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Amato R, Lucchesi M, Marracci S, Filippi L, Dal Monte M. β-Adrenoceptors in Cancer: Old Players and New Perspectives. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2024; 285:665-688. [PMID: 37982890 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_701] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Distress, or negative stress, is known to considerably increase the incidence of several diseases, including cancer. There is indeed evidence from pre-clinical models that distress causes a catecholaminergic overdrive that, mainly through the activation of β-adrenoceptors (β-ARs), results in cancer cell growth and cancer progression. In addition, clinical studies have evidenced a role of negative stress in cancer progression. Moreover, plenty of data demonstrates that β-blockers have positive effects in reducing the pro-tumorigenic activity of catecholamines, correlating with better outcomes in some type of cancers as evidenced by several clinical trials. Among β-ARs, β2-AR seems to be the main β-AR subtype involved in tumor development and progression. However, there are data indicating that also β1-AR and β3-AR may be involved in certain tumors. In this chapter, we will review current knowledge on the role of the three β-AR isoforms in carcinogenesis as well as in cancer growth and progression, with particular emphasis on recent studies that are opening new avenues in the use of β-ARs as therapeutic targets in treating tumors.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Neoplasms/pathology
- Animals
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3/metabolism
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/pharmacology
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/metabolism
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/drug effects
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta/metabolism
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta/physiology
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Disease Progression
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Amato
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Luca Filippi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Inácio Â, Aguiar L, Carrilho R, Pires P, Ferreira J, Coelho L, Mascarenhas MR, Sardinha L, Bilhim T, Pisco J, Bicho M, Bicho MC. Genetic Contribution of the Adrenergic, Cholinergic, and Serotonergic Systems to Leiomyoma Development and Treatment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR MEDICINE 2023; 12:320-334. [PMID: 39006196 PMCID: PMC11240054 DOI: 10.22088/ijmcm.bums.12.4.320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The link between the autonomic nervous system and tumor biology is being unfold. We aim to study the contribution of genes of the adrenergic (ADBR2 - rs1042713, NM_000024.6:c.46G>A, NP_000015.2:p. Gly16Arg), cholinergic (CHRNA5 - rs16969968, NM_000745.3:c.1192G>A, NP_000736.2:p.Asp398Asn), and serotonergic systems (SLC6A4 - 5-HTTVNTR-intron2, HTR2A - rs6313, NM_000621.5:c.102C>T, NP_ 001365853 .1: p. Ser 34=) to gynecological tumorigenesis and their treatment by embolization. A total of 517 DNA samples from women were analyzed. Samples were genotyped by PCR, PCR-RFLP and EndPoint genotyping. Results show a statistically significant association between the AA genotype of the ADBR2 gene and GG genotype of the CHRNA5 gene with leiomyoma (OR = 2.311; p = 0.003 and OR = 2.165; p = 0.001, respectively), and the epistatic interaction between genotypes increases the risk (OR = 2.458; p= 0.043). The GG genotype (CHRNA5) shows a lower reduction of the volume of the main leiomyoma after treatment (p=0.015). Combination of the genotypes 12/12-AA (SLC6A4 - ADBR2) increases the risk to leiomyoma (OR = 2.540, p= 0.030). TT genotype of HTR2A gene in combination with any of the two risk genotypes (of ADBR2 or CHRNA5) increases substantially the risk (OR = 5.266, p = 0.006; OR = 6.364, p=0.007, respectively). We conclude that ADBR2 and CHRNA5 genes have a relevant role that is enhanced by the epistatic relationship with the genes HTR2A and SLC6A4. CHRNA5 gene may also be a modulator of the success of embolization. We confirm the contribution of the genetics of Autonomous Nervous System to tumor biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ângel Inácio
- Instituto de Investigação Científica Bento da Rocha Cabral, Calçada Bento Rocha Cabral, 14, 1257-047 Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Laura Aguiar
- Instituto de Investigação Científica Bento da Rocha Cabral, Calçada Bento Rocha Cabral, 14, 1257-047 Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Raquel Carrilho
- Instituto de Investigação Científica Bento da Rocha Cabral, Calçada Bento Rocha Cabral, 14, 1257-047 Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Pires
- Instituto de Investigação Científica Bento da Rocha Cabral, Calçada Bento Rocha Cabral, 14, 1257-047 Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Ferreira
- Instituto de Investigação Científica Bento da Rocha Cabral, Calçada Bento Rocha Cabral, 14, 1257-047 Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís Coelho
- Instituto de Investigação Científica Bento da Rocha Cabral, Calçada Bento Rocha Cabral, 14, 1257-047 Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mário Rui Mascarenhas
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Clínica de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metabolismo de Lisboa, Avenida António Augusto Aguiar 56-r/c-D, 1050-017, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís Sardinha
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudo da Performance Humana, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana da Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa 1499-002 Cruz Quebrada, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Tiago Bilhim
- Serviço de Radiologia de Intervenção do Hospital Saint Louis, R. Luz Soriano 182, 1200-249 Lisboa, Portugal
- Nova Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Pisco
- Serviço de Radiologia de Intervenção do Hospital Saint Louis, R. Luz Soriano 182, 1200-249 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Manuel Bicho
- Instituto de Investigação Científica Bento da Rocha Cabral, Calçada Bento Rocha Cabral, 14, 1257-047 Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Clara Bicho
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde Publica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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The role of ADRB2 gene polymorphisms in malignancies. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:2741-2749. [PMID: 33675465 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06250-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Beta-2-adrenergic receptor is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily, which is highly expressed in most malignancies. There is increasing evidence showing that beta-2-adrenergic receptors are associated with carcinogenesis, proliferation, immune regulation, invasion, angiogenesis, clinical prognosis and treatment resistance in malignancies. Polymorphisms of the ADRB2 gene have been confirmed to be associated with transcriptional activity, mRNA translation, and beta-2-adrenergic receptor expression and sensitivity. This review discusses clinically relevant examples of single nucleotide polymorphisms of ADRB2 in malignancies and the effects of these polymorphisms on cancer susceptibility, prognosis and treatment response of cancer patients.
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Onyeaghala G, Lane J, Pankratz N, Nelson HH, Thyagarajan B, Walcheck B, Anderson KE, Prizment AE. Association between MICA polymorphisms, s-MICA levels, and pancreatic cancer risk in a population-based case-control study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217868. [PMID: 31166958 PMCID: PMC6550421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic tumor cells may avoid immune surveillance by releasing the transmembrane major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A (MICA) protein in soluble form (s-MICA). We hypothesized that the presence of the A5.1 polymorphism in the MICA gene, which encodes a truncated MICA protein, is associated with higher s-MICA levels and increased pancreatic cancer risk. METHODS MICA alleles and s-MICA levels were measured in 121 pancreatic cancer cases and 419 controls. General linear regression with a log transformation assessed geometric means of s-MICA levels across MICA alleles. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for pancreatic cancer associated with MICA alleles. RESULTS After multivariate adjustment, participants with at least one copy of the A5.1 allele versus no A5.1 allele had 1.35 (95% CI: 1.05-1.74) times greater s-MICA levels (1.65 times higher for cases and 1.28, for controls) and increased risk of pancreatic cancer (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.05-3.48). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests higher risk of pancreatic cancer among those with the MICA A5.1 polymorphism, which may be explained by an increase in s-MICA secretion and impaired immune response. IMPACT These findings provide further evidence at the genetic and molecular level of the important role of MICA in pancreatic cancer development, and may have important implications with regards to pancreatic cancer screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Onyeaghala
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - John Lane
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Nathan Pankratz
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Heather H. Nelson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Bharat Thyagarajan
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Bruce Walcheck
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States of America
| | - Kristin E. Anderson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Anna E. Prizment
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
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Tang W, Kang M, Liu C, Qiu H. Leptin rs7799039 (G2548A) polymorphism is associated with cancer risk: a meta-analysis involving 25,799 subjects. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:2879-2890. [PMID: 31114233 PMCID: PMC6489571 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s190093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Leptin (LEP) is a human analogous form of the mouse obese gene and plays a critical role in energy expenditure as well as the progression of carcinogenesis. Many studies exploring the relationship between the LEP rs7799039 (G2548A) polymorphism and cancer risk have observed controversial results. To extensively evaluate this potential association, we conducted this meta-analysis. Methods: All eligible studies published up to August 2018 on the relationship between the LEP rs7799039 G>A polymorphism and cancer risk were obtained by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and the China Biology Medicine databases. The association of LEP rs7799039 G>A polymorphism with cancer risk was evaluated by crude ORs together with their 95% CI's. Results: Thirty-one case–control studies involving 25,799 subjects were included for meta-analysis. We identify a significant correlation with an overall cancer risk when these eligible case–control studies were pooled for analysis: for AA vs GG: an OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.01–1.48, P = 0.042 and for AA/GA vs GG: an OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.02–1.33, P = 0.026. A significant association was also detected in Asians, prostate cancer, other cancers, and hematopoietic malignancy subgroups. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by deleting an individual study in turn and calculation of the pooled ORs and CIs of the remainders. The results of sensitivity analyses indicated that no eligible study influenced the pooled ORs and CIs materially. Begg’s and Egger’s tests revealed that there was no evidence of publication bias. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study suggests that the LEP rs7799039 G>A polymorphism might contribute to the development of cancer. In order to further verify or refute our findings, large and well-designed epidemiological studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng Tang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingqiang Kang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Qiu
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
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Saito Y, Noto H, Takahashi O, Kobayashi D. Visit-to-Visit Hemoglobin A1c Variability Is Associated With Later Cancer Development in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus. Cancer J 2019; 25:237-240. [PMID: 31335385 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Recent studies have shown that patients with diabetes mellitus have a higher risk of tumorigenesis. However, the effect of glycemic variability on tumorigenesis among diabetic patients has not been well investigated. Hence, we performed a retrospective cohort study to analyze the effect of visit-to-visit hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) variability and later onset of malignancies. METHODS This study included 2640 patients with diabetes mellitus 50 years or older. To analyze visit-to-visit glycemic activity, we calculated intrapersonal SD of all recorded HbA1c and used SD-HbA1c as a measure of glycemic variability. Because the number of individual visits varied, we divided SD-HbA1c by visit times in order to adjust for the potential influence of visit time difference between individuals. Patients were divided into quartiles according to their HbA1c variability, and Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association between glycemic variability and later onset of tumorigenesis. RESULTS Three hundred thirty patients (12.5%) developed malignancy during follow-up. The median follow-up period was 1511 days (4.1 years; interquartile range, 2487.5 days). Relative to the group with the lowest glycemic variability (first quartile), the groups with higher glycemic variability showed a dose-dependent association with tumorigenesis. The odds ratios for the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 1.20 (95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.65), 1.43 (1.02-2.00), and 2.19 (1.52-3.17), respectively. The mean HbA1c and diabetes mellitus duration periods were not significantly associated with tumorigenesis. This result was consistent when limiting the number of covariates. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrated that visit-to-visit HbA1c variability is a potential risk factor for later tumorigenesis. The association may be mediated by oxidative stress or hormone variability. Routine cancer screening may be suggested for diabetic patients with unstable glycemic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Saito
- From the Department of Gastroenterology, Keio University School of Medicine
| | | | - Osamu Takahashi
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, St Luke's International Hospital
- Department of Epidemiology, St Luke's International University Graduate School of Public Health, Tokyo
| | - Daiki Kobayashi
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, St Luke's International Hospital
- Department of Epidemiology, St Luke's International University Graduate School of Public Health, Tokyo
- Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
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Waldmann J, Fendrich V, Reichert M, Hecker A, Bartsch DK, Padberg W, Holler JP. Expression of neuropeptide Y and its receptors Y1 and Y2 in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive pancreatic cancer in a transgenic mouse model and human samples of pancreatic cancer. J Surg Res 2018; 223:230-236. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Onyeaghala G, Nelson HH, Thyagarajan B, Linabery AM, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Gross M, Anderson KE, Prizment AE. Soluble MICA is elevated in pancreatic cancer: Results from a population based case-control study. Mol Carcinog 2017; 56:2158-2164. [PMID: 28470829 PMCID: PMC5590635 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is diagnosed at a late stage and has one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the United States, creating an urgent need for novel early detection tools. A candidate biomarker for use in early detection is the soluble MHC class I-related chain A (s-MICA) ligand, which pancreatic tumors shed to escape immune detection. The objective of this study was to define the association between s-MICA levels and pancreatic cancer, in a population-based case-control study. S-MICA was measured in 143 pancreatic cancer cases and 459 controls. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) for pancreatic cancer and 95% confidence intervals (CI). There was a positive association between increasing s-MICA levels and pancreatic cancer: compared to the lowest tertile, the ORs for pancreatic cancer were 1.25 (95%CI: 0.75-2.07) and 2.10 (95%CI: 1.29-3.42) in the second and highest tertiles, respectively (P-trend = 0.02). Our study supports previous work demonstrating a positive association between plasma s-MICA levels and pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Onyeaghala
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Heather H Nelson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Bharat Thyagarajan
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Amy M Linabery
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Myron Gross
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Kristin E Anderson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Anna E Prizment
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Sever S, White DL, Garcia JM. Is there an effect of ghrelin/ghrelin analogs on cancer? A systematic review. Endocr Relat Cancer 2016; 23:R393-409. [PMID: 27552970 PMCID: PMC5064755 DOI: 10.1530/erc-16-0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ghrelin is a hormone with multiple physiologic functions, including promotion of growth hormone release, stimulation of appetite and regulation of energy homeostasis. Treatment with ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonists is a prospective therapy for disease-related cachexia and malnutrition. In vitro studies have shown high expression of ghrelin in cancer tissue, although its role including its impact in cancer risk and progression has not been established. We performed a systematic literature review to identify peer-reviewed human or animal in vivo original research studies of ghrelin, ghrelin-receptor agonists, or ghrelin genetic variants and the risk, presence, or growth of cancer using structured searches in PubMed database as well as secondary searches of article reference lists, additional reviews and meta-analyses. Overall, 45 (73.8%) of the 61 studies reviewed, including all 11 involving exogenous ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonist treatment, reported either a null (no statistically significant difference) or inverse association of ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonists or ghrelin genetic variants with cancer risk, presence or growth; 10 (16.7%) studies reported positive associations; and 6 (10.0%) reported both negative or null and positive associations. Differences in serum ghrelin levels in cancer cases vs controls (typically lower) were reported for some but not all cancers. The majority of in vivo studies showed a null or inverse association of ghrelin with risk and progression of most cancers, suggesting that ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonist treatment may have a favorable safety profile to use for cancer cachexia. Additional large-scale prospective clinical trials as well as basic bioscientific research are warranted to further evaluate the safety and benefits of ghrelin treatment in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakine Sever
- Division of EndocrinologyDiabetes, and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Alkek Building for Biomedical Research, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Donna L White
- Section of Gastroenterology and HepatologyBaylor College of Medicine Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA Clinical Epidemiology and Comparative Effectiveness ProgramSection of Health Services Research (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, HSR&D Center of Innovation (152), Houston, Texas, USA Texas Medical Center Digestive Disease CenterBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer CenterBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CTRID)Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - José M Garcia
- Division of EndocrinologyDiabetes, and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Alkek Building for Biomedical Research, Houston, Texas, USA Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CTRID)Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA Department of Molecular and Cellular BiologyBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA Huffington Center on AgingBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical CenterVeterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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