1
|
Uterine carcinosarcoma: An overview. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2021; 163:103369. [PMID: 34051304 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS), also known as malignant mixed Müllerian tumor, is a rare gynecological malignancy characterized by poor prognosis. This "biphasic" neoplasm presents an admixture of epithelial and mesenchymal/sarcomatoid tumor cells which partially share their molecular signature and exhibit a typical epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition gene expression profile. Due to the rarity of this cancer, at present there is a scarcity of specific treatment guidelines. Surgical resection remains the best curative option for localized disease, whereas the addition of peri-operative radiotherapy, chemotherapy and chemoradiation has been shown to further improve disease outcomes. In the metastatic setting, palliative chemotherapy is currently the treatment of choice, although no consensus exists about the best regimen to be delivered. Besides standard treatment options for the advanced disease, mechanistic insights into UCS pathogenesis and identification of its histopathological and molecular features boosted the development of novel, and potentially more effective, therapeutic agents, that will be here discussed.
Collapse
|
2
|
Epithelialization of mouse ovarian tumor cells originating in the fallopian tube stroma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:66077-66086. [PMID: 27602775 PMCID: PMC5323216 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian carcinoma accounts for 90% of all ovarian cancer and is the most deadly gynecologic malignancy. Recent studies have suggested that fallopian tube fimbriae can be the origin of cells for high-grade serous subtype of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). A mouse HGSOC model with conditional Dicer-Pten double knockout (Dicer-Pten DKO) developed primary tumors, intriguingly, from the fallopian tube stroma. We examined the growth and epithelial phenotypes of the Dicer-Pten DKO mouse tumor cells contributable by each gene knockout. Unlike human ovarian epithelial cancer cells that expressed full-length E-cadherin, the Dicer-Pten DKO stromal tumor cells expressed cleaved E-cadherin fragments and metalloproteinase 2, a mixture of epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Although the Dicer-Pten DKO tumor cells lost the expression of mature microRNAs as expected, they showed high levels of tRNA fragment expression and enhanced AKT activation due to the loss of PTEN function. Introduction of a Dicer1-expressing construct into the DKO mouse tumor cells significantly reduced DNA synthesis and the cell growth rate, with concurrent diminished adhesion and ZO1 epithelial staining. Hence, it is likely that the loss of Dicer promoted mesenchymal-epithelial transition in fallopian tube stromal cells, and in conjunction with Pten loss, further promoted cell proliferation and epithelial-like tumorigenesis.
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang Y, Kwok JSL, Choi PW, Liu M, Yang J, Singh M, Ng SK, Welch WR, Muto MG, Tsui SK, Sugrue SP, Berkowitz RS, Ng SW. Pinin interacts with C-terminal binding proteins for RNA alternative splicing and epithelial cell identity of human ovarian cancer cells. Oncotarget 2017; 7:11397-411. [PMID: 26871283 PMCID: PMC4905481 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike many other human solid tumors, ovarian tumors express many epithelial markers at a high level for cell growth and local invasion. The phosphoprotein Pinin plays a key role in epithelial cell identity. We showed that clinical ovarian tumors and ovarian cancer cell lines express a high level of Pinin when compared with normal ovarian tissues and immortalized normal ovarian surface epithelial cell lines. Pinin co-localized and physically interacted with transcriptional corepressor C-terminal binding proteins, CtBP1 and CtBP2, in the nuclei of cancer cells. Knockdown of Pinin in ovarian cancer cells resulted in specific reduction of CtBP1 protein expression, cell adhesion, anchorage-independent growth, and increased drug sensitivity. Whole transcriptomic comparison of next-generation RNA sequencing data between control ovarian cancer cell lines and cancer cell lines with respective knockdown of Pinin, CtBP1, and CtBP2 expression also showed reduced expression of CtBP1 mRNA in the Pinin knockdown cell lines. The Pinin knockdown cell lines shared significant overlap of differentially expressed genes and RNA splicing aberrations with CtBP1 knockdown and in a lesser degree with CtBP2 knockdown cancer cells. Hence, Pinin and CtBP are oncotargets that closely interact with each other to regulate transcription and pre-mRNA alternative splicing and promote cell adhesion and other epithelial characteristics of ovarian cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Zhang
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jamie Sui-Lam Kwok
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pui-Wah Choi
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Minghua Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Junzheng Yang
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margit Singh
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shu-Kay Ng
- School of Medicine and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Meadowbrook, Australia
| | - William R Welch
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael G Muto
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen Kw Tsui
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Stephen P Sugrue
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ross S Berkowitz
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shu-Wing Ng
- Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yang J, Zhou Y, Ng SK, Huang KC, Ni X, Choi PW, Hasselblatt K, Muto MG, Welch WR, Berkowitz RS, Ng SW. Characterization of MicroRNA-200 pathway in ovarian cancer and serous intraepithelial carcinoma of fallopian tube. BMC Cancer 2017. [PMID: 28623900 PMCID: PMC5473983 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3417-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among gynecologic diseases in Western countries. We have previously identified a miR-200-E-cadherin axis that plays an important role in ovarian inclusion cyst formation and tumor invasion. The purpose of this study was to determine if the miR-200 pathway is involved in the early stages of ovarian cancer pathogenesis by studying the expression levels of the pathway components in a panel of clinical ovarian tissues, and fallopian tube tissues harboring serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas (STICs), a suggested precursor lesion for high-grade serous tumors. METHODS RNA prepared from ovarian and fallopian tube epithelial and stromal fibroblasts was subjected to quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to determine the expression of miR-200 families, target and effector genes and analyzed for clinical association. The effects of exogenous miR-200 on marker expression in normal cells were determined by qRT-PCR and fluorescence imaging after transfection of miR-200 precursors. RESULTS Ovarian epithelial tumor cells showed concurrent up-regulation of miR-200, down-regulation of the four target genes (ZEB1, ZEB2, TGFβ1 and TGFβ2), and up-regulation of effector genes that were negatively regulated by the target genes. STIC tumor cells showed a similar trend of expression patterns, although the effects did not reach significance because of small sample sizes. Transfection of synthetic miR-200 precursors into normal ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) and fallopian tube epithelial (FTE) cells confirmed reduced expression of the target genes and elevated levels of the effector genes CDH1, CRB3 and EpCAM in both normal OSE and FTE cells. However, only FTE cells had a specific induction of CA125 after miR-200 precursor transfection. CONCLUSIONS The activation of the miR-200 pathway may be an early event that renders the OSE and FTE cells more susceptible to oncogenic mutations and histologic differentiation. As high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOC) usually express high levels of CA125, the induction of CA125 expression in FTE cells by miR-200 precursor transfection is consistent with the notion that HGSOC has an origin in the distal fallopian tube.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junzheng Yang
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yilan Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shu-Kay Ng
- School of Medicine and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, QLD, Nathan, 4111, Australia
| | - Kuan-Chun Huang
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Ni
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Pui-Wah Choi
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kathleen Hasselblatt
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael G Muto
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - William R Welch
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ross S Berkowitz
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shu-Wing Ng
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Vitale SG, Laganà AS, Capriglione S, Angioli R, La Rosa VL, Lopez S, Valenti G, Sapia F, Sarpietro G, Butticè S, Tuscano C, Fanale D, Tropea A, Rossetti D. Target Therapies for Uterine Carcinosarcomas: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18051100. [PMID: 28531111 PMCID: PMC5455008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18051100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2017] [Revised: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Carcinosarcomas (CS) in gynecology are very infrequent and represent only 2-5% of uterine cancers. Despite surgical cytoreduction and subsequent chemotherapy being the primary treatment for uterine CS, the overall five-year survival rate is 30 ± 9% and recurrence is extremely common (50-80%). Due to the poor prognosis of CS, new strategies have been developed in the last few decades, targeting known dysfunctional molecular pathways for immunotherapy. In this paper, we aimed to gather the available evidence on the latest therapies for the treatment of CS. We performed a systematic review using the terms "uterine carcinosarcoma", "uterine Malignant Mixed Müllerian Tumors", "target therapies", "angiogenesis therapy", "cancer stem cell therapy", "prognostic biomarker", and "novel antibody-drug". Based on our results, the differential expression and accessibility of epithelial cell adhesion molecule-1 on metastatic/chemotherapy-resistant CS cells in comparison to normal tissues and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) open up new possibilities in the field of target therapy. Nevertheless, future investigations are needed to clarify the impact of these new therapies on survival rate and medium-/long-term outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Giovanni Vitale
- Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "Gaetano Barresi", University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
| | - Antonio Simone Laganà
- Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "Gaetano Barresi", University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
| | - Stella Capriglione
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
| | - Roberto Angioli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
| | - Valentina Lucia La Rosa
- Unit of Psychodiagnostics and Clinical Psychology, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Lopez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
| | - Gaetano Valenti
- Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Sapia
- Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Sarpietro
- Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Butticè
- Department of Human Pathology, Unit of Urology, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy.
| | - Carmelo Tuscano
- Radiation Oncology Department, AO "Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli", 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy.
| | - Daniele Fanale
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Tropea
- Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
| | - Diego Rossetti
- Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Desenzano del Garda Hospital, Section of Gavardo, 25085 Gavardo, Brescia, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bukowska B, Rogalska A, Marczak A. New potential chemotherapy for ovarian cancer - Combined therapy with WP 631 and epothilone B. Life Sci 2016; 151:86-92. [PMID: 26944437 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2016.02.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Despite more modern therapeutics approaches and the use of new drugs for chemotherapy, patients with ovarian cancer still have poor prognosis and therefore, new strategies for its cure are highly needed. One of the promising ways is combined therapy, which has many advantages as minimizing drug resistance, enhancing efficacy of treatment, and reducing toxicity. Combined therapy has rich and successful history in the field of ovarian cancer treatment. Currently use therapy is usually based on platinum-containing agent (carboplatin or cisplatin) and a member of taxanes (paclitaxel or docetaxel). In the mid-2000s this standard regimen has been expanded with bevacizumab, monoclonal antibody directed to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Another drug combination with promising perspectives is WP 631 given together with epothilone B (Epo B). WP 631 is a bisanthracycline composed of two molecules of daunorubicin linked with a p-xylenyl linker. Epo B is a 16-membered macrolide manifesting similar mechanism of action to taxanes. Their effectiveness against ovarian cancer as single agents is well established. However, the combination of WP 631 and Epo B appeared to act synergistically, meaning that it is much more potent than the single drugs. The mechanism lying under its efficacy includes disturbing essential cell cycle-regulating proteins leading to mitotic slippage and following apoptosis, as well as affecting EpCAM and HMGB1 expression. In this article, we summarized the current state of knowledge regarding combined therapy based on WP 631 and Epo B as a potential way of ovarian cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Bukowska
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143 Str, 90-236 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Aneta Rogalska
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143 Str, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Marczak
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143 Str, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wu GJ, Zeng GF. METCAM/MUC18 is a novel tumor and metastasis suppressor for the human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:136. [PMID: 26906545 PMCID: PMC4763411 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2181-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased expression of METCAM/MUC18, a trans-membrane cell adhesion molecule in the Ig-like gene superfamily, has been associated with the malignant progression of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. To investigate if this is a fortuitous correlation or if METCAM/MUC18 actually plays a role in the progression of the cancer, we tested effects of enforced expression of METCAM/MUC18 on in vitro behaviors, in vivo tumorigenesis, and in vivo malignant progression of human ovarian cancer SK-OV-3 cells, which minimally expressed this protein. METHODS For in vitro and in vivo tests, we transfected human METCAM/MUC18 cDNA gene into SK-OV-3 cells in a mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1+ and obtained G418-resistant (G418(R)) clones, which expressed various levels of human METCAM/MUC18. To mimic physiological situations, we used pooled METCAM/MUC18-expressing and control (vector) clones for testing effects of human METCAM/MUC18 over-expression on in vitro motility and invasiveness, and on in vivo tumor formation and metastasis in female athymic nude mice. Effects of METCAM/MUC18 on the expression of various downstream key factors related to tumorigenesis were also evaluated by Western blot analyses. RESULTS The over-expression of METCAM/MUC18 inhibited in vitro motility and invasiveness of SK-OV-3 cells. SK-OV-3 cells of the control (vector) clone (3D), which did not express human METCAM/MUC18, supported the formation of a solid tumor after SC injection of the cells at dorsal or ventral sites and also formation of solid tumor and ascites after IP injection in the intraperitoneal cavity of nude mice. In contrast, SK-OV-3 cells from the METCAM/MUC18-expressing clone (2D), which expressed a high level of METCAM/MUC18, did not support the formation of a solid tumor at SC sites, or formation of ascites in the intraperitoneal cavity of nude mice. Expression levels of downstream key factors, which may affect tumor proliferation and angiogenesis, were reduced in tumors induced by the METCAM/MUC18-expressing clone (2D). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that increased human METCAM/MUC18 expression in ovarian cancer SK-OV-3 cells suppressed tumorigenesis and ascites formation in nude mice, suggesting that human METCAM/MUC18 plays a suppressor role in the progression of ovarian cancer, perhaps by reducing proliferation and angiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Jer Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. .,Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, 32023, Taiwan. .,Center for Biomedical Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, 32023, Taiwan.
| | - Guo-fang Zeng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. .,Present Address: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Institute of Plastic Surgery, and Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 542001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ferrari F, Bellone S, Black J, Schwab CL, Lopez S, Cocco E, Bonazzoli E, Predolini F, Menderes G, Litkouhi B, Ratner E, Silasi DA, Azodi M, Schwartz PE, Santin AD. Solitomab, an EpCAM/CD3 bispecific antibody construct (BiTE®), is highly active against primary uterine and ovarian carcinosarcoma cell lines in vitro. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2015; 34:123. [PMID: 26474755 PMCID: PMC4609066 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-015-0241-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Uterine and ovarian carcinosarcomas (CS) are rare but highly aggressive gynecologic tumors which carry an extremely poor prognosis. We evaluated the expression levels of EpCAM and the in vitro activity of solitomab, a bispecific single-chain antibody construct which targets epithelial-cell-adhesion-molecule (EpCAM) on tumor cells and also contains a CD3 binding region, against primary uterine and ovarian CS cell lines. Methods EpCAM expression was evaluated by flow cytometry in a total of 5 primary CS cell lines. Sensitivity to solitomab-dependent-cellular-cytotoxicity (ADCC) was tested against the panel of primary CS cell lines expressing different levels of EpCAM in standard 4 h 51Cr release-assays. The proliferative activity, activation, cytokine secretion (i.e., Type I vs Type II) and cytotoxicity of solitomab in autologous tumor-associated-T cells (TAL) in the pleural fluid of a CS patient were also evaluated by CFSE and flow-cytometry assays. Results Surface expression of EpCAM was found in 80.0 % (4 out of 5) of the CS cell lines tested by flow cytometry. EpCAM positive cell lines were found resistant to NK or T-cell-mediated killing after exposure to peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in 4-h chromium-release assays (mean killing ± SEM = 1.1 ± 1.6 %, range 0–5.3 % after incubation of EpCAM positive cell lines with control BiTE®). In contrast, after incubation with solitomab, EpCAM positive CS cells became highly sensitive to T-cell-cytotoxicity (mean killing ± SEM of 19.7 ± 6.3 %; range 10.0-32.0 %; P < 0.0001). Ex vivo incubation of autologous TAL with EpCAM expressing malignant cells in pleural effusion with solitomab, resulted in a significant increase in T-cell proliferation in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, increase in T-cell activation markers (i.e., CD25 and HLA-DR), and a reduction in number of viable CS cells in the exudate (P < 0.001). Conclusions Solitomab may represent an effective treatment for patients with recurrent/metastatic and/or chemo-resistant CS overexpressing EpCAM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ferrari
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Stefania Bellone
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Jonathan Black
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Carlton L Schwab
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Salvatore Lopez
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Emiliano Cocco
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Elena Bonazzoli
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Federica Predolini
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Gulden Menderes
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Babak Litkouhi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Elena Ratner
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Dan-Arin Silasi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Masoud Azodi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Peter E Schwartz
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Alessandro D Santin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,, 333 Cedar Street, LSOG 305, PO Box 208063, New Haven, CT, 06520-8063, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Heubner M, Wimberger P, Kasimir-Bauer S, Singer BB, Ruf P, Kimmig R, Siffert W. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the EpCAM-coding gene TACSTD1 in patients with ovarian cancer and their potential translational aspects. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2015; 292:1367-72. [PMID: 26115884 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-015-3802-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE EpCAM is overexpressed in many neoplasms including ovarian cancer. We screened the EpCAM-coding gene TACSTD1 for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which could alter ovarian cancer risk, impact upon disease progression, or alter binding of the therapeutic EpCAM-binding antibody, catumaxomab. METHODS DNA fragments of 10 healthy volunteers were analyzed to identify SNPs. Subsequently, DNA of ovarian cancer patients (n = 117) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 115) was genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism and pyrosequencing. TACSTD1 genotypes 4461T>C were cloned into a gene expression vector; Hek293 cells were subsequently used for stable transfection. FACS analysis of the transfected Hek293 cells was conducted with HO-3-the EpCAM binding site of catumaxomab-to determine antibody binding. RESULTS One SNP was detected in exon 3 (4461T>C; rs1126497), resulting in an amino acid exchange at position 115 (Met115Thr). Another polymorphism was found in the 3'UTR (17225A>G; rs1421). Genotyping of patients and controls for these SNPs did not reveal significant differences in genotype distribution. Regarding 17225A>G, the homozygous AA-genotype was associated with diminished progression-free survival (PFS; p = 0.032). Overall survival, FIGO-stage, grading, and age did not differ significantly between genotypes. FACS analysis of transfected Hek293 cells overexpressing EpCAM 115Met/Thr showed binding of HO-3 to both proteins. CONCLUSIONS The AA-genotype of 17225A>G seems to be associated with diminished PFS in ovarian cancer patients. The amino acid exchange resulting from 4461T>C does not appear to alter binding of HO-3, suggesting that treatment with catumaxomab can be offered to patients regardless of their TACSTD1-genotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Heubner
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Faculty, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany. .,DKTK Deutsches Konsortium für translationale Krebsforschung, Partnerstandorte Essen/Düsseldorf und, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Pauline Wimberger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Dresden, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,DKTK Deutsches Konsortium für translationale Krebsforschung, Partnerstandorte Essen/Düsseldorf und, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sabine Kasimir-Bauer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Faculty, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.,DKTK Deutsches Konsortium für translationale Krebsforschung, Partnerstandorte Essen/Düsseldorf und, Dresden, Germany
| | - Bernhard B Singer
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Peter Ruf
- TRION Research GmbH, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Rainer Kimmig
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Faculty, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.,DKTK Deutsches Konsortium für translationale Krebsforschung, Partnerstandorte Essen/Düsseldorf und, Dresden, Germany
| | - Winfried Siffert
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,DKTK Deutsches Konsortium für translationale Krebsforschung, Partnerstandorte Essen/Düsseldorf und, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ward K, Amaya C, Verma K, Tran D, Diaz D, Torabi A, Bryan BA. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule is expressed in a subset of sarcomas and correlates to the degree of cytological atypia in leiomyosarcomas. Mol Clin Oncol 2014; 3:31-36. [PMID: 25469266 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2014.428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a protein involved in cell-to-cell attachment and is considered to be strictly expressed in epithelial tissues and epithelial-derived tumors. Furthermore, EpCAM has been shown to be a negative prognostic marker for several carcinomas. In this study, we performed a genomic meta-analysis of gene expression profiles housed in the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia to demonstrate that EpCAM mRNA is expressed at low to moderate levels in certain sarcoma cell lines. We utilized immunohistochemical staining to confirm that the EpCAM protein is expressed in a subset of angiosarcomas and leiomyosarcomas and in all the investigated osteosarcomas. Finally, we conducted a statistical analysis of clinical data to demonstrate that EpCAM protein expression is significantly and directly correlated with the degree of cytological atypia in leiomyosarcomas. In conclusion, this data suggests that, contrary to conventional beliefs, EpCAM is expressed in a subset of sarcomas and is a negative prognostic marker for leiomyosarcomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristi Ward
- Departments of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Clarissa Amaya
- Departments of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Kundan Verma
- Departments of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Dat Tran
- Departments of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Dolores Diaz
- Departments of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Alireza Torabi
- Departments of Pathology, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Brad A Bryan
- Departments of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Overexpression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule protein is associated with favorable prognosis in an unselected cohort of ovarian cancer patients. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2014; 140:1097-102. [PMID: 24728493 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-014-1672-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic influence of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in an unselected cohort of ovarian cancer (OC) patients. METHODS Expression of EpCAM was determined by immunohistochemistry in an unselected cohort of 117 patients with OC. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, tumor stage, histological grading, histological subtype, postoperative tumor burden and completeness of chemotherapy were performed in order to determine the prognostic influence of EpCAM. The Kaplan-Meier method is used to estimate survival rates. RESULTS Univariable Cox regression analysis showed that overexpression of EpCAM is associated with favorable prognosis in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.011) and disease-specific survival (DSS) (p = 0.003). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, overexpression of EpCAM retains its significance independent of established prognostic factors for longer PFS [hazard ratios (HR) 0.408, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.197-0.846, p = 0.003] but not for PFS (HR 0.666, 95 % CI 0.366-1.212, p = 0.183). Kaplan-Meier plots demonstrate an influence on 5-year PFS rates (0 vs. 27.6 %, p = 0.048) and DSS rates (11.8 vs. 54.0 %, p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS These findings support the hypothesis that the expression of EpCAM is associated with favorable prognosis in OC.
Collapse
|
12
|
Clinical significance of serum epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EPCAM) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Tumour Biol 2013; 35:3095-102. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-013-1401-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
|