Genetic polymorphisms in hMSH2 and hMLH1 genes are associated with prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer patients

Neurotoxicity of antineoplastic drugs: Mechanisms, susceptibility, and neuroprotective strategies

This review summarizes the adverse effects on the central and/or peripheral nervous systems that may occur in response to antineoplastic drugs. In particular, we describe the neurotoxic side effects of the most commonly used drugs, such as platinum compounds, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, 5-fluorouracil, vinca alkaloids, taxanes, methotrexate, bortezomib and thalidomide. Neurotoxicity may result from direct action of compounds on the nervous system or from metabolic alterations produced indirectly by these drugs, and either the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system, or both, may be affected. The incidence and severity of neurotoxicity are principally related to the dose, to the duration of treatment, and to the dose intensity, though other factors, such as age, concurrent pathologies, and genetic predisposition may enhance the occurrence of side effects. To avoid or reduce the onset and severity of these neurotoxic effects, the use of neuroprotective compounds and/or strategies may be helpful, thereby enhancing the therapeutic effectiveness of antineoplastic drug.

Genetic variants and expression of the TIM-3 gene are associated with clinical prognosis in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

Polymorphisms of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3) were reported to be associated with cancer risk and patients' survival. This study aims to investigate the correlation of TIM-3 polymorphisms with susceptibility to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and patients' outcomes.

METHODS

A total of 700 EOC patients and 710 healthy controls from North China were included. The polymorphisms (rs10053538, rs10515746 and rs1036199) were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction/ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) method. Survival data were available for 339 patients after cytoreductive surgery. The expression level of TIM-3 was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The prognostic value of TIM3 in EOC patients was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier plotter database.

RESULTS

The results showed that none of the TIM3 polymorphisms were associated with the risk of developing EOC. Patients with the rs10053538 CA + AA genotype had worse PFS and OS than those with the CC genotype (HR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.05-2.09, P = 0.024 and HR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.09-2.26, P = 0.017, respectively). The RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of TIM-3 mRNA in EOC tissues with the rs10053538CA + AA genotypes were significantly higher than those with the CC genotype (P = 0.006). Analysis using the Kaplan-Meier plotter database showed that high expression of TIM-3 mRNA was significantly associated with shorter PFS and OS in EOC patients (HR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.29-1.91, P < 0.001 and HR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.06-1.63, P = 0.013, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

TIM-3 polymorphisms were not associated with risk of developing EOC. Both rs10053538 and the expression level of TIM-3 mRNA may be associated with its clinical outcome in EOC patients.

Functional polymorphisms in FOXC2 gene and Epithelial ovarian Cancer susceptibility in Chinese population

Background

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is highly lethal gynecological cancer. Forkhead Box Protein C2 (FOXC2) promotes occurrence and development of various malignant tumors. The present study is aimed at exploring the correlation between the polymorphism of FOXC2 and epithelial ovarian cancer susceptibility in Chinese Han population.

Methods

A case-control design was used to verify the association between FOXC2 polymorphisms and epithelial ovarian cancer. The genotyping was performed using Taqman® SNP Genotyping kit by qRT-PCR. The genetic variants including rs3751794 C > T, rs1035550 A > G, rs4843163 C > G and rs4843396 C > T in FOXC2 gene were analyzed. The strength of the associations was detected using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Stratification analyses showed the association between the FOXC2 gene polymorphisms rs3751794 C > T, rs4843163 C > G and rs4843396 C > T with epithelial ovarian cancer susceptibility in terms of age, metastasis status, clinical stage, pathological grade, pregnant times, pausimenia, and the expression of ER, PR, wild p53 and mutant p53.

Results

Rs3751794 C > T (P = 0.0016), rs4843163 C > G (P < 0.0001) and rs4843396 C > T (P < 0.0001) were significantly associated with increased epithelial ovarian cancer risk. In stratification analyses,rs3751794 C > T, was identified to be dominant in no metastasis patients, clinical stage 4 group, middle grade pathological stage, pregnant time over 3 patients, post-menopause women, strong wild type p53 expression; rs4843163 C > G was dominant in high grade clinical stage, high grade pathological stage, post-menopause women, strong ER expression group and no mutant p53 expression group; rs4843396 C > T was dominant in high grade clinical stage, high grade pathological stage, strong ER expression group. The rs1035550 A > G was not related to epithelial ovarian cancer susceptibility.

Conclusions

The results of the current study verified that FOXC2 gene polymorphisms were associated with increased epithelial ovarian cancer risk and suggested that FOXC2 gene polymorphisms might be a potential biomarker for epithelial ovarian cancer susceptibility.