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Schmocker RK, Nodit L, Ward AJ, Lewis JM, McLoughlin JM, Enomoto LM. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Antibody in Tumor and Plasma Specimens in Patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2024:10.1245/s10434-024-16292-8. [PMID: 39373930 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-024-16292-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infection. MCPyV antibodies (MCPyV-Ab) in plasma correlate with survival, while MCPyV-Ab within the tumor has never been investigated. This study evaluated plasma MCPyV-Ab and tumor MCPyV-Ab titers to evaluate their role in outcomes and prognostication. METHODS A single-institution, prospective database was retrospectively reviewed for patients diagnosed with MCC from 2014 to 2021. MCPyV-Ab plasma and tumor titers, as well as patient and treatment factors, were collected. Two-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were examined based on MCPyV-Ab presence in tumor. RESULTS Forty patients were identified, with a median follow-up of 27.6 months. Patients were stratified into four groups based on the presence of MCPyV-Ab in plasma (P+, P-) and tumor (T+, T-). Most patients (60.0%) were P-/T-. Of the remaining patients, 22.5% were P+/T+, 12.5% were P-/T+, and 5.0% were P+/T-. Two-year DFS of the P-/T- group was 16.6 months, which was not different from the other groups (p = 0.79). Two-year OS of P-/T- was 18.3 months, and 2-year OS of P-/T+ was 28.1 months, which was similar between groups (p = 0.80). CONCLUSIONS Most patients P+ for MCPyV had antibody-positive tumors (T+), and P- patients were also T-; however, there was a subset of patients where plasma and tumor antibody findings were incongruent. Patients with MCPyV-Ab in either plasma or tumor had a trend toward improved 2-year DFS and OS, but was limited by a small cohort. This study offers an exploratory investigation into the relationship between plasma and tumor antibodies to MCPyV on which to base future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan K Schmocker
- University Surgical Oncology, UT Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Laurentia Nodit
- University Pathologists, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Andrew J Ward
- University Surgical Oncology, UT Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- College of Nursing, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - James M Lewis
- University Surgical Oncology, UT Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - James M McLoughlin
- University Surgical Oncology, UT Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Laura M Enomoto
- University Surgical Oncology, UT Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
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Bellott TR, Luz FB, Fausto da Silva AK, Varella RB, Rochael MC, Rozza-de-Menezes RE, Pantaleão L. Presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA and large-T antigen in keratinocyte carcinomas and its correlation with immunohistochemical markers p16, p53 and ki67. An Bras Dermatol 2024; 99:688-695. [PMID: 38555263 PMCID: PMC11342993 DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), a human polyomavirus that is unequivocally linked to merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), has been found in association with keratinocytes carcinomas (KC), especially basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Nevertheless, there is scarce information about the possible involvement of MCPyV in the development of KC. OBJECTIVES To assess the presence of MCPyV DNA and Large-T Antigen (LT-Ag) via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in cases of KC, and to correlate its presence with immunohistochemical markers p16, p53, and ki67, tumor type and subtype, sun-exposed location, and epidemiological data. METHODS The prevalence of MCPyV DNA, LT-Ag, and immunohistochemical markers p16, p53, and ki67 was assessed by PCR and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 127 cases of KC, these results were correlated with tumor type and subtype, sun-exposed location, and epidemiological data. RESULTS The MCPyV DNA was detected in 42.57% (43 of 101) cases by PCR, the LT-Ag was detected in 16.4% (20 of 122) of cases, p16 in 81.5% (97 of 119), p53 in 66.4% (83 of 125), ki67 in 89% (73 of 82). No correlation between MCPyV LT-Ag and DNA confronted with tumor type, subtype, location site, and immunohistochemical markers was found. A single correlation between the MCPyV LT-Ag and cSCC tumors and peri-tumoral lymphocyte cells was noted. STUDY LIMITATIONS Further steps need to be taken to better evaluate the MCPyV influence and its possible role in KC carcinogenesis, as the evaluation of the virus genome state, the gene sequence that encodes LT-Ag in the KC tumor cells, and in situ hybridization for viral DNA or RNA in these cells. CONCLUSIONS Despite the frequent detection of MCPyV in KC, the data available so far does not support the hypothesis of a causal relationship between them.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Antigens, Viral, Tumor/analysis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis
- Carcinoma, Basal Cell/virology
- Carcinoma, Basal Cell/pathology
- Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/virology
- Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/pathology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/virology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16/analysis
- DNA, Viral/analysis
- Immunohistochemistry
- Keratinocytes/virology
- Keratinocytes/pathology
- Ki-67 Antigen/analysis
- Merkel cell polyomavirus/isolation & purification
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Polyomavirus Infections/virology
- Skin Neoplasms/virology
- Skin Neoplasms/pathology
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/analysis
- Tumor Virus Infections/virology
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Affiliation(s)
- T R Bellott
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Flávio Barbosa Luz
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Brandão Varella
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mayra Carrijo Rochael
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Pantaleão
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
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Lei KC, Srinivas N, Chandra M, Kervarrec T, Coyaud E, Spassova I, Peiffer L, Houben R, Shuda M, Hoffmann D, Schrama D, Becker JC. Merkel cell polyomavirus pan-T antigen knockdown reduces cancer cell stemness and promotes neural differentiation independent of RB1. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29789. [PMID: 38988206 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive skin cancer associated with integration of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). MCPyV-encoded T-antigens (TAs) are pivotal for sustaining MCC's oncogenic phenotype, i.e., repression of TAs results in reactivation of the RB pathway and subsequent cell cycle arrest. However, the MCC cell line LoKe, characterized by a homozygous loss of the RB1 gene, exhibits uninterrupted cell cycle progression after shRNA-mediated TA repression. This unique feature allows an in-depth analysis of the effects of TAs beyond inhibition of the RB pathway, revealing the decrease in expression of stem cell-related genes upon panTA-knockdown. Analysis of gene regulatory networks identified members of the E2F family (E2F1, E2F8, TFDP1) as key transcriptional regulators that maintain stem cell properties in TA-expressing MCC cells. Furthermore, minichromosome maintenance (MCM) genes, which encodes DNA-binding licensing proteins essential for stem cell maintenance, were suppressed upon panTA-knockdown. The decline in stemness occurred simultaneously with neural differentiation, marked by the increased expression of neurogenesis-related genes such as neurexins, BTG2, and MYT1L. This upregulation can be attributed to heightened activity of PBX1 and BPTF, crucial regulators of neurogenesis pathways. The observations in LoKe were confirmed in an additional MCPyV-positive MCC cell line in which RB1 was silenced before panTA-knockdown. Moreover, spatially resolved transcriptomics demonstrated reduced TA expression in situ in a part of a MCC tumor characterized by neural differentiation. In summary, TAs are critical for maintaining stemness of MCC cells and suppressing neural differentiation, irrespective of their impact on the RB-signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Cheok Lei
- German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Skin Cancer Research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nalini Srinivas
- German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Skin Cancer Research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mitalee Chandra
- German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Skin Cancer Research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thibault Kervarrec
- Department of Pathology, Université de Tours, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Etienne Coyaud
- Department of Biology, University Lille, INSERM, Protéomique Réponse Inflammatoire Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Ivelina Spassova
- German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Skin Cancer Research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lukas Peiffer
- German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Skin Cancer Research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Houben
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Masahiro Shuda
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel Hoffmann
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - David Schrama
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen C Becker
- German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Skin Cancer Research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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Bellott TR, Luz FB, Silva AKFD, Varella RB, Rochael MC, Pantaleão L. Merkel cell polyomavirus and its etiological relationship with skin tumors. An Bras Dermatol 2023; 98:737-749. [PMID: 37407331 PMCID: PMC10589487 DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2023.04.004] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses have been frequently identified in several human neoplasms, but the etiological role of these viruses in some tumors is still a matter of controversy. Polyomaviruses stand out among the main viruses with oncogenic capacity, specifically the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Recent revisions in the taxonomy of polyomaviruses have divided the Polyomaviridae family into six genera, including 117 species, with a total of 14 currently known human-infecting species. Although the oncogenicity of polyomaviruses has been widely reported in the literature since 1950, the first description of a polyomavirus as an etiological agent of a neoplasm in humans was made only in 2008 with the description of MCPyV, present in approximately 80% of cases of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), with the integration of its genome to that of the tumor cells and tumor-specific mutations, and it is considered the etiological agent of this neoplasm since then. MCPyV has also been detected in keratinocyte carcinomas, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in individuals with and without immunosuppression. Data on the occurrence of oncogenic viruses potentially involved in oncogenesis, which cause persistence and tissue injury, related to the Merkel cell polyomavirus are still scarce, and the hypothesis that the Merkel cell polyomavirus may play a relevant role in the genesis of other cutaneous carcinomas in addition to MCC remains debatable. Therefore, the present study proposes to explore the current knowledge about the presence of MCPyV in keratinocyte carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Rubim Bellott
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Flávio Barbosa Luz
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Brandão Varella
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mayra Carrijo Rochael
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luciana Pantaleão
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
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Quantification of human polyomaviruses MCPyV and HPyV6 in malignant and non-malignant skin lesions. An Bras Dermatol 2023; 98:198-201. [PMID: 36635157 PMCID: PMC9984872 DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2022.02.006] [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: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human Polyomaviruses such as MCPyV and HPyV6 are frequently found as part of healthy skin microbiota and have been associated with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), pruritic and dyskeratotic dermatoses, respectively. Their presence in other types of skin conditions varies greatly depending on lesion type and population. OBJECTIVE To analyse comparatively the presence of MCPyV and HPyV6 in nonmelanoma skin cancers and healthy skin. METHODS The authors utilized qPCR techniques to quantify these pathogens in NMSC, premalignant diseases, and healthy skin of 87 patients. RESULTS MCPyV was detected in over 40% of samples, while HPyV6 was in 9.6%. MCPyV load was higher in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) compared to basal cell carcinomas (BCC) (p=0.016) and HPyV6 showed a higher percentage of infected cells in areas of low solar exposure as well as normal skin (p=0.012). A fair agreement (kappa=0.301) was found between MCPyV detection in lesions and their respective perilesional skin, indicating a random process of local dissemination of the virus. STUDY LIMITATIONS The lack of a larger sampling of different lesion types and protein expression analyses limits the correlation findings. CONCLUSION This is the first report of HPyV6 detection in the healthy skin of a Brazilian population, but the role of both polyomaviruses in NMSC has yet to be demonstrated.
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Zaggana E, Konstantinou MP, Krasagakis GH, de Bree E, Kalpakis K, Mavroudis D, Krasagakis K. Merkel Cell Carcinoma-Update on Diagnosis, Management and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010103. [PMID: 36612102 PMCID: PMC9817518 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
MCC is a rare but highly aggressive skin cancer. The identification of the driving role of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and ultraviolet-induced DNA damage in the oncogenesis of MCC allowed a better understanding of its biological behavior. The presence of MCPyV-specific T cells and lymphocytes exhibiting an 'exhausted' phenotype in the tumor microenvironment along with the high prevalence of immunosuppression among affected patients are strong indicators of the immunogenic properties of MCC. The use of immunotherapy has revolutionized the management of patients with advanced MCC with anti-PD-1/PD L1 blockade, providing objective responses in as much as 50-70% of cases when used in first-line treatment. However, acquired resistance or contraindication to immune checkpoint inhibitors can be an issue for a non-negligible number of patients and novel therapeutic strategies are warranted. This review will focus on current management guidelines for MCC and future therapeutic perspectives for advanced disease with an emphasis on molecular pathways, targeted therapies, and immune-based strategies. These new therapies alone or in combination with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors could enhance immune responses against tumor cells and overcome acquired resistance to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Zaggana
- Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Crete, Greece
| | - Maria Polina Konstantinou
- Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Crete, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2810-3925-82; Fax: +30-2810-5420-85
| | | | - Eelco de Bree
- Medical School, University of Crete, 71500 Crete, Greece
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Crete, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Kalpakis
- Medical School, University of Crete, 71500 Crete, Greece
- Department of Medical Oncology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Mavroudis
- Medical School, University of Crete, 71500 Crete, Greece
- Department of Medical Oncology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Crete, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Krasagakis
- Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Crete, Greece
- Medical School, University of Crete, 71500 Crete, Greece
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7
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Dimitraki MG, Sourvinos G. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) and Cancers: Emergency Bell or False Alarm? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225548. [PMID: 36428641 PMCID: PMC9688650 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), the sole member of Polyomavirus associated with oncogenesis in humans, is the major causative factor of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare, neuroendocrine neoplasia of the skin. Many aspects of MCPyV biology and oncogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. However, it has been established that oncogenic transformation is the outcome of the integration of the viral genome into the host DNA. The high prevalence of MCPyV in the population, along with the detection of the virus in various human tissue samples and the strong association of MCPyV with the emergence of MCC, have prompted researchers to further investigate the role of MCPyV in malignancies other than MCC. MCPyV DNA has been detected in several different non-MCC tumour tissues but with significantly lower prevalence, viral load and protein expression. Moreover, the two hallmarks of MCPyV MCC have rarely been investigated and the studies have produced generally inconsistent results. Therefore, the outcomes of the studies are inadequate and unable to clearly demonstrate a direct correlation between cellular transformation and MCPyV. This review aims to present a comprehensive recapitulation of the available literature regarding the association of MCPyV with oncogenesis (MCC and non-MCC tumours).
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8
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Yang JF, You J. Merkel cell polyomavirus and associated Merkel cell carcinoma. Tumour Virus Res 2022; 13:200232. [PMID: 34920178 PMCID: PMC8715208 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvr.2021.200232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a ubiquitous skin infection that can cause Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a highly lethal form of skin cancer with a nearly 50% mortality rate. Since the discovery of MCPyV in 2008, great advances have been made to improve our understanding of how the viral encoded oncoproteins contribute to MCC oncogenesis. However, our knowledge of the MCPyV infectious life cycle and its oncogenic mechanisms are still incomplete. The incidence of MCC has tripled over the past two decades, but effective treatments are lacking. Only recently have there been major victories in combatting metastatic MCC with the application of PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade. Still, these immune-based therapies are not ideal for patients with a medical need to maintain systemic immune suppression. As such, a better understanding of MCPyV's oncogenic mechanisms is needed in order to develop more effective and targeted therapies against virus-associated MCC. In this review, we discuss current areas of interest for MCPyV and MCC research and the progress made in elucidating both the natural host of MCPyV infection and the cell of origin for MCC. We also highlight the remaining gaps in our knowledge on the transcriptional regulation of MCPyV, which may be key to understanding and targeting viral oncogenesis for developing future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- June F Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6076, USA
| | - Jianxin You
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6076, USA.
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The Merkel Cell Polyomavirus T-Antigens and IL-33/ST2-IL1RAcP Axis: Possible Role in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073702. [PMID: 35409061 PMCID: PMC8998536 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a causal factor in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The oncogenic potential is mediated through its viral oncoproteins large T-antigen (LT) and small T-antigen (sT). Cytokines produced by tumor cells play an important role in cancer pathogenesis, and viruses affect their expression. Therefore, we compared human cytokine and receptor transcript levels in virus positive (V+) and virus negative (V−) MCC cell lines. Increased expression of IL-33, a potent modulator of tumor microenvironment, was observed in V+ MCC cell lines when compared to V− MCC-13 cells. Transient transfection studies with luciferase reporter plasmids demonstrated that LT and sT stimulated IL-33, ST2/IL1RL1 and IL1RAcP promoter activity. The induction of IL-33 expression was confirmed by transfecting MCC-13 cells with MCPyV LT. Furthermore, recombinant human cytokine domain IL-33 induced activation of MAP kinase and NF-κB pathways, which could be blocked by a ST2 receptor antibody. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a significantly stronger IL-33, ST2, and IL1RAcP expression in MCC tissues compared to normal skin. Of interest, significantly higher IL-33 and IL1RAcP protein levels were observed in MCC patient plasma compared to plasma from healthy controls. Previous studies have demonstrated the implication of the IL-33/STL2 pathway in cancer. Because our results revealed a T-antigens-dependent induction of the IL-33/ST2 axis, IL-33/ST2 may play a role in the tumorigenesis of MCPyV-positive MCC. Therefore, neutralizing the IL-33/ST2 axis may present a novel therapeutic approach for MCC patients.
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Moens U, Prezioso C, Pietropaolo V. Functional Domains of the Early Proteins and Experimental and Epidemiological Studies Suggest a Role for the Novel Human Polyomaviruses in Cancer. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:834368. [PMID: 35250950 PMCID: PMC8894888 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.834368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As their name indicates, polyomaviruses (PyVs) can induce tumors. Mouse PyV, hamster PyV and raccoon PyV have been shown to cause tumors in their natural host. During the last 30 years, 15 PyVs have been isolated from humans. From these, Merkel cell PyV is classified as a Group 2A carcinogenic pathogen (probably carcinogenic to humans), whereas BKPyV and JCPyV are class 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Although the other PyVs recently detected in humans (referred to here as novel HPyV; nHPyV) share many common features with PyVs, including the viral oncoproteins large tumor antigen and small tumor antigen, as their role in cancer is questioned. This review discusses whether the nHPyVs may play a role in cancer based on predicted and experimentally proven functions of their early proteins in oncogenic processes. The functional domains that mediate the oncogenic properties of early proteins of known PyVs, that can cause cancer in their natural host or animal models, have been well characterized and we examined whether these functional domains are conserved in the early proteins of the nHPyVs and presented experimental evidence that these conserved domains are functional. Furthermore, we reviewed the literature describing the detection of nHPyV in human tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Moens
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- *Correspondence: Ugo Moens,
| | - Carla Prezioso
- Microbiology of Chronic Neuro-Degenerative Pathologies, IRCSS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Valeria Pietropaolo,
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11
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Evidencing the presence of merkel cell polyomavirus in papillary thyroid cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21447. [PMID: 34728730 PMCID: PMC8563948 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01055-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infects most people asymptomatically, but recent reports indicate that the virus may be related to carcinogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of MCPyV on the development of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Totally, 1057 samples, including 412 fresh biopsy samples (FBS) and 645 paraffin-embedded PTC biopsy samples (PEBS), and 1057 adjacent non-cancerous samples were assessed for the presence of MCPyV DNA and RNA. MCPyV DNA was positive in 215 (20.3%) of samples, including 126 (30.6%) in FBS and 89 (13.8%) in PEBS. In MCPyV-positive samples, the mean MCPyV copy number was higher in the patients with FBS (2.3 × 10-1 ± 0.5 × 10-1 copies/cell) compared to PEBS (0.7 × 10-4 ± 0.1 × 10-4 copies/cell) and adjacent non-PTC normal samples (0.3 × 10-5 ± 0.02 × 10-5 copies/cell), indicating a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). The LT-Ag RNA expression was higher in FBS compared to PEBS, while VP1 gene transcript was not detected in any samples. Although our findings showed the presence of MCPyV in a subset of PTC Iranian patients, further research is required to confirm these findings.
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12
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Xu D, Jiang S, He Y, Jin X, Zhao G, Wang B. Development of a therapeutic vaccine targeting Merkel cell polyomavirus capsid protein VP1 against Merkel cell carcinoma. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:119. [PMID: 34611173 PMCID: PMC8492671 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00382-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive skin cancer with a high mortality rate, while Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) has been pointed as the causative agent of MCC. A better prognosis of MCC associated with a high level of antibodies against the capsid protein VP1 suggests that anti-VP1 immune response might be essential against MCC growth. In the current study, we developed a VP1-target vaccine formulated with CRA. Using a tumorigenic CMS5-VP1 tumor model, the vaccine-induced a potent antitumor efficacy in a dose-dependent manner was evidently demonstrated and mainly mediated by both VP1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses against the growth of CMS5-VP1 tumors in vaccinated BALB/c mice since the depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells reverse the antitumor effects. Thus, immunotherapy with this vaccine represents a novel approach for the clinical treatment of aggressive MCV-related MCC in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Zerun Biotech Co., LTD, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue He
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Advaccine Biopharmaceutics (Suzhou) Co. LTD, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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13
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Klufah F, Mobaraki G, Liu D, Alharbi RA, Kurz AK, Speel EJM, Winnepenninckx V, Zur Hausen A. Emerging role of human polyomaviruses 6 and 7 in human cancers. Infect Agent Cancer 2021; 16:35. [PMID: 34001216 PMCID: PMC8130262 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-021-00374-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently 12 human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) have been identified, 6 of which have been associated with human diseases, including cancer. The discovery of the Merkel cell polyomavirus and its role in the etiopathogenesis in the majority of Merkel cell carcinomas has drawn significant attention, also to other novel HPyVs. In 2010, HPyV6 and HPyV7 were identified in healthy skin swabs. Ever since it has been speculated that they might contribute to the etiopathogenesis of skin and non-cutaneous human cancers. MAIN BODY Here we comprehensively reviewed and summarized the current evidence potentially indicating an involvement of HPyV6 and HPyV7 in the etiopathogenesis of neoplastic human diseases. The seroprevalence of both HPyV6 and 7 is high in a normal population and increases with age. In skin cancer tissues, HPyV6- DNA was far more often prevalent than HPyV7 in contrast to cancers of other anatomic sites, in which HPyV7 DNA was more frequently detected. CONCLUSION It is remarkable to find that the detection rate of HPyV6-DNA in tissues of skin malignancies is higher than HPyV7-DNA and may indicate a role of HPyV6 in the etiopathogenesis of the respected skin cancers. However, the sheer presence of viral DNA is not enough to prove a role in the etiopathogenesis of these cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Klufah
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Albaha University, Albaha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghalib Mobaraki
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Raed A Alharbi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Albaha University, Albaha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anna Kordelia Kurz
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ernst Jan M Speel
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Véronique Winnepenninckx
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Axel Zur Hausen
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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14
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Prezioso C, Carletti R, Obregon F, Piacentini F, Manicone AM, Soda G, Moens U, Di Gioia C, Pietropaolo V. Evaluation of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus DNA in Tissue Samples from Italian Patients with Diagnosis of MCC. Viruses 2021; 13:v13010061. [PMID: 33466354 PMCID: PMC7824763 DOI: 10.3390/v13010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Because the incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) has increased significantly during the last 10 years and it is recognized that Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation represent two different etiological inputs sharing clinical, histopathological, and prognostic similar features, although with different prognosis, this study investigated the detection of MCPyV in skin and lymph nodes with histological diagnosis of MCC. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE) were retrieved from archived specimens and MCPyV non-coding control region (NCCR) and viral capsid protein 1 (VP1) sequences were amplified and sequenced. Results provide an interesting observation concerning the discrepancy between the MCPyV DNA status in primary and metastatic sites: in fact, in all cases in which primary and metastatic lesions were investigated, MCPyV DNA was detected only in the primary lesions. Our data further support the “hit-and-run” theory, also proposed by other authors, and may lead to speculation that in some MCCs the virus is only necessary for the process of tumor initiation and that further mutations may render the tumor independent from the virus. Few point mutations were detected in the NCCR and only silent mutations were observed in the VP1 sequence compared to the MCPyV MCC350 isolate. To unequivocally establish a role of MCPyV in malignancies, additional well-controlled investigations are required, and larger cohorts should be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Prezioso
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (F.O.); (F.P.)
- Microbiology of Chronic Neuro-degenerative Pathologies, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, 00163 Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Carletti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francisco Obregon
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (F.O.); (F.P.)
| | - Francesca Piacentini
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (F.O.); (F.P.)
| | | | - Giuseppe Soda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Ugo Moens
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway;
| | - Cira Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (F.O.); (F.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-49914439
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15
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Ferreira DA, Tayyar Y, Idris A, McMillan NAJ. A "hit-and-run" affair - A possible link for cancer progression in virally driven cancers. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1875:188476. [PMID: 33186643 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is well-known that certain cancers are caused by viruses. However, viral oncogenesis is complex and only a small fraction of the infected people develop cancer. Indeed, a number of environmental factors can contribute to virally infected cells developing cancer hallmarks, promoting tumorigenesis. SCOPE OF REVIEW The hit-and-run theory proposes that viruses facilitate the accumulation of mutations and promote genomic instability until the virus becomes dispensable for tumour maintenance. Indeed, several studies have reported viral genome, episome and/or oncogene loss in tumour cells without losing malignant phenotype. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The current evidence supports the clear contribution of certain viruses to develop cancers. Importantly, the evidence supporting the sustained maintenance of malignancy after the loss of viral "presence" is sufficient to support the hit-and-run hypothesis of viral cancer development. Long-term tracking of vaccination outcome over the decades will test this theory. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE If the hit-and-run theory is true, viruses might cause more cancers than previously thought and will have implications in the prevention of many cancers through implementing vaccination programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyelle A Ferreira
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yaman Tayyar
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adi Idris
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Nigel A J McMillan
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
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16
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Pietropaolo V, Prezioso C, Moens U. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus and Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1774. [PMID: 32635198 PMCID: PMC7407210 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses are the cause of approximately 15% of all human cancers. Both RNA and DNA human tumor viruses have been identified, with Merkel cell polyomavirus being the most recent one to be linked to cancer. This virus is associated with about 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas, a rare, but aggressive cutaneous malignancy. Despite its name, the cells of origin of this tumor may not be Merkel cells. This review provides an update on the structure and life cycle, cell tropism and epidemiology of the virus and its oncogenic properties. Putative strategies to prevent viral infection or treat virus-positive Merkel cell carcinoma patients are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Carla Prezioso
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (C.P.)
- IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Microbiology of Chronic Neuro-Degenerative Pathologies, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Ugo Moens
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
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17
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Gonçalves MTV, Varella RB, Almeida NKDO, Guimarães MAAM, Luz FB. Molecular detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus in basal cell carcinoma and perilesional tissue: a cross-sectional study. An Bras Dermatol 2020; 95:527-528. [PMID: 32499100 PMCID: PMC7335873 DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2019.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Tavares Venceslau Gonçalves
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rafael Brandão Varella
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Flávio Barbosa Luz
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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18
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Orouji E, Peitsch WK, Orouji A, Houben R, Utikal J. Unique Role of Histone Methyltransferase PRDM8 in the Tumorigenesis of Virus-Negative Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12041057. [PMID: 32344701 PMCID: PMC7226539 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12041057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a deadly skin cancer, and about 80% of its cases have been shown to harbor integrated Merkel polyomavirus in the tumor cell genome. Viral oncoproteins expressed in the tumor cells are considered as the oncogenic factors of these virus-positive Merkel cell carcinoma (VP-MCC). In contrast, the molecular pathogenesis of virus-negative MCC (VN-MCC) is less well understood. Using gene expression analysis of MCC cell lines, we found histone methyltransferase PRDM8 to be elevated in VN-MCC. This finding was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis of MCC tumors, revealing that increased PRDM8 expression in VN-MCC is also associated with increased H3K9 methylation. CRISPR-mediated silencing of PRDM8 in MCC cells further supported the histone methylating role of this protein in VN-MCC. We also identified miR-20a-5p as a negative regulator of PRDM8. Taken together, our findings provide insights into the role of PRDM8 as a histone methyltransferase in VN-MCC tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Orouji
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Genomic Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
- Correspondence: (E.O.); (J.U.); Tel.: +1-(917)647-2202 (E.O.); +49-(621)383-4461 (J.U.)
| | - Wiebke K. Peitsch
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Dermatology and Phlebology, Vivantes Klinikum im Friedrichshain, 10249 Berlin, Germany
| | - Azadeh Orouji
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Roland Houben
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jochen Utikal
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Correspondence: (E.O.); (J.U.); Tel.: +1-(917)647-2202 (E.O.); +49-(621)383-4461 (J.U.)
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19
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Circulating Tumor Cell Detection and Polyomavirus Status in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1612. [PMID: 32005907 PMCID: PMC6994658 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58572-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare and highly metastatic skin malignancy, has sharply increased in the last decade. Clinical biomarkers are urgently needed for MCC prognosis, treatment response monitoring, and early diagnosis of relapse. The clinical interest of circulating tumors cells (CTCs) has been validated in many solid cancers. The aim of this study was to compare CTC detection and characterization in blood samples of patients with MCC using the CellSearch System and the RosetteSep -DEPArray workflow, an innovative procedure to enrich, detect and isolate single CTCs. In preliminary experiments (using spiked MCC cell lines) both methods allowed detecting very few MCC cells. In blood samples from 19 patients with MCC at different stages, CellSearch detected MCC CTCs in 26% of patients, and the R-D workflow in 42% of patients. The detection of CTC-positive patients increased to 52% by the cumulative positivity rate of both methodologies. Moreover, Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA, involved in MCC oncogenesis, was detected in tumor biopsies, but not in all single CTCs from the same patient, reflecting the tumor heterogeneity. Our data demonstrate the possibility to detect, isolate and characterize CTCs in patients with MCC using two complementary approaches.
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20
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Csoboz B, Rasheed K, Sveinbjørnsson B, Moens U. Merkel cell polyomavirus and non-Merkel cell carcinomas: guilty or circumstantial evidence? APMIS 2020; 128:104-120. [PMID: 31990105 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the major causative factor of the rare but aggressive cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Two characteristics of MCPyV-positive MCCs are integration of the viral genome and expression of a truncated version of one of its oncogenic proteins, namely large T antigen. The strong association of MCPyV with MCC development has incited researchers to further investigate a possible role of this virus in other cancers. However, many of the examples displaying the presence of the virus in the various non-MCC cancers are not able to clearly demonstrate a direct connection between cellular transformation and the presence of the virus. The prevalence of the virus is significantly lower in non-MCC cancers compared to MCCs, with a lower level of viral load and sparse viral protein expression. Moreover, the state of the viral genome, and whether a truncated large T antigen is expressed, has rarely been investigated. Nonetheless, considering the strong oncogenic potential of MCPyV proteins in MCC, the plausible contribution of MCPyV to transformation and cancer growth in non-MCC tumors cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, the absence of MCPyV in cancers does not exclude a hit-and-run mechanism, or the oncoproteins of MCPyV may potentiate the neoplastic process mediated by co-infecting oncoviruses such as high-risk human papillomaviruses and Epstein-Barr virus. The current review is focusing on the available data describing the presence of MCPyV in non-MCC tumors, with an aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the corresponding literature and to discuss the potential contribution of MCPyV to non-MCC cancer in light of this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balint Csoboz
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kashif Rasheed
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Baldur Sveinbjørnsson
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ugo Moens
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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21
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Oncogenic Role of an Epigenetic Reader of m 6A RNA Modification: YTHDF1 in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12010202. [PMID: 31947544 PMCID: PMC7016651 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma is a deadly skin cancer, which in the majority of cases is caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). The viral small T antigen is regarded as the dominant oncoprotein expressed in the tumor cells. We used genomic screening of copy number aberrations along with transcriptomic analysis to investigate regions with amplification that harbor differentially expressed genes. We identified YTHDF1, a protein that is a reader of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modifications, to have high copy gains and to be highly expressed in Merkel cell carcinoma. Importantly, we identified the presence of m6A on small T antigen mRNA suggesting a relation between YTHDF1 amplification and MCPyV gene expression. Interestingly, knockdown of YTHDF1 in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) cell lines negatively affected the translation initiation factor eIF3 and reduced proliferation and clonogenic capacity in vitro. Furthermore, analysis of survival data revealed worse overall survival in YTHDF1high MCC patients compared to YTHDF1low patients. Our findings indicate a novel oncogenic role of YTHDF1 through m6A machinery in the tumorigenesis of MCC.
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22
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Kervarrec T, Samimi M, Gaboriaud P, Gheit T, Beby-Defaux A, Houben R, Schrama D, Fromont G, Tommasino M, Le Corre Y, Hainaut-Wierzbicka E, Aubin F, Bens G, Maillard H, Furudoï A, Michenet P, Touzé A, Guyétant S. Detection of the Merkel cell polyomavirus in the neuroendocrine component of combined Merkel cell carcinoma. Virchows Arch 2018; 472:825-837. [PMID: 29594354 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-018-2342-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. The main etiological agent is Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), detected in 80% of cases. About 5% of cases, called combined MCC, feature an admixture of neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine tumor cells. Reports of the presence or absence of MCPyV in combined MCC are conflicting, most favoring the absence, which suggests that combined MCC might have independent etiological factors and pathogenesis. These discrepancies might occur with the use of different virus identification assays, with different sensitivities. In this study, we aimed to determine the viral status of combined MCC by a multimodal approach. We histologically reviewed 128 cases of MCC and sub-classified them as "combined" or "conventional." Both groups were compared by clinical data (age, sex, site, American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stage, immunosuppression, risk of recurrence, and death during follow-up) and immunochemical features (cytokeratin 20 and 7, thyroid transcription factor 1 [TTF1], p53, large T antigen [CM2B4], CD8 infiltrates). After a first calibration step with 12 conventional MCCs and 12 cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas as controls, all eight cases of combined MCC were investigated for MCPyV viral status by combining two independent molecular procedures. Furthermore, on multiplex genotyping assay, the samples were examined for the presence of other polyoma- and papillomaviruses. Combined MCC differed from conventional MCC in earlier AJCC stage, increased risk of recurrence and death, decreased CD8 infiltrates, more frequent TTF1 positivity (5/8), abnormal p53 expression (8/8), and frequent lack of large T antigen expression (7/8). With the molecular procedure, half of the combined MCC cases were positive for MCPyV in the neuroendocrine component. Beta papillomaviruses were detected in 5/8 combined MCC cases and 9/12 conventional MCC cases. In conclusion, the detection of MCPyV DNA in half of the combined MCC cases suggests similar routes of carcinogenesis for combined and conventional MCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Kervarrec
- Department of Pathology, Université de Tours, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tours, 37044, Tours Cedex 09, France.
- Biologie des infections à polyomavirus team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31, Avenue Monge, 37200, Tours, France.
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Mahtab Samimi
- Biologie des infections à polyomavirus team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31, Avenue Monge, 37200, Tours, France
- Department of Dermatology, Université François Rabelais, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tours, 37044, Tours Cedex 09, France
| | - Pauline Gaboriaud
- Biologie des infections à polyomavirus team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31, Avenue Monge, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Tarik Gheit
- Infections and Cancer Biology Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Agnès Beby-Defaux
- Université de Poitiers, 2RCT "Récepteurs et régulation des cellules tumorales" team, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, 86073, Poitiers, France
- Department of Virology, Université de Poitiers, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Poitiers, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86021, Poitiers, France
| | - Roland Houben
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - David Schrama
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gaëlle Fromont
- Department of Pathology, Université de Tours, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tours, 37044, Tours Cedex 09, France
| | - Massimo Tommasino
- Department of Dermatology, Université François Rabelais, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tours, 37044, Tours Cedex 09, France
| | - Yannick Le Corre
- Department of Dermatology, LUNAM Université, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, 4 rue Larrey, 49933, Angers, France
| | - Eva Hainaut-Wierzbicka
- Department of Dermatology, Université de Poitiers, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Poitiers, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86021, Poitiers, France
| | - Francois Aubin
- Department of Dermatology, Université de Franche Comté, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, EA3181, IFR133, 2 boulevard Fleming, 25030, Besançon, France
| | - Guido Bens
- Department of Dermatology, Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans, 14 avenue de l'Hôpital, CS 86709, 45067, Orléans cedex 2, France
| | - Hervé Maillard
- Department of Dermatology, Centre Hospitalier Régional du Mans, 194 avenue Rubillard, 72037, Le Mans, France
| | - Adeline Furudoï
- Department of Pathology, Université de Bordeaux, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Avenue de Magellan, 33604, Pessac, France
| | - Patrick Michenet
- Department of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans, 14 avenue de l'Hôpital, CS 86709, 45067, Orléans cedex 2, France
| | - Antoine Touzé
- Biologie des infections à polyomavirus team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31, Avenue Monge, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Serge Guyétant
- Department of Pathology, Université de Tours, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tours, 37044, Tours Cedex 09, France
- Biologie des infections à polyomavirus team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31, Avenue Monge, 37200, Tours, France
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23
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Velásquez C, Amako Y, Harold A, Toptan T, Chang Y, Shuda M. Characterization of a Merkel Cell Polyomavirus-Positive Merkel Cell Carcinoma Cell Line CVG-1. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:713. [PMID: 29696010 PMCID: PMC5905237 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) plays a causal role in ∼80% of Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC). MCV is clonally integrated into the MCC tumor genome, which results in persistent expression of large T (LT) and small T (sT) antigen oncoproteins encoded by the early locus. In MCV-positive MCC tumors, LT is truncated by premature stop codons or deletions that lead to loss of the C-terminal origin binding (OBD) and helicase domains important for replication. The N-terminal Rb binding domain remains intact. MCV-positive cell lines derived from MCC explants have been valuable tools to study the molecular mechanism of MCV-induced Merkel cell carcinogenesis. Although all cell lines have integrated MCV and express truncated LT antigens, the molecular sizes of the LT proteins differ between cell lines. The copy number of integrated viral genome also varies across cell lines, leading to significantly different levels of viral protein expression. Nevertheless, these cell lines share phenotypic similarities in cell morphology, growth characteristics, and neuroendocrine marker expression. Several low-passage MCV-positive MCC cell lines have been established since the identification of MCV. We describe a new MCV-positive MCV cell line, CVG-1, with features distinct from previously reported cell lines. CVG-1 tumor cells grow in more discohesive clusters in loose round cell suspension, and individual cells show dramatic size heterogeneity. It is the first cell line to encode an MCV sT polymorphism resulting in a unique leucine (L) to proline (P) substitution mutation at amino acid 144. CVG-1 possesses a LT truncation pattern near identical to that of MKL-1 cells differing by the last two C-terminal amino acids and also shows an LT protein expression level similar to MKL-1. Viral T antigen knockdown reveals that, like other MCV-positive MCC cell lines, CVG-1 requires T antigen expression for cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celestino Velásquez
- Cancer Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Yutaka Amako
- Cancer Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Alexis Harold
- Cancer Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Tuna Toptan
- Cancer Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Yuan Chang
- Cancer Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Masahiro Shuda
- Cancer Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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24
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Hesbacher S, Pfitzer L, Wiedorfer K, Angermeyer S, Borst A, Haferkamp S, Scholz CJ, Wobser M, Schrama D, Houben R. RB1 is the crucial target of the Merkel cell polyomavirus Large T antigen in Merkel cell carcinoma cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:32956-68. [PMID: 27121059 PMCID: PMC5078066 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The pocket protein (PP) family consists of the three members RB1, p107 and p130 all possessing tumor suppressive properties. Indeed, the PPs jointly control the G1/S transition mainly by inhibiting E2F transcription factors. Notably, several viral oncoproteins are capable of binding and inhibiting PPs. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is considered as etiological factor for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) with expression of the viral Large T antigen (LT) harboring an intact PP binding domain being required for proliferation of most MCC cells. Therefore, we analyzed the interaction of MCPyV-LT with the PPs. Co-IP experiments indicate that MCPyV-LT binds potently only to RB1. Moreover, MCPyV-LT knockdown-induced growth arrest in MCC cells can be rescued by knockdown of RB1, but not by p107 or p130 knockdown. Accordingly, cell cycle arrest and E2F target gene repression mediated by the single PPs can only in the case of RB1 be significantly reverted by MCPyV-LT expression. Moreover, data from an MCC patient indicate that loss of RB1 rendered the MCPyV-positive MCC cells LT independent. Thus, our results suggest that RB1 is the dominant tumor suppressor PP in MCC, and that inactivation of RB1 by MCPyV-LT is largely sufficient for its growth supporting function in established MCPyV-positive MCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Hesbacher
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Pfitzer
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, University of Munich (Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität), Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Wiedorfer
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Angermeyer
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Borst
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Marion Wobser
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - David Schrama
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Roland Houben
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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25
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Schadendorf D, Nghiem P, Bhatia S, Hauschild A, Saiag P, Mahnke L, Hariharan S, Kaufman HL. Immune evasion mechanisms and immune checkpoint inhibition in advanced merkel cell carcinoma. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1338237. [PMID: 29123950 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1338237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare skin cancer caused by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infection and/or ultraviolet radiation-induced somatic mutations. The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is evidence that an active immune response to MCPyV and tumor-associated neoantigens occurs in some patients. However, inhibitory immune molecules, including programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), within the MCC tumor microenvironment aid in tumor evasion of T-cell-mediated clearance. Unlike chemotherapy, treatment with anti-PD-L1 (avelumab) or anti-PD-1 (pembrolizumab) antibodies leads to durable responses in MCC, in both virus-positive and virus-negative tumors. As many tumors are established through the evasion of infiltrating immune-cell clearance, the lessons learned in MCC may be broadly relevant to many cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Schadendorf
- Department of Dermatology, Essen University Hospital, Germany and German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Paul Nghiem
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shailender Bhatia
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Axel Hauschild
- Department of Dermatology, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Philippe Saiag
- Head of Service de Dermatologie Générale et Oncologique, University of Versailles-SQY, CHU A Paré, Boulogne Cedex, France
| | - Lisa Mahnke
- EMD Serono, Inc., Billerica, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Howard L Kaufman
- Department of Surgery and Medicine, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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26
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MGMT promoter methylation status in Merkel cell carcinoma: in vitro versus invivo. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2017; 143:1489-1497. [PMID: 28405827 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-017-2413-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is very variable; thus, we tested whether this may be due to differential methylation of the MGMT gene promoter. METHODS Quantitative analysis of MGMT mRNA and protein expression, as well as MGMT promoter methylation status, was performed in a series of tissue samples of MCC tumors, representing both primary and metastatic lesions, as well as in six MCC cell lines. RESULTS These analyses revealed a very heterogeneous MGMT mRNA and protein expression in MCC both in vivo and in vitro. However, neither the MGMT mRNA nor protein expression correlated with the sensitivity of MCC cell lines toward the alkylating agent dacarbazine in vitro. Notably, increased methylation at the promoter of the MGMT gene was observed in 2/6 (33%) of the MCC cell lines; however, MGMT promoter methylation was absent in all MCC tissue samples. According to our results, albeit aberrant methylation of MGMT gene promoter can be observed in in vitro propagated MCC cell lines, it seems to be absent or very rare in MCC lesions in situ. CONCLUSION Thus, the evaluation of this marker has no or only little significance for predicting response to therapy or for improving efficacy of demethylating agents in the treatment of MCC. Microenvironmental factors may play a role in explaining the different results between MCC cell lines and MCC samples.
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27
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Pesavento PA, Brostoff T, Church ME, Dela Cruz FN, Woolard KD. Polyomavirus and Naturally Occuring Neuroglial Tumors in Raccoons (Procyon Lotor). ILAR J 2016; 56:297-305. [PMID: 26912716 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilv036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyomavirus (PyV) infections are widespread in human populations and, although generally associated with silent persistence, rarely cause severe disease. Among diseases convincingly associated with natural PyV infections of humans, there are remarkably different tissue tropisms and outcomes, including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, transient or progressive nephropathy, and cancer. The variable character and unpredictable outcomes of infection attest to large gaps in our basic understanding of PyV biology. In particular, the rich history of research demonstrating the oncogenic potential of PyVs in laboratory animals begs the question of why cancer is not more often associated with infection. Raccoon polyomavirus (RacPyV), discovered in 2010, is consistently identified in neuroglial tumors in free-ranging raccoons in the western United States. Exposure to RacPyV is widespread, and RacPyV is detected in tissues of raccoons without tumors. Studying the relationship of RacPyV with its natural host is a unique opportunity to uncover cogent cellular targets and protein interactions between the virus and its host. Our hypothesis is that RacPyV, as an intact episome, alters cellular pathways within neural progenitor cells and drives oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A Pesavento
- Patricia A. Pesavento, DVM, PhD, is a professor, Terza Brostoff, is a graduate and veterinary student, Molly E. Church, MS, VMD, is a graduate student, Florante N. Dela Cruz Jr., BS, is a staff research associate, and Kevin D. Woolard, DVM, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis
| | - Terza Brostoff
- Patricia A. Pesavento, DVM, PhD, is a professor, Terza Brostoff, is a graduate and veterinary student, Molly E. Church, MS, VMD, is a graduate student, Florante N. Dela Cruz Jr., BS, is a staff research associate, and Kevin D. Woolard, DVM, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis
| | - Molly E Church
- Patricia A. Pesavento, DVM, PhD, is a professor, Terza Brostoff, is a graduate and veterinary student, Molly E. Church, MS, VMD, is a graduate student, Florante N. Dela Cruz Jr., BS, is a staff research associate, and Kevin D. Woolard, DVM, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis
| | - Florante N Dela Cruz
- Patricia A. Pesavento, DVM, PhD, is a professor, Terza Brostoff, is a graduate and veterinary student, Molly E. Church, MS, VMD, is a graduate student, Florante N. Dela Cruz Jr., BS, is a staff research associate, and Kevin D. Woolard, DVM, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis
| | - Kevin D Woolard
- Patricia A. Pesavento, DVM, PhD, is a professor, Terza Brostoff, is a graduate and veterinary student, Molly E. Church, MS, VMD, is a graduate student, Florante N. Dela Cruz Jr., BS, is a staff research associate, and Kevin D. Woolard, DVM, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis
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28
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Lin CTM, Leibovitch EC, Almira-Suarez MI, Jacobson S. Human herpesvirus multiplex ddPCR detection in brain tissue from low- and high-grade astrocytoma cases and controls. Infect Agent Cancer 2016; 11:32. [PMID: 27462365 PMCID: PMC4960850 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-016-0081-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal CNS malignancy, representing 50 % of all gliomas with approximately 12–18 months survival time after initial diagnosis. Recently, the human herpesvirus cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been suggested to have an oncogenic role, yet this association remains controversial. In addition, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have also been associated with low-grade gliomas, but few studies have examined HHV-6 and EBV in glioblastomas. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a highly precise diagnostic tool that enables the absolute quantification of target DNA. This study examines the association between multiple human herpesviruses and astrocytomas. Methods This study analyzed 112 brain tissue specimens, including 45 glioblastoma, 12 astrocytoma grade III, 2 astrocytoma grade II, 4 astrocytoma grade I, and 49 controls. All brain tissue samples were de-identified and pathologically confirmed. Each tissue block was sectioned for DNA extraction and CMV, EBV, HHV-6A and HHV-6B, and a cellular housekeeping gene were amplified by ddPCR. Results Neither CMV nor HHV-6A were detected in any of the astrocytoma samples. However, HHV-6B (p = 0.147) and EBV (p = 0.049) had a higher positivity frequency in the GBM compared to the controls. Conclusion The undetectable CMV DNA in the astrocytoma cohort does not support the observation of an increased prevalence of CMV DNA in GBM, as reported in other studies. EBV has a significantly higher positivity in the GBM cohort compared to the controls, while HHV-6B has a higher but not statistically significant positivity in the case cohort. Whether these viruses play an oncogenic role in GBM remains to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Te Major Lin
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, BG 10 RM 5C103 10 Center Dr., Bethesda, MD 20892 USA ; School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Ross Hall 2300 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA
| | - Emily C Leibovitch
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, BG 10 RM 5C103 10 Center Dr., Bethesda, MD 20892 USA ; School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Ross Hall 2300 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA
| | - M Isabel Almira-Suarez
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Ross Hall 2300 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA
| | - Steven Jacobson
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, BG 10 RM 5C103 10 Center Dr., Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
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29
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Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: poorer prognosis than non-head and neck sites. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology 2016; 130:393-7. [DOI: 10.1017/s0022215116000153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
AbstractBackground:Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive neurocutaneous malignancy. This study investigated whether patients with Merkel cell carcinoma in the head and neck had poorer outcomes than patients with Merkel cell carcinoma located elsewhere.Methods:A retrospective study was performed of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma treated at the Jewish General Hospital in Montréal, Canada, from 1993 to 2013. Associations between clinicopathological characteristics and disease-free and disease-specific survival rates were examined according to the Kaplan–Meier method.Results:Twenty-seven patients were identified. Although basic clinicopathological characteristics and treatments were similar between head and neck and non-head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma groups, disease-free and disease-specific survival rates were significantly lower in the head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma group (log-rank test; p = 0.043 and p = 0.001, respectively). Mortality was mainly due to distant metastasis.Conclusion:Patients with head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma had poorer survival rates than patients with non-head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma in our study. The tendency to obtain close margins, a less predictable metastatic pattern, and/or intrinsic tumour factors related to the head and neck may explain this discrepancy.
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30
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Papadimitriou JC, Randhawa P, Rinaldo CH, Drachenberg CB, Alexiev B, Hirsch HH. BK Polyomavirus Infection and Renourinary Tumorigenesis. Am J Transplant 2016; 16:398-406. [PMID: 26731714 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.13550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infection represents a major problem in transplantation, particularly for renal recipients developing polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PyVAN). The possibility that BKPyV may also be oncogenic is not routinely considered. Twenty high-grade renourinary tumors expressing polyomavirus large T antigen in the entirety of the neoplasm in 19 cases, including the metastases in six, have been reported in transplant recipients with a history of PyVAN or evidence of BKPyV infection. Morphological and phenotypical features consistent with inactivation of the tumor suppressors pRB and p53 were found in the bladder tumors, suggesting a carcinogenesis mechanism involving the BKPyV large tumor oncoprotein/antigen. The pathogenesis of these tumors is unclear, but given the generally long interval between transplantation and tumor development, the risk for neoplasms after BKPyV infections may well be multifactorial. Other elements potentially implicated include exposure to additional exogenous carcinogens, further viral mutations, and cell genomic instability secondary to viral integration, as occurs with the Merkel cell PyV-associated carcinoma. The still scarce but increasingly reported association between longstanding PyVAN and renourinary neoplasms requires a concerted effort from the transplant community to better understand, diagnose, and treat the putative association between the BKPyV and these neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Papadimitriou
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - P Randhawa
- Division of Transplantation Pathology, Department of Pathology, The Thomas E Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - C Hanssen Rinaldo
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - C B Drachenberg
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - B Alexiev
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - H H Hirsch
- Metabolic and Renal Research Group, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Transplantation and Clinical Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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31
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Miles BA, Goldenberg D. Merkel cell carcinoma: Do you know your guidelines? Head Neck 2015; 38:647-52. [PMID: 26716756 DOI: 10.1002/hed.24359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a cutaneous neuroendocrine malignancy that exhibits clinically aggressive features and is associated with a poor prognosis. The incidence of MCC seems to be increasing for reasons unknown, and is estimated to be 0.32/100,000 in the United States. METHODS This article will review the current literature and National Comprehensive Cancer Network practice guidelines in the treatment of MCC. RESULTS Resection of MCC with negative margins remains the mainstay of therapy. Positive nodal disease should be treated with neck dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy. High-risk patients should undergo adjuvant radiotherapy, which improves oncologic outcomes. The role of chemotherapy is less clear and is currently reserved for advanced-stage MCC and palliative therapy. CONCLUSION The pathogenesis of MCC has recently been impacted with the discovery of the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Research to establish targeted and immunologic therapeutic options are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett A Miles
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - David Goldenberg
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
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32
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Colombara DV, Manhart LE, Carter JJ, Hawes SE, Weiss NS, Hughes JP, Barnett MJ, Goodman GE, Smith JS, Qiao YL, Galloway DA. Prior human polyomavirus and papillomavirus infection and incident lung cancer: a nested case-control study. Cancer Causes Control 2015; 26:1835-44. [PMID: 26415892 PMCID: PMC4628600 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-015-0676-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To test whether infection with select human polyomaviruses (HPyV) and human papillomaviruses (HPV) is associated with incident lung cancer. METHODS We performed a nested case-control study, testing serum from the carotene and retinol efficacy trial, conducted 1985-2005, for antibodies to Merkel cell (MCV), KI (KIV), and WU (WUV) HPyVs as well as to six high-risk and two low-risk HPV types. Incident lung cancer cases (n = 200) were frequency-matched with controls (n = 200) on age, enrollment and blood draw dates, intervention arm assignment, and the number of serum freeze/thaw cycles. Sera were tested using multiplex liquid bead microarray antibody assays. We used logistic regression to assess the association between HPyV and HPV antibodies and lung cancer. RESULTS There was no evidence of a positive association between levels of MCV, KIV, or WUV antibodies and incident lung cancer (p corrected >0.10 for all trend tests; odds ratio (OR) range 0.72-1.09, p corrected >0.10 for all). There was also no evidence for a positive association between HPV 16 or 18 infection and incident lung cancer (p corrected ≥0.10 for all trend tests; OR range 0.25-2.54, p > 0.05 for all OR > 1), but the number of persons with serologic evidence of these infections was small. CONCLUSIONS Prior infection with any of several types of HPyV or HPV was not associated with subsequent diagnosis of lung cancer. Infection with these viruses likely does not influence a person's risk of lung cancer in Western smoking populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny V Colombara
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 Fifth Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Health Sciences Building F-250, Box 357236, Seattle, WA, 98195-7236, USA.
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA.
| | - Lisa E Manhart
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Health Sciences Building F-250, Box 357236, Seattle, WA, 98195-7236, USA
| | - Joseph J Carter
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA
| | - Stephen E Hawes
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Health Sciences Building F-250, Box 357236, Seattle, WA, 98195-7236, USA
| | - Noel S Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Health Sciences Building F-250, Box 357236, Seattle, WA, 98195-7236, USA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA
| | - James P Hughes
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, F-600, Health Sciences Building, Box 357232, Seattle, WA, 98195-7232, USA
| | - Matt J Barnett
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA
| | - Gary E Goodman
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA
| | - Jennifer S Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 135 Dauer Drive, 2101 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB #7435, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7435, USA
| | - You-Lin Qiao
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 17 South Pan Jia Yuan Lane, Chaoyang Dist., P. O. Box 2258, Beijing, 100021, People's Republic of China
| | - Denise A Galloway
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA
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33
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Keller EX, Delbue S, Tognon M, Provenzano M. Polyomavirus BK and prostate cancer: a complex interaction of potential clinical relevance. Rev Med Virol 2015; 25:366-78. [PMID: 26308483 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.1851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Several studies associating BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) and prostate cancer (PCa) suggested that this virus may exert its oncogenic activity at early stages of cancer development. The BKPyV oncogene, the large T antigen (LTag), has frequently been detected in areas of proliferative inflammatory atrophy, which is considered a precursor lesion leading to prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and overt PCa. In a recently updated systematic review, the presence of BKPyV was significantly higher in PCa tissues than in healthy control tissues, providing an indication for a link between BKPyV infection and cancer risk. In addition, recent original investigations highlighted an association between expression of the virus and the clinical course of PCa. For example, by studying immune responses elicited against BKPyV LTag, a significant association between LTag positive cancer lesions and a peculiar regulatory profiling has been observed in PCa patients with evidence of disease recurrence after surgical radical prostatectomy. Lastly, a study carried out in a larger cohort of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy revealed the IgG response against LTag as an independent predictor of disease recurrence. Although a full picture of the mechanisms potentially responsible for the involvement of BKPyV in PCa is not available yet, continuing work on this topic should help to refine the potential role of BKPyV in PCa patients, perhaps revealing unsuspected associations with the clinical course of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Xavier Keller
- Oncology Research Unit, Department of Urology and Division of Surgical Research, University and University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Serena Delbue
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Tognon
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maurizio Provenzano
- Oncology Research Unit, Department of Urology and Division of Surgical Research, University and University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Saini AT, Miles BA. Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: pathogenesis, current and emerging treatment options. Onco Targets Ther 2015; 8:2157-67. [PMID: 26316785 PMCID: PMC4548751 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s72202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a relatively uncommon, neuroendocrine, cutaneous malignancy that often exhibits clinically aggressive features and is associated with a poor prognosis. It typically presents as a painless, rapidly enlarging, dome-shaped red or purplish nodule in a sun-exposed area of the head and neck or upper extremities. Our understanding of MCC has increased dramatically over the last several years and the pathogenesis continues to be an area of active research. The etiology is likely multifactorial with immunosuppression, UV-induced skin damage, and viral factors contributing to the development of MCC. The recent discovery of Merkel cell polyomavirus has allowed for at least one aspect of disease development to be much better understood. In most cases, treatment consists of wide local excision with adjuvant radiation therapy. The role of chemotherapeutics is still being defined. The recent advancement of knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of MCC has led to an explosion research into novel therapeutic agents and strategies. This review seeks to summarize the current body of literature regarding the pathogenesis of MCC and potential targets for future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok T Saini
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brett A Miles
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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Batinica M, Akgül B, Silling S, Mauch C, Zigrino P. Correlation of Merkel cell polyomavirus positivity with PDGFRα mutations and survivin expression in Merkel cell carcinoma. J Dermatol Sci 2015; 79:43-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2015.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Samimi M, Touzé A. Merkel cell carcinoma: The first human cancer shown to be associated with a polyomavirus. Presse Med 2014; 43:e405-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Verhaegen ME, Mangelberger D, Harms PW, Vozheiko TD, Weick JW, Wilbert DM, Saunders TL, Ermilov AN, Bichakjian CK, Johnson TM, Imperiale MJ, Dlugosz AA. Merkel cell polyomavirus small T antigen is oncogenic in transgenic mice. J Invest Dermatol 2014; 135:1415-1424. [PMID: 25313532 PMCID: PMC4397111 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2014.446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and deadly neuroendocrine skin tumor
frequently associated with clonal integration of a polyomavirus, MCPyV, and MCC tumor
cells express putative polyomavirus oncoproteins small T antigen (sTAg) and truncated
large T antigen (tLTAg). Here, we show robust transforming activity of sTAg in
vivo in a panel of transgenic mouse models. Epithelia of pre-term
sTAg-expressing embryos exhibited hyperplasia, impaired differentiation, increased
proliferation and apoptosis, and activation of a DNA damage response. Epithelial
transformation did not require sTAg interaction with the PP2A protein complex, a tumor
suppressor in some other polyomavirus transformation models, but was strictly dependent on
a recently-described sTAg domain that binds Fbxw7, the substrate-binding component of the
SCF ubiquitin ligase complex. Postnatal induction of sTAg using a Cre-inducible transgene
also led to epithelial transformation with development of lesions resembling squamous cell
carcinoma in situ and elevated expression of Fbxw7 target proteins. Our
data establish that expression of MCPyV sTAg alone is sufficient for rapid neoplastic
transformation in vivo, implicating sTAg as an oncogenic driver in MCC
and perhaps other human malignancies. Moreover, the loss of transforming activity
following mutation of the sTAg Fbxw7 binding domain identifies this domain as crucial for in
vivo transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paul W Harms
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.,Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Tracy D Vozheiko
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Jack W Weick
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Dawn M Wilbert
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Thomas L Saunders
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | | | | | - Timothy M Johnson
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.,Otolaryngology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.,Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | | | - Andrzej A Dlugosz
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.,Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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Houben R, Angermeyer S, Haferkamp S, Aue A, Goebeler M, Schrama D, Hesbacher S. Characterization of functional domains in the Merkel cell polyoma virus Large T antigen. Int J Cancer 2014; 136:E290-300. [PMID: 25208506 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)--positive Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) tumor cell growth is dependent on the expression of a viral Large T antigen (LT) with an intact retinoblastoma protein (RB)-binding site. This RB-binding domain in MCPyV-LT is--in contrast to other polyomavirus LTs (e.g., SV40)--embedded between two large MCPyV unique regions (MUR1 and MUR2). To identify elements of the MCPyV-LT necessary for tumor cell growth, we analyzed the rescue activity of LT variants following knockdown of the endogenous LT in MCC cells. These experiments demonstrate that nuclear localization is essential for LT function, but that a motif previously described to be a nuclear localization sequence is neither required for nuclear accumulation of truncated MCPyV-LT nor for promotion of MCC cell proliferation. Furthermore, large parts of the MURs distal to the RB binding domain as well as ALTO--a second protein encoded by an alternative reading frame in the MCPyV-LT mRNA--are completely dispensable for MCPyV-driven tumor cell proliferation. Notably, even MCPyV-LTs in which the entire MURs have been removed are still able to promote MCC cellular growth although rescue activity is reduced which may be due to MUR1 being required for stable LT expression in MCC cells. Finally, we provide evidence implying that--while binding to Vam6p is not essential--HSC-70 interaction is significantly involved in mediating MCPyV-LT function in MCC cells including growth promotion and induction of E2F target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Houben
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany
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Cimino PJ, Robirds DH, Tripp SR, Pfeifer JD, Abel HJ, Duncavage EJ. Retinoblastoma gene mutations detected by whole exome sequencing of Merkel cell carcinoma. Mod Pathol 2014; 27:1073-87. [PMID: 24406863 DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.2013.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 11/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor that has been associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus in up to 80% of cases. Merkel cell polyomavirus is believed to influence pathogenesis, at least in part, through expression of the large T antigen, which includes a retinoblastoma protein-binding domain. However, there appears to be significant clinical and morphological overlap between polyomavirus-positive and polyomavirus-negative Merkel cell carcinoma cases. Although much of the recent focus of Merkel cell carcinoma pathogenesis has been on polyomavirus, the pathogenesis of polyomavirus-negative cases is still poorly understood. We hypothesized that there are underlying human somatic mutations that unify Merkel cell carcinoma pathogenesis across polyomavirus status, and to investigate we performed whole exome sequencing on five polyomavirus-positive cases and three polyomavirus-negative cases. We found that there were no significant differences in the overall number of single-nucleotide variations, copy number variations, insertion/deletions, and chromosomal rearrangements when comparing polyomavirus-positive to polyomavirus-negative cases. However, we did find that the retinoblastoma pathway genes harbored a high number of mutations in Merkel cell carcinoma. Furthermore, the retinoblastoma gene (RB1) was found to have nonsense truncating protein mutations in all three polyomavirus-negative cases; no such mutations were found in the polyomavirus-positive cases. In all eight cases, the retinoblastoma pathway dysregulation was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Although polyomavirus-positive Merkel cell carcinoma is believed to undergo retinoblastoma dysregulation through viral large T antigen expression, our findings demonstrate that somatic mutations in polyomavirus-negative Merkel cell carcinoma lead to retinoblastoma dysregulation through an alternative pathway. This novel finding suggests that the retinoblastoma pathway dysregulation leads to an overlapping Merkel cell carcinoma phenotype and that oncogenesis occurs through either a polyomavirus-dependent (viral large T antigen expression) or polyomavirus-independent (host somatic mutation) mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Cimino
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Diane H Robirds
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - John D Pfeifer
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Haley J Abel
- Division of Statistical Genomics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric J Duncavage
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
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Hashida Y, Daibata M. Considerations on the link between Merkel cell polyomavirus and lung cancer. Lung Cancer Manag 2014. [DOI: 10.2217/lmt.14.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yumiko Hashida
- Department of Microbiology & Infection, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Masanori Daibata
- Department of Microbiology & Infection, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
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Lyngaa R, Pedersen NW, Schrama D, Thrue CA, Ibrani D, Met O, Thor Straten P, Nghiem P, Becker JC, Hadrup SR. T-cell responses to oncogenic merkel cell polyomavirus proteins distinguish patients with merkel cell carcinoma from healthy donors. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 20:1768-78. [PMID: 24526738 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-2697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive skin cancer with strong evidence of viral carcinogenesis. The association of MCC with the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) may explain the explicit immunogenicity of MCC. Indeed, MCPyV-encoded proteins are likely targets for cytotoxic immune responses to MCC as they are both foreign to the host and necessary to maintain the oncogenic phenotype. However, to date only a single MCPyV-derived CD8 T-cell epitope has been described, thus impeding specific monitoring of T-cell responses to MCC. METHOD To overcome this limitation, we scanned the MCPyV oncoprotein large T and small T antigens and the virus capsid protein VP1 for potential T-cell epitopes, and tested for MHC class I affinity. We confirmed the relevance of these epitopes using a high-throughput platform for T-cell enrichment and combinatorial encoding of MHC class I multimers. RESULTS In peripheral blood from 38 patients with MCC and 30 healthy donors, we identified 53 MCPyV-directed CD8 T-cell responses against 35 different peptide sequences. Strikingly, T-cell responses against oncoproteins were exclusively present in patients with MCC, but not in healthy donors. We further demonstrate both the processing and presentation of the oncoprotein-derived epitopes, as well as the lytic activity of oncoprotein-specific T cells toward MHC-matched MCC cells. Demonstrating the presence of oncoprotein-specific T cells among tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes further substantiated the relevance of the identified epitopes. CONCLUSION These T-cell epitopes represent ideal targets for antigen-specific immune therapy of MCC, and enable tracking and characterization of MCPyV-specific immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikke Lyngaa
- Authors' Affiliations: Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT), Department of Hematology, University Hospital Herlev, Herlev, Denmark; General Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Departments of Medicine/Dermatology, Pathology, University of Washington; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Cancer Center Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington; and Department of Oncology, University Hospital Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
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Swick BL, Srikantha R, Messingham KN. Specific analysis of KIT and PDGFR-alpha expression and mutational status in Merkel cell carcinoma. J Cutan Pathol 2013; 40:623-30. [PMID: 23621836 DOI: 10.1111/cup.12160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2011] [Revised: 05/20/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to explore the immunohistochemical and mutational status of the tyrosine kinases KIT and platelet derived growth receptor-alpha (PDGFRA) in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Specifically, we examined the mutated exons in gastrointestinal stromal cell tumors that may confer a treatment response to imatinib mesylate. METHODS We evaluated KIT and PDGFRA immunostaining in 23 examples of MCC utilizing laser capture microdissection to obtain pure samples of tumor genomic DNA from 18 of 23 examples of MCC. PCR amplification and sequencing of KIT exons 9, 11, 13 and 17, and PDGFRA exons 10, 12, 14 and 18 for mutations was performed. RESULTS Fifteen of 23 tumors (65%) demonstrated CD117 expression and 22 of 23 tumors (95%) demonstrated PDGFRA expression. A single heterozygous KIT exon 11 base change resulting in an E583K mutation was discovered in 12 of 18 (66%) examples of MCC. In addition, a single nucleotide polymorphism was detected in eight of 18 tumors (44%) in exon 18 of PDGFRA (codon 824; GTC > GTT). CONCLUSIONS We discovered a novel somatic KIT exon 11 E583K mutation in 66% of tumors. This mutation has been previously described in a human with piebaldism and appears to represent an inactivating mutation. Therefore, despite expression of CD117 and PDGFRA, the absence of activating mutations in these tyrosine kinases makes KIT and PDGFRA unlikely candidates of MCC oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L Swick
- Department of Dermatology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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Mechanisms of p53 restriction in Merkel cell carcinoma cells are independent of the Merkel cell polyoma virus T antigens. J Invest Dermatol 2013; 133:2453-2460. [PMID: 23563200 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2013.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2012] [Revised: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and very aggressive skin cancer with viral etiology. The tumor-associated Merkel cell polyoma virus (MCV) belongs to a group of viruses encoding T antigens (TAs) that can induce tumorigenesis by interfering with cellular tumor-suppressor proteins like p53. To explore possible modes of p53 inactivation in MCC p53 sequencing, expression analysis and reporter gene assays for functional analyses were performed in a set of MCC lines. In one MCV-negative and one MCV-positive cell line, p53 inactivating mutations were found. In the majority of MCC lines, however, wild-type p53 is expressed and displays some transcriptional activity, which is yet not sufficient to effectively restrict cellular survival or growth in these cell cultures. Interestingly, the MCV TAs are not responsible for this critical lack in p53 activity, as TA knockdown in MCV-positive MCC cells does not induce p53 activity. In contrast, inhibition of the ubiquitin ligase HDM-2 (human double minute 2) by Nutlin-3a leads to p53 activation and p53-dependent apoptosis or cell cycle arrest in five out of seven p53 wild-type MCC lines, highlighting p53 as a potential target for future therapies of this aggressive tumor.
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Spurgeon ME, Lambert PF. Merkel cell polyomavirus: a newly discovered human virus with oncogenic potential. Virology 2013; 435:118-30. [PMID: 23217622 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2012.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2012] [Accepted: 09/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A marked escalation in the rate of discovery of new types of human polyomavirus has occurred over the last five years largely owing to recent technological advances in their detection. Among the newly discovered viruses, Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV or MCV) has gained the most attention due to its link with a rare human cancer. Infection with MCPyV is common in the human population, and the virus is detected in several anatomical locations, but most frequently in skin. Study of MCPyV molecular virology has been complicated by the lack of straightforward cell culture models, but recent in vitro studies are making strides towards understanding the virus life cycle, its cellular tropism, and mode of transmission. While MCPyV shares several traditional traits with other human polyomaviruses, the burst of research since its discovery reveals insight into a virus with many unique genetic and mechanistic features. The evidence for a causal link between MCPyV and the rare neuroendocrine cancer, Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC), is compelling. A majority of MCCs contain clonally integrated viral DNA, express viral T antigen transcripts and protein, and exhibit an addiction to the viral large T and small t antigen oncoproteins. The MCPyV large T antigen contains MCC tumor-specific mutations that ablate its replication capacity but preserve its oncogenic functions, and the small t antigen promotes an environment favorable for cap-dependent translation. The mechanisms of MCPyV-induced transformation have not been fully elucidated, but the likely etiological role of this new polyomavirus in human cancer provides a strong opportunity to expand knowledge of virus-host interactions and viral oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Spurgeon
- Department of Oncology, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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45
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Du-Thanh A, Guillot B. Polyomavirus et tumeur de Merkel. ONCOLOGIE 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10269-013-2257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus with a tumour-specific signature in non-small cell lung cancer. Br J Cancer 2013; 108:629-37. [PMID: 23322199 PMCID: PMC3593539 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2012.567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: We searched for a viral aetiology for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), focusing on Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Methods: We analysed 112 Japanese cases of NSCLC for the presence of the MCPyV genome and the expressions of RNA transcripts and MCPyV-encoded antigen. We also conducted the first analysis of the molecular features of MCPyV in lung cancers. Results: PCR revealed that 9 out of 32 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), 9 out of 45 adenocarcinomas (ACs), 1 out of 32 large-cell carcinomas, and 1 out of 3 pleomorphic carcinomas were positive for MCPyV DNA. Some MCPyV DNA-positive cancers expressed large T antigen (LT) RNA transcripts. Immunohistochemistry showed that MCPyV LT antigen was expressed in the tumour cells. The viral integration sites were identified in one SCC and one AC. One had both episomal and integrated/truncated forms. The other carried an integrated MCPyV genome with frameshift mutations in the LT gene. Conclusion: We have demonstrated the expression of a viral oncoprotein, the presence of integrated MCPyV, and a truncated LT gene with a preserved retinoblastoma tumour-suppressor protein-binding domain in NSCLCs. Although the viral prevalence was low, the tumour-specific molecular signatures support the possibility that MCPyV is partly associated with the pathogenesis of NSCLC in a subset of patients.
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Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a single institutional experience. J Skin Cancer 2013; 2013:325086. [PMID: 23365756 PMCID: PMC3556835 DOI: 10.1155/2013/325086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2012] [Accepted: 12/22/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous malignancy occurring mostly in older immunocompromized Caucasian males. A growing incidence of MCC has been reported in epidemiological studies. Treatment of MCC usually consists of surgical excision, pathological lymph node evaluation, and adjuvant radiotherapy. This paper reports the experience of a single tertiary center institution with 17 head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma patients. Median followup for the cohort was 37.5 months. After five years, recurrence-free survival, disease specific survival, and overall survival were 85%, 90%, and 83%, respectively. Our limited data support the use of adjuvant radiotherapy. We also report two cases of MCC located at the vestibule of the nose and two cases of spontaneous regression after diagnostic biopsy. About 40% of our patients were referred to our center for surgical revision and pathological lymph node evaluation. Increased awareness of MCC and an interdisciplinary approach are essential in the management of MCC.
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Detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus in cervical squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas from Japanese patients. Virol J 2012; 9:154. [PMID: 22876976 PMCID: PMC3545865 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-9-154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Accepted: 07/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) was identified originally in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare form of human skin neuroendocrine carcinoma. Evidence of MCPyV existence in other forms of malignancy such as cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) is growing. Cervical cancers became the focus of our interest in searching for potentially MCPyV-related tumors because: (i) the major histological type of cervical cancer is the SCC; (ii) the uterine cervix is a common site of neuroendocrine carcinomas histologically similar to MCCs; and (iii) MCPyV might be transmitted during sexual interaction as demonstrated for human papillomavirus (HPV). In this study, we aimed to clarify the possible presence of MCPyV in cervical SCCs from Japanese patients. Cervical adenocarcinomas (ACs) were also studied. Results Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 48 cervical SCCs and 16 cervical ACs were examined for the presence of the MCPyV genome by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing analyses. PCR analysis revealed that 9/48 cervical SCCs (19%) and 4/16 cervical ACs (25%) were positive for MCPyV DNA. MCPyV-specific PCR products were sequenced to compare them with reference sequences. The nucleotide sequences in the MCPyV large T (LT)-sequenced region were the same among MCPyV-positive cervical SCCs and AC. Conversely, in the MCPyV viral protein 1 (VP1)-sequenced region, two cervical SCCs and three cervical ACs showed several nucleotide substitutions, of which three caused amino acid substitutions. These sequencing results suggested that three MCPyV variants of the VP1 were identified in our cases. Immunohistochemistry showed that the LT antigen was expressed in tumor cells in MCPyV-positive samples. Genotyping of human HPV in the MCPyV-positive samples revealed that infected HPVs were HPV types 16, 31 and 58 for SCCs and HPV types 16 and 18 for ACs. Conclusions This study provides the first observation that MCPyV coexists in a subset of HPV-associated cervical cancers from Japanese patients. The prevalence of MCPyV in these lesions was close to that observed in the cutaneous SCCs. Further worldwide epidemiological surveys are warranted to determine the possible association of MCPyV with pathogenesis of cervical cancers.
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Genetic variability and integration of Merkel cell polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma. Virology 2012; 426:134-42. [PMID: 22342276 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2012.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2011] [Revised: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 01/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is associated to Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). We studied 113 MCC tumoral skin lesions originating from 97 patients. MCPyV detection was higher in fresh-frozen (FF) biopsies (94%) than in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsies (39-47%). Mean viral load in FF tumor was of 7.5 copies per cell with a very wide range (0.01-95.4). Nineteen complete sequences of LTAg were obtained, mainly from FF biopsies when the viral load was high. Seventeen showed stop codons, all localized downstream of the pRb protein binding domain. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis showed that all sequences clustered in the large C clade of MCPyV strains. MCPyV integration was demonstrated in 19 out of 27 FF MCC DNA biopsies without evidence of specific host cellular genome integration site. In 13/19 cases, the viral junction was located within the second exon of the LTAg, after the pRB binding domain.
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