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Fazzari E, Azizad DJ, Yu K, Ge W, Li MX, Nano PR, Kan RL, Tum HA, Tse C, Bayley NA, Haka V, Cadet D, Perryman T, Soto JA, Wick B, Raleigh DR, Crouch EE, Patel KS, Liau LM, Deneen B, Nathanson DA, Bhaduri A. Glioblastoma Neurovascular Progenitor Orchestrates Tumor Cell Type Diversity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.24.604840. [PMID: 39091877 PMCID: PMC11291138 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.24.604840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the deadliest form of primary brain tumor with limited treatment options. Recent studies have profiled GBM tumor heterogeneity, revealing numerous axes of variation that explain the molecular and spatial features of the tumor. Here, we seek to bridge descriptive characterization of GBM cell type heterogeneity with the functional role of individual populations within the tumor. Our lens leverages a gene program-centric meta-atlas of published transcriptomic studies to identify commonalities between diverse tumors and cell types in order to decipher the mechanisms that drive them. This approach led to the discovery of a tumor-derived stem cell population with mixed vascular and neural stem cell features, termed a neurovascular progenitor (NVP). Following in situ validation and molecular characterization of NVP cells in GBM patient samples, we characterized their function in vivo. Genetic depletion of NVP cells resulted in altered tumor cell composition, fewer cycling cells, and extended survival, underscoring their critical functional role. Clonal analysis of primary patient tumors in a human organoid tumor transplantation system demonstrated that the NVP has dual potency, generating both neuronal and vascular tumor cells. Although NVP cells comprise a small fraction of the tumor, these clonal analyses demonstrated that they strongly contribute to the total number of cycling cells in the tumor and generate a defined subset of the whole tumor. This study represents a paradigm by which cell type-specific interrogation of tumor populations can be used to study functional heterogeneity and therapeutically targetable vulnerabilities of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Fazzari
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daria J Azizad
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kwanha Yu
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Weihong Ge
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Matthew X Li
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Patricia R Nano
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ryan L Kan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hong A Tum
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher Tse
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas A Bayley
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vjola Haka
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dimitri Cadet
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Travis Perryman
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jose A Soto
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brittney Wick
- Genomics Institute, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - David R Raleigh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Crouch
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kunal S Patel
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Linda M Liau
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin Deneen
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David A Nathanson
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aparna Bhaduri
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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2
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Kaynar A, Ozcan M, Li X, Turkez H, Zhang C, Uhlén M, Shoaie S, Mardinoglu A. Discovery of a Therapeutic Agent for Glioblastoma Using a Systems Biology-Based Drug Repositioning Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7868. [PMID: 39063109 PMCID: PMC11277330 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147868] [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: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly malignant tumour of the central nervous system, presents with a dire prognosis and low survival rates. The heterogeneous and recurrent nature of GBM renders current treatments relatively ineffective. In our study, we utilized an integrative systems biology approach to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving GBM progression and identify viable therapeutic drug targets for developing more effective GBM treatment strategies. Our integrative analysis revealed an elevated expression of CHST2 in GBM tumours, designating it as an unfavourable prognostic gene in GBM, as supported by data from two independent GBM cohorts. Further, we pinpointed WZ-4002 as a potential drug candidate to modulate CHST2 through computational drug repositioning. WZ-4002 directly targeted EGFR (ERBB1) and ERBB2, affecting their dimerization and influencing the activity of adjacent genes, including CHST2. We validated our findings by treating U-138 MG cells with WZ-4002, observing a decrease in CHST2 protein levels and a reduction in cell viability. In summary, our research suggests that the WZ-4002 drug candidate may effectively modulate CHST2 and adjacent genes, offering a promising avenue for developing efficient treatment strategies for GBM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Kaynar
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; (A.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Mehmet Ozcan
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, SE-17121 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.O.); (X.L.); (C.Z.); (M.U.)
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Zongudak TR-67100, Turkey
| | - Xiangyu Li
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, SE-17121 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.O.); (X.L.); (C.Z.); (M.U.)
| | - Hasan Turkez
- Medical Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum TR-25240, Turkey;
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, SE-17121 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.O.); (X.L.); (C.Z.); (M.U.)
| | - Mathias Uhlén
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, SE-17121 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.O.); (X.L.); (C.Z.); (M.U.)
| | - Saeed Shoaie
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; (A.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; (A.K.); (S.S.)
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, SE-17121 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.O.); (X.L.); (C.Z.); (M.U.)
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3
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Weller J, Potthoff AL, Zeyen T, Schaub C, Duffy C, Schneider M, Herrlinger U. Current status of precision oncology in adult glioblastoma. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38899374 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13678] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The concept of precision oncology, the application of targeted drugs based on comprehensive molecular profiling, has revolutionized treatment strategies in oncology. This review summarizes the current status of precision oncology in glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults with a median survival below 2 years. Targeted treatments without prior target verification have consistently failed. Patients with BRAF V600E-mutated GBM benefit from BRAF/MEK-inhibition, whereas targeting EGFR alterations was unsuccessful due to poor tumor penetration, tumor cell heterogeneity, and pathway redundancies. Systematic screening for actionable molecular alterations resulted in low rates (< 10%) of targeted treatments. Efficacy was observed in one-third and currently appears to be limited to BRAF-, VEGFR-, and mTOR-directed treatments. Advancing precision oncology for GBM requires consideration of pathways instead of single alterations, new trial concepts enabling rapid and adaptive drug evaluation, a focus on drugs with sufficient bioavailability in the CNS, and the extension of target discovery and validation to the tumor microenvironment, tumor cell networks, and their interaction with immune cells and neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Weller
- Department of Neurooncology, Center for Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Zeyen
- Department of Neurooncology, Center for Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Christina Schaub
- Department of Neurooncology, Center for Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Cathrina Duffy
- Department of Neurooncology, Center for Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Herrlinger
- Department of Neurooncology, Center for Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
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Parimita S, Das A, Samanta S. VGLL1 stabilization of cytoplasmic TAZ promotes EGFR expression and maintains tumor initiating cells in breast cancer independent of TEAD. Cell Signal 2024; 118:111120. [PMID: 38417636 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Vestigial-like family member 1 (VGLL1) is one of the X-linked genes whose expression is elevated in basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) because of X-chromosome isodisomy. As an approach towards understanding its function, we performed correlation study using transcript data of breast cancer patients from cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics. Our analysis identified EGFR as the most correlated transcript with VGLL1. We demonstrate that VGLL1 promotes EGFR expression and increases the frequency of breast tumor initiating cells (CD44high/+CD24low/-). These findings are crucial because an elevated EGFR expression and high frequency of CD44high/+CD24low/- cells are defining features of BLBC, and we provide a new mechanistic insight into how their expressions are controlled. Importantly, VGLL1 regulation of EGFR and CD44high/+CD24low/- population is mediated by the hippo-transducer TAZ which exerts its oncogenic roles by binding and activating TEAD transcription factors. A crucial finding is that TEAD-binding domain of TAZ is dispensable for its regulation of EGFR and CD44high/+CD24low/- cells. Instead, VGLL1 stabilization of cytoplasmic TAZ is essential for these functions. Also, we show that VGLL1/TAZ restricts the surface expression of CD24 which contributes to the increased number of CD44high/+CD24low/- cells. In addition, we observed that VGLL1 represses AXL expression and suppresses claudin-low phenotype, and that is caused by the VGLL1 mediated nuclear expulsion of TAZ. Therefore, EGFR and AXL seem to represent two different breast tumor subtypes, and their differential expressions is controlled by VGLL1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhashree Parimita
- Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, TS 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Amitava Das
- Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, TS 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sanjoy Samanta
- Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, TS 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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5
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Fisher JL, Wilk EJ, Oza VH, Gary SE, Howton TC, Flanary VL, Clark AD, Hjelmeland AB, Lasseigne BN. Signature reversion of three disease-associated gene signatures prioritizes cancer drug repurposing candidates. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:803-830. [PMID: 38531616 PMCID: PMC11073506 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13796] [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: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug repurposing is promising because approving a drug for a new indication requires fewer resources than approving a new drug. Signature reversion detects drug perturbations most inversely related to the disease-associated gene signature to identify drugs that may reverse that signature. We assessed the performance and biological relevance of three approaches for constructing disease-associated gene signatures (i.e., limma, DESeq2, and MultiPLIER) and prioritized the resulting drug repurposing candidates for four low-survival human cancers. Our results were enriched for candidates that had been used in clinical trials or performed well in the PRISM drug screen. Additionally, we found that pamidronate and nimodipine, drugs predicted to be efficacious against the brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM), inhibited the growth of a GBM cell line and cells isolated from a patient-derived xenograft (PDX). Our results demonstrate that by applying multiple disease-associated gene signature methods, we prioritized several drug repurposing candidates for low-survival cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Fisher
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Elizabeth J. Wilk
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Vishal H. Oza
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Sam E. Gary
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Timothy C. Howton
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Victoria L. Flanary
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Amanda D. Clark
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Anita B. Hjelmeland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Brittany N. Lasseigne
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of MedicineThe University of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
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6
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Li D, Sun X, Li Y, Shang C, Dong Y, Zhao R, Zhang H, Wang Z, Fan S, Ma C, Li X. AGCM-22, a novel cetuximab-based EGFR-targeting antibody-drug-conjugate with highly selective anti-glioblastoma efficacy. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 102:117657. [PMID: 38428068 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117657] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has received significant attention as a potential target for glioblastoma (GBM) therapeutics in the past two decades. However, although cetuximab, an antibody that specifically targets EGFR, exhibits a high affinity for EGFR, it has not yet been applied in the treatment of GBM. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) utilize tumor-targeting antibodies for the selective delivery of cytotoxic drugs, resulting in improved efficacy compared to conventional chemotherapy drugs. However, the effectiveness of cetuximab as a targeted antibody for ADCs in the treatment of GBM remains uncertain. In this study, we synthesized AGCM-22, an EGFR-targeted ADC derived from cetuximab, by conjugating it with the tubulin inhibitor monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) using our Valine-Alanine Cathepsin B cleavable linker. In vitro experiments demonstrated that AGCM-22 effectively inhibited GBM cell proliferation through increased levels of apoptosis and autophagy-related cell death, whereas cetuximab alone had no anti-GBM effects. Additionally, both mouse and human orthotopic tumor models exhibited the selective tumor-targeting efficacy of AGCM-22, along with favorable metabolic properties and superior anti-GBM activity compared to temozolomide (TMZ). In summary, this study presents a novel ADC for GBM therapy that utilizes cetuximab as the tumor-targeting antibody, resulting in effective delivery of the cytotoxic drug payload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xianyan Sun
- Department of General Practice, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun China
| | - Yiquan Li
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Chao Shang
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Yuchao Dong
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Renshuang Zhao
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Senior Cadre Dept, The 964(th) Hospital of Joint Logistics Support, PLA, Changchun, China
| | - Zihao Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China.
| | - Shiyong Fan
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China.
| | - Chengyuan Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Xiao Li
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
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7
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Obrador E, Moreno-Murciano P, Oriol-Caballo M, López-Blanch R, Pineda B, Gutiérrez-Arroyo JL, Loras A, Gonzalez-Bonet LG, Martinez-Cadenas C, Estrela JM, Marqués-Torrejón MÁ. Glioblastoma Therapy: Past, Present and Future. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2529. [PMID: 38473776 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GB) stands out as the most prevalent and lethal form of brain cancer. Although great efforts have been made by clinicians and researchers, no significant improvement in survival has been achieved since the Stupp protocol became the standard of care (SOC) in 2005. Despite multimodality treatments, recurrence is almost universal with survival rates under 2 years after diagnosis. Here, we discuss the recent progress in our understanding of GB pathophysiology, in particular, the importance of glioma stem cells (GSCs), the tumor microenvironment conditions, and epigenetic mechanisms involved in GB growth, aggressiveness and recurrence. The discussion on therapeutic strategies first covers the SOC treatment and targeted therapies that have been shown to interfere with different signaling pathways (pRB/CDK4/RB1/P16ink4, TP53/MDM2/P14arf, PI3k/Akt-PTEN, RAS/RAF/MEK, PARP) involved in GB tumorigenesis, pathophysiology, and treatment resistance acquisition. Below, we analyze several immunotherapeutic approaches (i.e., checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, CAR-modified NK or T cells, oncolytic virotherapy) that have been used in an attempt to enhance the immune response against GB, and thereby avoid recidivism or increase survival of GB patients. Finally, we present treatment attempts made using nanotherapies (nanometric structures having active anti-GB agents such as antibodies, chemotherapeutic/anti-angiogenic drugs or sensitizers, radionuclides, and molecules that target GB cellular receptors or open the blood-brain barrier) and non-ionizing energies (laser interstitial thermal therapy, high/low intensity focused ultrasounds, photodynamic/sonodynamic therapies and electroporation). The aim of this review is to discuss the advances and limitations of the current therapies and to present novel approaches that are under development or following clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Obrador
- Scientia BioTech S.L., 46002 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - María Oriol-Caballo
- Scientia BioTech S.L., 46002 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael López-Blanch
- Scientia BioTech S.L., 46002 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Begoña Pineda
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Alba Loras
- Department of Medicine, Jaume I University of Castellon, 12071 Castellon, Spain
| | - Luis G Gonzalez-Bonet
- Department of Neurosurgery, Castellon General University Hospital, 12004 Castellon, Spain
| | | | - José M Estrela
- Scientia BioTech S.L., 46002 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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8
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Ezzati S, Salib S, Balasubramaniam M, Aboud O. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors in Glioblastoma: Current Status and Future Possibilities. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2316. [PMID: 38396993 PMCID: PMC10889328 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma, a grade 4 glioma as per the World Health Organization, poses a challenge in adult primary brain tumor management despite advanced surgical techniques and multimodal therapies. This review delves into the potential of targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with small-molecule inhibitors and antibodies as a treatment strategy. EGFR, a mutationally active receptor tyrosine kinase in over 50% of glioblastoma cases, features variants like EGFRvIII, EGFRvII and missense mutations, necessitating a deep understanding of their structures and signaling pathways. Although EGFR inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in other cancers, their application in glioblastoma is hindered by blood-brain barrier penetration and intrinsic resistance. The evolving realm of nanodrugs and convection-enhanced delivery offers promise in ensuring precise drug delivery to the brain. Critical to success is the identification of glioblastoma patient populations that benefit from EGFR inhibitors. Tools like radiolabeled anti-EGFR antibody 806i facilitate the visualization of EGFR conformations, aiding in tailored treatment selection. Recognizing the synergistic potential of combination therapies with downstream targets like mTOR, PI3k, and HDACs is pivotal for enhancing EGFR inhibitor efficacy. In conclusion, the era of precision oncology holds promise for targeting EGFR in glioblastoma, contingent on tailored treatments, effective blood-brain barrier navigation, and the exploration of synergistic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawyon Ezzati
- California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA; (S.E.); (S.S.)
| | - Samuel Salib
- California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA; (S.E.); (S.S.)
| | | | - Orwa Aboud
- Department of Neurology, Department of Neurological Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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9
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Mondello A, Dal Bo M, Toffoli G, Polano M. Machine learning in onco-pharmacogenomics: a path to precision medicine with many challenges. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1260276. [PMID: 38264526 PMCID: PMC10803549 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1260276] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the approach to cancer research. Applications of NGS include the identification of tumor specific alterations that can influence tumor pathobiology and also impact diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic options. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) studies the role of inheritance of individual genetic patterns in drug response and has taken advantage of NGS technology as it provides access to high-throughput data that can, however, be difficult to manage. Machine learning (ML) has recently been used in the life sciences to discover hidden patterns from complex NGS data and to solve various PGx problems. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the NGS approaches that can be employed and the different PGx studies implicating the use of NGS data. We also provide an excursus of the ML algorithms that can exert a role as fundamental strategies in the PGx field to improve personalized medicine in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maurizio Polano
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
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10
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Dewdney B, Jenkins MR, Best SA, Freytag S, Prasad K, Holst J, Endersby R, Johns TG. From signalling pathways to targeted therapies: unravelling glioblastoma's secrets and harnessing two decades of progress. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:400. [PMID: 37857607 PMCID: PMC10587102 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01637-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma, a rare, and highly lethal form of brain cancer, poses significant challenges in terms of therapeutic resistance, and poor survival rates for both adult and paediatric patients alike. Despite advancements in brain cancer research driven by a technological revolution, translating our understanding of glioblastoma pathogenesis into improved clinical outcomes remains a critical unmet need. This review emphasises the intricate role of receptor tyrosine kinase signalling pathways, epigenetic mechanisms, and metabolic functions in glioblastoma tumourigenesis and therapeutic resistance. We also discuss the extensive efforts over the past two decades that have explored targeted therapies against these pathways. Emerging therapeutic approaches, such as antibody-toxin conjugates or CAR T cell therapies, offer potential by specifically targeting proteins on the glioblastoma cell surface. Combination strategies incorporating protein-targeted therapy and immune-based therapies demonstrate great promise for future clinical research. Moreover, gaining insights into the role of cell-of-origin in glioblastoma treatment response holds the potential to advance precision medicine approaches. Addressing these challenges is crucial to improving outcomes for glioblastoma patients and moving towards more effective precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Dewdney
- Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia.
- Centre For Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Misty R Jenkins
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia
| | - Sarah A Best
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia
| | - Saskia Freytag
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia
| | - Krishneel Prasad
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia
| | - Jeff Holst
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Raelene Endersby
- Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre For Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Terrance G Johns
- Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre For Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
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11
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Vincent CA, Nissen I, Dakhel S, Hörnblad A, Remeseiro S. Epigenomic perturbation of novel EGFR enhancers reduces the proliferative and invasive capacity of glioblastoma and increases sensitivity to temozolomide. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:945. [PMID: 37803333 PMCID: PMC10557167 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11418-9] [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] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive of all primary brain tumours and due to its highly invasive nature, surgical resection is nearly impossible. Patients typically rely on radiotherapy with concurrent temozolomide (TMZ) treatment and face a median survival of ~ 14 months. Alterations in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor gene (EGFR) are common in GB tumours, but therapies targeting EGFR have not shown significant clinical efficacy. METHODS Here, we investigated the influence of the EGFR regulatory genome on GB cells and identified novel EGFR enhancers located near the GB-associated SNP rs723527. We used CRISPR/Cas9-based approaches to target the EGFR enhancer regions, generating multiple modified GB cell lines, which enabled us to study the functional response to enhancer perturbation. RESULTS Epigenomic perturbation of the EGFR regulatory region decreases EGFR expression and reduces the proliferative and invasive capacity of glioblastoma cells, which also undergo a metabolic reprogramming in favour of mitochondrial respiration and present increased apoptosis. Moreover, EGFR enhancer-perturbation increases the sensitivity of GB cells to TMZ, the first-choice chemotherapeutic agent to treat glioblastoma. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate how epigenomic perturbation of EGFR enhancers can ameliorate the aggressiveness of glioblastoma cells and enhance the efficacy of TMZ treatment. This study demonstrates how CRISPR/Cas9-based perturbation of enhancers can be used to modulate the expression of key cancer genes, which can help improve the effectiveness of existing cancer treatments and potentially the prognosis of difficult-to-treat cancers such as glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A Vincent
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Itzel Nissen
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Soran Dakhel
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Andreas Hörnblad
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Silvia Remeseiro
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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12
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Dabkowski TR, Varkhedi M, Song JJ, Gozlan EC, Blanck G. Neuroblastoma and Glioblastoma Cases With Amplified Oncogenes Have Reduced Numbers of Tumor-Resident Adaptive Immune Receptor Recombinations. JCO Precis Oncol 2023; 7:e2300057. [PMID: 38085056 DOI: 10.1200/po.23.00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In certain cancers, oncogene amplification is correlated with an immunologically cold or noninflamed, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and a worse prognosis, for example, in the case of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma (NBL). However, for other cancer types, the relationship between oncogene amplification and immune response is more complicated or unresolved. One such cancer is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), in which the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) oncogene is commonly amplified. Unlike MYCN-amplified NBL, EGFR-amplified GBM has not been shown to correlate with a distinct survival probability. METHODS Given this contrasting state for NBL and GBM, we sought to apply a genomics approach to evaluating the immune response for cases with gene amplification. RESULTS Our results confirmed and added further specificity to the cold TIME of MYCN-amplified NBL. Moreover, we demonstrated a novel state of immunologically cold EGFR-amplified GBM tumors. CONCLUSION This approach to using copy number variation and immune receptor recombination read recovery levels to assess gene amplification and TIME, respectively, may be particularly efficient for the rapid evaluation of many other cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toriana R Dabkowski
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Mallika Varkhedi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Joanna J Song
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Etienne C Gozlan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - George Blanck
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
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13
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Halatsch ME. Special Issue: Principal Challenges in the Adjuvant Treatment of Glioblastoma. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1881. [PMID: 37509520 PMCID: PMC10377107 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in local treatments, such as supramaximal resection (even in eloquent locations [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Eric Halatsch
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital of Winterthur, CH-8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
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14
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Yashin KS, Yuzhakova DV, Sachkova DA, Kukhnina LS, Kharitonova TM, Zolotova AS, Medyanik IA, Shirmanova MV. Personalized Medicine in Brain Gliomas: Targeted Therapy, Patient-Derived Tumor Models (Review). Sovrem Tekhnologii Med 2023; 15:61-71. [PMID: 38435477 PMCID: PMC10904359 DOI: 10.17691/stm2023.15.3.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are the most common type of primary malignant brain tumors. The choice of treatments for these tumors was quite limited for many years, and therapy results generally remain still unsatisfactory. Recently, a significant breakthrough in the treatment of many forms of cancer occurred when personalized targeted therapies were introduced which inhibit tumor growth by affecting a specific molecular target. Another trend gaining popularity in oncology is the creation of patient-derived tumor models which can be used for drug screening to select the optimal therapy regimen. Molecular and genetic mechanisms of brain gliomas growth are considered, consisting of individual components which could potentially be exposed to targeted drugs. The results of the literature review show a higher efficacy of the personalized approach to the treatment of individual patients compared to the use of standard therapies. However, many unresolved issues remain in the area of predicting the effectiveness of a particular drug therapy regimen. The main hopes in solving this issue are set on the use of patient-derived tumor models, which can be used in one-stage testing of a wide range of antitumor drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Yashin
- Neurosurgeon, Department of Neurosurgery, University Clinic; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia; Assistant, Department of Traumatology and Neurosurgery named after M.V. Kolokoltsev; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia; Oncologist, Polyclinic Department; Nizhny Novgorod Regional Oncologic Dispensary, 11/1 Delovaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603126, Russia
| | - D V Yuzhakova
- Researcher, Laboratory of Genomics of Adaptive Antitumor Immunity, Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - D A Sachkova
- Master Student, Department of Biophysics; National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod, 23 Prospekt Gagarina, Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia Laboratory Assistant, Laboratory of Fluorescent Bioimaging, Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - L S Kukhnina
- Student, Faculty of Medicine; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - T M Kharitonova
- Student, Faculty of Medicine; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - A S Zolotova
- Resident, Department of Neurosurgery, University Clinic; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - I A Medyanik
- Neurosurgeon, Department Neurosurgery, University Clinic; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia; Professor, Department of Traumatology and Neurosurgery named after M.V. Kolokoltsev; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia; Oncologist, Polyclinic Department; Nizhny Novgorod Regional Oncologic Dispensary, 11/1 Delovaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603126, Russia
| | - M V Shirmanova
- Deputy Director for Science, Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
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15
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Kaye B, Ali A, Correa Bastianon Santiago RA, Ibrahim B, Isidor J, Awad H, Sabahi M, Obrzut M, Adada B, Ranjan S, Borghei-Razavi H. The Role of EGFR Amplification in Deep Venous Thrombosis Occurrence in IDH Wild-Type Glioblastoma. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:4946-4956. [PMID: 37232831 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30050373] [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: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Glioblastoma (GBM) patients have a 20-30 incidence of venous thromboembolic events. EGFR is a widely used prognostic marker for many cancers. Recent lung cancer studies have described relationships between EGFR amplification and an increased incidence of thromboembolic complications. We aim to explore this relationship in glioblastoma patients. Methods: Two hundred ninety-three consecutive patients with IDH wild-type GBM were included in the analysis. The amplification status of EGFR was measured using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Centromere 7 (CEP7) expression was recorded to calculate the EGFR-to-CEP7 ratio. All data were collected retrospectively through chart review. Molecular data were obtained through the surgical pathology report at the time of biopsy. Results: There were 112 subjects who were EGFR-amplified (38.2%) and 181 who were non-amplified (61.8%). EGFR amplification status was not significantly correlated with VTE risk overall (p = 0.2001). There was no statistically significant association between VTE and EGFR status after controlling for Bevacizumab therapy (p = 0.1626). EGFR non-amplified status was associated with an increased VTE risk in subjects greater than 60 years of age (p = 0.048). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in occurrence of VTE in patients with glioblastoma, regardless of EGFR amplification status. Patients older than 60 years of age with EGFR amplification experienced a lower rate of VTE, contrary to some reports on non-small-cell lung cancer linking EGFR amplification to VTE risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Kaye
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Assad Ali
- Cleveland Clinic Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Weston, FL 33331, USA
| | | | - Bilal Ibrahim
- Cleveland Clinic Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Weston, FL 33331, USA
| | - Julio Isidor
- Cleveland Clinic Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Weston, FL 33331, USA
| | - Hany Awad
- Cleveland Clinic Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Weston, FL 33331, USA
| | | | - Michal Obrzut
- Cleveland Clinic Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Weston, FL 33331, USA
| | - Badih Adada
- Cleveland Clinic Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Weston, FL 33331, USA
| | - Surabhi Ranjan
- Cleveland Clinic Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Weston, FL 33331, USA
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16
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Liu X, Kang C. Bridging deep sequencing to precision oncology in meningiomas. Neuro Oncol 2023; 25:531-532. [PMID: 36625527 PMCID: PMC10013627 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Liu
- Department of Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Chunsheng Kang
- Laboratory of Neuro-oncology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Key Laboratory of Post-Neuro Injury Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin, China
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17
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Kizilbash SH. Why has targeting EGFR aberrations in glioblastoma therapy had limited success? Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2022; 22:1261-1263. [PMID: 36367033 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2022.2146581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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