Topoisomerase 1 Promoter Variants and Benefit from Irinotecan in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients

Structural variation of the coding and non-coding human pharmacogenome

Genetic variants in drug targets and genes encoding factors involved in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) can have pronounced impacts on drug pharmacokinetics, response, and toxicity. While the landscape of genetic variability at the level of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) has been extensively studied in these pharmacogenetic loci, their structural variation is only poorly understood. Thus, we systematically analyzed the genetic structural variability across 908 pharmacogenes (344 ADME genes and 564 drug targets) based on publicly available whole genome sequencing data from 10,847 unrelated individuals. Overall, we extracted 14,984 distinct structural variants (SVs) ranging in size from 50 bp to 106 Mb. Each individual harbored on average 10.3 and 1.5 SVs with putative functional effects that affected the coding regions of ADME genes and drug targets, respectively. In addition, by cross-referencing pharmacogenomic SVs with experimentally determined binding data of 224 transcription factors across 130 cell types, we identified 1276 non-coding SVs that overlapped with gene regulatory elements. Based on these data, we estimate that non-coding structural variants account for 22% of the genetically encoded pharmacogenomic variability. Combined, these analyses provide the first comprehensive map of structural variability across pharmacogenes, derive estimates for the functional impact of non-coding SVs and incentivize the incorporation of structural genomic data into personalized drug response predictions.

Predicting drug response and toxicity in metastatic colorectal cancer: the role of germline markers

INTRODUCTION

Despite the introduction of targeted agents leading to therapeutic advances, clinical management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is still challenged by significant interindividual variability in treatment outcomes, both in terms of toxicity and therapy efficacy. The study of germline genetic variants could help to personalize and optimize therapeutic approaches in mCRC.

AREAS COVERED

A systematic review of pharmacogenetic studies in mCRC patients published on PubMed between 2011 and 2021, evaluating the role of germline variants as predictive markers of toxicity and efficacy of drugs currently approved for treatment of mCRC, was perfomed.

EXPERT OPINION

Despite the large amount of pharmacogenetic data published to date, only a few genetic markers (i.e., DPYD and UGT1A1 variants) reached the clinical practice, mainly to prevent the toxic effects of chemotherapy. The large heterogeneity of available studies represents the major limitation in comparing results and identifying potential markers for clinical use, the role of which remains exploratory in most cases. However, the available published findings are an important starting point for future investigations. They highlighted new promising pharmacogenetic markers within the network of inflammatory and immune response signaling. In addition, the emerging role of previously overlooked rare variants has been pointed out.

Association of MLH1 single nucleotide polymorphisms with clinical outcomes of first-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy in colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

Several studies have proved that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of mismatch repair system genes are closely related to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) by causing microsatellite instability, while effects of the SNPs of MMR system-related genes on the clinical outcomes of cytotoxic chemotherapy are less understood. The aim of this study explored the influence of MLH1 SNPs on clinical outcomes of first-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy in CRC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 125 metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who received first-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy (none of them combined with bevacizumab or cetuximab) were enrolled in this study. Blood samples or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of study population were taken. DNA isolation and genotyping analyzed were obtained for potential functional polymorphisms of MLH1 rs1800734 by real-time PCR. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint and tumor response rate (RR) was the secondary endpoint of this study.

RESULTS

Of all the assessable population, the result showed no statistical difference among the three types SNPs of MLH1 rs1800734 (AA, AG, GG) for RR (P=0.859), and also without significant difference for AA + AG combined variants vs GG variant (P=0.849). The median PFS for AA, AG, and GG variants of MLH1 rs1800734 SNPs were 9.4 months, 7.0 months, and 6.9 months, respectively (log-rank P=0.031). Interestingly, compared with AA variant of MLH1 rs1800734 SNPs, GG variant showed a shorter PFS (HR: 3.49; 95 CI: 1.02-11.94; P=0.046). Furthermore, the median PFS of AA + AG combined variants and GG variant were 8.3 months and 6.9 months (log-rank P=0.037), and GG variant have a decreased trend with no significant difference (HR: 1.57; 95 CI: 0.98-2.53; P=0.061).

CONCLUSION

The AA variant of MLH1 rs1800734 SNPs has a longer PFS in first-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy for mCRC patients, and the result needs to be further confirmed by prospective studies in the future.