Aristolochic acid-containing Chinese herbal medicine and upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma in Taiwan: a narrative review

PURPOSE

The high incidence of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in Taiwan is largely due to exposure to aristolochic acid (AA), a principal component of Aristolochia-based herbal medicines. Here we systematically review the molecular epidemiology, clinical presentation and biomarkers associated with AA-induced UTUC.

METHODS

This is a narrative review. Medline, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from inception to December 31, 2021. Studies evaluating the association, detection, and clinical characteristics of AA and UTUC were included.

RESULTS

A nationwide database revealed 39% of the Taiwanese population had been exposed to AA-containing herbs between 1997 and 2003. Epidemiological reports revealed AA posed a significantly higher hazard for renal failure and UTUC in herbalists and the general population who ingested AA-containing herbs. The presence of aristolactam-DNA adducts and a distinctive signature mutation, A:T to T:A transversions, located predominantly on the non-transcribed DNA strand, with a strong preference for deoxyadenosine in a consensus sequence (CAG), was observed in many UTUC patients. Clinically, AA-related UTUC patients were characterized by a younger age, female gender, impaired renal function and recurrence of contralateral UTUC. To date, there are no preventive measures, except prophylactic nephrectomy, for subjects at risk of AA nephropathy or AA-related UTUC.

CONCLUSION

AA exposure via Aristolochia-based herbal medicines is a problem throughout Taiwan, resulting in a high incidence of UTUC. Aristolactam-DNA adducts and a distinctive signature mutation, A:T to T:A transversions, can be used as biomarkers to identify AA-related UTUC. AA-related UTUC is associated with a high recurrence rate of contralateral UTUC.

Current Knowledge on Genomic Profiling of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Recent research in next-generation sequencing characterized the genomic landscape of urothelial cancer. However, the majority of the studies focused on bladder cancer (BC). Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC) and BC share some histological characteristics, but, considering the differences in terms of embryologic precursors, epidemiology, genetics, medical and surgical management and response to therapy, UTUC and BC should be considered as two distinct diseases. Our objective is to analyze through a literature search the latest updates and the current knowledge about the genomics of UTUC. We also evaluate genetic differences between BC and UTUC and the potential implications for systemic therapy. Molecular subtyping and variant histology and their correlation with response to chemotherapy were also explored. In summary, the most frequent genomic variations in UTUC included FGFR3, chromatin remodeling genes, TP53/MDM2 and other tumor suppressors/oncogenes. The genomics of UTUC, integrated with clinical data, could drive the selection of patients who could benefit from targeted therapy or off-label treatment. Routine implementation of tumor genomic characterization in UTUC patients should therefore be contemplated and evaluated prospectively.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma complicated with aristolochic acid nephropathy after radical nephroureterectomy

Background

The purpose of this study was to identify the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients complicated with aristolochic acid nephropathy(AAN) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Methods

The clinical data of 42 UTUC patients with AAN (AAN group) and 238 UTUC patients without AAN (Non-AAN group) were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received a RNU with excision of bladder cuff. Demographic and clinical data, including preoperative indexes, intraoperative indexes and surgical outcomes were compared.

Results

There were no significant differences in age, tumor location, surgery approach, tumor pathologic grade, stage, the mean operative time and estimated blood loss between the two groups (all p > 0.05). There were more female patients in the AAN group (p < 0.001), and 57.1% were high grade tumors. The AAN group showed a higher complications rate (p = 0.003). The median follow-up time was 43.2 months. The AAN group showed a worse estimated 5-year overall survival rate (35.1% vs. 63.0%, p = 0.014), however, no significant difference was found between the two groups with regard to disease specific survival (63.5% vs. 81.5%, p = 0.091). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that AAN was an independent factor related with overall and disease specific survival. 38.9% of all patients experienced any types of recurrence, and the estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was lower in the AAN group (37.1% vs. 63.7%, p = 0.001). In the comparison of subgroups stratified by recurrence type, the AAN group had a higher intravesical (p = 0.030) and contralateral recurrence rate (p = 0.040).

Conclusion

UTUC with AAN occurred more frequently in female patients who were more likely to develop high-grade tumors. However, these patients showed a worse overall survival and a lower recurrence-free survival rate than the other patients. AA-related UTUC might be associate with an increased risk of intravesical and contralateral recurrence after RUN.

Galectin-1 Overexpression Activates the FAK/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway and Is Correlated with Upper Urinary Urothelial Carcinoma Progression and Survival

Galectin-1 (GAL1) is a β-galactoside-binding protein involved in multiple aspects of tumorigenesis. However, the biological role of GAL1 in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) has not been entirely understood. Herein, we investigated the oncological effects of GAL1 expression in tumor specimens and identified related gene alterations through molecular analysis of GAL1. Clinical parameter data and tumor specimens were collected from 86 patients with pT3N0M0 UTUC who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy. We analyzed the difference in survival by using Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional regression models and in GAL1 expression by using immunohistochemical (IHC) methods. Public genomic data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE32894 data sets were analyzed for comparison. Using four urothelial carcinoma (UC) cell lines (BFTC-909, T24, RT4, and J82) as in vitro models, we evaluated the functions of GAL1 in UC cell growth, invasiveness, and migration and its role in downstream signaling pathways. The study population was classified into two groups, GAL1-high (n = 35) and GAL1-low (GAL1 n = 51), according to IHC interpretation. Univariate analysis revealed that high GAL1 expression was significantly associated with poor recurrence-free survival (RFS; p = 0.028) and low cancer-specific survival (CSS; p = 0.025). Multivariate analysis revealed that GAL1-high was an independent predictive factor for RFS (hazard ratio (HR) 2.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-5.05, p = 0.018) and CSS (HR 4.04; 95% CI 1.25-13.03, p = 0.019). In vitro studies revealed that GAL1 knockdown significantly reduced migration and invasiveness in UTUC (BFTC-909) and bladder cancer cells (T24). GAL1 knockdown significantly reduced protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9, which increased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Through gene expression microarray analysis of GAL1 vector and GAL1-KD cells, we identified multiple significant signaling pathways including p53, Forkhead box O (FOXO), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT). We validated microarray results through immunoblotting, thus proving that downregulation of GAL1 reduced focal adhesion kinase (FAK), p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR expression. We concluded that GAL1 expression was highly related to oncological survival in patients with locally advanced UTUC. GAL1 promoted UC invasion and metastasis by activating the FAK/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

MicroRNA profiling in kidney in pigs fed ochratoxin A contaminated diet

OTA is a toxic metabolite produced by fungus belonging to Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. Kidney is the main target of this toxin; OTA is considered as one of the etiological factors at the origin of the human Balkan endemic nephropathy. microRNA are short non-coding transcrips (18-22 nucleotides in length) regulating key cellular processes. Various miRNAs have been established to play important roles in development of renal carcinoma and urothelial cancer. The objective of this study is to analyse the miRNA profiling in the kidney of piglets experimentally intoxicated with feed contaminated with OTA. Fifteen piglets (five pigs/group) were randomly distributed into 3 groups, fed normal diet (Group 1: control), or diets contaminated with OTA in two concentrations: 50 μg OTA/kg feed (Group 2: 50 μg OTA/kg feed) or 200 μg OTA/kg feed (Group 3: 200 μg OTA/kg feed) for 28 days. At the end of the experiment blood samples were taken for serological analyses. Animals from control group and 200 μg OTA/kg feed were sacrificed and kidney samples were taken for histological and molecular analyses. As resulted from molecular profiling study there are 8 miRNA differentially expressed in OTA kidney vs control kidney, in which five miRNA were overexpressed in the kidney of OTA intoxicated animals: miR-497 (FC = 6.34), miR-133a-3p (FC = 5.75), miR-423-3p (FC = 5.48), miR-34a (FC = 1.68), miR-542-3p (1.65) while three miRNA were downregulated: miR-421-3p (FC = -3.96); miR-490 (FC = -3.87); miR-9840-3p (FC = -2.13). The altered miRNAs as effect of OTA are strongly connected to the engine of cancer, disturbing nodal points in different pathways, as TP53 signalling. This proof-of-concept study proves the actual utility of miRNAs as biomarkers of mycotoxin exposure, including OTA.

Geographic distribution and risk of upper urothelial carcinomas in Croatia, 2001-2011

BACKGROUND

Strong associations exist between Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and upper urothelial carcinomas (UUCs). However, the common etiology between the two remains unclear and there are no studies to date that visualize UUC risks in Croatia. In Croatia, 14 villages in the southwestern part of Brod-Posavina County are considered endemic for BEN. The aim of this ecological study is to map cancer risks and describe the case distribution of UUCs in Croatia at the county level during 2001-2011.

METHODS

A total of 608 incident cases from the Croatian National Cancer Registry were identified. Indirect standardization was employed to compute standardized incidence ratios (SIRs).

RESULTS

Counties with SIRs greater than 1 were concentrated around the agricultural region of Slavonia and the coastal region of Dalmatia. However, only Brod-Posavina County and Vukovar-Srijem County had a statistically significant risk of UUC development, where there were 390 and 210% more UUC cases observed than expected, respectively. Only unique to Brod-Posavina County, females were at higher risk (SIR 4.96; 95% CI 3.59-6.34) of developing UUCs than males (SIR 3.03; 95% CI 2.04-4.01) when compared to their Croatian counterparts. Although Brod-Posavina County only made up 3.7% of the total Croatian population (as of 2011), it had the highest frequency of incident UUC cases after the capital City of Zagreb. No elevated cancer risks were noted in the City of Zagreb, even after stratifying by sex.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that Brod-Posavina County had the highest cancer risk for UUCs, especially among females, when compared to Croatia as a whole during 2001-2011. Given that a majority of BEN patients develop associated UUCs, concurrent screening programs for UUCs and BEN should be considered not only in endemic areas of BEN but also the surrounding rural areas and amongst at-risk groups such as those undergoing hemodialysis, who frequently develop UUCs, to help clarify BEN-UUC associations by identifying common risk factors while standardizing disease estimates across endemic regions for BEN.

Cooking methods employing natural anti-oxidant food additives effectively reduced concentration of nephrotoxic and carcinogenic aristolochic acids in contaminated food grains

Emerging evidence suggests that aristolochic acids (AA) produced naturally by a common weed Aristolochia clematitis in the cultivation fields is contaminating the food products in Balkan Peninsula and acting as the etiological agent in the development of Balkan endemic nephropathy. In this study, we investigated the combined use of natural anti-oxidative "food additives" and different cooking methods to find a solution for the widespread contamination of AA in food products. The results indicated that the addition of healthy dietary supplements (such as cysteine, glutathione, ascorbic acid, citric acid and magnesium) during cooking, is a highly efficient method in lowering the concentration of AA in the final food products. Because previous observation indicated one of the toxicological mechanisms by which AA exert its toxicity is to induce oxidative stress in internal organs, it is anticipated that these added anti-oxidants will also help to attenuate the nephrotoxicity of AA.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization status of voided urine predicts invasive and high-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Here, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for detecting aggressive upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). A total of 210 UTUC patients from a single hospital in China were enrolled in this retrospective study between 2012 and 2016. Patients were classified as FISH-positive or -negative based on FISH analysis of voided urine, and the clinicpathological characteristics of these two patient groups were compared. Patients with positive FISH results had more advanced tumor stages and higher tumor grades than those with negative results. The overall sensitivity of FISH for detecting advanced UTUC was 62.4% (131/210). The sensitivity and positive predictive values of positive FISH results were 76.5% and 59.5% for high-grade UTUC and 71.7% and 58.0% for muscle-invasive UTUC. These data suggest that voided urine FISH results accurately predict advanced UTUC and might help distinguish patients with aggressive disease from those who might benefit from conservative management.

Prognostic and predictive value of epigenetic biomarkers and clinical factors in upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Aim: We conducted this study to identify gene promoter methylation status and clinical predictors for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients. Materials & methods: Using methylation-sensitive PCR, we examined ten genes promoter methylation status in 687 UTUC patients. Results: A methylated promoter of three genes to predict higher tumor stage (T3 and T4), five genes to predict higher tumor grade (G3) and one gene to predict pN+ were certified in this study. Nine factors were significantly associated with poor cancer-specific survival. Six factors were considered as predictors to develop bladder recurrence after surgery. Conclusion: Methylation occurs commonly in UTUCs, may affect carcinogenic mechanisms, and is a well predictive factor for cancer-specific survival and bladder recurrence in UTUCs.

Contralateral upper tract urothelial carcinoma after nephroureterectomy: the predictive role of DNA methylation

Background

Aberrant methylation of genes is one of the most common epigenetic modifications involved in the development of urothelial carcinoma. However, it is unknown the predictive role of methylation to contralateral new upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). We retrospectively investigated the predictive role of DNA methylation and other clinicopathological factors in the contralateral upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in a large single-center cohort of patients.

Methods

In a retrospective design, methylation of 10 genes was analyzed on tumor specimens belonging to 664 consecutive patients treated by RNU for primary UTUC. Median follow-up was 48 mo (range: 3–144 mo). Gene methylation was accessed by methylation-sensitive polymerase chain reaction, and we calculated the methylation index (MI), a reflection of the extent of methylation. The log-rank test and Cox regression were used to identify the predictor of contralateral UTUC recurrence.

Results

Thirty (4.5%) patients developed a subsequent contralateral UTUC after a median follow-up time of 27.5 (range: 2–139) months. Promoter methylation for at least one gene promoter locus was present in 88.9% of UTUC. Fewer methylation and lower MI (P = 0.001) were seen in the tumors with contralateral UTUC recurrence than the tumors without contralateral recurrence. High MI (P = 0.007) was significantly correlated with poor cancer-specific survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that unmethylated RASSF1A (P = 0.039), lack of bladder recurrence prior to contralateral UTUC (P = 0.009), history of renal transplantation (P < 0.001), and preoperative renal insufficiency (P = 0.002) are independent risk factors for contralateral UTUC recurrence after RNU.

Conclusions

Our data suggest a potential role of DNA methylation in predicting contralateral UTUC recurrence after RNU. Such information could help identify patients at high risk of new contralateral UTUC recurrence after RNU who need close surveillance during follow up.

Upper urothelium carcinomas in Croatian endemic area

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Endemic nephropathy (EN) is a chronic tubulointerstitial disease. Strong association between EN and urothelial carcinoma was noted as early as 40-50 ago. The aim of the study was to determine and compare specific mortality and morbidity of renal pelvis and ureter (upper urothelium) carcinoma (UUC) among Croatia as a whole, Brod-Posavina County, and Croatian endemic area.

METHODS

Data on UUC mortality and morbidity were analyzed. Indirect standardization was employed on data comparison by calculating standardized mortality ratio and morbidity ratio.

RESULTS

Our study results showed the specific mortality rate in the endemic area to be 26.3-fold and 7.3-fold the rate recorded in Croatia and Brod-Posavina County, respectively. The mean standardized mortality ratio obtained by indirect standardization yielded an 8-fold and 32-fold risk of death from UUC in the endemic area vs. Brod-Posavina County and Croatia as a whole, respectively. These data revealed the specific morbidity in the Croatian endemic area and Brod-Posavina County to be 13.95-fold and 3.78-fold the morbidity recorded at the national level, respectively. The standardized morbidity ratio also showed the risk of developing UUC in the Croatian endemic area to be 3.75-fold the risk in Brod-Posavina County and 16.4-fold the risk in Croatia.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that specific mortality and morbidity as well as standardized morbidity ratio and standardized mortality ratio were higher in Croatian endemic area than in Brod-Posavina County and Croatia.

Prevalence and factors associated with baseline chronic kidney disease in China: a 10-year study of 785 upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

There is relatively little literature on prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) prior to surgery in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). We evaluated the prevalence and clinical associated factors of baseline CKD in patients with UTUC.

METHODS

There were 785 patients with a pathologic diagnosis of UTUC from January 2002 to December 2011 who were analyzed in this study. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated by re-expressed Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulas for the Chinese population. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the odds ratios (ORs) for CKD stage 3 or higher in UTUCs after data differences were tested.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CKD in UTUCs presenting at our hospital was 58.6% and 70.8% in the group age 70 years and older. Older age [per year increased; OR = 1.050; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.034-1.067], lower tumor stage (T stage; per stage increased; OR = 0.666; 95% CI: 0.544-0.816), higher tumor grade (per grade increased; OR = 1.392; 95% CI: 1.004-1.930) and the main tumor locating in the pelvis (ureter as reference; OR = 0.648; 95% CI: 0.475-0.885) were independently associated with decreased kidney function in the multivariate logistic regression. The use of serum creatinine (Scr) only to evaluate the renal function would ignore a large proportion of patients suffering from CKD stage 3 in UTUCs, especially in those older than 70 years (39.3% vs. 54.1%, p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated a high prevalence (58.6%) of CKD in patients with UTUC, particularly in the group older than 70 years (70.8%). Older age, lower T stage, higher tumor grade, and the main tumor locating in pelvis (ureter as reference) were independently associated with CKD in UTUCs.

Aristolochic acid-induced upper tract urothelial carcinoma in Taiwan: clinical characteristics and outcomes

Aristolochic acid (AA), a component of all Aristolochia-based herbal medicines, is a potent nephrotoxin and human carcinogen associated with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUC). To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of AA-induced UUC, this study included 152 UUC patients, 93 of whom had been exposed to AA based on the presence of aristolactam-DNA adducts in the renal cortex. Gene sequencing was used to identify tumors with A:T-to-T:A transversions in TP53, a mutational signature associated with AA. Cases with both aristolactam-DNA adducts and A:T-to-T:A transversions in TP53 were defined as AA-UUC, whereas patients lacking both of these biomarkers were classified as non-AA-UUC. Cases with either biomarker were classified as possible-AA-UUC. Forty (26%), 60 (40%), and 52 (34%) patients were classified as AA-UUC, possible-AA-UUC and non-AA-UUC, respectively. AA-UUC patients were younger (median ages: 64, 68, 68 years, respectively; p=0.189), predominately female (65%, 42%, 35%, respectively; p=0.011), had more end-stage renal disease (28%, 10%, 12%, respectively; p=0.055), and were infrequent smokers (5%, 22%, 33%, respectively; p=0.07) compared to possible-AA-UUC and non-AA-UUC patients. All 14 patients who developed contralateral UUC had aristolactam-DNA adducts; ten of these also had signature mutations. The contralateral UUC-free survival period was shorter in AA-UUC compared to possible- or non-AA-UUC (p=0.019 and 0.002, respectively), whereas no differences among groups were observed for bladder cancer recurrence. In conclusion, AA-UUC patients tend to be younger and female, and have more advanced renal disease. Notably, AA exposure was associated with an increased risk for developing synchronous bilateral and metachronous contralateral UUC.