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Safadi A, Lovell SC, Doig AJ. Essentiality, protein-protein interactions and evolutionary properties are key predictors for identifying cancer-associated genes using machine learning. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9199. [PMID: 38649399 PMCID: PMC11035574 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44118-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The distinctive nature of cancer as a disease prompts an exploration of the special characteristics the genes implicated in cancer exhibit. The identification of cancer-associated genes and their characteristics is crucial to further our understanding of this disease and enhanced likelihood of therapeutic drug targets success. However, the rate at which cancer genes are being identified experimentally is slow. Applying predictive analysis techniques, through the building of accurate machine learning models, is potentially a useful approach in enhancing the identification rate of these genes and their characteristics. Here, we investigated gene essentiality scores and found that they tend to be higher for cancer-associated genes compared to other protein-coding human genes. We built a dataset of extended gene properties linked to essentiality and used it to train a machine-learning model; this model reached 89% accuracy and > 0.85 for the Area Under Curve (AUC). The model showed that essentiality, evolutionary-related properties, and properties arising from protein-protein interaction networks are particularly effective in predicting cancer-associated genes. We were able to use the model to identify potential candidate genes that have not been previously linked to cancer. Prioritising genes that score highly by our methods could aid scientists in their cancer genes research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amro Safadi
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Simon C Lovell
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Andrew J Doig
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9BL, UK.
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2
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Roy P, Singh KP. Epigenetic mechanism of therapeutic resistance and potential of epigenetic therapeutics in chemorefractory prostate cancer. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 380:173-210. [PMID: 37657858 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. Depending upon the histopathological subtypes of prostate cancers, various therapeutic options, such as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSI), immunotherapy, and chemotherapy, are available to treat prostate cancer. While these therapeutics are effective in the initial stages during treatments, the tumors subsequently develop resistance to these therapies. Despite all the progress made so far, therapeutic resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of prostate cancer. Although various mechanisms have been reported for the resistance development in prostate cancer, altered expression of genes either directly or indirectly involved in drug response pathways is a common event. In addition to the genetic basis of gene regulation such as mutations and gene amplifications, epigenetic alterations involved in the aberrant expression of genes have frequently been shown to be associated not only with cancer initiation and progression but also with therapeutic resistance development. There are several review articles compiling reports on genetic mechanisms involved in therapeutic resistance in prostate cancer. However, epigenetic mechanisms for the therapeutic resistance development in prostate cancer have not yet been summarized in a review article. Therefore, the objective of this article is to compile various reports and provide a comprehensive review of the epigenetic aberrations, and aberrant expression of genes by epigenetic mechanisms involved in CRPCs and therapeutic resistance development in prostate cancer. Additionally, the potential of epigenetic-based therapeutics in the treatment of chemorefractory prostate cancer as evidenced by clinical trials has also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priti Roy
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Kamaleshwar P Singh
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States.
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3
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Cho YS, Kim GC, Lee HM, Kim B, Kim HR, Chung SW, Chang HW, Ko YG, Lee YS, Kim SW, Byun Y, Kim SY. Albumin metabolism targeted peptide-drug conjugate strategy for targeting pan-KRAS mutant cancer. J Control Release 2022; 344:26-38. [PMID: 35202743 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent breakthroughs in the development of direct KRAS inhibitors and modulators, no drugs targeting pan-KRAS mutant cancers are clinically available. Here, we report a novel strategy to treat pan-KRAS cancers using a caspase-3 cleavable peptide-drug conjugate that exploits enhanced albumin metabolism in KRAS altered cancers to deliver a cytotoxic agent that can induce a widespread bystander killing effect in tumor cells. Increased albumin metabolism in KRAS mutant cancer cells induced apoptosis via the intracellular uptake of albumin-bound MPD1. This allowed caspase-3 upregulation activated MPD1 to release the payload and exert the non-selective killing of neighboring cancer cells. MPD1 exhibited potent and durable antitumor efficacy in mouse xenograft models with different KRAS genotypes. An augmentation of anti-cancer efficacy was achieved by the bystander killing effect derived from the caspase-3 mediated activation of MPD1. In summary, albumin metabolism-induced apoptosis, together with the bystander killing effect of MPD1 boosted by caspase-3 mediated activation, intensified the efficacy of MPD1 in KRAS mutant cancers. These findings suggest that this novel peptide-drug conjugate could be a promising breakthrough for the treatment in the targeting of pan-KRAS mutant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Seok Cho
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergent Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Gui Chul Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Min Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoungmo Kim
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha Rin Kim
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Woo Chung
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Won Chang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Gun Ko
- Pharosgen Co.Ltd, 2-404 Jangji-dong 892, Seoul 05852, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Se Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Who Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngro Byun
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang Yoon Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Srivastava S, Vishwanathan V, Birje A, Sinha D, D'Silva P. Evolving paradigms on the interplay of mitochondrial Hsp70 chaperone system in cell survival and senescence. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 54:517-536. [PMID: 31997665 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2020.1718062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The role of mitochondria within a cell has grown beyond being the prime source of cellular energy to one of the major signaling platforms. Recent evidence provides several insights into the crucial roles of mitochondrial chaperones in regulating the organellar response to external triggers. The mitochondrial Hsp70 (mtHsp70/Mortalin/Grp75) chaperone system plays a critical role in the maintenance of proteostasis balance in the organelle. Defects in mtHsp70 network result in attenuated protein transport and misfolding of polypeptides leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. The functions of Hsp70 are primarily governed by J-protein cochaperones. Although human mitochondria possess a single Hsp70, its multifunctionality is characterized by the presence of multiple specific J-proteins. Several studies have shown a potential association of Hsp70 and J-proteins with diverse pathological states that are not limited to their canonical role as chaperones. The role of mitochondrial Hsp70 and its co-chaperones in disease pathogenesis has not been critically reviewed in recent years. We evaluated some of the cellular interfaces where Hsp70 machinery associated with pathophysiological conditions, particularly in context of tumorigenesis and neurodegeneration. The mitochondrial Hsp70 machinery shows a variable localization and integrates multiple components of the cellular processes with varied phenotypic consequences. Although Hsp70 and J-proteins function synergistically in proteins folding, their precise involvement in pathological conditions is mainly idiosyncratic. This machinery is associated with a heterogeneous set of molecules during the progression of a disorder. However, the precise binding to the substrate for a specific physiological response under a disease subtype is still an undocumented area of analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhi Srivastava
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Abhijit Birje
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Devanjan Sinha
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Patrick D'Silva
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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5
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Nunes SC. Exploiting Cancer Cells Metabolic Adaptability to Enhance Therapy Response in Cancer. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1219:297-310. [PMID: 32130705 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-34025-4_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Despite all the progresses developed in prevention and new treatment approaches, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, being chemoresistance a pivotal barrier in cancer management. Cancer cells present several mechanisms of drug resistance/tolerance and recently, growing evidence have been supporting a role of metabolism reprograming per se as a driver of chemoresistance. In fact, cancer cells display several adaptive mechanisms that allow the emergency of chemoresistance, revealing cancer as a disease that adapts and evolve along with the treatment. Therefore, clinical protocols that take into account the adaptive potential of cancer cells should be more effective than the current traditional standard protocols on the fighting against cancer.In here, some of the recent findings on the role of metabolism reprograming in cancer chemoresistance emergence will be discussed, as the potential evolutionary strategies that could unable these adaptations, hence allowing to prevent the emergency of treatment resistance, changing cancer outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia C Nunes
- CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Centre, NOVA Medical School | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Lisbon, Portugal
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6
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Nunes SC. Tumor Microenvironment - Selective Pressures Boosting Cancer Progression. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1219:35-49. [PMID: 32130692 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-34025-4_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In 2018, 9.6 million deaths from cancer were estimated, being this disease the second leading cause of death worldwide. Notwithstanding all the efforts developed in prevention, diagnosis and new treatment approaches, chemoresistance seems to be inevitable, leading to cancer progression, recurrence and affecting the outcome of the disease. As more and more evidence support that cancer is an evolutionary and ecological process, this concept is rarely applied in the clinical context. In fact, cancer cells emerge and progress within an ecological niche - the tumor microenvironment - that is shared with several other cell types and that is continuously changing. Therefore, the tumor microenvironment imposes several selective pressures on cancer cells such as acidosis, hypoxia, competition for space and resources, immune predation and anti-cancer therapies, that cancer cells must be able to adapt to or will face extinction.In here, the role of the tumor microenvironment selective pressures on cancer progression will be discussed, as well as the targeting of its features/components as strategies to fight cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia C Nunes
- CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Centre, NOVA Medical School | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Lisbon, Portugal
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7
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Delou JMA, Souza ASO, Souza LCM, Borges HL. Highlights in Resistance Mechanism Pathways for Combination Therapy. Cells 2019; 8:E1013. [PMID: 31480389 PMCID: PMC6770082 DOI: 10.3390/cells8091013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Combination chemotherapy has been a mainstay in cancer treatment for the last 60 years. Although the mechanisms of action and signaling pathways affected by most treatments with single antineoplastic agents might be relatively well understood, most combinations remain poorly understood. This review presents the most common alterations of signaling pathways in response to cytotoxic and targeted anticancer drug treatments, with a discussion of how the knowledge of signaling pathways might support and orient the development of innovative strategies for anticancer combination therapy. The ultimate goal is to highlight possible strategies of chemotherapy combinations based on the signaling pathways associated with the resistance mechanisms against anticancer drugs to maximize the selective induction of cancer cell death. We consider this review an extensive compilation of updated known information on chemotherapy resistance mechanisms to promote new combination therapies to be to discussed and tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- João M A Delou
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Alana S O Souza
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Leonel C M Souza
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Helena L Borges
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil.
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8
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Skálová H, Hájková N, Majerová B, Bártů M, Povýšil C, Tichá I. Impact of chemotherapy on the expression of claudins and cadherins in invasive breast cancer. Exp Ther Med 2019; 18:3014-3024. [PMID: 31572543 PMCID: PMC6755479 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.7930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of the expression profile of claudins in the molecular classification of breast cancer (BC) is currently under investigation. Claudins, together with cadherins, serve an important role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and influence the chemosensitivity of cancer cells. Adjuvant chemotherapy is administered following surgical resection in selected cases of BC. Previous neoadjuvant chemotherapy may change the molecular profile of a tumour and subsequently also its chemosensitivity. In the current study, the expression of claudin-1, −3 and −4, E- and N-cadherin and the standard BC biomarkers [oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and marker of proliferation Ki-67 (Ki-67)] in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from 62 patients with invasive BC was analysed using immunohistochemistry prior to and following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The results revealed increased expression of claudin-1 (P=0.03) and decreased expression of claudin-3 (P=0.005), PR (P<0.001) and Ki-67 (P=0.01) following the neoadjuvant therapy. No significant changes in the expression of ER, claudin-4 or E- and N-cadherin were observed following therapy. Furthermore, an association between the expression of claudin-1 and the standard BC markers (P<0.05) was identified. A high expression of claudin-1 was more frequently observed in the triple-negative BC cohort than in the cohort with positive ER, PR and/or HER2 before (P=0.04) and after chemotherapy (P=0.02). The expression of N-cadherin was associated with the expression of ER, PR, HER2 and tumour grade (P<0.05). A positive association between the expression of claudin-3 and E-cadherin (P=0.005) was observed. No association was found between the expression of E- and N-cadherin. In conclusion, significant changes in the expression of claudin-1 and −3 but not in the expression of claudin-4, E- and N-cadherin were observed in samples taken from patients with BC following chemotherapy. These findings indicate that claudins-1 and −3 serve a role in the response of BC to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Skálová
- Institute of Pathology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nikola Hájková
- Institute of Pathology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Majerová
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 12108 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Bártů
- Institute of Pathology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ctibor Povýšil
- Institute of Pathology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Tichá
- Institute of Pathology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
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9
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Castro V, Rosario D, Mutz Y, Paletta A, Figueiredo E, Conte‐Junior C. Modelling inactivation of wild‐type and clinicalEscherichia coliO26 strains using UV‐C and thermal treatment and subsequent persistence in simulated gastric fluid. J Appl Microbiol 2019; 127:1564-1575. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.14397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V.S. Castro
- Institute of Chemistry Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Agronomy and Animal Science College Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Brazil
- Nutrition College, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Brazil
- Department of Food Technology, Faculdade de Veterinária Universidade Federal Fluminense Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - D.K.A. Rosario
- Institute of Chemistry Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Department of Food Technology, Faculdade de Veterinária Universidade Federal Fluminense Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Y.S. Mutz
- Institute of Chemistry Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Department of Food Technology, Faculdade de Veterinária Universidade Federal Fluminense Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - A.C.C. Paletta
- Department of Food Technology, Faculdade de Veterinária Universidade Federal Fluminense Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - E.E.S. Figueiredo
- Agronomy and Animal Science College Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Brazil
- Nutrition College, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Mato Grosso Brazil
| | - C.A. Conte‐Junior
- Institute of Chemistry Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Department of Food Technology, Faculdade de Veterinária Universidade Federal Fluminense Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- National Institute of Health Quality Control Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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10
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Alimirzaie S, Bagherzadeh M, Akbari MR. Liquid biopsy in breast cancer: A comprehensive review. Clin Genet 2019; 95:643-660. [PMID: 30671931 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Due to its complexity in nature, effective breast cancer treatment can encounter many challenges. Traditional methods of cancer detection such as tissue biopsy are not comprehensive enough to capture the entire genomic landscape of breast tumors. However, with the introduction of novel techniques, the application of liquid biopsy has been enhanced, enabling the improvement of various aspects of breast cancer management including early diagnosis and screening, prediction of prognosis, early detection of relapse, serial sampling and efficient longitudinal monitoring of disease progress and response to treatment. Various components of tumor cells released into the blood circulation can be analyzed in liquid biopsy sampling, some of which include circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), cell-free RNA, tumor-educated platelets and exosomes. These components can be utilized for different purposes. As an example, ctDNA can be sequenced for genetic profiling of the tumors to enhance individualized treatment and longitudinal screening. CTC plasma count analysis or ctDNA detection after curative tumor resection surgery could facilitate early detection of minimal residual disease, aiding in the initiation of adjuvant therapy to prevent recurrence. Furthermore, CTC plasma count can be assessed to determine the stage and prognosis of breast cancer. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the various components of liquid biopsy used in breast cancer diagnosis and will expand on aspects that require further focus in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Alimirzaie
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maryam Bagherzadeh
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad R Akbari
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Saputra EC, Huang L, Chen Y, Tucker-Kellogg L. Combination Therapy and the Evolution of Resistance: The Theoretical Merits of Synergism and Antagonism in Cancer. Cancer Res 2018; 78:2419-2431. [PMID: 29686021 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The search for effective combination therapies for cancer has focused heavily on synergistic combinations because they exhibit enhanced therapeutic efficacy at lower doses. Although synergism is intuitively attractive, therapeutic success often depends on whether drug resistance develops. The impact of synergistic combinations (vs. antagonistic or additive combinations) on the process of drug-resistance evolution has not been investigated. In this study, we use a simplified computational model of cancer cell numbers in a population of drug-sensitive, singly-resistant, and fully-resistant cells to simulate the dynamics of resistance evolution in the presence of two-drug combinations. When we compared combination therapies administered at the same combination of effective doses, simulations showed synergistic combinations most effective at delaying onset of resistance. Paradoxically, when the therapies were compared using dose combinations with equal initial efficacy, antagonistic combinations were most successful at suppressing expansion of resistant subclones. These findings suggest that, although synergistic combinations could suppress resistance through early decimation of cell numbers (making them "proefficacy" strategies), they are inherently fragile toward the development of single resistance. In contrast, antagonistic combinations suppressed the clonal expansion of singly-resistant cells, making them "antiresistance" strategies. The distinction between synergism and antagonism was intrinsically connected to the distinction between offensive and defensive strategies, where offensive strategies inflicted early casualties and defensive strategies established protection against anticipated future threats. Our findings question the exclusive focus on synergistic combinations and motivate further consideration of nonsynergistic combinations for cancer therapy.Significance: Computational simulations show that if different combination therapies have similar initial efficacy in cancers, then nonsynergistic drug combinations are more likely than synergistic drug combinations to provide a long-term defense against the evolution of therapeutic resistance. Cancer Res; 78(9); 2419-31. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elysia C Saputra
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Centre for Computational Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Lu Huang
- Computational Systems Biology, Singapore-MIT Alliance, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular Biology, Mainz, Germany
| | - Yihui Chen
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Lisa Tucker-Kellogg
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore. .,Centre for Computational Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Computational Systems Biology, Singapore-MIT Alliance, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,BioSystems and Micromechanics (BioSyM) Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore
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