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Helderman NC, van Leerdam ME, Kloor M, Ahadova A, Nielsen M. Emerge of colorectal cancer in Lynch syndrome despite colonoscopy surveillance: A challenge of hide and seek. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 197:104331. [PMID: 38521284 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104331] [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: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Even with colonoscopy surveillance, Lynch syndromes (LS) carriers still develop colorectal cancer (CRC). The cumulative incidence of CRCs under colonoscopy surveillance varies depending on the affected mismatch repair (MMR) gene. However, the precise mechanisms driving these epidemiological patterns remain incompletely understood. In recent years, several potential mechanisms explaining the occurrence of CRCs during colonoscopy surveillance have been proposed in individuals with and without LS. These encompass biological factors like concealed/accelerated carcinogenesis through a bypassed adenoma stage and accelerated progression from adenomas. Alongside these, various colonoscopy-related factors may contribute to formation of CRCs under colonoscopy surveillance, like missed yet detectable (pre)cancerous lesions, detected yet incompletely removed (pre)cancerous lesions, and colonoscopy-induced carcinogenesis due to tumor cell reimplantation. In this comprehensive literature update, we reviewed these potential factors and evaluated their relevance to each MMR group in an attempt to raise further awareness and stimulate research regarding this conflicting phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah C Helderman
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Monique E van Leerdam
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Matthias Kloor
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aysel Ahadova
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maartje Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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2
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Pussila M, Laiho A, Törönen P, Björkbacka P, Nykänen S, Pylvänäinen K, Holm L, Mecklin JP, Renkonen-Sinisalo L, Lehtonen T, Lepistö A, Linden J, Mäki-Nevala S, Peltomäki P, Nyström M. Mitotic abnormalities precede microsatellite instability in lynch syndrome-associated colorectal tumourigenesis. EBioMedicine 2024; 103:105111. [PMID: 38583260 PMCID: PMC11002576 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105111] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lynch syndrome (LS) is one of the most common hereditary cancer syndromes worldwide. Dominantly inherited mutation in one of four DNA mismatch repair genes combined with somatic events leads to mismatch repair deficiency and microsatellite instability (MSI) in tumours. Due to a high lifetime risk of cancer, regular surveillance plays a key role in cancer prevention; yet the observation of frequent interval cancers points to insufficient cancer prevention by colonoscopy-based methods alone. This study aimed to identify precancerous functional changes in colonic mucosa that could facilitate the monitoring and prevention of cancer development in LS. METHODS The study material comprised colon biopsy specimens (n = 71) collected during colonoscopy examinations from LS carriers (tumour-free, or diagnosed with adenoma, or diagnosed with carcinoma) and a control group, which included sporadic cases without LS or neoplasia. The majority (80%) of LS carriers had an inherited genetic MLH1 mutation. The remaining 20% included MSH2 mutation carriers (13%) and MSH6 mutation carriers (7%). The transcriptomes were first analysed with RNA-sequencing and followed up with Gorilla Ontology analysis and Reactome Knowledgebase and Ingenuity Pathway Analyses to detect functional changes that might be associated with the initiation of the neoplastic process in LS individuals. FINDINGS With pathway and gene ontology analyses combined with measurement of mitotic perimeters from colonic mucosa and tumours, we found an increased tendency to chromosomal instability (CIN), already present in macroscopically normal LS mucosa. Our results suggest that CIN is an earlier aberration than MSI and may be the initial cancer driving aberration, whereas MSI accelerates tumour formation. Furthermore, our results suggest that MLH1 deficiency plays a significant role in the development of CIN. INTERPRETATION The results validate our previous findings from mice and highlight early mitotic abnormalities as an important contributor and precancerous marker of colorectal tumourigenesis in LS. FUNDING This work was supported by grants from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, the Academy of Finland (330606 and 331284), Cancer Foundation Finland sr, and the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation. Open access is funded by Helsinki University Library.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjaana Pussila
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Aleksi Laiho
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biosciences, and Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petri Törönen
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biosciences, and Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pauliina Björkbacka
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, and Finnish Centre for Laboratory Animal Pathology (FCLAP), Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sonja Nykänen
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirsi Pylvänäinen
- Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Liisa Holm
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biosciences, and Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka-Pekka Mecklin
- Well Being Services County of Central Finland, Department of Science, Jyväskylä, Finland; Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Laura Renkonen-Sinisalo
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Applied Tumour Genomics, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Taru Lehtonen
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Lepistö
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Applied Tumour Genomics, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jere Linden
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, and Finnish Centre for Laboratory Animal Pathology (FCLAP), Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Satu Mäki-Nevala
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Peltomäki
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Finland; HUSLAB Laboratory of Genetics, HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Minna Nyström
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Dal Buono A, Puccini A, Franchellucci G, Airoldi M, Bartolini M, Bianchi P, Santoro A, Repici A, Hassan C. Lynch Syndrome: From Multidisciplinary Management to Precision Prevention. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:849. [PMID: 38473212 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050849] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Lynch syndrome (LS) is currently one of the most prevalent hereditary cancer conditions, accounting for 3% of all colorectal cancers and for up to 15% of those with DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency, and it was one of the first historically identified. The understanding of the molecular carcinogenesis of LS tumors has progressed significantly in recent years. We aim to review the most recent advances in LS research and explore genotype-based approaches in surveillance, personalized cancer prevention, and treatment strategies. METHODS PubMed was searched to identify relevant studies, conducted up to December 2023, investigating molecular carcinogenesis in LS, surveillance strategies, cancer prevention, and treatment in LS tumors. RESULTS Multigene panel sequencing is becoming the benchmark in the diagnosis of LS, allowing for the detection of a pathogenic constitutional variant in one of the MMR genes. Emerging data from randomized controlled trials suggest possible preventive roles of resistant starch and/or aspirin in LS. Vaccination with immunogenic frameshift peptides appears to be a promising approach for both the treatment and prevention of LS-associated cancers, as evidenced by pre-clinical and preliminary phase 1/2a studies. CONCLUSIONS Although robust diagnostic algorithms, including prompt testing of tumor tissue for MMR defects and referral for genetic counselling, currently exist for suspected LS in CRC patients, the indications for LS screening in cancer-free individuals still need to be refined and standardized. Investigation into additional genetic and non-genetic factors that may explain residual rates of interval cancers, even in properly screened populations, would allow for more tailored preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Dal Buono
- Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Puccini
- Medical Oncology and Haematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Franchellucci
- Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Airoldi
- Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Bartolini
- Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Bianchi
- Clinical Analysis Laboratory, Oncological Molecular Genetics Section, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Armando Santoro
- Medical Oncology and Haematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Repici
- Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Cesare Hassan
- Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
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Bohaumilitzky L, Gebert J, Doeberitz MVK, Kloor M, Ahadova A. Liquid biopsy-based early tumor and minimal residual disease detection : New perspectives for cancer predisposition syndromes. MED GENET-BERLIN 2023; 35:259-268. [PMID: 38835740 PMCID: PMC11006388 DOI: 10.1515/medgen-2023-2049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Genetic predisposition is one of the major measurable cancer risk factors. Affected patients have an enhanced risk for cancer and require life-long surveillance. However, current screening measures are mostly invasive and only available for certain tumor types. Particularly in hereditary cancer syndromes, liquid biopsy, in addition to monitoring therapy response and assessing minimal residual disease, holds great potential for surveillance at the precancerous stage and potentially even diagnostics. Exploring these options and future clinical translation could help reduce cancer risk and mortality in high-risk individuals and enhance patients' adherence to tailored surveillance protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Bohaumilitzky
- Institute of Pathology University Hospital Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- University Hospital Heidelberg Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology Heidelberg Germany
| | - Johannes Gebert
- Institute of Pathology University Hospital Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- University Hospital Heidelberg Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology Heidelberg Germany
| | - Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz
- Institute of Pathology University Hospital Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- University Hospital Heidelberg Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology Heidelberg Germany
| | - Matthias Kloor
- Institute of Pathology University Hospital Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- University Hospital Heidelberg Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology Heidelberg Germany
| | - Aysel Ahadova
- Institute of Pathology University Hospital Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- University Hospital Heidelberg Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology Heidelberg Germany
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Vangala D, Nilius-Eliliwi V. [Novel Treatment Concepts in Patients with Colorectal Carcinomas and High Microsatellite Instability]. Zentralbl Chir 2023; 148:475-482. [PMID: 36848937 DOI: 10.1055/a-2012-4047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 15% of patients with colorectal cancer show high microsatellite instability (MSI-high) in their tumour tissue. For one third of these patients, there is a hereditary cause for this finding - that leads to the diagnosis of Lynch Syndrome. In combination with clinical findings such as the Amsterdam or the revised Bethesda criteria, MSI-high status has been used as a tool in identifying patients at risk. Today, MSI-status has gained much more importance, due to its impact on treatment decisions. Patients with UICC II cancers should not receive adjuvant treatment. For patients with distant metastases and MSI-high status, immune checkpoint inhibitors can be given as first line therapy - with tremendous success. Novel data show a deep response for immune checkpoint antibodies in patients with locally advanced colon as well as rectal cancer in a neoadjuvant setting. Especially for patients with MSI-high rectal cancer, there might be a novel therapeutic regimen utilising immune checkpoint inhibitors without neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy and even without surgery. This could lead to a relevant reduction in morbidity in this patient cohort. In conclusion, universal MSI-testing is essential for identifying patients at risk for Lynch syndrome and for optimal decision making in treatment planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Vangala
- Center for hemato-oncological diseases, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Verena Nilius-Eliliwi
- Center for hemato-oncological diseases, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland
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Naddaf R, Carasso S, Reznick-Levi G, Hasnis E, Qarawani A, Maza I, Gefen T, Half EE, Geva-Zatorsky N. Gut microbial signatures are associated with Lynch syndrome (LS) and cancer history in Druze communities in Israel. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20677. [PMID: 38001152 PMCID: PMC10673896 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47723-3] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Lynch syndrome (LS) is a hereditary cancer syndrome caused by autosomal dominant mutations, with high probability of early onset for several cancers, mainly colorectal cancer (CRC). The gut microbiome was shown to be influenced by host genetics and to be altered during cancer development. Therefore, we aimed to determine alterations in gut microbiome compositions of LS patients with and without cancer. We performed fecal microbiome analyses on samples of LS and non-LS members from the Druze ethnoreligious community in Israel, based on both their LS mutation and their cancer history. Our analysis revealed specific bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) overrepresented in LS individuals as well as bacterial OTUs differentiating between the LS individuals with a history of cancer. The identified OTUs align with previous studies either correlating them to pro-inflammatory functions, which can predispose to cancer, or to the cancer itself, and as such, these bacteria can be considered as future therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawi Naddaf
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
- Rappaport Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shaqed Carasso
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
- Rappaport Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Erez Hasnis
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
- Gastroenterology Institute Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Amalfi Qarawani
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
- Rappaport Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Itay Maza
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
- Gastroenterology Institute Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tal Gefen
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
- Rappaport Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Elizabeth Emily Half
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
- Gastroenterology Institute Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Naama Geva-Zatorsky
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
- Rappaport Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Haifa, Israel.
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Bolivar AM, Duzagac F, Sinha KM, Vilar E. Advances in vaccine development for cancer prevention and treatment in Lynch Syndrome. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 93:101204. [PMID: 37478804 PMCID: PMC10528439 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Lynch Syndrome (LS) is one of the most common hereditary cancer syndromes, and is caused by mutations in one of the four DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, namely MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2. Tumors developed by LS carriers display high levels of microsatellite instability, which leads to the accumulation of large numbers of mutations, among which frameshift insertion/deletions (indels) within microsatellite (MS) loci are the most common. As a result, MMR-deficient (MMRd) cells generate increased rates of tumor-specific neoantigens (neoAgs) that can be recognized by the immune system to activate cancer cell killing. In this context, LS is an ideal disease to leverage immune-interception strategies. Therefore, the identification of these neoAgs is an ongoing effort for the development of LS cancer preventive vaccines. In this review, we summarize the computational methods used for in silico neoAg prediction, including their challenges, and the experimental techniques used for in vitro validation of their immunogenicity. In addition, we outline results from past and on-going vaccine clinical trials and highlight avenues for improvement and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Bolivar
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fahriye Duzagac
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Krishna M Sinha
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eduardo Vilar
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Clinical Cancer Genetics Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Yablecovitch D, Mahajna H, Horesh N, Katz E, Picard O, Yavzori M, Fudim E, Saker T, Ben-Horin S, Laish I. Serum matrix metalloproteinase-7: a potential biomarker in patients with Lynch Syndrome. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:7471-7477. [PMID: 37480510 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08614-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The expression of tissue and serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) was shown to be elevated both in colon cancer and dysplastic lesions. We aimed to evaluate, for the first time, its role as a diagnostic marker in Lynch syndrome (LS) carriers, a hereditary syndrome with predisposition to colon cancer. METHODS This was a case control study. Baseline serum MMP-7 levels were determined by ELISA in 40 colon cancer patients, 62 LS-carriers and 60 healthy controls. Retrieved data from medical files included demographics, background diseases, clinical data regarding tumor characteristics and genetic data. We assessed the association of serum MMP-7 levels with different variables in the study cohort using linear regression model adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS In crude analysis, serum MMP-7 levels were significantly higher in colon cancer group compared to LS-carriers and controls [median (IQR) 4.1 ng/ml (2.7-6.0), 2.3 ng/ml (1.7-3.1), 2.5 ng/ml (1.5-3.7), respectively; p value - p < 0.001) while there was no difference between the two last groups (p value = 0.583). However, after adjusting for age and gender, LS-carriers' patients had 18% higher concentrations of serum MMP-7 compared to healthy controls (p value = 0.037), while colon cancer patients had 50% higher serum MMP-7 level in comparison to healthy controls (p value < 0.001). Additionally, age was positively associated with higher serum MMP-7 levels across all study groups (r = 0.67, p value < 0.001). In contrast, no correlation was observed between serum MMP-7 and either tumor staging and gene mutation. CONCLUSIONS Age-adjusted serum MMP-7 levels in asymptomatic LS carriers are higher than its levels in healthy population. While in colon cancer, MMP-7 higher level probably reflects the tumor burden and may have a prognostic effect, its significance and clinical applicability as a biomarker for tumorigenesis in LS is less clear and should be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doron Yablecovitch
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel.
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Hussein Mahajna
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nir Horesh
- Department of Surgery and Transplantations B/C, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Efraim Katz
- Department of Surgery and Transplantations B/C, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Orit Picard
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Miri Yavzori
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ella Fudim
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Talia Saker
- Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shomron Ben-Horin
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ido Laish
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Brand RM, Dudley B, Karloski E, Zyhowski A, Raphael R, Pitlor D, Metter EJ, Pai R, Lee K, Brand RE, Uttam S. Immune microenvironment profiling of normal appearing colorectal mucosa biopsied over repeat patient visits reproducibly separates lynch syndrome patients based on their history of colon cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1174831. [PMID: 37637062 PMCID: PMC10457127 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1174831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common hereditary cause of colorectal cancer (CRC), increasing lifetime risk of CRC by up to 70%. Despite this higher lifetime risk, disease penetrance in LS patients is highly variable and most LS patients undergoing CRC surveillance will not develop CRC. Therefore, biomarkers that can correctly and consistently predict CRC risk in LS patients are needed to both optimize LS patient surveillance and help identify better prevention strategies that reduce risk of CRC development in the subset of high-risk LS patients. Methods Normal-appearing colorectal tissue biopsies were obtained during repeat surveillance colonoscopies of LS patients with and without a history of CRC, healthy controls (HC), and patients with a history of sporadic CRC. Biopsies were cultured in an ex-vivo explant system and their supernatants were assayed via multiplexed ELISA to profile the local immune signaling microenvironment. High quality cytokines were identified using the rxCOV fidelity metric. These cytokines were used to perform elastic-net penalized logistic regression-based biomarker selection by computing a new measure - overall selection probability - that quantifies the ability of each marker to discriminate between patient cohorts being compared. Results Our study demonstrated that cytokine based local immune microenvironment profiling was reproducible over repeat visits and sensitive to patient LS-status and CRC history. Furthermore, we identified sets of cytokines whose differential expression was predictive of LS-status in patients when compared to sporadic CRC patients and in identifying those LS patients with or without a history of CRC. Enrichment analysis based on these biomarkers revealed an LS and CRC status dependent constitutive inflammatory state of the normal appearing colonic mucosa. Discussion This prospective pilot study demonstrated that immune profiling of normal appearing colonic mucosa discriminates LS patients with a prior history of CRC from those without it, as well as patients with a history of sporadic CRC from HC. Importantly, it suggests the existence of immune signatures specific to LS-status and CRC history. We anticipate that our findings have the potential to assess CRC risk in individuals with LS and help in preemptively mitigating it by optimizing surveillance and identifying candidate prevention targets. Further studies are required to validate our findings in an independent cohort of LS patients over multiple visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda M. Brand
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Beth Dudley
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Eve Karloski
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Ashley Zyhowski
- Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Rebecca Raphael
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Danielle Pitlor
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - E. Jeffrey Metter
- Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Reet Pai
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Randall E. Brand
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Shikhar Uttam
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Li J, Guo Y, Liu J, Guo F, Du L, Yang Y, Li X, Ma Y. Depicting the landscape of gut microbial-metabolic interaction and microbial-host immune heterogeneity in deficient and proficient DNA mismatch repair colorectal cancers. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e007420. [PMID: 37597851 PMCID: PMC10441105 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence has indicated the role of gut microbiota in remodeling host immune signatures, but various interplays underlying colorectal cancers (CRC) with deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) and proficient DNA mismatch repair (pMMR) remain poorly understood. This study aims to decipher the gut microbiome-host immune interactions between dMMR and pMMR CRC. METHOD We performed metagenomic sequencing and metabolomic analysis of fecal samples from a cohort encompassing 455 participants, including 21 dMMR CRC, 207 pMMR CRC, and 227 healthy controls. Among them, 50 tumor samples collected from 5 dMMR CRC and 45 pMMR CRC were conducted bulk RNA sequencing. RESULTS Pronounced microbiota and metabolic heterogeneity were identified with 211 dMMR-enriched species, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and Akkermansia muciniphila, 2 dMMR-depleted species, such as Flavonifractor plautii, 13 dMMR-enriched metabolites, such as retinoic acid, and 77 dMMR-depleted metabolites, such as lactic acid, succinic acid, and 2,3-dihydroxyvaleric acid. F. plautii was enriched in pMMR CRC and it was positively associated with fatty acid degradation, which might account for the accumulation of dMMR-depleted metabolites classified as short chain organic acid (lactic acid, succinic acid, and 2,3-dihydroxyvaleric acid) in pMMR CRC. The microbial-metabolic association analysis revealed the characterization of pMMR CRC as the accumulation of lactate induced by the depletion of specific gut microbiota which was negatively associated with antitumor immune, whereas the nucleotide metabolism and peptide degradation mediated by dMMR-enriched species characterized dMMR CRC. MMR-specific metabolic landscapes were related to distinctive immune features, such as CD8+ T cells, dendritic cells and M2-like macrophages. CONCLUSIONS Our mutiomics results delineate a heterogeneous landscape of microbiome-host immune interactions within dMMR and pMMR CRC from aspects of bacterial communities, metabolic features, and correlation with immunocyte compartment, which infers the underlying mechanism of heterogeneous immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yangyang Guo
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianqiang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endoscopy, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Fanying Guo
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lutao Du
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong province, China
| | - Yongzhi Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinxiang Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanlei Ma
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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11
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Mestrallet G, Brown M, Bozkus CC, Bhardwaj N. Immune escape and resistance to immunotherapy in mismatch repair deficient tumors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1210164. [PMID: 37492581 PMCID: PMC10363668 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1210164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Up to 30% of colorectal, endometrial and gastric cancers have a deficiency in mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression due to either germline or epigenetic inactivation. Patients with Lynch Syndrome who inherit an inactive MMR allele have an up to 80% risk for developing a mismatch repair deficient (MMRd) cancer. Due to an inability to repair DNA, MMRd tumors present with genomic instability in microsatellite regions (MS). Tumors with high MS instability (MSI-H) are characterized by an increased frequency of insertion/deletions (indels) that can encode novel neoantigens if they occur in coding regions. The high tumor antigen burden for MMRd cancers is accompanied by an inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) that contributes to the clinical effectiveness of anti-PD-1 therapy in this patient population. However, between 40 and 70% of MMRd cancer patients do not respond to treatment with PD-1 blockade, suggesting that tumor-intrinsic and -extrinsic resistance mechanisms may affect the success of checkpoint blockade. Immune evasion mechanisms that occur during early tumorigenesis and persist through cancer development may provide a window into resistance pathways that limit the effectiveness of anti-PD-1 therapy. Here, we review the mechanisms of immune escape in MMRd tumors during development and checkpoint blockade treatment, including T cell dysregulation and myeloid cell-mediated immunosuppression in the TME. Finally, we discuss the development of new therapeutic approaches to tackle resistance in MMRd tumors, including cancer vaccines, therapies targeting immunosuppressive myeloid programs, and immune checkpoint combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Mestrallet
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Hess Center for Science & Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Matthew Brown
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Hess Center for Science & Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cansu Cimen Bozkus
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Hess Center for Science & Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nina Bhardwaj
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Hess Center for Science & Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Extramural member, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, United States
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12
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Ahadova A, Witt J, Haupt S, Gallon R, Hüneburg R, Nattermann J, Ten Broeke S, Bohaumilitzky L, Hernandez-Sanchez A, Santibanez-Koref M, Jackson MS, Ahtiainen M, Pylvänäinen K, Andini K, Grolmusz VK, Möslein G, Dominguez-Valentin M, Møller P, Fürst D, Sijmons R, Borthwick GM, Burn J, Mecklin JP, Heuveline V, von Knebel Doeberitz M, Seppälä T, Kloor M. Is HLA type a possible cancer risk modifier in Lynch syndrome? Int J Cancer 2023; 152:2024-2031. [PMID: 36214792 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34312] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common inherited cancer syndrome. It is inherited via a monoallelic germline variant in one of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. LS carriers have a broad 30% to 80% risk of developing various malignancies, and more precise, individual risk estimations would be of high clinical value, allowing tailored cancer prevention and surveillance. Due to MMR deficiency, LS cancers are characterized by the accumulation of frameshift mutations leading to highly immunogenic frameshift peptides (FSPs). Thus, immune surveillance is proposed to inhibit the outgrowth of MMR-deficient cell clones. Recent studies have shown that immunoediting during the evolution of MMR-deficient cancers leads to a counter-selection of highly immunogenic antigens. The immunogenicity of FSPs is dependent on the antigen presentation. One crucial factor determining antigen presentation is the HLA genotype. Hence, a LS carrier's HLA genotype plays an important role in the presentation of FSP antigens to the immune system, and may influence the likelihood of progression from precancerous lesions to cancer. To address the challenge of clarifying this possibility including diverse populations with different HLA types, we have established the INDICATE initiative (Individual cancer risk by HLA type, http://indicate-lynch.org/), an international network aiming at a systematic evaluation of the HLA genotype as a possible cancer risk modifier in LS. Here we summarize the current knowledge on the role of HLA type in cancer risk and outline future research directions to delineate possible association in the scenario of LS with genetically defined risk population and highly immunogenic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysel Ahadova
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Witt
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Saskia Haupt
- Engineering Mathematics and Computing Lab (EMCL), Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Data Mining and Uncertainty Quantification (DMQ), Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Gallon
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Robert Hüneburg
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,National Center for Hereditary Tumor Syndromes, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jacob Nattermann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,National Center for Hereditary Tumor Syndromes, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sanne Ten Broeke
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lena Bohaumilitzky
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alejandro Hernandez-Sanchez
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mauro Santibanez-Koref
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Michael S Jackson
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Kirsi Pylvänäinen
- Department of Education and science, Nova Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Katarina Andini
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vince Kornel Grolmusz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.,Hereditary Cancers Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences-Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriela Möslein
- Department of Surgery, Ev. Krankenhaus Bethesda Hospital, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Mev Dominguez-Valentin
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pål Møller
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel Fürst
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Baden Wuerttemberg-Hessen, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rolf Sijmons
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gillian M Borthwick
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John Burn
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jukka-Pekka Mecklin
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.,Department of Surgery, Nova Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Vincent Heuveline
- Engineering Mathematics and Computing Lab (EMCL), Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Data Mining and Uncertainty Quantification (DMQ), Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Toni Seppälä
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and Tays Cancer Center, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matthias Kloor
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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Harata S, Takahashi H, Ando N, Kato A, Watanabe K, Yanagita T, Suzuki T, Ushigome H, Shiga K, Ogawa R, Matsuo Y, Mitsui A, Kimura M, Takiguchi S. Spontaneous regression of advanced transverse colon cancer with deficient mismatch repair: a case report. Surg Case Rep 2023; 9:64. [PMID: 37095273 PMCID: PMC10126167 DOI: 10.1186/s40792-023-01595-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer occurs in 1 in 60,000-100,000 patients. This phenomenon has been reported in almost all cancer types, most commonly neuroblastoma, renal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and lymphoma/leukemia. However, SR in colorectal cancer (CRC) is extremely rare, particularly in advanced cases. Hence, this report describes a very rare case of spontaneous regression of advanced transverse colon cancer. CASE PRESENTATION A 76-year-old female with anemia was diagnosed with a type II well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in the middle transverse colon. Two months later, a second colonoscopy examination was performed for preoperative marking, and it revealed tumor shrinkage and a shift to type 0-IIc morphology. Endoscopic tattooing was then performed, followed by a laparoscopic partial resection of the transverse colon with D3 lymph node dissection. However, the resected specimen contained no tumor, and colonoscopy showed no tumor remnants in the remaining colon. Histopathological examination revealed mucosal regeneration and a mucus nodule in between the submucosal and muscular layers, with no cancer cells detected. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the loss of MutL homolog 1 (MLH1) and postmeiotic segregation increased 2 (PMS2) expression in the cancer cells of biopsied specimens, suggesting deficient mismatch repair (dMMR). The patient continues to be followed up until 6 years postoperatively, and no recurrence has been observed. In this study, we also reviewed similar reported cases of spontaneous regression of cancer involving dMMR. CONCLUSION This study presents a rare case of spontaneous regression of advanced transverse colon cancer wherein dMMR is strongly involved. However, further accumulation of similar cases is needed to elucidate this phenomenon and to develop new treatment strategies for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinnosuke Harata
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Hiroki Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan.
| | - Nanako Ando
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Akira Kato
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Kaori Watanabe
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yanagita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Takuya Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Hajime Ushigome
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Shiga
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Ryo Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Yoichi Matsuo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Akira Mitsui
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kimura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Shuji Takiguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
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14
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Brand RM, Dudley B, Karloski E, Zyhowski A, Raphael R, Pitlor D, Metter EJ, Pai R, Lee K, Brand RE, Uttam S. Immune Microenvironment Profiling of Normal Appearing Colorectal Mucosa Biopsied Over Repeat Patient Visits Reproduciably Separates Lynch Syndrome Patients Based on Their History of Colon Cancer. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.03.03.23286594. [PMID: 36945451 PMCID: PMC10029019 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.03.23286594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common hereditary cause of colorectal cancer (CRC), increasing lifetime risk of CRC by up to 70%. Despite this higher lifetime risk, disease penetrance in LS patients is highly variable and most LS patients undergoing CRC surveillance will not develop CRC. Therefore, biomarkers that can correctly and consistently predict CRC risk in LS patients are needed to both optimize LS patient surveillance and help identify better prevention strategies that reduce risk of CRC development in the subset of high-risk LS patients. Methods Normal-appearing colorectal tissue biopsies were obtained during repeat surveillance colonoscopies of LS patients with and without a history of CRC, healthy controls (HC), and patients with a history of sporadic CRC. Biopsies were cultured in an ex-vivo explant system and their supernatants were assayed via multiplexed ELISA to profile the local immune signaling microenvironment. High quality cytokine signatures were identified using rx COV fidelity metric. These signatures were used to perform biomarker selection by computing their selection probability based on penalized logistic regression. Results Our study demonstrated that cytokine based local immune microenvironment profiling was reproducible over repeat visits and sensitive to patient LS-status and CRC history. Furthermore, we identified sets of biomarkers whose differential expression was predictive of LS-status in patients when compared to sporadic CRC patients and in identifying those LS patients with or without a history of CRC. Enrichment analysis based on these biomarkers revealed an LS and CRC status dependent constitutive inflammatory state of the normal appearing colonic mucosa. Discussion This prospective pilot study demonstrated that immune profiling of normal appearing colonic mucosa discriminates LS patients with a prior history of CRC from those without it, as well as patients with a history of sporadic CRC from HC. Importantly, it suggests existence of immune signatures specific to LS-status and CRC history. We anticipate that our findings have the potential to assess CRC risk in individuals with LS and help in preemptively mitigating it by optimizing surveillance and identifying candidate prevention targets. Further studies are required to validate our findings in an independent cohort of LS patients over multiple visits.
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15
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Sievänen T, Korhonen T, Jokela T, Ahtiainen M, Lahtinen L, Kuopio T, Lepistö A, Sillanpää E, Mecklin J, Seppälä TT, Laakkonen EK. Systemic circulating microRNA landscape in Lynch syndrome. Int J Cancer 2023; 152:932-944. [PMID: 36282188 PMCID: PMC10092425 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Circulating microRNAs (c-miRs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that migrate throughout the body and regulate gene expression. Global c-miR expression patterns (c-miRnomes) change with sporadic carcinogenesis and have predictive potential in early detection of cancers. However, there are no studies that have assessed whether c-miRnomes display similar potential in carriers of inherited pathogenic mismatch-repair gene variants (path_MMR), known as Lynch syndrome (LS), who are predisposed to highly increased cancer risk. Using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic approaches, we conducted an exploratory analysis to characterize systemic c-miRnomes of path_MMR carriers, sporadic rectal cancer patients and non-LS controls. We showed for the first time that cancer-free path_MMR carriers have a systemic c-miRnome of 40 differentially expressed c-miRs that can distinguish them from non-LS controls. The systemic c-miRnome of cancer-free path_MMR carriers also resembles the systemic c-miRnomes of cancer patients with or without path_MMR. Our pathway analysis linked the found differentially expressed c-miRs to carcinogenesis. A total of 508 putative target genes were identified for 32 out of 40 differentially expressed c-miRs, and 238 of them were enriched in cancer-related pathways. The most enriched c-miR-target genes include well-known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes such as BCL2, AKT3, PIK3CA, KRAS, NRAS, CDKN1A and PIK3R1. Taken together, our findings suggest that LS and sporadic carcinogenesis share common biological pathways and alterations in these pathways can produce a c-miR signature which can track potential oncogenic stress in cancer-free path_MMR carriers. Therefore, c-miRs hold potential in monitoring the LS risk stratification patterns during clinical surveillance or cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tero Sievänen
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health SciencesUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Tia‐Marje Korhonen
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health SciencesUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Tiina Jokela
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health SciencesUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Maarit Ahtiainen
- Department of Education and ResearchCentral Finland Health Care DistrictJyväskyläFinland
| | - Laura Lahtinen
- Department of PathologyCentral Finland Health Care DistrictJyväskyläFinland
| | - Teijo Kuopio
- Department of PathologyCentral Finland Health Care DistrictJyväskyläFinland
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Anna Lepistö
- Department of Surgery, Abdominal CenterHelsinki University HospitalHelsinkiFinland
| | - Elina Sillanpää
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health SciencesUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Jukka‐Pekka Mecklin
- Department of SurgeryCentral Finland Health Care DistrictJyväskyläFinland
- Faculty of Sport and Health SciencesUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Toni T. Seppälä
- Department of Surgery, Abdominal CenterHelsinki University HospitalHelsinkiFinland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research ProgramUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Eija K. Laakkonen
- Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health SciencesUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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16
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Immunogenomic Biomarkers and Validation in Lynch Syndrome. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030491. [PMID: 36766832 PMCID: PMC9914748 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030491] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Lynch syndrome (LS) is an inherited disorder in which affected individuals have a significantly higher-than-average risk of developing colorectal and non-colorectal cancers, often before the age of 50 years. In LS, mutations in DNA repair genes lead to a dysfunctional post-replication repair system. As a result, the unrepaired errors in coding regions of the genome produce novel proteins, called neoantigens. Neoantigens are recognised by the immune system as foreign and trigger an immune response. Due to the invasive nature of cancer screening tests, universal cancer screening guidelines unique for LS (primarily colonoscopy) are poorly adhered to by LS variant heterozygotes (LSVH). Currently, it is unclear whether immunogenomic components produced as a result of neoantigen formation can be used as novel biomarkers in LS. We hypothesise that: (i) LSVH produce measurable and dynamic immunogenomic components in blood, and (ii) these quantifiable immunogenomic components correlate with cancer onset and stage. Here, we discuss the feasibility to: (a) identify personalised novel immunogenomic biomarkers and (b) validate these biomarkers in various clinical scenarios in LSVH.
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17
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Peltomäki P, Nyström M, Mecklin JP, Seppälä TT. Lynch Syndrome Genetics and Clinical Implications. Gastroenterology 2023; 164:783-799. [PMID: 36706841 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Lynch syndrome (LS) is one of the most prevalent hereditary cancer syndromes in humans and accounts for some 3% of unselected patients with colorectal or endometrial cancer and 10%-15% of those with DNA mismatch repair-deficient tumors. Previous studies have established the genetic basis of LS predisposition, but there have been significant advances recently in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of LS tumors, which has important implications in clinical management. At the same time, immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of advanced cancers with DNA mismatch repair defects. We aim to review the recent progress in the LS field and discuss how the accumulating epidemiologic, clinical, and molecular information has contributed to a more accurate and complete picture of LS, resulting in genotype- and immunologic subtype-specific strategies for surveillance, cancer prevention, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Päivi Peltomäki
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Minna Nyström
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka-Pekka Mecklin
- Department of Education and Science, Nova Hospital, Central Finland Health Care District, Jyväskylä, Finland; Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Toni T Seppälä
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Applied Tumor Genomics Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and Tays Cancer Center, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
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18
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Grolmusz VK, Nagy P, Likó I, Butz H, Pócza T, Bozsik A, Papp J, Oláh E, Patócs A. A common genetic variation in GZMB may associate with cancer risk in patients with Lynch syndrome. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1005066. [PMID: 36890824 PMCID: PMC9986427 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1005066] [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: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Lynch syndrome (LS), also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome (HNPCC) is a common genetic predisposition to cancer due to germline mutations in genes affecting DNA mismatch repair. Due to mismatch repair deficiency, developing tumors are characterized by microsatellite instability (MSI-H), high frequency of expressed neoantigens and good clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Granzyme B (GrB) is the most abundant serine protease in the granules of cytotoxic T-cells and natural killer cells, mediating anti-tumor immunity. However, recent results confirm a diverse range of physiological functions of GrB including that in extracellular matrix remodelling, inflammation and fibrosis. In the present study, our aim was to investigate whether a frequent genetic variation of GZMB, the gene encoding GrB, constituted by three missense single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2236338, rs11539752 and rs8192917) has any association with cancer risk in individuals with LS. In silico analysis and genotype calls from whole exome sequencing data in the Hungarian population confirmed that these SNPs are closely linked. Genotyping results of rs8192917 on a cohort of 145 individuals with LS demonstrated an association of the CC genotype with lower cancer risk. In silico prediction proposed likely GrB cleavage sites in a high proportion of shared neontigens in MSI-H tumors. Our results propose the CC genotype of rs8192917 as a potential disease-modifying genetic factor in LS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vince Kornél Grolmusz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.,Hereditary Cancers Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network - Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,National Tumorbiology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Petra Nagy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Likó
- Hereditary Cancers Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network - Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,National Tumorbiology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Henriett Butz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.,Hereditary Cancers Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network - Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,National Tumorbiology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.,National Oncology Biobank Center, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tímea Pócza
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anikó Bozsik
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.,Hereditary Cancers Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network - Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,National Tumorbiology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Papp
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.,Hereditary Cancers Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network - Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,National Tumorbiology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edit Oláh
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Patócs
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.,Hereditary Cancers Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network - Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,National Tumorbiology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
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19
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Sei S, Ahadova A, Keskin DB, Bohaumilitzky L, Gebert J, von Knebel Doeberitz M, Lipkin SM, Kloor M. Lynch syndrome cancer vaccines: A roadmap for the development of precision immunoprevention strategies. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1147590. [PMID: 37035178 PMCID: PMC10073468 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1147590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary cancer syndromes (HCS) account for 5~10% of all cancer diagnosis. Lynch syndrome (LS) is one of the most common HCS, caused by germline mutations in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Even with prospective cancer surveillance, LS is associated with up to 50% lifetime risk of colorectal, endometrial, and other cancers. While significant progress has been made in the timely identification of germline pathogenic variant carriers and monitoring and early detection of precancerous lesions, cancer-risk reduction strategies are still centered around endoscopic or surgical removal of neoplastic lesions and susceptible organs. Safe and effective cancer prevention strategies are critically needed to improve the life quality and longevity of LS and other HCS carriers. The era of precision oncology driven by recent technological advances in tumor molecular profiling and a better understanding of genetic risk factors has transformed cancer prevention approaches for at-risk individuals, including LS carriers. MMR deficiency leads to the accumulation of insertion and deletion mutations in microsatellites (MS), which are particularly prone to DNA polymerase slippage during DNA replication. Mutations in coding MS give rise to frameshift peptides (FSP) that are recognized by the immune system as neoantigens. Due to clonal evolution, LS tumors share a set of recurrent and predictable FSP neoantigens in the same and in different LS patients. Cancer vaccines composed of commonly recurring FSP neoantigens selected through prediction algorithms have been clinically evaluated in LS carriers and proven safe and immunogenic. Preclinically analogous FSP vaccines have been shown to elicit FSP-directed immune responses and exert tumor-preventive efficacy in murine models of LS. While the immunopreventive efficacy of "off-the-shelf" vaccines consisting of commonly recurring FSP antigens is currently investigated in LS clinical trials, the feasibility and utility of personalized FSP vaccines with individual HLA-restricted epitopes are being explored for more precise targeting. Here, we discuss recent advances in precision cancer immunoprevention approaches, emerging enabling technologies, research gaps, and implementation barriers toward clinical translation of risk-tailored prevention strategies for LS carriers. We will also discuss the feasibility and practicality of next-generation cancer vaccines that are based on personalized immunogenic epitopes for precision cancer immunoprevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizuko Sei
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Shizuko Sei, ; Steven M. Lipkin, ; Matthias Kloor,
| | - Aysel Ahadova
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Derin B. Keskin
- Translational Immunogenomics Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Broad Institute of The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Department of Computer Science, Metropolitan College, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lena Bohaumilitzky
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Gebert
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steven M. Lipkin
- Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Shizuko Sei, ; Steven M. Lipkin, ; Matthias Kloor,
| | - Matthias Kloor
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Shizuko Sei, ; Steven M. Lipkin, ; Matthias Kloor,
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20
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Mestrallet G, Sone K, Bhardwaj N. Strategies to overcome DC dysregulation in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:980709. [PMID: 36275666 PMCID: PMC9583271 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.980709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role to modulate anti-cancer immunity in the tumor microenvironment (TME). They link innate to adaptive immunity by processing and presenting tumor antigens to T cells thereby initiating an anti-tumor response. However, subsets of DCs also induce immune-tolerance, leading to tumor immune escape. In this regard, the TME plays a major role in adversely affecting DC function. Better understanding of DC impairment mechanisms in the TME will lead to more efficient DC-targeting immunotherapy. Here, we review the different subtypes and functions of DCs in the TME, including conventional DCs, plasmacytoid DC and the newly proposed subset, mregDC. We further focus on how cancer cells modulate DCs to escape from the host’s immune-surveillance. Immune checkpoint expression, small molecule mediators, metabolites, deprivation of pro-immunogenic and release of pro-tumorigenic cytokine secretion by tumors and tumor-attracted immuno-suppressive cells inhibit DC differentiation and function. Finally, we discuss the impact of established therapies on DCs, such as immune checkpoint blockade. Creative DC-targeted therapeutic strategies will be highlighted, including cancer vaccines and cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Mestrallet
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Hess Center for Science & Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kazuki Sone
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Hess Center for Science & Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nina Bhardwaj
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Hess Center for Science & Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Extramural Member, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Nina Bhardwaj,
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21
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Phen C, Berens D, Moriarty K, Ng K, Sengupta A, Rojas I. Polygenic early-onset colorectal cancer in pediatric patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29790. [PMID: 35670754 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer in the pediatric population is a rare but transpirable phenomenon. The occurrence should prompt suspicion for underlying genetic mutations in the setting of a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome. In this series, we outline three pediatric patients with colonic adenocarcinoma who were found to have one or more germline mutations. The presence of compound mutations may lead to a hypermutator phenotype resulting in earlier presentation of colorectal cancer in childhood and adolescence. The diagnosis of colorectal cancer in pediatric patients warrants timely recognition, multigene panel testing, genetic counseling for the patient and family, and increased surveillance for intestinal and extra-intestinal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Phen
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Donovan Berens
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kelsey Moriarty
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kenneth Ng
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Anita Sengupta
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Isabel Rojas
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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22
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Laish I, Levi Z, Mahajna H, Albshesh A, Horesh N, Katz E, Feldman D, Shinar N, Picard O, Yavzori M, Fudim E, Raanani P, Berger T, Goldvaser H, Beery E, Uziel O. Characterization of blood-derived exosomal hTERT mRNA as a biomarker for colon cancer and Lynch syndrome. Front Oncol 2022; 12:962473. [PMID: 36203446 PMCID: PMC9530579 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.962473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- mRNA was shown to be elevated in exosomes derived from the sera of a variety of hematological and solid cancer patients. We aimed to evaluate its role as a diagnostic marker in patients with newly diagnosed colon cancer and in hereditary syndromes with predisposition to colon cancer. Methods hTERT -mRNA levels were determined in serum-derived exosomes from 88 patients with colon cancer, 71 Lynch-syndrome carriers with unknown active malignancies and 50 healthy controls. Data, including demographics, background diseases, clinical data regarding tumor characteristics and genetic data, were retrieved data from medical files. Results Patients with colon cancer had both higher exosomal hTERT mRNA levels and a higher proportion of patients with positive exosomal hTERT mRNA than controls (29.5% vs. 4%, respectively, P values < 0.001). Within the cancer group, patients with a metastatic disease had higher levels of telomerase mRNA than non-metastatic disease patients, and these levels correlated with CEA levels. Likewise, Lynch syndrome carriers had a higher proportion of positive exosomal hTERT mRNA than controls (21.1% vs. 4%, respectively, P value 0.008) but only a trend towards higher exosomal hTERT mRNA levels. Higher telomerase mRNA levels were not correlated with the mutated gene. Conclusions Exosomal serum hTERT –mRNA levels are associated with metastatic colon cancer and were also demonstrated in a subset of Lynch syndrome carriers. Its significance as a biomarker for developing malignancy should be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ido Laish
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- *Correspondence: Ido Laish,
| | - Zohar Levi
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Hussein Mahajna
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ahmad Albshesh
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nir Horesh
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Surgery and Transplantations B/C, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Efraim Katz
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Surgery and Transplantations B/C, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Dan Feldman
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel
| | - Nadav Shinar
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel
| | - Orit Picard
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Miri Yavzori
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ella Fudim
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Pia Raanani
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute of Hematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
- The Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Tamar Berger
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute of Hematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Hadar Goldvaser
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute of Oncology, Shaare – Zedek Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Einat Beery
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Orit Uziel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
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23
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Hernandez-Sanchez A, Grossman M, Yeung K, Sei SS, Lipkin S, Kloor M. Vaccines for immunoprevention of DNA mismatch repair deficient cancers. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e004416. [PMID: 35732349 PMCID: PMC9226910 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of cancer vaccines to induce tumor-antigen specific immune responses was sparked by the identification of antigens specific to or overexpressed in cancer cells. However, weak immunogenicity and the mutational heterogeneity in many cancers have dampened cancer vaccine successes. With increasing information about mutational landscapes of cancers, mutational neoantigens can be predicted computationally to elicit strong immune responses by CD8 +cytotoxic T cells as major mediators of anticancer immune response. Neoantigens are potentially more robust immunogens and have revived interest in cancer vaccines. Cancers with deficiency in DNA mismatch repair have an exceptionally high mutational burden, including predictable neoantigens. Lynch syndrome is the most common inherited cancer syndrome and is caused by DNA mismatch repair gene mutations. Insertion and deletion mutations in coding microsatellites that occur during DNA replication include tumorigenesis drivers. The induced shift of protein reading frame generates neoantigens that are foreign to the immune system. Mismatch repair-deficient cancers and Lynch syndrome represent a paradigm population for the development of a preventive cancer vaccine, as the mutations induced by mismatch repair deficiency are predictable, resulting in a defined set of frameshift peptide neoantigens. Furthermore, Lynch syndrome mutation carriers constitute an identifiable high-risk population. We discuss the pathogenesis of DNA mismatch repair deficient cancers, in both Lynch syndrome and sporadic microsatellite-unstable cancers. We review evidence for pre-existing immune surveillance, the three mechanisms of immune evasion that occur in cancers and assess the implications of a preventive frameshift peptide neoantigen-based vaccine. We consider both preclinical and clinical experience to date. We discuss the feasibility of a cancer preventive vaccine for Lynch syndrome carriers and review current antigen selection and delivery strategies. Finally, we propose RNA vaccines as having robust potential for immunoprevention of Lynch syndrome cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Hernandez-Sanchez
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, University Hospital Heidelberg Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark Grossman
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kevin Yeung
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shizuko S Sei
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven Lipkin
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Matthias Kloor
- University Hospital Heidelberg, Institute of Pathology, Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Heidelberg, Germany
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24
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Kupfer SS. Broadening our Understanding of the Immune Landscape in Lynch Syndrome. Gastroenterology 2022; 162:1024-1025. [PMID: 34999096 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia S Kupfer
- Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
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