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Simon N, Atiq S, Sonpavde G, Apolo A. New Therapeutic Horizons for Advanced or Metastatic Penile Cancer. Urol Clin North Am 2024; 51:367-376. [PMID: 38925739 DOI: 10.1016/j.ucl.2024.03.005] [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: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Penile cancer is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. Studies with single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated efficacy, but response rates are low. Studies combining ICIs with both chemotherapy and targeted therapy are ongoing. Up to 50% of penile cancer cases are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV-targeting therapies, such as HPV-targeting vaccines and T-cell receptor therapies, are an area of active investigation. Penile cancer cells also express cell surface antigens that may be targeted by the emerging class of antibody-drug conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Simon
- Department of Oncology, Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive Building 10, Room 12C432B, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Saad Atiq
- Department of Oncology, Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 10 - Magnuson Clinical Center, Room B2L312, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Guru Sonpavde
- Department of Urology, AdventHealth Cancer Institute, University of Central Florida, 2501 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32804, USA
| | - Andrea Apolo
- Department of Oncology, Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 10 - Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 13N240, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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2
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Mercinelli C, Al Assaad M, Safa H, Spiess PE, Chahoud J, Necchi A. Overview of Systemic Therapies in Penile Cancer. Urol Clin North Am 2024; 51:347-354. [PMID: 38925737 DOI: 10.1016/j.ucl.2024.03.013] [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: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Penile cancer (PC), although rare, poses significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment. Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) represents the most common histologic subtype of PC, accounting for approximately 95% of cases. With limited therapeutic options available, systemic therapies have emerged as critical components in the management of advanced PSCC. Recent developments in clinical research have revealed the effectiveness of new therapeutic strategies. By elucidating the mechanism of action and clinical evidence supporting these treatments, we strive to offer insights into optimizing treatment strategies and enhancing the quality of care for patients affected by this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mercinelli
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy.
| | - Majd Al Assaad
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, Belfer Research Building, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Houssein Safa
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Philippe E Spiess
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive Office 12538, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jad Chahoud
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive Office 12538, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Andrea Necchi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy.
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Höhn AK, Forberger M, Alfaraidi M, Gilks CB, Brambs CE, Höckel M, Hoang L, Singh N, Horn LC. High concordance of molecular subtyping between pre-surgical biopsy and surgical resection specimen (matched-pair analysis) in patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma using p16- and p53-immunostaining. Gynecol Oncol 2024; 185:17-24. [PMID: 38342005 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.02.001] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) can be stratified into three molecular subtypes based on the immunoexpression of p16 and p53: HPV-independent p53-abnormal (p53abn) (most common, biologically aggressive), HPV-associated, with p16-overexpression (second most common, prognostically more favourable) and more recently recognised HPV-independent p53-wildtype (p53wt) (rarest subtype, prognostically intermediate). Our aim was to determine whether molecular subtypes can be reliably identified in pre-operative biopsies and whether these correspond to the subsequent vulvectomy specimen. METHODS Matched-paired pre-surgical biopsies and subsequent resection specimen of 57 patients with VSCC were analysed for the immunohistochemical expression of p16 and p53 by performing a three-tiered molecular subtyping to test the accuracy rate. RESULTS Most cases 36/57 (63.2%) belonged to the HPV-independent (p53-abn) molecular subtype, followed by HPV-associated 17/57 (29.8%) and HPV-independent (p53wt) 4/57 (7.0%). The overall accuracy rate on biopsy was 91.2% (52/57): 97.3% for p53-abnormal, 94.1% for p16-overexpression and 50% for p16-neg/p53-wt VSCC. Incorrect interpretation of immunohistochemical p53 staining pattern was the reason for discordant results in molecular subtyping in all five cases. In one case there was an underestimation of p53 pattern (wildtype instead of abnormal/aberrant) and in one case an overestimation of the p53 staining pattern (abnormal/aberrant instead of wildtype). In 3/5 there was a "double positive" staining result (p16 overexpression and abnormal/aberrant p53 staining pattern). In that cases additional molecular workup is required for correct molecular subtyping, resulting in an overall need for molecular examination of 3/57 (3.5%). CONCLUSIONS Compared to the final resections specimen, the three-tiered molecular classification of VSCC can be determined on pre-surgical biopsies with a high accuracy rate. This enables more precise surgical planning, prediction of the response to (chemo) radiation, selection of targeted therapies and planning of the optimal follow-up strategy for patients in the age of personalised medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Kathrin Höhn
- Institute of Pathology, Division of Gynecologic Pathology, University Hospital of Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Mirjam Forberger
- Institute of Pathology, Division of Gynecologic Pathology, University Hospital of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mona Alfaraidi
- Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Canada; Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyah, Saudi Arabia
| | - C Blake Gilks
- Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Michael Höckel
- Leipzig School of Radical Pelvic Surgery, Division of Surgical Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lynn Hoang
- Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Naveena Singh
- Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lars-Christian Horn
- Institute of Pathology, Division of Gynecologic Pathology, University Hospital of Leipzig, Germany
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Pagliaro LC, Tekin B, Gupta S, Herrera Hernandez L. Therapeutic Targets in Advanced Penile Cancer: From Bench to Bedside. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2086. [PMID: 38893204 PMCID: PMC11171031 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112086] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Discovery of effective systemic therapies for patients with advanced penile cancer has been slow to occur. Comprehensive genomic profiling from several studies shed light on the molecular oncogenesis of penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) and differences between HPV-related and unrelated tumors. While these two subsets of PSCC appear distinct in their biology, there are not yet specific treatment strategies recommended on that basis. Cell surface proteins have been identified that may potentially serve as drug targets for monoclonal antibodies or small molecule inhibitors. Here, we review some of the new biological insights regarding PSCC that could lead to improved therapies, as well as the related clinical trials recently completed or in progress. We conclude that antibody-drug conjugates are especially promising, as are the combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with other types of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance C. Pagliaro
- Department of Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Burak Tekin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (B.T.); (S.G.); (L.H.H.)
| | - Sounak Gupta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (B.T.); (S.G.); (L.H.H.)
| | - Loren Herrera Hernandez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (B.T.); (S.G.); (L.H.H.)
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Elst L, Philips G, Vandermaesen K, Bassez A, Lodi F, Vreeburg MTA, Brouwer OR, Schepers R, Van Brussel T, Mohanty SK, Parwani AV, Spans L, Vanden Bempt I, Jacomen G, Baldewijns M, Lambrechts D, Albersen M. Single-cell Atlas of Penile Cancer Reveals TP53 Mutations as a Driver of an Aggressive Phenotype, Irrespective of Human Papillomavirus Status, and Provides Clues for Treatment Personalization. Eur Urol 2024:S0302-2838(24)02266-8. [PMID: 38670879 DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2024.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE TP53 loss-of-function (TP53LOF) mutations might be a driver of poor prognosis and chemoresistance in both human papillomavirus (HPV)-independent (HPV-) and HPV-associated (HPV+) penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). Here, we aim to describe transcriptomic differences in the PSCC microenvironment stratified by TP53LOF and HPV status. METHODS We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and T-cell receptor sequencing to obtain a comprehensive atlas of the cellular architecture of PSCC. TP53LOF and HPV status were determined by targeted next-generation sequencing and sequencing HPV-DNA reads. Six HPV+ TP53 wild type (WT), six HPV- TP53WT, and four TP53LOF PSCC samples and six controls were included. Immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin confirmed the morphological context of the observed signatures. Prognostic differences between patient groups were validated in 541 PSCC patients using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS Patients with aberrant p53 staining fare much worse than patients with either HPV- or HPV+ tumors and WT p53 expression. Using scRNA-seq, we revealed 65 cell subtypes within 83 682 cells. TP53LOF tumors exhibit a partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, immune-excluded, angiogenic, and morphologically invasive environment, underlying their aggressive phenotype. HPV- TP53WT tumors show stemness and immune exhaustion. HPV+ TP53WT tumors mirror normal epithelial maturation with upregulation of antibody-drug-conjugate targets and activation of innate immunity. Inherent to the scRNA-seq analysis, low sample size is a limitation and validation of signatures in large PSCC cohorts is needed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS This first scRNA-seq atlas offers unprecedented in-depth insights into PSCC biology underlying prognostic differences based on TP53 and HPV status. Our findings provide clues for testing novel biomarker-driven therapies in PSCC. PATIENT SUMMARY Here, we analyzed tissues of penile cancer at the level of individual cells, which helps us understand why patients who harbor a deactivating mutation in the TP53 gene do much worse than patients lacking such a mutation. Such an analysis may help us tailor future therapies based on TP53 gene mutations and human papillomavirus status of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Elst
- Center for Cancer Biology, Laboratory of Translational Genetics, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gino Philips
- Center for Cancer Biology, Laboratory of Translational Genetics, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaat Vandermaesen
- Center for Cancer Biology, Laboratory of Translational Genetics, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ayse Bassez
- Center for Cancer Biology, Laboratory of Translational Genetics, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesca Lodi
- Center for Cancer Biology, Laboratory of Translational Genetics, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manon T A Vreeburg
- Department of Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar R Brouwer
- Department of Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rogier Schepers
- Center for Cancer Biology, Laboratory of Translational Genetics, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Van Brussel
- Center for Cancer Biology, Laboratory of Translational Genetics, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sambit K Mohanty
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Advanced Medical Research Institute, Bhubaneswar, India; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, CORE Diagnostics, Gurgaon, India
| | - Anil V Parwani
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lien Spans
- Department of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Gerd Jacomen
- Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, AZ Sint-Maarten, Mechelen, Belgium
| | | | - Diether Lambrechts
- Center for Cancer Biology, Laboratory of Translational Genetics, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Albersen
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Hashemi Gheinani A, Kim J, You S, Adam RM. Bioinformatics in urology - molecular characterization of pathophysiology and response to treatment. Nat Rev Urol 2024; 21:214-242. [PMID: 37604982 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-023-00805-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
The application of bioinformatics has revolutionized the practice of medicine in the past 20 years. From early studies that uncovered subtypes of cancer to broad efforts spearheaded by the Cancer Genome Atlas initiative, the use of bioinformatics strategies to analyse high-dimensional data has provided unprecedented insights into the molecular basis of disease. In addition to the identification of disease subtypes - which enables risk stratification - informatics analysis has facilitated the identification of novel risk factors and drivers of disease, biomarkers of progression and treatment response, as well as possibilities for drug repurposing or repositioning; moreover, bioinformatics has guided research towards precision and personalized medicine. Implementation of specific computational approaches such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and molecular subtyping has yet to become widespread in urology clinical practice for reasons of cost, disruption of clinical workflow and need for prospective validation of informatics approaches in independent patient cohorts. Solving these challenges might accelerate routine integration of bioinformatics into clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Hashemi Gheinani
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Urology, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jina Kim
- Department of Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sungyong You
- Department of Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rosalyn M Adam
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Hrudka J, Hojný J, Prouzová Z, Kendall Bártů M, Čapka D, Zavillová N, Matěj R, Waldauf P. High tumour mutational burden is associated with strong PD-L1 expression, HPV negativity, and worse survival in penile squamous cell carcinoma: an analysis of 165 cases. Pathology 2024; 56:357-366. [PMID: 38161143 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2023.10.010] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) is a rare tumour with a variable prognosis. More prognostic markers linked to mutational signatures and the tumour immune microenvironment are needed. A cohort made up of 165 invasive pSCC was retrospectively analysed using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumour tissue, focusing on tumour mutational burden (TMB), programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, microsatellite instability (MSI), the number of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) expressing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4), HPV status determined by p16 immunohistochemistry, and several traditional histopathological variables. High TMB (>10 mut/Mb) was associated with high PD-L1 expression (TPS 50-100%), and HPV-negative status. High PD-L1 expression was linked to HPV negativity, a high number of intratumoural CTLA4+ cells, and brisk lymphocytic infiltrate. High TMB was a significant predictor of shorter overall survival (OS) in both univariate and multivariate analysis when using a median cut-off value of 4.3 mut/Mb, but not when using an arbitrary cut-off of 10 mut/Mb. Low CTLA4+ cell infiltration at the tumour invasion front was a marker of shorter OS and cancer-specific survival in both univariate and multivariate analysis. PD-L1 expression had no significant impact on prognosis. Only two cases were MSI high. The results support the hypothesis of two aetiological pathways in pSCC cancerogenesis: (1) SCC linked to HPV infection characterised by low TMB, less common PD-L1 expression, and a lower number of TILs; and (2) SCC linked to chronic inflammation leading to a high number of acquired mutations (high TMB), HPV negativity, increased neoantigen production (i.e., PD-L1), and high immune cell infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Hrudka
- Department of Pathology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Hojný
- Department of Pathology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Prouzová
- Department of Pathology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Pathology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Kendall Bártů
- Department of Pathology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Čapka
- Department of Urology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nicolette Zavillová
- Department of Urology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, Thomayer University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radoslav Matěj
- Department of Pathology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Pathology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Thomayer University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Waldauf
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
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Zacharias NM, Segarra L, Akagi K, Fowlkes NW, Chen H, Alaniz A, de la Cerda C, Pesquera P, Xi Y, Wang J, Chahoud J, Lu X, Rao P, Martinez-Ferrer M, Pettaway CA. Transcriptomic, Proteomic, and Genomic Mutational Fraction Differences Based on HPV Status Observed in Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1066. [PMID: 38473423 PMCID: PMC10930474 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16051066] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) has only a 50% response rate to first-line combination chemotherapies and there are currently no targeted-therapy approaches. Therefore, we have an urgent need in advanced-PSCC treatment to find novel therapies. Approximately half of all PSCC cases are positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). Our objective was to generate HPV-positive (HPV+) and HPV-negative (HPV-) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and to determine the biological differences between HPV+ and HPV- disease. We generated four HPV+ and three HPV- PSCC PDX animal models by directly implanting resected patient tumor tissue into immunocompromised mice. PDX tumor tissue was found to be similar to patient tumor tissue (donor tissue) by histology and short tandem repeat fingerprinting. DNA mutations were mostly preserved in PDX tissues and similar APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide) mutational fractions in donor tissue and PDX tissues were noted. A higher APOBEC mutational fraction was found in HPV+ versus HPV- PDX tissues (p = 0.044), and significant transcriptomic and proteomic expression differences based on HPV status included p16 (CDKN2A), RRM2, and CDC25C. These models will allow for the direct testing of targeted therapies in PSCC and determine their response in correlation to HPV status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki M. Zacharias
- Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.S.); (P.P.)
- MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Luis Segarra
- Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.S.); (P.P.)
- MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Keiko Akagi
- Department of Thoracic Head & Neck Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Natalie Wall Fowlkes
- Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Huiqin Chen
- Biostatistics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Angelita Alaniz
- Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Carolyn de la Cerda
- Department of Surgical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Pedro Pesquera
- Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.S.); (P.P.)
| | - Yuanxin Xi
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Y.X.); (J.W.)
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Y.X.); (J.W.)
| | - Jad Chahoud
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Xin Lu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Norte Dame, IN 46556, USA;
| | - Priya Rao
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Magaly Martinez-Ferrer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus & Cancer Biology, UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, PR 00936, USA;
| | - Curtis A. Pettaway
- Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.S.); (P.P.)
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Safa H, Mercinelli C, Spiess PE, Necchi A, Chahoud J. Insights into the management of penile squamous cell carcinoma: from conventional approaches to emerging novel therapies. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2024; 25:447-465. [PMID: 38549550 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2024.2337244] [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: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC), a rare genitourinary cancer, is associated with poor outcomes due to limited treatment effectiveness, especially in advanced stages. AREAS COVERED While chemotherapy and/or surgery remain the standard of care, emerging therapies like immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and human papillomavirus (HPV) directed therapies show promise. Key to advancing treatment is understanding the immune microenvironment to gain insights into tumor resistance mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. The scarcity of data on PSCC is a major obstacle in advancing research for this rare cancer. EXPERT OPINION Future research should prioritize collaborative efforts across various research centers and countries. Enhancing data sharing and pooling resources can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of PSCC, ultimately supporting the development of precision medicine strategies tailored to this specific cancer type. This collaborative approach is essential for making significant strides in PSCC treatment and care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houssein Safa
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chiara Mercinelli
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Philippe E Spiess
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Andrea Necchi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Jad Chahoud
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
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10
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Zhang Q, Li Y, Zhang Y, Deng Z, Ding Y. Case report of penile squamous cell carcinoma continuous treatment with BRCA2 mutation. World J Surg Oncol 2024; 22:50. [PMID: 38336701 PMCID: PMC10854037 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-024-03305-9] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. BRCA1/2 mutations are associated with impaired DNA double-strand break repair and are among the common mutations in penile cancer, potentially paving the way for poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor therapy. CASE PRESENTATION We report a 65-year-old male with PSCC who progressed to thigh metastasis at 10 months after partial penectomy. Next-generation sequencing showed that the penis primary lesion and metastatic thigh lesion harboured a BRCA2 mutation. Chemotherapy plus immunotherapy was used for treatment, and the thigh metastasis was found to involve no tumour. Progression-free survival (PFS) lasted for 8 months until the appearance of lung metastasis. Afterwards, the patient benefited from second-line therapy of olaparib with pembrolizumab and anlotinib, and his disease was stable for 9 months. The same BRCA2 was identified in the lung biopsy. Given the tumour mutation burden (TMB, 13.97 mutation/Mb), the patient received third-line therapy with nivolumab plus ipilimumab, but PFS only lasted for 3 months, with the appearance of right frontal brain metastasis. Then, the patient was treated with radiation sequential fluzoparib therapy as fourth-line treatment, and the treatment efficacy was evaluated as PR. Currently, this patient is still alive. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of penile cancer with BRCA2 mutation, receiving a combination treatment with olaparib and experiencing a benefit for 9 months. This case underscores the pivotal role of BRCA2 in influencing treatment response in PSCC, providing valuable insights into the application of targeted therapies in managing recurrent PSCC with BRCA2 alterations. This elucidation establishes a crucial foundation for further research and clinical considerations in similar cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedic Oncology Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yaping Li
- Acornmed Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Beijing, China
| | | | - Zhiping Deng
- Department of Orthopaedic Oncology Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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11
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Necchi A, Spiess PE, Costa de Padua T, Li R, Grivas P, Huang RSP, Lin DI, Danziger N, Ross JS, Jacob JM, Sager RA, Basnet A, Li G, Graf RP, Pavlick DC, Bratslavsky G. Genomic Profiles and Clinical Outcomes of Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma With Elevated Tumor Mutational Burden. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2348002. [PMID: 38150257 PMCID: PMC10753400 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.48002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is a putative biomarker of efficacy for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies of solid tumors, but not specifically for penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). Objective To characterize biomarker features and ICI therapy outcomes associated with high TMB in PSCC in the routine clinical practice setting. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cohort study, 397 PSCC cases were analyzed to identify genomic alterations in more than 300 cancer-associated genes and genomic signatures, including TMB, using a hybrid capture-based comprehensive genomic profiling assay. Tumor mutational burden was categorized as low (<10 mutations per megabase [mut/Mb]), high (10-19 mut/Mb), or very high (≥20 mut/Mb). Germline status of genetic alterations was predicted using a validated somatic-germline computational method. Clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic PSCC receiving first-line ICI were abstracted using the deidentified nationwide Clinico-Genomic Database (CGDB) from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2022. Exposure Comprehensive genomic profiling was performed using FoundationOne and FoundationOne CDx assays from Foundation Medicine Inc. Main outcomes and measures The spectrum of genetic alterations by TMB level in PSCC, the percentage of germline genetic alterations, and the outcome (overall survival with routine clinical treatment) by TMB of chemotherapy-naive patients with PSCC who received ICI treatment up front were assessed in this descriptive study. Results Among 397 patients (median [IQR] age, 65 [54-73] years; 266 [67.0%] of European, 83 [20.9%] of admixed American, and 34 [8.5%] of African or other genomic ancestry), the median (IQR) age (eg, 65 [53-73] years for low TMB vs 68 [61-78] years for TMB ≥10 mut/Mb) and genomic ancestry distribution (eg, European 228 of 339 [67.3%] for low TMB vs 38 of 58 [65.5%] for TMB ≥10 mut/Mb) were similar between TMB subgroups. There were 339 PSCC cases (85.4%) with low TMB, 40 cases (10.1%) with high TMB, and 18 cases (4.5%) with very high TMB. Comparisons of TMB of 10 mut/Mb or higher vs low TMB showed an enrichment of genetic alterations in PIK3CA (48.3% vs 18.3%; P < .001) and KMT2D (29.3% vs 7.7%; P < .001) and less frequent genetic alterations in CDKN2A (25.9% vs 45.7%; P = .05). Most genetic alterations did not co-occur. Human papillomavirus identification was more frequent as TMB increased: 28.3% for low TMB, 50.0% for high, and 72.2% for very high. In total, 95 of 1377 genetic alterations (6.9%) were germline. Of 10 patients identified from the CGDB receiving frontline ICIs, median (IQR) follow-up was 9.9 months. Four patients had overall survival with clinical treatment of more than 12 months, including 2 of 3 patients with TMB of 10 mut/Mb or higher. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of advanced metastatic PSCC based on TMB levels, significant differences were observed for biomarkers in nearly 15% of patients with a TMB of 10 mut/Mb or higher. Germline testing and ICI-based therapy should be integrated into the management of selected PSCC cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Necchi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Philippe E. Spiess
- Department of GU Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | | | - Roger Li
- Department of GU Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Petros Grivas
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | | | - Jeffrey S. Ross
- Foundation Medicine, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York
| | | | | | - Alina Basnet
- SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York
| | - Gerald Li
- Foundation Medicine, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Ryon P. Graf
- Foundation Medicine, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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12
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de Vries HM, Rafael TS, Gil-Jimenez A, de Feijter JM, Bekers E, van der Laan E, Lopez-Yurda M, Hooijberg E, Broeks A, Peters D, Seignette IM, Pos FJ, Horenblas S, van Rhijn BWG, Jordanova ES, Brouwer OR, Schaake E, van der Heijden MS. Atezolizumab With or Without Radiotherapy for Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis (The PERICLES Study): A Phase II Trial. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:4872-4880. [PMID: 37487169 DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.02894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma have a poor prognosis (21% 2-year overall survival [OS] from diagnosis). We assessed the activity of atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) in patients with advanced penile cancer, with or without radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS AND METHODS A single-center, nonrandomized phase II study with two treatment arms was conducted in 32 patients with histologically confirmed advanced penile cancer. All patients received atezolizumab (1,200 mg) once every 3 weeks. Twenty patients, who were expected to benefit from RT for locoregional disease control, received additional irradiation. The primary end point was 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) for the complete cohort and was reached if the actual 1-year PFS was at least 35%. Secondary end points included OS, objective response rate (ORR), and tolerability. Exploratory biomarker analyses were conducted in pretreatment specimens. RESULTS Median follow-up was 29.1 months (IQR, 18.1-33.5). Grade 3-4 adverse events related to atezolizumab or RT were observed in 3/32 (9.4%) and 13/20 (65%) patients, respectively. One-year PFS was 12.5% (95% CI, 5.0 to 31.3), which did not meet the study's primary end point. Median OS was 11.3 months (95% CI, 5.5 to 18.7). In the objective response-evaluable population (n = 30; 93.8%), the ORR was 16.7% (95% CI, 6 to 35), including 2 (6.7%) complete responders and 3 (10%) partial responders. Improved PFS was observed in patients with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV)-positive tumors (P = .003) and those with high infiltration of intratumoral CD3+CD8+ T cells (P = .037). CONCLUSION Although the primary end point of 1-year PFS was not met, durable antitumor activity to atezolizumab was observed in a subset of patients. Biomarkers, such as hrHPV and intratumoral CD3+CD8+ T-cell infiltration, may help to better select responders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hielke M de Vries
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tynisha S Rafael
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alberto Gil-Jimenez
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeantine M de Feijter
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elise Bekers
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elsbeth van der Laan
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marta Lopez-Yurda
- Department of Biostatistics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Erik Hooijberg
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annegien Broeks
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology and Biobanking, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dennis Peters
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology and Biobanking, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Iris M Seignette
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Floris J Pos
- Department of Radiation Therapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Simon Horenblas
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bas W G van Rhijn
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ekaterina S Jordanova
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Oscar R Brouwer
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eva Schaake
- Department of Radiation Therapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michiel S van der Heijden
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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13
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Ermakov MS, Kashofer K, Regauer S. Different Mutational Landscapes in Human Papillomavirus-Induced and Human Papillomavirus-Independent Invasive Penile Squamous Cell Cancers. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100250. [PMID: 37353203 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Penile squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) are rare cancers that arise after transforming human papillomavirus (HPV) infections or independent of HPV in the background of chronic dermatoses. Limited knowledge about genetic alterations driving penile carcinogenesis comes from studies of mainly small cohorts of typically mixed etiology. In this comparative genetic study of HPV-induced and HPV-independent invasive penile SCC of 156 patients from a single institution in a low-incidence country, hotspots of 50 cancer-relevant genes were analyzed with targeted next-generation sequencing. Seventy-nine of 156 SCC were classified as HPV induced, and 77 of 156 SCC arose independent of HPV. Only 28 (35%) of 79 HPV-induced penile SCC, but 69 (90%) of 77 HPV-independent SCC carried somatic gene mutations. PIK3CA, FGFR3, and FBXW7 mutations occurred in both groups in similar numbers as seen in other human cancers. In contrast, mutations in TP53 (44/77; 57%), CDKN2A (35/77; 45%), and HRAS (13/77; 17%) genes occurred with one exception of a HIV positive patient exclusively in HPV-independent SCC with a frequent co-occurrence of TP53 and CDKN2A mutations (28/77; 42%). Mutations in multiple genes occurred in 9 (11%) of 79 HPV-induced SCC versus 47 (62%) of 77 HPV-independent SCC (χ2; P < .001). More than one mutation per gene (multi hits) was characteristic for HPV-independent SCC in 14 (18%) of 77 compared with only 3 (4%) of 79 HPV-induced SCC (χ2; P < .001). The total number of mutations in HPV-induced penile SCC (47 mutations) was significantly lower than that in HPV-independent SCC (143 mutations; Welsh test; P < .001). The presence of somatic driver gene mutations did not correlate with the age of patients, histology, or tumor stage of the primary SCC in either etiologic group, suggesting that acquisition of driver gene mutations is an early event after invasion. This large cohort analysis identified characteristic differences in mutational landscapes for the 2 etiologies. While genetic mutations in tumor suppressor genes drive HPV-independent penile carcinogenesis, oncogenic action of E6 and E7 substitute for mutations in HPV-induced SCC. A subgroup of patients with advanced SCC may be candidates for targeted therapy and clinical trials, although the majority of advanced penile SCC remain a therapeutic challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail S Ermakov
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University Graz, MedCampus Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Karl Kashofer
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University Graz, MedCampus Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - Sigrid Regauer
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University Graz, MedCampus Graz, Graz, Austria.
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14
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Hakenberg O, Dräger DL. [Systemic treatment of penile cancer: New concepts? New achievements?]. Aktuelle Urol 2023; 54:304-312. [PMID: 37541237 DOI: 10.1055/a-2104-1418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Systemic chemotherapy has been in use for metastatic penile carcinoma for years, but its success is limited. Its significance is largely associated with its role in multimodal treatment for lymphatic metastasis in the context of radical lymph node surgery. In cases of limited lymph node involvement, the combination of surgical treatment plus cisplatin- and taxane-based triple combinations may be curative. Advances in the understanding of molecular changes in penile cancer and the search for potential therapy targets have led to numerous studies. Although there is evidence of efficacy of immunotherapeutics, no significant therapeutic improvements have been seen in the clinical routine.
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15
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Grass GD, Ercan D, Obermayer AN, Shaw T, Stewart PA, Chahoud J, Dhillon J, Lopez A, Johnstone PAS, Rogatto SR, Spiess PE, Eschrich SA. An Assessment of the Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma Surfaceome for Biomarker and Therapeutic Target Discovery. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3636. [PMID: 37509297 PMCID: PMC10377392 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143636] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare malignancy in most parts of the world and the underlying mechanisms of this disease have not been fully investigated. About 30-50% of cases are associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which may have prognostic value. When PSCC becomes resistant to upfront therapies there are limited options, thus further research is needed in this venue. The extracellular domain-facing protein profile on the cell surface (i.e., the surfaceome) is a key area for biomarker and drug target discovery. This research employs computational methods combined with cell line translatomic (n = 5) and RNA-seq transcriptomic data from patient-derived tumors (n = 18) to characterize the PSCC surfaceome, evaluate the composition dependency on HPV infection, and explore the prognostic impact of identified surfaceome candidates. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to validate the localization of select surfaceome markers. This analysis characterized a diverse surfaceome within patient tumors with 25% and 18% of the surfaceome represented by the functional classes of receptors and transporters, respectively. Significant differences in protein classes were noted by HPV status, with the most change being seen in transporter proteins (25%). IHC confirmed the robust surface expression of select surfaceome targets in the top 85% of expression and a superfamily immunoglobulin protein called BSG/CD147 was prognostic of survival. This study provides the first description of the PSCC surfaceome and its relation to HPV infection and sets a foundation for novel biomarker and drug target discovery in this rare cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Daniel Grass
- Department of Radiation Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Dalia Ercan
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Alyssa N Obermayer
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Timothy Shaw
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Paul A Stewart
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jad Chahoud
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jasreman Dhillon
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Alex Lopez
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Peter A S Johnstone
- Department of Radiation Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Silvia Regina Rogatto
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospital of Southern Denmark-Vejle, Beriderbakken 4, 7100 Vejle, Denmark
| | - Philippe E Spiess
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Steven A Eschrich
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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16
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Trias I, Saco A, Marimon L, López Del Campo R, Manzotti C, Ordi O, Del Pino M, Pérez FM, Vega N, Alós S, Martínez A, Rodriguez-Carunchio L, Reig O, Jares P, Teixido C, Ajami T, Corral-Molina JM, Algaba F, Ribal MJ, Ribera-Cortada I, Rakislova N. P53 in Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Pattern-Based Immunohistochemical Framework with Molecular Correlation. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2719. [PMID: 37345055 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102719] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
p53 immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been proposed as a surrogate for TP53 mutations in penile squamous cell carcinomas (PSCC). We aimed to evaluate the performance of a pattern-based evaluation of p53 IHC in PSCC. Human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA testing, p16 and p53 IHC, and whole exome sequencing were performed in a series of 40 PSCC. p53 IHC was evaluated following a pattern-based framework and conventional p53 IHC evaluation. Out of 40 PSCC, 12 (30.0%) were HPV-associated, and 28 (70.0%) were HPV-independent. The agreement between the p53 IHC pattern-based evaluation and TP53 mutational status was almost perfect (k = 0.85). The sensitivity and accuracy of the pattern-based framework for identifying TP53 mutations were 95.5% and 92.5%, respectively, which were higher than the values of conventional p53 IHC interpretation (54.5% and 70.0%, respectively), whereas the specificity was the same (88.9%). In conclusions, the pattern-based framework improves the accuracy of detecting TP53 mutations in PSCC compared to the classical p53 IHC evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Trias
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adela Saco
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Marimon
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricardo López Del Campo
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carolina Manzotti
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oriol Ordi
- Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Del Pino
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Universityof Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco M Pérez
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Naiara Vega
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Alós
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Martínez
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leonardo Rodriguez-Carunchio
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), 08500 Vic, Spain
| | - Oscar Reig
- Translational Genomic and Targeted Therapeutics in Solid Tumors, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pedro Jares
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Teixido
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Translational Genomic and Targeted Therapeutics in Solid Tumors, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tarek Ajami
- Uro-Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ferran Algaba
- Department of Pathology, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María J Ribal
- Uro-Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Ribera-Cortada
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Rakislova
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
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17
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The Evolving Landscape of Viral, Immune, and Molecular Biomarkers in Penile Cancer. Urol Clin North Am 2023; 50:145-150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ucl.2022.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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18
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Gupta AK, Kumar M. An integrative approach toward identification and analysis of therapeutic targets involved in HPV pathogenesis with a focus on carcinomas. Cancer Biomark 2023; 36:31-52. [PMID: 36245368 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-210413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent infection of high-risk HPVs is known to cause diverse carcinomas, mainly cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, etc. However, efficient treatment is still lacking. OBJECTIVE Identify and analyze potential therapeutic targets involved in HPV oncogenesis and repurposing drug candidates. METHODS Integrative analyses were performed on the compendium of 1887 HPV infection-associated or integration-driven disrupted genes cataloged from the Open Targets Platform and HPVbase resource. Potential target genes are prioritized using STRING, Cytoscape, cytoHubba, and MCODE. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis are performed. Further, TCGA cancer genomic data of CESC and HNSCC is analyzed. Moreover, regulatory networks are also deduced by employing NetworkAnalyst. RESULTS We have implemented a unique approach for identifying and prioritizing druggable targets and repurposing drug candidates against HPV oncogenesis. Overall, hundred key genes with 44 core targets were prioritized with transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) regulators pertinent to HPV pathogenesis. Genomic alteration profiling further substantiated our findings. Among identified druggable targets, TP53, NOTCH1, PIK3CA, EP300, CREBBP, EGFR, ERBB2, PTEN, and FN1 are frequently mutated in CESC and HNSCC. Furthermore, PIK3CA, CCND1, RFC4, KAT5, MYC, PTK2, EGFR, and ERBB2 show significant copy number gain, and FN1, CHEK1, CUL1, EZH2, NRAS, and H2AFX was marked for the substantial copy number loss in both carcinomas. Likewise, under-explored relevant regulators, i.e., TFs (HINFP, ARID3A, NFATC2, NKX3-2, EN1) and miRNAs (has-mir-98-5p, has-mir-24-3p, has-mir-192-5p, has-mir-519d-3p) is also identified. CONCLUSIONS We have identified potential therapeutic targets, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators to explicate HPV pathogenesis as well as potential repurposing drug candidates. This study would aid in biomarker and drug discovery against HPV-mediated carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Gupta
- Virology Unit and Bioinformatics Centre, Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Virology Unit and Bioinformatics Centre, Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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19
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Prognostic Significance of p16 and Its Relationship with Human Papillomavirus Status in Patients with Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Results of 5 Years Follow-Up. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246024. [PMID: 36551510 PMCID: PMC9775956 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma (PSCC) is associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). The immunohistochemical (IHC) test for p16INK4a (p16) is highly correlated with HR-HPV expression in other SCCs. To investigate whether the expression of p16 IHC or HR-HPV is associated with survival in PSCC, we conducted a single institution analysis of 143 patients with a diagnosis of PSCC and, available tissue were tested for p16 IHC staining patterns, histological subtype, tumor grade, and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) by an experienced pathologist. HR-HPV status using the Cobas PCR Assay or the RNAScope high-risk HPV in situ hybridization kit were also assessed. Patient characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics of clinico-pathologic variables. Kaplan-Meier was used to estimate median overall survival (OS), cancer specific survival (CSS) and correlated with HPV, p16, and other study variables. Patients with p16+ tumors had a significantly longer median CSS in comparison to the p16- group (p = 0.004), with respective 5-year CSS probability of 88% (95% CI; 0.84, 1) versus 58% (95% CI; 0.55, 0.76; p = 0.004). HPV status did not predict survival outcomes. Multivariable analysis with respect to OS and CSS, showed that p16+ status was associated with a lower risk of death (HR = 0.36, 95%CI; 0.20-0.67, p = 0.001), and improved CSS (HR = 0.20, 95% CI; 0.07-0.54, p = 0.002) after adjusting for covariates. In conclusion, tumor p16 status via IHC was an easy to perform independent prognostic factor for OS and CSS that correlates with HR-HPV expression.
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20
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Elst L, Van Rompuy AS, Roussel E, Spans L, Vanden Bempt I, Necchi A, Ross J, Jacob JM, Baietti MF, Leucci E, Albersen M. Establishment and Characterization of Advanced Penile Cancer Patient-derived Tumor Xenografts: Paving the Way for Personalized Treatments. Eur Urol Focus 2022; 8:1787-1794. [PMID: 35537937 DOI: 10.1016/j.euf.2022.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic treatments for penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) are toxic and inefficient. Patient-based preclinical models are essential to study novel treatments. OBJECTIVE To establish a library of patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models of human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) and -negative (HPV-) pSCC and characterize these at the genomic and histological levels. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Eighteen tumor samples from 14 patients with recurrent or metastatic pSCC were implanted in nude mice. A biobank of PDX tumors was established after passaging of patient samples (F0) for three generations (F1, F2, F3) and was characterized using histopathology and targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS). Single-nucleotide polymorphism fingerprinting was used to confirm PDX genealogy. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The engraftment rate, overall growth rate, and pSCC histomorphology were checked for each PDX generation. Staining for p40 (a pSCC marker) and p16 (a surrogate for HPV infection) was performed for F0 samples. The mutational profile according to a validated panel of 96 cancer genes was determined for F0 and F3 samples and compared to a larger tNGS database. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS Including a previously established pilot model, 11 out of 18 tumor samples (61%) successfully engrafted in F1. The mean time from implantation in F1 to completion of F3 was 36 wk (standard deviation 18). Histological fidelity was demonstrated across generations. The patient mutational profiles were preserved in F3 and were representative of 277 pSCC samples in the Foundation Medicine database. The rapid progression of pSCC in patients from our selected high-risk cohort impeded the use of PDXs as avatars. CONCLUSIONS We successfully established the first library of 11 PDX models of HPV- and HPV+ pSCC. Our PDX models showed high engraftment rates and histological and genomic fidelity to the tumor tissue of origin. These models may help in paving the way towards the development of novel treatments. PATIENT SUMMARY We established 11 animal models based on tumor tissue from patients with penile cancer. These models could play a vital role in selection of novel treatments according to genetic mutations. In the future, therapies with confirmed preclinical effects may have a profound impact on the development of personalized treatments in penile cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Elst
- Laboratory of Experimental Urology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Eduard Roussel
- Laboratory of Experimental Urology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lien Spans
- Department of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Andrea Necchi
- San Raffaele Hospital and Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Jeffrey Ross
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, MA, USA; Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | | | - Maria-Francesca Baietti
- Trace, Department of Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of RNA Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eleonora Leucci
- Trace, Department of Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of RNA Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Albersen
- Laboratory of Experimental Urology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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21
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Teixeira Júnior AAL, da Costa Melo SP, Pinho JD, Sobrinho TBM, Rocha TMS, Duarte DRD, de Oliveira Barbosa L, Duarte WE, de Castro Belfort MR, Duarte KG, da Silva Neto AL, de Ribamar Rodrigues Calixto J, Paiva Paiva LC, do Nascimento FSMS, Alencar Junior AM, Khayat AS, da Graça Carvalhal Frazão Corrêa R, Lages JS, Dos Reis RB, Araújo WS, Silva GEB. A comprehensive analysis of penile cancer in the region with the highest worldwide incidence reveals new insights into the disease. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:1063. [PMID: 36243680 PMCID: PMC9569053 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10127-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although penile cancer (PC) is uncommon in developed countries, it is widespread in developing countries. The state of Maranhão (Northeast, Brazil) has the highest global incidence recorded for PC, and, despite its socioeconomic vulnerability, it has been attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This study aimed to determine the histopathological features, the prevalence of HPV infection, and the immunohistochemical profile of PC in Maranhão. METHODS A retrospective cohort of 200 PC cases were evaluated. HPV detection was performed using nested-PCR followed by direct sequencing for genotyping. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed using monoclonal antibodies anti-p16INK4a, p53, and ki-67. RESULTS Our data revealed a delay of 17 months in diagnosis, a high rate of penile amputation (96.5%), and HPV infection (80.5%) in patients from Maranhão (Molecular detection). We demonstrated the high rate of HPV in PC also by histopathological and IHC analysis. Most patients presented koilocytosis (75.5%), which was associated with those reporting more than 10 different sexual partners during their lifetime (p = 0.001). IHC revealed frequent p16INK4a overexpression (26.0%) associated with basaloid (p < 0.001) and high-grade tumors (p = 0.008). Interestingly, p16 appears not to be a better prognostic factor in our disease-free survival analysis, as previously reported. We also demonstrated high ki-67 and p53 expression in a subset of cases, which was related to worse prognostic factors such as high-grade tumors, angiolymphatic and perineural invasion, and lymph node metastasis. We found a significant impact of high ki-67 (p = 0.002, log-rank) and p53 (p = 0.032, log-rank) expression on decreasing patients' survival, as well as grade, pT, stage, pattern, and depth of invasion (p < 0.05, log-rank). CONCLUSIONS Our data reaffirmed the high incidence of HPV infection in PC cases from Maranhão and offer new insights into potential factors that may contribute to the high PC incidence in the region. We highlighted the possible association of HPV with worse clinical prognosis factors, differently from what was observed in other regions. Furthermore, our IHC analysis reinforces p16, ki-67, and p53 expression as important diagnosis and/or prognosis biomarkers, potentially used in the clinical setting in emerging countries such as Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Augusto Lima Teixeira Júnior
- Department of Genetics and Postgraduate Program in Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Adult Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Syomara Pereira da Costa Melo
- Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | | | - Thaís Bastos Moraes Sobrinho
- Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Thalita Moura Silva Rocha
- Postgraduate Program in Adult Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.,Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Denner Rodrigo Diniz Duarte
- Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Liseana de Oliveira Barbosa
- Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Wesliany Everton Duarte
- Postgraduate Program in Adult Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.,Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Marta Regina de Castro Belfort
- Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Health Science, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Kelly Gomes Duarte
- Postgraduate Program in Clinical Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Antonio Lima da Silva Neto
- Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | | | - Lúcio Cristiano Paiva Paiva
- Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | | | - Antonio Machado Alencar Junior
- Postgraduate Program in Health Science, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.,University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | | | | | - Joyce Santos Lages
- University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Borges Dos Reis
- Postgraduate Program in Clinical Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Wilson Silva Araújo
- Department of Genetics and Postgraduate Program in Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Gyl Eanes Barros Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Adult Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil. .,Laboratory of Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil. .,Postgraduate Program in Health Science, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.
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22
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Chadha J, Chahoud J, Spiess PE. An update on treatment of penile cancer. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2022; 14:17588359221127254. [PMID: 36172172 PMCID: PMC9511530 DOI: 10.1177/17588359221127254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Penile cancer is a rare malignancy, particularly in industrialized nations. In the United States, rates are approximately less than 1 per 100,000 men per year with just over 2000 new cases per year. However, there is significantly increased prevalence in developing nations, with limited treatment expertise and reduced access to care, further driving an unmet clinical need. The most noteworthy risk factor for penile cancer is the association with human papillomavirus infection, which may be present in up to 50% of all penile carcinomas. In addition to local primary tumor approaches, multimodality treatment strategies are vital to patients with clinical regional nodal disease, locally advanced disease. Presence and degree of lymph node involvement remains the most important prognostic factor and patients may benefit from multiple treatment strategies. Interim analysis data from the first randomized clinical trial is expected to yield results in mid/late 2024–early 2025. These treatment approaches include neoadjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant therapy, including chemotherapy and radiation. Systemic therapy for distant recurrent or metastatic disease is primarily a platinum-based chemotherapy, however with poor overall response. As poor outcomes remain high, particularly in indigent populations, there remains an unmet need for these patients, particularly for high level randomized trials and novel therapeutics. In this review, we will highlight treatment updates for penile cancer. In addition to standard of care, we will review novel lines of therapies including immunotherapies and targeted therapies as well as sequencing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juskaran Chadha
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jad Chahoud
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Philippe E Spiess
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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23
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Whole-Exome Sequencing Reveals the Genomic Features of the Micropapillary Component in Ground-Glass Opacities. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174165. [PMID: 36077702 PMCID: PMC9454937 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Micropapillary components are observed in a considerable proportion of ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and contribute to the poor prognosis of patients with invasive lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the underlying mutational processes related to the presence of micropapillary components remain obscure, limiting the development of clinical interventions. Methods: We collected 31 GGOs, which were separated into paired micropapillary and non-micropapillary components using microdissection. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the GGO components, and bioinformatics analysis was conducted to reveal the genomic features of the micropapillary component in invasive LUAD. Results: The micropapillary component had more genomic variations, including tumor mutation burden, intratumoral heterogeneity, and copy number variation. We also observed the enrichment of AID/APOBEC mutation signatures and an increased activation of the RTK/Ras, Notch, and Wnt oncogenic pathways within the micropapillary component. A phylogenetic analysis further suggested that ERBB2/3/4, NCOR1/2, TP53, and ZNF469 contributed to the micropapillary component’s progression during the early invasion of LUAD, a finding that was validated in the TCGA cohort. Conclusions: Our results revealed specific mutational characteristics of the micropapillary component of invasive LUAD in an Asian population. These characteristics were associated with the formation of high-grade invasive patterns. These preliminary findings demonstrated the potential of targeting the micropapillary component in patients with early-stage LUAD.
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24
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Guerrero J, Trias I, Veloza L, del Pino M, Garcia A, Marimon L, Diaz-Mercedes S, Rodrigo-Calvo MT, Alós S, Ajami T, Parra-Medina R, Martinez A, Reig O, Ribal MJ, Corral-Molina JM, Ordi J, Ribera-Cortada I, Rakislova N. HPV-negative Penile Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PeIN) With Basaloid Features. Am J Surg Pathol 2022; 46:1071-1077. [PMID: 35297786 PMCID: PMC9281510 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Most human papillomavirus (HPV)-independent penile squamous cell carcinomas (PSCCs) originate from an intraepithelial precursor called differentiated penile intraepithelial neoplasia, characterized by atypia limited to the basal layer with marked superficial maturation. Previous studies in vulvar cancer, which has a similar dual etiopathogenesis, have shown that about one fifth of HPV-independent precursors are morphologically indistinguishable from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs), the precursor of HPV-asssociated carcinomas. However, such lesions have not been described in PSCC. From 2000 to 2021, 55 surgical specimens of PSCC were identified. In all cases, thorough morphologic evaluation, HPV DNA detection, and p16, p53, and Ki-67 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed. HPV-independent status was assigned based on both negative results for p16 IHC and HPV DNA. Thirty-six of the 55 PSCC (65%) were HPV-independent. An intraepithelial precursor was identified in 26/36 cases (72%). Five of them (19%) had basaloid features, morphologically indistinguishable from HPV-associated HSIL. The median age of the 5 patients was 74 years (range: 67 to 83 y). All 5 cases were p16 and DNA HPV-negative. Immunohistochemically, 3 cases showed an abnormal p53 pattern, and 2 showed wild-type p53 staining. The associated invasive carcinoma was basaloid in 4 cases and the usual (keratinizing) type in 1. In conclusion, a small proportion of HPV-independent PSCC may arise on adjacent intraepithelial lesions morphologically identical to HPV-associated HSIL. This unusual histologic pattern has not been previously characterized in detail in PSCC. p16 IHC is a valuable tool to identify these lesions and differentiate them from HPV-associated HSIL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luis Veloza
- Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marta del Pino
- Institute of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Neonatology, Hospital Clinic-the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Faculty of Medicine-University of Barcelona
| | | | - Lorena Marimon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona
| | | | | | | | | | - Rafael Parra-Medina
- Department of Pathology, Research Institute, Health Sciences University Foundation, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Antonio Martinez
- Department of Pathology
- The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oscar Reig
- Institute of Hematologic and Oncologic Diseases, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona
- The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Jaume Ordi
- Department of Pathology
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona
| | | | - Natalia Rakislova
- Department of Pathology
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona
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25
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Trimmel B, Oszwald A, Diemand C, Ertl IE, Lemberger U, Bruchbacher A, Brettner R, Korn S, Resch I, Comperat E, Shariat SF, Hassler MR. Evaluation of APOBEC3 expression as prognostic marker in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12911. [PMID: 35902635 PMCID: PMC9334367 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17056-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (PSC) is a rare disease with limited information on the molecular events leading to malignant transformation. In a third of PSC cases, presence of human papilloma virus (HPV) is found. The APOBEC3 family of proteins is known to play a significant role in defense against HPV infection, but their role in PSC is largely unknown. In this study, we aim to assess mRNA expression levels of APOBEC3 family members in HPV+ and HPV− PSC to get insight into their association with clinicopathological features and to evaluate their prognostic impact. Expression levels of six APOBEC3 family members in tissue from 50 patients with PSC were determined by RT-PCR and correlated with clinical and histopathological features. Lower expression of APOBEC3A, APOBEC3B, and APOBEC3C was observed in advanced PSC stages. Except for APOBEC3D, HPV+ samples showed higher expression of APOBEC3s compared to HPV− samples. In univariate analyses, APOBEC3A and APOBEC3C expression tended to be associated with disease-free survival and APOBEC3A expression with overall survival; however, multivariable analyses failed to confirm these associations with outcome. More extensive external validation and functional laboratory studies are needed to evaluate further their role in PSC development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Trimmel
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andre Oszwald
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Diemand
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iris E Ertl
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ursula Lemberger
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Bruchbacher
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Brettner
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan Korn
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Resch
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Comperat
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shahrokh F Shariat
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan.,Department of Urology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Urology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.,Institute for Urology and Reproductive Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Melanie R Hassler
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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26
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do Canto LM, da Silva JM, Castelo-Branco PV, da Silva IM, Nogueira L, Fonseca-Alves CE, Khayat A, Birbrair A, Pereira SR. Mutational Signature and Integrative Genomic Analysis of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Penile Squamous Cell Carcinomas from Latin American Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143514. [PMID: 35884575 PMCID: PMC9316960 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary DNA sequencing has been crucial to comprehending cancer mutational patterns, leading to the identification of driver genes and altered signaling pathways. Thus, identifying new pathogenic variants and their impact on tumor onset, progression, and treatment response has fueled tumor biology research. Here, we present novel findings addressing the first whole-exome sequencing (WES) of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) from Latin Americans and its association with pathogenesis. We also compared the molecular profile of the tumors to that of three previous studies from populations with different genetic and socioeconomic backgrounds, the majority of which was HPV-negative. We describe the most altered genes and the main pathogenic variants found in the Latin Americans, ten of which are exclusive to our study sample. The data allowed us to identify molecular pathways and druggable targets with potential treatment value for this still-neglected HPV-associated carcinoma. Abstract High-throughput DNA sequencing has allowed for the identification of genomic alterations and their impact on tumor development, progression, and therapeutic responses. In PSCC, for which the incidence has progressively increased worldwide, there are still limited data on the molecular mechanisms involved in the disease pathogenesis. In this study, we characterized the mutational signature of 30 human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated PSCC cases from Latin Americans, using whole-exome sequencing. Copy number variations (CNVs) were also identified and compared to previous array-generated data. Enrichment analyses were performed to reveal disrupted pathways and to identify alterations mapped to HPV integration sites (HPVis) and miRNA–mRNA hybridization regions. Among the most frequently mutated genes were NOTCH1, TERT, TTN, FAT1, TP53, CDKN2A, RYR2, CASP8, FBXW7, HMCN2, and ITGA8. Of note, 92% of these altered genes were localized at HPVis. We also found mutations in ten novel genes (KMT2C, SMARCA4, PTPRB, AJUBA, CR1, KMT2D, NBEA, FAM135B, GTF2I, and CIC), thus increasing our understanding of the potential HPV-disrupted pathways. Therefore, our study reveals innovative targets with potential therapeutic benefits for HPV-associated PSCCs. The CNV analysis by sequencing (CNV-seq) revealed five cancer-associated genes as the most frequent with gains (NOTCH1, MYC, NUMA1, PLAG1, and RAD21), while 30% of the tumors showed SMARCA4 with loss. Additionally, four cancer-associated genes (CARD11, CSMD3, KDR, and TLX3) carried untranslated regions (UTRs) variants, which may impact gene regulation by affecting the miRNAs hybridization regions. Altogether, these data contribute to the characterization of the mutational spectrum and its impact on cellular signaling pathways in PSCC, thus reinforcing the pivotal role of HPV infection in the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Matos do Canto
- Clinical Genetics Department, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, 7100 Vejle, Denmark;
| | - Jenilson Mota da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Health Science, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil;
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil; (P.V.C.-B.); (I.M.d.S.)
| | - Patrícia Valèria Castelo-Branco
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil; (P.V.C.-B.); (I.M.d.S.)
| | - Ingrid Monteiro da Silva
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil; (P.V.C.-B.); (I.M.d.S.)
| | | | | | - André Khayat
- Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66073-005, PA, Brazil;
| | - Alexander Birbrair
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
- Department of Pathology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Silma Regina Pereira
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil; (P.V.C.-B.); (I.M.d.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-98-32728543
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28
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da Silva J, da Costa CC, de Farias Ramos I, Laus AC, Sussuchi L, Reis RM, Khayat AS, Cavalli LR, Pereira SR. Upregulated miRNAs on the TP53 and RB1 Binding Seedless Regions in High-Risk HPV-Associated Penile Cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:875939. [PMID: 35812732 PMCID: PMC9263206 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.875939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer development by the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can occur through the canonical HPV/p53/RB1 pathway mediated by the E2/E6/E7 viral oncoproteins. During the transformation process, HPV inserts its genetic material into host Integration Sites (IS), affecting coding genes and miRNAs. In penile cancer (PeCa) there is limited data on the miRNAs that regulate mRNA targets associated with HPV, such as the TP53 and RB1 genes. Considering the high frequency of HPV infection in PeCa patients in Northeast Brazil, global miRNA expression profiling was performed in high-risk HPV-associated PeCa that presented with TP53 and RB1 mRNA downregulated expression. The miRNA expression profile of 22 PeCa tissue samples and five non-tumor penile tissues showed 507 differentially expressed miRNAs: 494 downregulated and 13 upregulated (let-7a-5p, miR-130a-3p, miR-142-3p, miR-15b-5p miR-16-5p, miR-200c-3p, miR-205-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-22-3p, miR-25-3p, miR-31-5p and miR-93-5p), of which 11 were identified to be in HPV16-IS and targeting TP53 and RB1 genes. One hundred and thirty-one and 490 miRNA binding sites were observed for TP53 and RB1, respectively, most of which were in seedless regions. These findings suggest that up-regulation of miRNA expression can directly repress TP53 and RB1 expression by their binding sites in the non-canonical seedless regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenilson da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Health Science, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Carla Cutrim da Costa
- Degree in Biological Sciences, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Ingryd de Farias Ramos
- Postgraduate Program in Oncology and Medical Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Laus
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Brazil
| | - Luciane Sussuchi
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Brazil
| | - Rui Manuel Reis
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Brazil
| | - André Salim Khayat
- Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | - Silma Regina Pereira
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Silma Regina Pereira,
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Alencar AM, Sonpavde G. Emerging Therapies in Penile Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:910335. [PMID: 35800050 PMCID: PMC9253417 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.910335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in the treatment of rare tumors like penile cancer were always hampered by the lack of deep comprehension of the molecular biology and genomic and epigenomic alterations involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression, as well as by the difficulty in recruitment of patients for prospective clinical trials. Despite the high rates of cure in early localized penile cancers with surgery or other local procedures, locally advanced and metastatic tumors require systemic treatment, with chemotherapy being the current standard, but with high toxicity and no proven real impact on survival. Recent important findings of frequent genomic alterations and mutation signatures in penile cancer have motivated several trials in new modalities of systemic treatments, especially immunotherapy. This review aims to present the most recent advances and the prospect of new modalities of systemic therapies with ongoing studies in penile cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Machado Alencar
- Grupo de Estudos em Patologia Molecular, Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Hospital São Domingos/Dasa, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Guru Sonpavde
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Guru Sonpavde,
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Joshi VB, Chadha J, Chahoud J. Penile cancer: Updates in systemic therapy. Asian J Urol 2022; 9:374-388. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajur.2022.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Starita N, Pezzuto F, Sarno S, Losito NS, Perdonà S, Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM, Tornesello ML. Mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter and
PIK3CA
gene are common events in penile squamous cell carcinoma of Italian and Ugandan patients. Int J Cancer 2022; 150:1879-1888. [PMID: 35253909 PMCID: PMC9310576 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Penile carcinoma develops either through human papillomavirus (HPV) related or unrelated carcinogenic pathways. Genetic alterations and nucleotide changes in coding regions (ie, TP53, CDKN2A, PIK3CA and NOTCH1) are main cancer driver events either in HPV positive or in HPV negative tumours. We investigated the presence of hotspot nucleotide mutations in TERT promoter (TERTp) and PIK3CA exon 9 and their relationship with HPV status in 69 penile cancer cases from Italian and Ugandan patients. Genetic variations and viral sequences have been characterised by end‐point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing. The mutant allele frequencies (MAFs) of TERTp −124A/−146A and PIK3CA E545K have been determined by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assays. The results showed that TERTp mutations are highly prevalent in penile carcinoma (53.6%) and significantly more frequent in HPV negative (67.6%) than HPV positive (32.4%) cases (P = .0482). PIK3CA mutations were similarly distributed in virus‐related and unrelated cases (25.9% and 26.7%, respectively) and coexisted with TERTp changes in 15.8% of penile carcinoma samples. Notably, MAFs of co‐occurring mutations were frequently discordant indicating that PIK3CA E545K nucleotide changes are subsequent genetic events occurring in subclones of TERTp mutated cells. The frequencies of TERTp and PIK3CA mutations were higher among Italian compared to Ugandan cases and inversely correlated with the HPV status. In conclusion, TERTp mutations are very common in penile carcinoma and their coexistence with PIK3CA in a substantial number of cases may represent a novel oncogenic synergy relevant for patient stratification and use of therapeutic strategies against new actionable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemy Starita
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology UnitIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. PascaleNaplesItaly
| | - Francesca Pezzuto
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology UnitIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. PascaleNaplesItaly
| | - Sabrina Sarno
- Department of PathologyIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. PascaleNaplesItaly
| | - Nunzia Simona Losito
- Department of PathologyIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. PascaleNaplesItaly
| | - Sisto Perdonà
- Urology UnitIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. PascaleNaplesItaly
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Innovative Immunological ModelsIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. PascaleNaplesItaly
| | - Franco M. Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology UnitIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. PascaleNaplesItaly
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology UnitIstituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. PascaleNaplesItaly
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Elst L, Albersen M. Human Papillomavirus: One Less Worry for Men Too? Eur Urol 2022; 81:549-551. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to look at recent advancements and treatment options of systemic therapies to treat penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). PSCC is a rare cancer that remains with limited funding for research and systemic therapy development. This review aims to discuss the most recent advancements in systemic treatments and our understanding of PSCC. RECENT FINDINGS Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and adjuvant therapy remain integral parts of treatment in locally advanced PSCC. New potential drug regimens are being studied to expand on the availability of first-line regimen options. There has been a large development in discoveries of cellular pathways and immune system targets as potential treatment options but these therapies as of today have limited trial evidence and currently have no support to be used in a clinical setting. SUMMARY PSCC is a rare genitourinary cancer with limited treatment options for patients with advanced disease that is refractory to chemotherapy. Although many new therapies targeting the immune system and cellular pathways are being developed for other studies, clinical and translational research for PSCC are still understudied and underfunded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jad Chahoud
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Rachel Pham
- McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Guru Sonpavde
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Pathogenesis of Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Molecular Update and Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010251. [PMID: 35008677 PMCID: PMC8745288 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare but aggressive neoplasm with dual pathogenesis (human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and HPV-independent). The development of targeted treatment is hindered by poor knowledge of the molecular landscape of PSCC. We performed a thorough review of genetic alterations of PSCC focused on somatic mutations and/or copy number alterations. A total of seven articles have been identified which, overall, include 268 PSCC. However, the series are heterogeneous regarding methodologies employed for DNA sequencing and HPV detection together with HPV prevalence, and include, in general, a limited number of cases, which results in markedly different findings. Reported top-ranked mutations involve TP53, CDKN2A, FAT1, NOTCH-1 and PIK3CA. Numerical alterations involve gains in MYC and EGFR, as well as amplifications in HPV integration loci. A few genes including TP53, CDKN2A, PIK3CA and CCND1 harbor both somatic mutations and copy number alterations. Notch, RTK-RAS and Hippo pathways are frequently deregulated. Nevertheless, the relevance of the identified alterations, their role in signaling pathways or their association with HPV status remain elusive. Combined targeting of different pathways might represent a valid therapeutic approach in PSCC. This work calls for large-scale sequencing studies with robust HPV testing to improve the genomic understanding of PSCC.
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Molecular Landscape of Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137069. [PMID: 34209172 PMCID: PMC8269046 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is a rare malignancy with dual pathogenesis, Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and HPV-independent, with a poorly explored molecular landscape. We aimed to summarize the findings of the series analyzing molecular hallmarks of this neoplasm. In January 2021, we conducted a comprehensive literature search using Pubmed Medline and Scopus to identify publications focused on genomic profiling of VSCC. Observational studies, including both prospective and retrospective designs, evaluating molecular alterations in VSCC were deemed eligible. A total of 14 studies analyzing 749 VSCC were identified. The study series were heterogeneous in HPV testing and sequencing strategies, included small sets of tumors and cancer genes, and commonly lacked survival analysis. Only one extensive targeted next-generation sequencing-based study comprised a large cohort of 280 VSCC. The mutated genes, their number, and frequencies were highly variable between the series. Overall, TP53 and CDKN2A, followed by PIK3CA, HRAS, and PTEN, were the most frequently studied and mutated genes. Mutations involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, including TP53, HRAS, KRAS, and PIK3CA, have been consistently reported across the studies. However, the role of individual mutations or pathways in the development of VSCC remains unclear. In conclusion, heterogeneity and the small sample size of available molecular series contribute to a limited view of the molecular landscape of VSCC. Large-scale genome- or exome-wide studies with robust HPV testing are necessary to improve the molecular characterization of VSCC.
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Rafael TS, de Vries HM, Ottenhof SR, Hofland I, Broeks A, de Jong J, Bekers E, Horenblas S, de Menezes RX, Jordanova ES, Brouwer OR. Distinct Patterns of Myeloid Cell Infiltration in Patients With hrHPV-Positive and hrHPV-Negative Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The Importance of Assessing Myeloid Cell Densities Within the Spatial Context of the Tumor. Front Immunol 2021; 12:682030. [PMID: 34194435 PMCID: PMC8236714 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.682030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive analysis of tumor infiltrating myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment of penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is lacking. In this retrospective study, for the first time, PSCC resection specimens (N = 103) were annotated into the following compartments: intratumoral tumor (IT Tumor), intratumoral stroma (IT Stroma), peritumoral tumor (PT Tumor) and peritumoral stroma (PT Stroma) compartments. We then quantified CD14+, CD68+ and CD163+ myeloid cells within these compartments using an image analysis software and assessed their association with various clinical parameters, including high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) status. In the total cohort, hrHPV status, grade of differentiation, age and tumor size were associated with myeloid cell densities. hrHPV+ tumors had higher infiltration rates of CD14+, CD68+ and CD163+ myeloid cells in the IT tumor compartment (p < 0.001, for all) compared to hrHPV- tumors. Furthermore, when examining the association between compartment-specific infiltration and differentiation grade, increased myeloid cell densities in the IT tumor compartment were associated with a more advanced histological grade (p < 0.001, for all). This association remained significant when the hrHPV- cohort (N = 60) was analyzed (CD14+ p = 0.001; CD68+ p < 0.001; CD163+ p = 0.004). Subgroup analysis in the hrHPV+ group (N = 43) showed that high infiltration rates of CD68+ and CD163+ cells in the PT tumor compartment were associated with lymph node (LN) metastasis (p = 0.031 and p = 0.026, respectively). Regarding the association between myeloid cell densities and disease-specific survival, the risk of death was found to decrease slightly as the number of myeloid cells in the IT tumor compartment increased (CD14+ p = 0.04; CD68+ p = 0.05; CD163+ p = 0.02). However, after adjusting for hrHPV, no independent association between myeloid densities and disease-specific survival were found. Altogether, these findings demonstrate the importance of assessing myeloid cell densities within the spatial context of the tumor. Further studies are needed to unravel the specific phenotype of myeloid cells residing in the different compartments, their effect on clinical parameters and the impact of hrHPV on the recruitment of myeloid cell populations in PSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tynisha S Rafael
- Department of Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hielke M de Vries
- Department of Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sarah R Ottenhof
- Department of Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Hofland
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology & Biobanking, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Annegien Broeks
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology & Biobanking, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen de Jong
- Department of Pathology, Reinier Haga Medisch Diagnostisch Centrum (MDC), The Hague, Netherlands
| | - Elise Bekers
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Simon Horenblas
- Department of Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Renée X de Menezes
- Biostatistics Center, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ekaterina S Jordanova
- Department of Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Center for Gynecologic Oncology Amsterdam (CGOA), Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Oscar R Brouwer
- Department of Urology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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McGregor BA, Sonpavde GP. New Insights into the Molecular Profile of Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:2375-2377. [PMID: 33653819 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-0139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Genomic alterations in penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) appear similar to squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck and esophagus but not lung, skin, bladder, and cervix. PSCCs display genomic heterogeneity, low mutation burden, and potentially actionable alterations in the Notch, DNA repair, kinase, and cell-cycle pathways.See related article by Chahoud et al., p. 2560.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley A McGregor
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Guru P Sonpavde
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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