 26.23 ng/mL (interquartile range (IQR), 15.19-51.14). The median level of suPAR was higher in the FIRS group than in the non-FIRS group, 32.36 ng/mL (IQR, 17.27-84.16) vs. 20.46 ng/mL (IQR, 11.49-36.63) (P = 0.01), respectively. The presence of histological chorioamnionitis significantly increased the suPAR concentration in the FIRS group (P < 0.001). The areas under the curve for FIRS and FIRS with histological chorioamnionitis were 0.65 and 0.74, respectively, with an optimum cutoff value of 27.60 ng/mL. Controlling for gestational age, the cutoff of suPAR more than 27.60 ng/mL predicted threefold higher odds for FIRS and sixfold higher odds for FIRS with histologic chorioamnionitis. CONCLUSION Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in vaginally obtained amniotic fluid may assist in evaluating prenatal risk of FIRS in patients after preterm premature rupture of membranes before 34 weeks of gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irena Dumalakiene
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Center of Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | | | - Ieva Narkeviciute
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Center of Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Center of Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Gintautas Vysniauskis
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Center of Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Dolbnya AD, Popov IA, Pekov SI. Molecular Biomarkers in Cholangiocarcinoma: Focus on Bile. Curr Top Med Chem 2024; 24:722-736. [PMID: 38303538 DOI: 10.2174/0115680266290367240130054142] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Hepatobiliary system cancers have demonstrated an increasing incidence rate in the past years. Without the presence of early symptoms, the majority of such cancers manifest with a set of similar symptoms, such as cholestasis resulting in posthepatic icterus. Differential diagnosis of hepatobiliary cancers is required for the therapy selection, however, the similarity of the symptoms complicates diagnostics. Thus, the search for molecular markers is of high interest for such patients. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is characterized by a poor prognosis due to a low resectability rate, which occurs because this disease is frequently beyond the limits of surgical therapy at the time of diagnosis. The CCA is diagnosed by the combination of clinical/biochemical features, radiological methods, and non-specific serum tumor biomarkers, although invasive examination is still needed. The main disadvantage is limited specificity and sensitivity, which complicates early diagnostics. Therefore, prognostic and predictive biomarkers are still lacking and urgently needed for early diagnosis. In contrast to serum, bile is more accessible to identify biliary disease due to its simpler composition. Moreover, bile can contain higher concentrations of tumor biomarkers due to its direct contact with the tumor. It is known that the composition of the main bile component - bile acids, may vary during different diseases of the biliary tract. This review summarizes the recent developments in the current research on the diagnostic biomarkers for CCA in serum and bile and provides an overview of the methods of bile acids analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey D Dolbnya
- Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, 634050, Russian Federation
| | - Igor A Popov
- Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, 634050, Russian Federation
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Russian Federation
| | - Stanislav I Pekov
- Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, 634050, Russian Federation
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Russian Federation
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russian Federation
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Saengboonmee C, Obchoei S, Sawanyawisuth K, Wongkham S. Revision of potential prognostic markers of cholangiocarcinoma for clinical practice. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2023; 23:517-530. [PMID: 37052887 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2023.2203386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive cancer arising from any part of the biliary system. Effective treatment of CCA remains limited, resulting in the poor overall prognosis of patients. The effective prognostic biomarkers for CCA remain lacking, and most are at the research level. AREAS COVERED The incidences of CCAs, classification, genetic and molecular characteristics, and distinct clinical outcomes in each subtype are introduced. The prognostic markers currently used in clinical practice are reviewed. Studies of biomarkers in defining the aggressiveness of CCA, identifying patients with a potential tumor recurrence, and predicting the survival time, are reviewed. Emerging biomarkers discovered from advanced high throughput technology over the past five years are updated and summarized. Finally, in-depth and critical revision on the prognostic biomarkers for CCA reported from various sources of specimens, e.g. tissues, blood, bile, etc. are discussed. CONCLUSION Many prognostic biomarkers for CCA have been proposed and hold promising clinical value. However, these markers are rarely used in the real clinical world due to several factors. Understanding the roles and importance of these prognostic markers may fundamentally impact the therapeutic management of CCA, and hopefully, improve the development of custom and patient-directed therapies for CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charupong Saengboonmee
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Center for Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Sumalee Obchoei
- Division of Health and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
| | - Kanlayanee Sawanyawisuth
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Center for Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Sopit Wongkham
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Center for Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
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Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) assessed by liquid biopsies and PET/CT for prognostication in head and neck cancer patients. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19126. [PMID: 36352036 PMCID: PMC9645757 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21175-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Strong prognostic biomarkers are lacking regarding the stratification of treatment and surveillance regimens in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The study aimed to assess the prognostic value of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in plasma (suPAR) compared to evaluation by uPAR-positron-emission-tomography (PET) in HNSCC patients. Plasma from 19 controls and 49 HNSCC patients referred to curatively intended radiotherapy (2017-2021) was collected pre-treatment and post-treatment (n = 37). Information on uPAR-PET was available from previous evaluation. Patient median suPAR was significantly higher pre- and post-treatment compared to controls (p = 0.013, p = 0.003) and increased significantly during radiotherapy (p = 0.003). Pre-treatment suPAR did not predict survival outcomes. Post-treatment suPAR significantly predicted RFS (HR = 6.67 (95% CI 1.44-30.9) p = 0.015), but not OS (HR = 3.29 (95% CI 0.882-12.3) p = 0.076) in univariate analysis. RFS prediction was maintained for post-treatment suPAR in multivariate analysis, including TNM-stage (HR = 6.62 (95% CI 1.40-31.4) p = 0.017). Pre-treatment uPAR-PET/CT and post-treatment suPAR was available in 24 patients. High uPAR-estimates on both modalities was significantly associated with poor RFS compared to patients with low uPAR-estimates (log-rank, p = 0.008). Patients with discordant uPAR-estimates (one-low/one-high) were at intermediate risk, although non-significant (p = 0.131). In conclusion, pre-treatment suPAR did not predict RFS or OS. Pre-treatment uPAR-PET and post-treatment suPAR predicted RFS.
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Brown ZJ, Patwardhan S, Bean J, Pawlik TM. Molecular diagnostics and biomarkers in cholangiocarcinoma. Surg Oncol 2022; 44:101851. [PMID: 36126350 DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2022.101851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Regardless of anatomic origin, cholangiocarcinoma is generally an aggressive malignancy with a relatively high case fatality. Surgical resection with curative intent remains the best opportunity to achieve meaningful long-term survival. Most patients present, however, with advanced disease and less than 20% of patients are candidates for surgical resection. Unfortunately, even patients who undergo resection have a 5-year survival that ranges from 20 to 40%. Biomarkers are indicators of normal, pathologic, or biologic responses to an intervention and can range from a characteristic (i.e., blood pressure reading which can detect hypertension) to specific genetic mutations or proteins (i.e., carcinoembryonic antigen level). Novel biomarkers and improved molecular diagnostics represent an attractive opportunity to improve detection as well as to identify novel therapeutic targets for patients with cholangiocarcinoma. We herein review the latest advances in molecular diagnostics and biomarkers related to the early detection and treatment of patients with cholangiocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J Brown
- Department of Surgery, The State Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Satyajit Patwardhan
- Dept of HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Global Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Joal Bean
- Department of Surgery, The State Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The State Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Loosen SH, Ulmer TF, Labuhn S, Bednarsch J, Lang SA, Alizai PH, Schneider AT, Vucur M, Neumann UP, Luedde T, Roderburg C. Serum Levels of CXCL13 Are an Independent Predictor of Survival Following Resection of Biliary Tract Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174073. [PMID: 36077611 PMCID: PMC9454558 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a primary liver malignancy with poor outcome. The identification of the ideal surgical candidates is often challenging and stratification algorithms comprising the parameters of individual tumor biology are missing. Here, we investigated a potential role of circulating CXCL1, CXCL10 and CXCL13 in patients with resectable BTC as novel biomarkers and could show that elevated levels of CXCL13 both before and after tumor resection identified a subgroup of patients with significantly impaired outcomes following tumor resection. Thus, the present study supports a fundamental role of the CXC chemokine family in BTC and identifies circulating levels of CXCL13 as a previously unrecognized marker for predicting outcomes following the resection of BTC. Abstract Background: The prognosis of biliary tract cancer (BTC) has remained very poor. Although tumor resection represents a potentially curative therapy for selected patients, tumor recurrence is common, and 5-year survival rates have remained below 50%. As stratification algorithms comprising the parameters of individual tumor biology are missing, the identification of ideal patients for extensive tumor surgery is often challenging. The CXC chemokine family exerts decisive functions in cell–cell interactions and has only recently been associated with cancer, but little is known about their function in BTC. Here, we aim to evaluate a potential role of circulating CXCL1, CXCL10 and CXCL13 in patients with resectable BTC. Methods: Serum levels of CXCL1, CXCL10 and CXCL13 were measured by multiplex immunoassay in a cohort of 119 BTC patients undergoing tumor resection and 50 control samples. Results: Circulating levels of CXCL1, CXCL10 and CXCL13 were all significantly elevated in BTC patients compared to healthy controls and increased the diagnostic power of established tumor markers such as CA19-9 when used in combination. Importantly, elevated levels of CXCL13 both before and after tumor resection identified a subgroup of patients with significantly impaired outcomes following tumor resection. As such, BTC patients with initial CXCL13 levels above the ideal prognostic cut-off value (25.01 pg/mL) had a median overall survival (OS) of 290 days compared to 969 days for patients with low initial CXCL13 levels. The prognostic value of circulating CXCL13 was further confirmed by uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Finally, the individual kinetics of CXCL13 before and after tumor resection were also indicative of patient outcomes. Conclusion: Our data support a fundamental role of the CXC chemokine family in BTC and identified circulating levels of CXCL13 as a previously unrecognized marker for predicting outcomes following the resection of BTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven H. Loosen
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Correspondence: (S.H.L.); (T.L.); Tel.: +49-211-81-16630 (S.H.L. & T.L.); Fax: +49-211-81-04489 (S.H.L. & T.L.)
| | - Tom F. Ulmer
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Simon Labuhn
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sven A. Lang
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick H. Alizai
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Anne T. Schneider
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ulf P. Neumann
- Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Correspondence: (S.H.L.); (T.L.); Tel.: +49-211-81-16630 (S.H.L. & T.L.); Fax: +49-211-81-04489 (S.H.L. & T.L.)
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Özdirik B, Maibier M, Scherf M, Nicklaus JM, Frohme J, Puengel T, Meyer zum Büschenfelde D, Tacke F, Mueller T, Sigal M. Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Levels Are Associated with Severity of Fibrosis in Patients with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11092479. [PMID: 35566603 PMCID: PMC9105770 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11092479] [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: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has evolved as a useful biomarker for different entities of chronic liver disease. However, its role in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is obscure. We analyzed plasma levels of suPAR in 84 patients with PSC and compared them to 68 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) without PSC and to 40 healthy controls. Results are correlated with clinical records. suPAR concentrations were elevated in patients with PSC compared to patients with IBD only and to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Elevated suPAR levels were associated with the presence of liver cirrhosis (p < 0.001) and signs of portal hypertension (p < 0.001). suPAR revealed a high accuracy for the discrimination of the presence of liver cirrhosis comparable to previously validated noninvasive fibrosis markers (area under the curve (AUC) 0.802 (95%CI: 0.702−0.902)). Further, we demonstrated that suPAR levels may indicate the presence of acute cholangitis episodes (p < 0.001). Finally, despite the high proportion of PSC patients with IBD, presence of IBD and its disease activity did not influence circulating suPAR levels. suPAR represents a previously unrecognized biomarker for diagnosis and liver cirrhosis detection in patients with PSC. However, it does not appear to be confounded by intestinal inflammation in the context of IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcin Özdirik
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (M.M.); (M.S.); (J.M.N.); (J.F.); (T.P.); (F.T.); (T.M.); (M.S.)
- Berlin Institute of Health, 10178 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-30-450-656-004; Fax: +49-30-450-553-902
| | - Martin Maibier
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (M.M.); (M.S.); (J.M.N.); (J.F.); (T.P.); (F.T.); (T.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Maria Scherf
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (M.M.); (M.S.); (J.M.N.); (J.F.); (T.P.); (F.T.); (T.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Jule Marie Nicklaus
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (M.M.); (M.S.); (J.M.N.); (J.F.); (T.P.); (F.T.); (T.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Josephine Frohme
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (M.M.); (M.S.); (J.M.N.); (J.F.); (T.P.); (F.T.); (T.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Tobias Puengel
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (M.M.); (M.S.); (J.M.N.); (J.F.); (T.P.); (F.T.); (T.M.); (M.S.)
- Berlin Institute of Health, 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dirk Meyer zum Büschenfelde
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
- Labor Berlin—Charité Vivantes GmbH, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (M.M.); (M.S.); (J.M.N.); (J.F.); (T.P.); (F.T.); (T.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Tobias Mueller
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (M.M.); (M.S.); (J.M.N.); (J.F.); (T.P.); (F.T.); (T.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Michael Sigal
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (M.M.); (M.S.); (J.M.N.); (J.F.); (T.P.); (F.T.); (T.M.); (M.S.)
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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9
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Mocan LP, Ilieș M, Melincovici CS, Spârchez M, Crăciun R, Nenu I, Horhat A, Tefas C, Spârchez Z, Iuga CA, Mocan T, Mihu CM. Novel approaches in search for biomarkers of cholangiocarcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:1508-1525. [PMID: 35582128 PMCID: PMC9048460 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i15.1508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) arises from the ductular epithelium of the biliary tree, either within the liver (intrahepatic CCA) or more commonly from the extrahepatic bile ducts (extrahepatic CCA). This disease has a poor prognosis and a growing worldwide prevalence. The poor outcomes of CCA are partially explained by the fact that a final diagnosis is challenging, especially the differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic CCA, or distal CCA and pancreatic head adenocarcinoma. Most patients present with an advanced disease, unresectable disease, and there is a lack in non-surgical therapeutic modalities. Not least, there is an acute lack of prognostic biomarkers which further complicates disease management. Therefore, there is a dire need to find alternative diagnostic and follow-up pathways that can lead to an accurate result, either singlehandedly or combined with other methods. In the "-omics" era, this goal can be attained by various means, as it has been successfully demonstrated in other primary tumors. Numerous variants can reach a biomarker status ranging from circulating nucleic acids to proteins, metabolites, extracellular vesicles, and ultimately circulating tumor cells. However, given the relatively heterogeneous data, extracting clinical meaning from the inconsequential noise might become a tall task. The current review aims to navigate the nascent waters of the non-invasive approach to CCA and provide an evidence-based input to aid clinical decisions and provide grounds for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia-Patricia Mocan
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
| | - Maria Ilieș
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics, MedFUTURE Research Center for Advanced Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400349, Romania
| | - Carmen Stanca Melincovici
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
| | - Mihaela Spârchez
- 2nd Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
| | - Rareș Crăciun
- 3rd Medical Department, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
- Department of Gastroenterology, "Prof. dr. Octavian Fodor" Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Iuliana Nenu
- 3rd Medical Department, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
- Department of Gastroenterology, "Prof. dr. Octavian Fodor" Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Adelina Horhat
- 3rd Medical Department, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
- Department of Gastroenterology, "Prof. dr. Octavian Fodor" Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Cristian Tefas
- 3rd Medical Department, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
- Department of Gastroenterology, "Prof. dr. Octavian Fodor" Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Zeno Spârchez
- 3rd Medical Department, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
- Department of Gastroenterology, "Prof. dr. Octavian Fodor" Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Cristina Adela Iuga
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics, MedFUTURE Research Center for Advanced Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400349, Romania
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
| | - Tudor Mocan
- 3rd Medical Department, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
- Department of Gastroenterology, "Prof. dr. Octavian Fodor" Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Carmen Mihaela Mihu
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
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10
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Pavicevic S, Reichelt S, Uluk D, Lurje I, Engelmann C, Modest DP, Pelzer U, Krenzien F, Raschzok N, Benzing C, Sauer IM, Stintzing S, Tacke F, Schöning W, Schmelzle M, Pratschke J, Lurje G. Prognostic and Predictive Molecular Markers in Cholangiocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1026. [PMID: 35205774 PMCID: PMC8870611 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14041026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common primary liver cancer and subsumes a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors arising from the intra- or extrahepatic biliary tract epithelium. A rising mortality from CCA has been reported worldwide during the last decade, despite significant improvement of surgical and palliative treatment. Over 50% of CCAs originate from proximal extrahepatic bile ducts and constitute the most common CCA entity in the Western world. Clinicopathological characteristics such as lymph node status and poor differentiation remain the best-studied, but imperfect prognostic factors. The identification of prognostic molecular markers as an adjunct to traditional staging systems may not only facilitate the selection of patients who would benefit the most from surgical, adjuvant or palliative treatment strategies, but may also be helpful in defining the aggressiveness of the disease and identifying patients at high-risk for tumor recurrence. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of currently known molecular prognostic and predictive markers and their role in CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pavicevic
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Sophie Reichelt
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Deniz Uluk
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Isabella Lurje
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (I.L.); (C.E.); (F.T.)
| | - Cornelius Engelmann
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (I.L.); (C.E.); (F.T.)
| | - Dominik P. Modest
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (D.P.M.); (U.P.); (S.S.)
| | - Uwe Pelzer
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (D.P.M.); (U.P.); (S.S.)
| | - Felix Krenzien
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Nathanael Raschzok
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Christian Benzing
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Igor M. Sauer
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Sebastian Stintzing
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (D.P.M.); (U.P.); (S.S.)
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (I.L.); (C.E.); (F.T.)
| | - Wenzel Schöning
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Moritz Schmelzle
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Johann Pratschke
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Georg Lurje
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (S.R.); (D.U.); (F.K.); (N.R.); (C.B.); (I.M.S.); (W.S.); (M.S.); (J.P.)
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11
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Enocsson H, Idoff C, Gustafsson A, Govender M, Hopkins F, Larsson M, Nilsdotter-Augustinsson Å, Sjöwall J. Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) Independently Predicts Severity and Length of Hospitalisation in Patients With COVID-19. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:791716. [PMID: 34926532 PMCID: PMC8674575 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.791716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Efficient healthcare based on prognostic variables in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 could reduce the risk of complications and death. Recently, soluble urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) was shown to predict respiratory failure, kidney injury, and clinical outcome in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of suPAR as a prognostic tool, in comparison with other variables, regarding disease severity and length of hospital stay in patients with COVID-19. Patients and Methods: Individuals hospitalised with COVID-19 (40 males, 20 females; median age 57.5 years) with a median symptom duration of 10 days and matched, healthy controls (n = 30) were included. Admission levels of suPAR were measured in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood cell counts, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), plasma creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rates were analysed and oxygen demand, level of care and length of hospitalisation recorded. Results: Patients had significantly higher suPAR levels compared to controls (P < 0.001). Levels were higher in severely/critically (median 6.6 ng/mL) compared with moderately ill patients (median 5.0 ng/mL; P = 0.002). In addition, suPAR levels correlated with length of hospitalisation (rho = 0.35; P = 0.006). Besides suPAR, LDH, CRP, neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-monocyte and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, body mass index and chronic renal failure were discriminators of COVID-19 severity and/or predictors of length of hospitalisation. Conclusion: Admission levels of suPAR were higher in patients who developed severe/critical COVID-19 and associated with length of hospital stay. In addition, we showed that suPAR functioned as an independent predictor of COVID-19 disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Enocsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cornelia Idoff
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Annette Gustafsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Melissa Govender
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Francis Hopkins
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marie Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Åsa Nilsdotter-Augustinsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
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12
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Next-Generation Biomarkers for Cholangiocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133222. [PMID: 34203269 PMCID: PMC8269024 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Early and non-invasive diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is still challenging, thus largely contributing to the increased mortality rates observed worldwide. Consequently, several efforts have been made in order to report novel biomarkers for CCA, that would aid on diagnosis and also to predict prognosis and therapy response. We herein aim to provide an in-depth and critical revision on the next-generation biomarkers for CCA that have been recently proposed. Abstract The increasing mortality rates of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) registered during the last decades are, at least in part, a result of the lack of accurate non-invasive biomarkers for early disease diagnosis, making the identification of patients who might benefit from potentially curative approaches (i.e., surgery) extremely challenging. The obscure CCA pathogenesis and associated etiological factors, as well as the lack of symptoms in patients with early tumor stages, highly compromises CCA identification and to predict tumor development in at-risk populations. Currently, CCA diagnosis is accomplished by the combination of clinical/biochemical features, radiological imaging and non-specific serum tumor biomarkers, although a tumor biopsy is still needed to confirm disease diagnosis. Furthermore, prognostic and predictive biomarkers are still lacking and urgently needed. During the recent years, high-throughput omics-based approaches have identified novel circulating biomarkers (diagnostic and prognostic) that might be included in large, international validation studies in the near future. In this review, we summarize and discuss the most recent advances in the field of biomarker discovery in CCA, providing new insights and future research directions.
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13
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Gorgulho J, Roderburg C, Heymann F, Schulze-Hagen M, Beier F, Vucur M, Kather JN, Laleh NG, Tacke F, Brümmendorf TH, Luedde T, Loosen SH. Serum levels of soluble B and T lymphocyte attenuator predict overall survival in patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for solid malignancies. Int J Cancer 2021; 149:1189-1198. [PMID: 33890289 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can lead to durable tumor control in patients with various advanced stage malignancies. However, this is not the case for all patients, leading to an ongoing search for biomarkers predicting response and outcome to ICI. The B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is an immune checkpoint expressed on immune cells that was shown to modulate therapeutic responses. Here, we evaluate circulating levels of its soluble form, soluble B and T lymphocyte attenuator (sBTLA), as a biomarker for the prediction of treatment response and outcome to ICI therapy. Serum levels of sBTLA were analyzed by multiplex immunoassay in n = 84 patients receiving ICI therapy for solid malignancies and 32 healthy controls. BTLA expression was evaluated on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a subset of patients (n = 6) using multicolor flow cytometry. Baseline sBTLA serum levels were significantly higher in cancer patients compared to healthy controls. Importantly, circulating sBTLA levels were an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). As such, patients with initial sBTLA levels above the calculated prognostic cutoff value (311.64 pg/mL) had a median OS of only 138 days compared to 526 for patients with sBTLA levels below this value (P = .001). Uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses confirmed the prognostic role of sBTLA in the context of ICI therapy. Finally, we observed a significant correlation between sBTLA levels and the frequency of CD3 + CD8 + BTLA+ T cells in peripheral blood. Thus, our data suggest that circulating sBTLA could represent a noninvasive biomarker to predict outcome to ICI therapy, helping to select eligible therapy candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joao Gorgulho
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Felix Heymann
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Schulze-Hagen
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Fabian Beier
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jakob N Kather
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tim H Brümmendorf
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sven H Loosen
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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14
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Lang SA, Bednarsch J, Joechle K, Amygdalos I, Czigany Z, Heij L, Ulmer TF, Neumann UP. Prognostic biomarkers for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA): state of the art. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 15:497-510. [PMID: 33970740 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2021.1912591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Introduction:Although advances in understanding the molecular basis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) have been made, surgery is the only curative therapy option and the overall prognosis of patients suffering from the disease remains poor. Therefore, estimation of prognosis based on known and novel biomarkers is essential for therapy guidance of CCA in both, curative and palliative settings.Areas covered:An extensive literature search on biomarkers for CCA with special emphasis on prognosis was performed. Based on this, prognostic biomarkers from serum, tumor tissue and other compartments that are currently in use or under evaluation for CCA were summarized in this review. Furthermore, an overview of new biomarkers was provided including those determined from extracellular vesicles (EVs), metabolites and nucleic acids. Finally, prognostic markers associated with potential new therapy options for the treatment of CCA were summed up.Expert opinion:So far, an optimal prognostic biomarker for CCA has not been described. However, based on the increasing knowledge about the molecular basis of CCA but also due to novel, innovative technologies, a plethora of novel prognostic biomarkers is currently under evaluation and will be available for CCA in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven A Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katharina Joechle
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Iakovos Amygdalos
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Zoltan Czigany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lara Heij
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom F Ulmer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf P Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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15
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Loosen SH, Gorgulho J, Jördens MS, Schulze-Hagen M, Beier F, Vucur M, Schneider AT, Koppe C, Mertens A, Kather JN, Tacke F, Keitel V, Brümmendorf TH, Roderburg C, Luedde T. Serum Levels of Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Predict Tumor Response and Outcome to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:646883. [PMID: 33869041 PMCID: PMC8047604 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.646883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have led to a paradigm shift in cancer therapy, improving outcomes in the treatment of various malignancies. However, not all patients benefit to the same extend from ICI. Reliable tools to predict treatment response and outcome are missing. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a marker of immune activation, whose levels are prognostic in various cancers. We evaluated circulating suPAR levels as a novel predictive and prognostic biomarker in patients receiving ICI therapy for solid tumors. Methods A total of n = 87 patients receiving ICI therapy for different solid malignancies as well as 32 healthy controls were included into this study. Serum levels of suPAR were measured by ELISA prior to and sequentially at two time points during ICI therapy. Results Baseline suPAR serum levels were significantly higher in solid tumor patients compared to healthy controls. Importantly, patients with low suPAR levels both before or during ICI treatment were more likely to have a favorable response to treatment at three and six months, respectively. This finding was confirmed by multivariate binary logistic regression analysis including several clinicopathological parameters. Moreover, circulating suPAR levels before and during therapy were an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). As such, patients with initial suPAR levels above our ideal prognostic cut-off value (4.86 ng/ml) had a median OS of only 160 days compared to 705 days for patients with suPAR levels below this cut-off value. Finally, low baseline suPAR levels identified a subgroup of patients who experienced ICI-related side effects which in turn were associated with favorable treatment response and outcome. Conclusion Our data suggest that measurements of suPAR serum levels are a previously unknown, easily accessible tool to predict individual treatment response and outcome to ICI therapy. Circulating suPAR might therefore be implemented into stratification algorithms to identify the ideal candidates for ICI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven H Loosen
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Joao Gorgulho
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus S Jördens
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Maximilian Schulze-Hagen
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Fabian Beier
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anne T Schneider
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christiane Koppe
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexander Mertens
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jakob N Kather
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Keitel
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tim H Brümmendorf
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Loosen SH, Schulze-Hagen M, Vucur M, Gorgulho J, Paffenholz P, Benz F, Mohr R, Demir M, Wree A, Kuhl C, Trautwein C, Tacke F, Bruners P, Luedde T, Roderburg C. Elevated soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor serum levels indicate poor survival following transarterial chemoembolization therapy for hepatic malignancies: An exploratory analysis. JGH OPEN 2021; 5:356-363. [PMID: 33732882 PMCID: PMC7936623 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.12501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background and Aim Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) represents a standard of care for patients with intermediate‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases. However, identification of the ideal candidates for TACE therapy remains challenging. The soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has recently evolved as a prognostic marker in patients with cancer; however no data on suPAR in the context of TACE exists. Methods Serum levels of suPAR were measured by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in n = 48 TACE patients (HCC: n = 38, liver metastases: n = 10) before intervention and 1 day after TACE, as well as in 20 healthy controls. Results Serum levels of suPAR were significantly elevated in patients with liver cancer compared to healthy controls. Patients with or without an objective tumor response to TACE therapy had comparable levels of circulating suPAR. Importantly, baseline suPARs above the ideal prognostic cut‐off value (5.39 ng/mL) were a significant prognostic marker for reduced overall survival (OS) following TACE. As such, patients with initial suPAR levels >5.39 ng/mL showed a significantly reduced median OS of only 256 days compared to patients with suPAR serum levels below the cut‐off value (median OS: 611 days). In line with previous data, suPAR serum concentrations correlated with those of creatinine but were independent of tumor entity, leukocyte count, and C‐reactive protein in multivariate analysis. Conclusion Baseline suPAR serum levels provide important information on the postinterventional outcome of liver cancer patients receiving TACE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven H Loosen
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany.,Department of Medicine III University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany
| | - Max Schulze-Hagen
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Joao Gorgulho
- Department of Medicine III University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany
| | - Pia Paffenholz
- Department of Urology University Hospital Cologne Cologne Germany
| | - Fabian Benz
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology Charité University Medicine Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Raphael Mohr
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology Charité University Medicine Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Münevver Demir
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology Charité University Medicine Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Alexander Wree
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology Charité University Medicine Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Christiane Kuhl
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany
| | | | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology Charité University Medicine Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Philipp Bruners
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology Charité University Medicine Berlin Berlin Germany
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17
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Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) Concentrations Are Elevated in Patients with Neuroendocrine Malignancies. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9061647. [PMID: 32486367 PMCID: PMC7355627 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9061647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN) comprises heterogeneous tumors that are challenging to diagnose and, especially in cases of poorly differentiated (G3) NEN, are associated with very limited survival. Novel biomarkers allowing an early diagnosis as well as an optimal selection of suitable treatment options are urgently needed to improve the outcome of these patients. Recently, alterations of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) serum levels were described in various types of cancers. However, the role of circulating suPAR as a biomarker in patients with NEN is unknown. In this study, we measured suPAR serum levels in a large and well-characterized cohort of 187 patients with NEN (neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) n = 30; neuroendocrine tumors (NET), n = 157) as well as 44 healthy controls. suPAR concentrations were significantly elevated in patients compared to controls. However, suPAR concentrations were independent of tumor-related factors such as the proliferation activity according to Ki-67, tumor grading, TNM (TNM classification of malignant tumors) stage, somatostatin receptor expression or clinical features such as functional or nonfunctional disease and the presence of tumor relapse. Interestingly, suPAR concentrations in NET patients were similar when compared to those measured in NEC patients. In contrast to previous results from other malignancies, in our analysis suPAR levels were not a significant predictor of overall survival. In conclusion, our data suggests that suPAR serum concentrations are elevated in NEN patients but do not allow prediction of outcome.
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18
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Sherman M. The second volume. JHEP Rep 2020; 2:100095. [PMID: 32195458 PMCID: PMC7078376 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2020.100095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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