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Ye X, Yang C, Xu H, He Q, Sheng L, Lin J, Wang X. Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of Coptidis Rhizoma in gastric precancerous lesions: a network pharmacology approach. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:211. [PMID: 38837097 PMCID: PMC11153449 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01070-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric precancerous lesions are a critical stage in the development of gastric cancer or gastric adenocarcinoma, and their outcome plays an important role in the malignant progression of gastric cancer. Coptidis Rhizoma has a good effect on Gastric precancerous lesions. However, the specific mechanisms of its action remain incompletely elucidated. METHODS Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to explore the active ingredients and molecular mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma in treating gastric precancerous lesions. The active compounds of Coptidis Rhizoma and their potential gastric precancerous lesions related targets were obtained from TCMSP, GeneCards, and OMIM databases. An interaction network based on protein-protein interactions (PPIs) was constructed to visualize the interactions between hub genes. Analysis of GO enrichment and KEGG pathway were conducted using the DAVID database. An investigation of interactions between active compounds and potential targets was carried out by molecular docking. Finally, animal experiments were conducted to verify the effect and mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma in treating precancerous lesions of gastric cancer. RESULTS A total of 11 active compounds and 95 anti-gastric precancerous lesions targets of Coptidis Rhizoma were screened for analysis. GO enrichment analysis showed that the mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma acting on gastric precancerous lesions involves gene expression regulation and apoptosis regulation. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that Coptidis Rhizoma against gastric precancerous lesions involving the AKT /HIF-1α/VEGF signalling pathway. Molecular docking simulations indicated potential interactions between these compounds and core targets involved in anti-gastric precancerous lesions activity. In addition, it was confirmed in vivo that Berberine and Coptidis Rhizoma may reverse atrophy and potential intestinal metaplasia by inhibiting the expression of p-AKT, HIFA, and VEGF. CONCLUSION Bioactive compounds in Coptidis Rhizoma have the potential to prevent atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. These compounds function by regulating the proteins implicated in AKT /HIF-1α/VEGF signalling pathways that are crucial in gastric epithelial cell differentiation, proliferation and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuxing Ye
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, 351 Mingyue Street, Wucheng District, Jinhua, 321000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chao Yang
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 548 Binwen Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Hanzhi Xu
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Qin He
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, 351 Mingyue Street, Wucheng District, Jinhua, 321000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Sheng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, 321000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junmei Lin
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, 351 Mingyue Street, Wucheng District, Jinhua, 321000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 548 Binwen Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
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Association of CD206 Protein Expression with Immune Infiltration and Prognosis in Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194829. [PMID: 36230752 PMCID: PMC9564167 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) have a worse prognosis, but might respond to immunotherapies. Macrophages are plastic cells that can adopt various phenotypes and functions. Although they are a major immune population in TNBCs, the relationship between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and TNBC progression has been rarely explored, with controversial results. Methods: We evaluated the prognostic impact of TAMs, quantified by immunohistochemistry with anti-CD68, -IRF8, -CD163, and -CD206 antibodies, in a well-described cohort of 285 patients with non-metastatic TNBC. Results: CD68 (p = 0.008), IRF8 (p = 0.001), and CD163 (p < 0.001) expression positively correlated with higher tumor grade, while CD206 was associated with smaller tumor size (p < 0.001). All macrophage markers were associated with higher tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte numbers and PD-L1 expression. Univariate survival analyses reported a significant positive correlation between CD163+ or CD206+ TAMs and relapse-free survival (respectively: HR = 0.52 [0.28−0.97], p = 0.027, and HR = 0.51 [0.31−0.82], p = 0.005), and between CD206+ TAMs and overall survival (HR = 0.54 [0.35−0.83], p = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, there was a trend for an association between CD206+ TAMs and relapse-free survival (HR = 0.63 [0.33−1.04], p = 0.073). Conclusions: These data suggest that CD206 expression defines a TAM subpopulation potentially associated with favorable outcomes in patients with TNBC. CD206 expression might identify an immune TNBC subgroup with specific therapeutic options.
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3
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Can EGFR be a therapeutic target in breast cancer? Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188789. [PMID: 36064121 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly expressed in certain cancer types and is involved in regulating the biological characteristics of cancer progression, including proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. Various medicines targeting EGFR have been developed and approved for several cancer types, such as lung and colon cancer. To date, however, EGFR inhibitors have not achieved satisfactory clinical results in breast cancer, which continues to be the most serious malignant tumor type in females. Therefore, clarifying the underlying mechanisms related to the ineffectiveness of EGFR inhibitors in breast cancer and developing new EGFR-targeted strategies (e.g., combination therapy) remain critical challenges. Various studies have demonstrated aberrant expression and maintenance of EGFR levels in breast cancer. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanisms underlying EGFR protein expression in breast cancer cells, including EGFR mutations, amplification, endocytic dysfunction, recycling acceleration, and degradation disorders. We also discuss potential therapeutic strategies that act directly or indirectly on EGFR, including reducing EGFR protein expression, treating the target protein to mediate precise clearance, and inhibiting non-EGFR signaling pathways. This review should provide new therapeutic perspectives for breast cancer patients with high EGFR expression.
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Ruether C, Wuensch C, Randau G, Michgehl U, Trautmann M, Hartmann W, Sandmann S, Dugas M, Khanam T, Burkhardt B. Design of a targeted next-generation DNA sequencing panel for pediatric T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma to unravel biology and optimize treatment. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2022; 61:459-470. [PMID: 35278000 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.23037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Low incidence and molecular heterogeneity of pediatric T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) require an international, large-scale effort to identify novel clinical biomarkers. The ongoing international clinical trial LBL2018 (NCT04043494) represents an ideal opportunity to implement a common analytic approach. Targeted next-generation sequencing is well-suited for this purpose; however, selection of relevant target genes for T-LBL remains subject of ongoing debates. Our group has recently designed and evaluated a first target panel of 80 candidate genes for T-LBL. The present study aimed at developing a novel optimized gene panel for large-scale application and to promote an international agreement on a common core panel. Small sequence variants obtained from our former study were systematically analyzed and classified with regards to pathogenic relevance, to prioritize candidate genes. Additional genes were curated from literature and online databases for a more comprehensive analysis of relevant functions and signaling pathways. The new target panel TGP-T-LBL entails 84 candidate genes which are key actors in NOTCH, PI3K-AKT, JAK-STAT, RAS signaling, epigenetic regulation, transcription, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and ribosomal function. From our former gene panel, 35 out of 80 candidate genes were selected for the novel panel. Forty-six out of 84 genes are currently being analyzed in the ongoing international trial LBL2018. Exploratory analysis of prognostic relevance on mutation-level suggested a potential association of PIK3CA variants c.1624G > A(p.Glu542Lys) and c.1633G > A(p.Glu545Lys) to occurrence of relapse, emphasizing particular relevance of mutation analysis in PI3K-AKT signaling. Our approach promotes comprehensive and clinically relevant mutational profiling of pediatric T-LBL. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Ruether
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Gerrit Randau
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
| | - Ulf Michgehl
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
| | - Marcel Trautmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
| | - Sarah Sandmann
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Muenster University, Germany
| | - Martin Dugas
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Muenster University, Germany
| | - Tasneem Khanam
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
| | - Birgit Burkhardt
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
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5
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Jablonski KP, Pirkl M, Ćevid D, Bühlmann P, Beerenwinkel N. Identifying cancer pathway dysregulations using differential causal effects. Bioinformatics 2021; 38:1550-1559. [PMID: 34927666 PMCID: PMC8896597 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab847] [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: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Signaling pathways control cellular behavior. Dysregulated pathways, for example, due to mutations that cause genes and proteins to be expressed abnormally, can lead to diseases, such as cancer. RESULTS We introduce a novel computational approach, called Differential Causal Effects (dce), which compares normal to cancerous cells using the statistical framework of causality. The method allows to detect individual edges in a signaling pathway that are dysregulated in cancer cells, while accounting for confounding. Hence, technical artifacts have less influence on the results and dce is more likely to detect the true biological signals. We extend the approach to handle unobserved dense confounding, where each latent variable, such as, for example, batch effects or cell cycle states, affects many covariates. We show that dce outperforms competing methods on synthetic datasets and on CRISPR knockout screens. We validate its latent confounding adjustment properties on a GTEx (Genotype-Tissue Expression) dataset. Finally, in an exploratory analysis on breast cancer data from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas), we recover known and discover new genes involved in breast cancer progression. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The method dce is freely available as an R package on Bioconductor (https://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/dce.html) as well as on https://github.com/cbg-ethz/dce. The GitHub repository also contains the Snakemake workflows needed to reproduce all results presented here. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Domagoj Ćevid
- Seminar for Statistics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Bühlmann
- Seminar for Statistics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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6
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Hu H, Zhu J, Zhong Y, Geng R, Ji Y, Guan Q, Hong C, Wei Y, Min N, Qi A, Zhang Y, Li X. PIK3CA mutation confers resistance to chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer by inhibiting apoptosis and activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:410. [PMID: 33842631 PMCID: PMC8033310 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a malignant subtype of breast cancer, the main treatments for which are chemotherapy and surgery. PIK3CA is an oncogene that encodes the p110α subunit of class IA PI3K to regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis. Some reports have observed neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) to have poor pathological complete response (pCR) rates in TNBC with PIK3CA mutation. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of how mutant PIK3CA alters chemotherapeutic susceptibility in TNBC. Methods TNBC cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468) with PIK3CA gene mutations (E545K and H1047R regions) and overexpression were established by transfection. NOD/SCID mice were used for in vivo experiments. Epirubicin was used as the chemotherapeutic agent. Cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and Transwell assays were conducted for phenotype analysis. Western blot, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect gene and protein expression levels. A clinical analysis of 50 patients with TNBC was also performed. Results Cell viability and Transwell assays showed that PIK3CA mutation promoted TNBC cell growth and conferred an enhanced migratory phenotype. Cell cycle and apoptosis assays showed that PIK3CA mutation moderately improved the proliferation ability of TNBC cells and remarkably inhibited their apoptosis. After epirubicin therapy, the proportion of early apoptotic cells decreased among cells with PIK3CA mutation. Further, xenograft tumors grew faster in NOD/SCID mice injected with mutated cell lines than in control group, suggesting that PIK3CA mutation caused chemotherapy resistance. Importantly, western blot and immunohistochemical analysis showed that cells and mouse tumors in the PIK3CA mutation groups exhibited different expression levels of apoptosis-related markers (Xiap, Bcl-2, and Caspase 3) and proteins associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway (p110α, AKT, p-AKT, mTOR, p-mTOR, p-4E-BP1, p-p70S6K, and Pten). Moreover, prognostic analysis of 50 patients with TNBC indicated that PIK3CA mutation might be linked with relapse and death. Conclusions PIK3CA mutation confers resistance to chemotherapy in TNBC by inhibiting apoptosis and activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huayu Hu
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Junyong Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yuting Zhong
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Geng
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yashuang Ji
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qingyu Guan
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chenyan Hong
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yufan Wei
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ningning Min
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Aiying Qi
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiru Li
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
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7
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Kołodziej P, Nicoś M, Krawczyk PA, Bogucki J, Karczmarczyk A, Zalewski D, Kubrak T, Kołodziej E, Makuch-Kocka A, Madej-Czerwonka B, Płachno BJ, Kocki J, Bogucka-Kocka A. The Correlation of Mutations and Expressions of Genes within the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway in Breast Cancer-A Preliminary Study. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2061. [PMID: 33669698 PMCID: PMC7922286 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to seek new molecular biomarkers helpful in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. In this elaboration, we performed a molecular analysis of mutations and expression of genes within the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in patients with ductal breast cancer of various malignancy levels. We recognized significant correlations between the expression levels of the studied genes. We also performed a bioinformatics analysis of the data available on the international database TCGA and compared them with our own research. Studies on mutations and expression of genes were conducted using High-Resolution Melt PCR (HRM-PCR), Allele-Specific-quantitative PCR (ASP-qPCR), Real-Time PCR molecular methods in a group of women with ductal breast cancer. Bioinformatics analysis was carried out using web source Ualcan and bc-GenExMiner. In the studied group of women, it was observed that the prevalence of mutations in the studied PIK3CA and AKT1 genes was 29.63%. It was stated that the average expression level of the PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTEN genes in the group of breast cancer patients is lower in comparison to the control group, while the average expression level of the AKT1 and mTOR genes in the studied group was higher in comparison to the control group. It was also indicated that in the group of patients with mutations in the area of the PIK3CA and AKT1 genes, the PIK3CA gene expression level is statistically significantly lower than in the group without mutations. According to our knowledge, we demonstrate, for the first time, that there is a very strong positive correlation between the levels of AKT1 and mTOR gene expression in the case of patients with mutations and without mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław Kołodziej
- Chair and Department of Biology and Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Marcin Nicoś
- Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Allergology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (M.N.); (P.A.K.)
| | - Paweł A. Krawczyk
- Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Allergology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (M.N.); (P.A.K.)
| | - Jacek Bogucki
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Karczmarczyk
- Department of Experimental Haematooncology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Daniel Zalewski
- Chair and Department of Biology and Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Tomasz Kubrak
- Department of Biochemistry and General Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszow, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland;
| | - Elżbieta Kołodziej
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (E.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Anna Makuch-Kocka
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Barbara Madej-Czerwonka
- Department of Breast Surgery, District Specialist Hospital of Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski in Lublin, 20-718 Lublin, Poland;
- Department of Human Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Bartosz J. Płachno
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 30-387 Kraków, Poland;
| | - Janusz Kocki
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (E.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Anna Bogucka-Kocka
- Chair and Department of Biology and Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
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Clinicopathological Correlates of γδ T Cell Infiltration in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040765. [PMID: 33673133 PMCID: PMC7918092 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The prognostic impact of the different tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) subpopulations remains debated in solid cancers. We investigated the clinicopathological correlates and prognostic impact of TILs, particularly of γδ T cells, in 162 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. A high γδ T cell density was significantly associated with younger age, higher tumor histological grade, adjuvant chemotherapy, BRCA1 promoter methylation, TIL density, and PD-L1 and PD-1 expression. In multivariate analyses, γδ T cell infiltration was an independent prognostic factor. However, this prognostic impact varied according to the tumor PIK3CA mutational status. High γδ T cell infiltration was associated with better survival in patients with PIK3CA wild-type tumors, without significant difference in the PIK3CA-mutated tumor subgroup. Altogether, these data suggest that high γδ T cell infiltrate is correlated with immune infiltration and might represent a prognostic tool in TNBC patients. Abstract The prognostic impact of the different tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) subpopulations in solid cancers is still debated. Here, we investigated the clinicopathological correlates and prognostic impact of TILs, particularly of γδ T cells, in 162 patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). A high γδ T cell density (>6.625 γδ T cells/mm2) was associated with younger age (p = 0.008), higher tumor histological grade (p = 0.002), adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.010), BRCA1 promoter methylation (p = 0.010), TIL density (p < 0.001), and PD-L1 (p < 0.001) and PD-1 expression (p = 0.040). In multivariate analyses, γδ T cell infiltration (cutoff = 6.625 γδ T cells/mm2) was an independent prognostic factor (5-year relapse-free survival: 63.3% vs. 89.8%, p = 0.027; 5-year overall survival: 73.8% vs. 89.9%, p = 0.031, for low vs. high infiltration). This prognostic impact varied according to the tumor PIK3CA mutational status. High γδ T cell infiltration was associated with better survival in patients with PIK3CA wild-type tumors, but the difference was not significant in the subgroup with PIK3CA-mutated tumors. Altogether, these data suggest that high γδ T cell infiltrate is correlated with immune infiltration and might represent a candidate prognostic tool in patients with TNBC.
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9
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Pereira PL, Iezzi R, Manfredi R, Carchesio F, Bánsághi Z, Brountzos E, Spiliopoulos S, Echevarria-Uraga JJ, Gonçalves B, Inchingolo R, Nardella M, Pellerin O, Sousa M, Arnold D, de Baère T, Gomez F, Helmberger T, Maleux G, Prenen H, Sangro B, Zeka B, Kaufmann N, Taieb J. The CIREL Cohort: A Prospective Controlled Registry Studying the Real-Life Use of Irinotecan-Loaded Chemoembolisation in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: Interim Analysis. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2021; 44:50-62. [PMID: 32974773 PMCID: PMC7728640 DOI: 10.1007/s00270-020-02646-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) using irinotecan-eluting beads is an additional treatment option for colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) patients that are not eligible for curative treatment approaches. This interim analysis focuses on feasibility of the planned statistical analysis regarding data distribution and completeness, treatment intention, safety and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of the first 50 patients prospectively enrolled in the CIrse REgistry for LifePearl™ microspheres (CIREL), an observational multicentre study conducted across Europe. METHODS In total, 50 patients ≥ 18 years diagnosed with CRLM and decided to be treated with irinotecan-eluting LifePearl™ microspheres TACE (LP-irinotecan TACE) by a multidisciplinary tumour board. There were no further inclusion or exclusion criteria. The primary endpoint is the categorisation of treatment intention, and secondary endpoints presented in this interim analysis are safety, treatment considerations and HRQOL. RESULTS LP-irinotecan TACE was conducted in 42% of patients as salvage therapy, 20% as an intensification treatment, 16% as a first-line treatment, 14% a consolidation treatment and 8% combination treatment with ablation with curative intent. Grade 3 and 4 adverse events were reported by 4% of patients during procedure and by 10% within 30 days. While 38% reported a worse, 62% reported a stable or better global health score, and 54% of patients with worse global health score were treated as salvage therapy patients. CONCLUSION This interim analysis confirms in a prospective analysis the feasibility of the study, with an acceptable toxicity profile. More patients reported a stable or improved HRQOL than deterioration. Deterioration of HRQOL was seen especially in salvage therapy patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03086096.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe L Pereira
- Zentrum für Radiologie, Minimal-Invasive Therapien und Nuklearmedizin, SLK-Kliniken Heilbronn GmbH, Am Gesundbrunnen 20-26, 74078, Heilbronn, Germany
| | - Roberto Iezzi
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, UOC di Radiologia Diagnostica ed Interventistica Generale, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Manfredi
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, UOC di Radiologia Diagnostica ed Interventistica Generale, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Carchesio
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, UOC di Radiologia Diagnostica ed Interventistica Generale, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Zoltan Bánsághi
- Medical Imaging Center, Semmelweis University, Korányi Sándor u. 2, Budapest, 1082, Hungary
| | - Elias Brountzos
- Interventional Radiology Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Rimini 1, Chaidari, 124 62, Athens, Greece
| | - Stavros Spiliopoulos
- Interventional Radiology Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Rimini 1, Chaidari, 124 62, Athens, Greece
| | - Javier J Echevarria-Uraga
- Department of Radiology, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital, Barrio Labeaga s/n, 48960, Galdakao, Spain
| | - Belarmino Gonçalves
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Portuguese Oncology Institute, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Riccardo Inchingolo
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Madonna delle Grazie Hospital, Via Montescaglioso, 75100, Matera, Italy
| | - Michele Nardella
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Madonna delle Grazie Hospital, Via Montescaglioso, 75100, Matera, Italy
| | - Olivier Pellerin
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Service de Radiologie Interventionnelle Vasculaire et Oncologique, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, 20 Rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Maria Sousa
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Portuguese Oncology Institute, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Dirk Arnold
- Asklepios Tumorzentrum Hamburg, AK Altona, Paul Ehrlich Str. 1, 22763, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thierry de Baère
- Service de Radiologie Interventionelle, Institut Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue Edouard Vaillant, 94800, Villejuif, France
| | - Fernando Gomez
- Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Calle Villarroel, 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Radiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Helmberger
- Institut für Radiologie, München Klinik Bogenhausen Neuroradiologie und minimal-invasive Therapie, Englschalkinger Str. 77, 81925, Munich, Germany
| | - Geert Maleux
- Radiologie, UZ Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Hans Prenen
- Oncology Department, UZ Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Bruno Sangro
- Liver Unit, Clinica Universidad de Navarra-IDISNA and CIBEREHD, Av. de Pío XII 36, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Bleranda Zeka
- Clinical Research Department, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe, Neutorgasse 9, 1010, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nathalie Kaufmann
- Clinical Research Department, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe, Neutorgasse 9, 1010, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Julien Taieb
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Service d'hepatogastroentérologie et d'oncologie digestive, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, 20 Rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France
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10
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Co-delivery of EGFR and BRD4 siRNA by cell-penetrating peptides-modified redox-responsive complex in triple negative breast cancer cells. Life Sci 2020; 266:118886. [PMID: 33310044 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has drawn more and more attention due to its high mitotic indices, high metastatic rate and poor prognosis. Gene therapy, especially RNA interference (RNAi), has become a promising targeted therapy. However, improvement of transfection efficiency and discovery of target genes are major problems for the delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNA). MATERIALS AND METHODS In the present study, we developed GALA- and CREKA-modified PEG-SS-PEI to deliver siRNAs targeting on EGFR and BRD4 for TNBC therapy. The PEG-SS-PEI/siRNA complexes were prepared by electrostatic interaction and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The release characteristic, stability, cellular uptake and intracellular localization of the complexes were also studied. The effect of the complexes on cell viability was measured in MDA-MB-231 and HUVEC cells. The in vitro anti-tumor activities of the complexes were analyzed by Transwell invasion assay and wound healing assay. The gene silencing effect was evaluated by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. KEY FINDINGS The results revealed that the GALA- and CREKA-modified PEG-SS-PEI/siRNA complexes showed excellent transfection efficiency with redox-sensitive release profile and good biological compatibility. The complexes protected siRNA from the degradation of RNA enzymes. The complexes significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells via the synergistic inhibition of EGFR/PI3K/Akt and BRD4/c-Myc pathways. SIGNIFICANCE Taken together, co-delivery of siEGFR and siBRD4 by GALA-PEG-SS-PEI and CREKA-PEG-SS-PEI may provide a more effective strategy for the treatment of TNBC.
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11
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McCullough D, Atofanei C, Knight E, Trim SA, Trim CM. Kinome scale profiling of venom effects on cancer cells reveals potential new venom activities. Toxicon 2020; 185:129-146. [PMID: 32682827 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The search for novel and relevant cancer therapeutics is continuous and ongoing. Cancer adaptations, resulting in therapeutic treatment failures, fuel this continuous necessity for new drugs to novel targets. Recently, researchers have started to investigate the effect of venoms and venom components on different types of cancer, investigating their mechanisms of action. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) comprise a family of highly conserved and functionally important druggable targets for cancer therapy. This research exploits the novelty of complex venom mixtures to affect phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and related RTK family members, dually identifying new activities and unexplored avenues for future cancer and venom research. Six whole venoms from diverse species taxa, were evaluated for their ability to illicit changes in the phosphorylated expression of a panel of 49 commonly expressed RTKs. The triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 was treated with optimised venom doses, pre-determined by SDS PAGE and Western blot analysis. The phosphorylated expression levels of 49 RTKs in response to the venoms were assessed with the use of Human Phospho-RTK Arrays and analysed using ImageLab 5.2.1 analysis software (BioRad). Inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation occurred with treatment of venom from Acanthoscurria geniculata (Theraphosidae), Heterometrus swammerdami (Scorpionidae), Crotalus durissus vegrandis (Crotalidae) and Naja naja (Elapidae). Western green mamba Dendroaspis viridis venom increased EGFR phosphorylation. Eph, HGFR and HER were the most affected receptor families by venoms. Whilst the importance of these changes in terms of effect on MDA-MB-468 cells' long-term viability and functionality are still unclear, the findings present exciting opportunities for further investigation as potential drug targets in cancer and as tools to understand better how these pathways interact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle McCullough
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
| | - Cristina Atofanei
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
| | - Emily Knight
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK; Life Sciences Industry Liaison laboratory, Canterbury Christ Church University, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9FF, UK
| | - Steven A Trim
- Venomtech Ltd., Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9FF, UK
| | - Carol M Trim
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK.
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12
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Raulf N, Lucarelli P, Thavaraj S, Brown S, Vicencio JM, Sauter T, Tavassoli M. Annexin A1 regulates EGFR activity and alters EGFR-containing tumour-derived exosomes in head and neck cancers. Eur J Cancer 2018; 102:52-68. [PMID: 30142511 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2018.07.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the 6th most common cancer with approximately half a million cases diagnosed each year worldwide. HNSCC has a poor survival rate which has not improved for over 30 years. The molecular pathogenesis of HNSCCs remains largely unresolved; there is high prevalence of p53 mutations and EGFR overexpression; however, the contribution of these molecular changes to disease development and/or progression remains unknown. We have recently identified microRNA miR-196a to be highly overexpressed in HNSCC with poor prognosis. Oncogenic miR-196a directly targets Annexin A1 (ANXA1). Although increased ANXA1 expression levels have been associated with breast cancer development, its role in HNSCC is debatable and its functional contribution to HNSCC development remains unclear. METHODS ANXA1 mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by RNA Seq analysis and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Gain- and loss-of-function studies were performed to analyse the effects of ANXA1 modulation on cell proliferation, mechanism of activation of EGFR signalling as well as on exosome production and exosomal phospho-EGFR. RESULTS ANXA1 was found to be downregulated in head and neck cancer tissues, both at mRNA and protein level. Its anti-proliferative effects were mediated through the intracellular form of the protein. Importantly, ANXA1 downregulation resulted in increased phosphorylation and activity of EGFR and its downstream PI3K-AKT signalling. Additionally, ANXA1 modulation affected exosome production and influenced the release of exosomal phospho-EGFR. CONCLUSIONS ANXA1 acts as a tumour suppressor in HNSCC. It is involved in the regulation of EGFR activity and exosomal phospho-EGFR release and could be an important prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Raulf
- Department of Molecular Oncology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus, Hodgkin Building, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - P Lucarelli
- Faculté des Sciences, de La Technologie et de La Communication, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue Du Swing, 4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - S Thavaraj
- Department of Head and Neck Pathology, Mucosal and Salivary Biology, Guy's Hospital Campus, King's College London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - S Brown
- DCT3 Oral and Maxillofacial Histopathology, Department of Head & Neck Pathology, Guy's Hospital Campus, King's College London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - J M Vicencio
- Research Department of Cancer Biology, Cancer Institute, University College London, Paul O'Gorman Building, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - T Sauter
- Faculté des Sciences, de La Technologie et de La Communication, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue Du Swing, 4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - M Tavassoli
- Department of Molecular Oncology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus, Hodgkin Building, London SE1 1UL, UK.
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13
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CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Sufficiently Abolished Oncogenicity in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. DISEASE MARKERS 2018; 2018:3835783. [PMID: 29849821 PMCID: PMC5925145 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3835783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid (ATC), also called undifferentiated thyroid cancer, is the least common but most aggressive and deadly thyroid gland malignancy of all thyroid cancers. The aim of this study is to explore essential biomarker and use CRISPR/Cas9 with lentivirus delivery to establish a gene-target therapeutic platform in ATC cells. At the beginning, the gene expression datasets from 1036 cancers from CCLE and 8215 tumors from TCGA were collected and analyzed, showing EGFR is predominantly overexpressed in thyroid cancers than other type of cancers (P = 0.017 in CCLE and P = 0.001 in TCGA). Using CRISPR/Cas9 genomic edit system, ATC cells with EGFR sgRNA lentivirus transfection obtained great disruptions on gene and protein expression, resulting in cell cycle arrest, cell growth inhibition, and most importantly metastasis turn-off ability. In addition, the FDA-approved TKI of afatinib for EGFR targeting also illustrates great anticancer activity on cancer cell death occurrence, cell growth inhibition, and cell cycle arrest in SW579 cells, an EGFR expressing human ATC cell line. Furthermore, off-target effect of using EGFR sgRNAs was measured and found no genomic editing can be detected in off-target candidate gene. To conclude, this study provides potential ATC therapeutic strategies for current and future clinical needs, which may be possible in increasing the survival rate of ATC patients by translational medicine.
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14
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Deng L, Zhu X, Sun Y, Wang J, Zhong X, Li J, Hu M, Zheng H. Prevalence and Prognostic Role of PIK3CA/AKT1 Mutations in Chinese Breast Cancer Patients. Cancer Res Treat 2018. [PMID: 29540052 PMCID: PMC6333988 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2017.598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The prevalence of PIK3CA in Chinese breast cancer patients may be underestimated. Therefore, we investigated the distribution of somatic PIK3CA/AKT1 mutations in Chinese breast cancer patients and explored their roles in tumor phenotypes and disease prognosis. Materials and Methods Tumors from 507 breast cancer patients were prospectively collected from the West China Hospital between 2008 and 2013. Whole exons of AKT1 and PIK3CA were detected in fresh-frozen tumors using next-generation sequencing, and correlations between PIK3CA/AKT1 mutations and clinicopathological features were analyzed. Results The AKT1 mutation was found in 3.6% (18/507) of patients. Tumors from patients that carried the AKT1 mutation were estrogen receptor (ER)+/progesterone receptor (PR)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‒ and were more likely to have high expression levels of Ki67. The prevalence of the PIK3CA mutation was 46.5% (236/507), and 35 patients carried two or three variants of the PIK3CA gene. PIK3CA mutations were associated with ER+/PR+/HER2‒ status. The prognosis of patients with one mutation in PIK3CA (or PIK3CA/AKT1) was not significantly different than that of patients with wild-type PIK3CA (or PIK3CA/AKT1), while patients with two or three variants in PIK3CA (or PIK3CA/AKT1) exhibited poorer outcomes in the entire group and in all three subgroups (ER+, HER2‒, Ki67 high), particularly with respect to overall survival. Conclusion A high frequency of somatic PIK3CA mutations was detected in Chinese breast cancer patients. In addition to the mutation frequency, the tumor mutational burden of the PIK3CA and AKT1 genes should also be of concern, as they may be associated with poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Deng
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Laboratory of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuehua Zhu
- Dizal (Jiangsu) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Sun
- Dizal (Jiangsu) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Jiemin Wang
- Dizal (Jiangsu) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaorong Zhong
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiayuan Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Bio-Statistics, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Min Hu
- Dizal (Jiangsu) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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15
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Levva S, Kotoula V, Kostopoulos I, Manousou K, Papadimitriou C, Papadopoulou K, Lakis S, Koukoulias K, Karavasilis V, Pentheroudakis G, Balassi E, Zagouri F, Kaklamanos IG, Pectasides D, Razis E, Aravantinos G, Papakostas P, Bafaloukos D, Rallis G, Gogas H, Fountzilas G. Prognostic Evaluation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Genotype and Phenotype Parameters in Triple-negative Breast Cancers. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2018; 14:181-195. [PMID: 28446533 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) aberrations have been implicated in the pathogenesis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) but their impact on prognosis and, therefore, druggability, remain controversial. Herein, we studied EGFR aberrations at different molecular levels and assessed their prognostic impact in patients with operable TNBC treated with adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated the prognostic impact of EGFR gene status by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), EGFR coding mutations by Sanger and next-generation sequencing, relative EGFR messenger RNA (mRNA) levels by qPCR (upper quartile) and EGFR and p53 protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC), in 352 centrally-assessed tumors from an equal number of TNBC patients. RESULTS Approximately 53.5% of the tumors expressed EGFR, 59.3% p53 and 35.9% both EGFR and p53 proteins; 4.1% showed EGFR gene amplification and 4.4% carried EGFR mutations. The latter were located outside the druggable kinase domain region and presented at low frequencies. Amplification and mutations overlapped only in one case of glycogen-rich carcinoma. EGFR and CEN7 copies were higher in tumors from older patients (p=0.002 and p=0.003, respectively). Patients with amplified tumors (n=11) had excellent prognosis (0 relapses and deaths). Upon multivariate analysis, high EGFR copies conferred significantly favorable disease-free survival (HR=0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.90, Wald's p=0.017) and high CEN7 copies favorable overall survival (HR=0.49, 95% CI=0.29-0.83, Wald's p=0.008). Patients with EGFR-/p53+ and EGFR+/p53- tumors had significantly higher risk for relapse than those with EGFR-/p53- and EGFR+/p53+ tumors (HR=1.73, 95% CI=1.12-2.67, Wald's p=0.013). CONCLUSION EGFR gene amplification and mutations are rare in TNBC, the latter of no apparent clinical relevance. Surrogate markers of EGFR-related chromosomal aberrations and combined EGFR/p53 IHC phenotypes appear to be associated with favorable prognosis in patients with operable TNBC receiving conventional adjuvant chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Levva
- Department of Medical Oncology, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Kotoula
- Department of Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Kostopoulos
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Manousou
- Section of Biostatistics, Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group, Data Office, Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Papadimitriou
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sotiris Lakis
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kyriakos Koukoulias
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasilios Karavasilis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Eufemia Balassi
- Department of Pathology, Hatzikosta Hospital, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Flora Zagouri
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis G Kaklamanos
- Department of Surgery, Agii Anargiri Hospital, University of Athens, School of Health Sciences, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Pectasides
- Oncology Section, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Razis
- Third Department of Medical Oncology, Hygeia Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Aravantinos
- Second Department of Medical Oncology, Agii Anargiri Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | - Grigorios Rallis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Helen Gogas
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - George Fountzilas
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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16
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Kidacki M, Lehman HL, Green MV, Warrick JI, Stairs DB. p120-Catenin Downregulation and PIK3CA Mutations Cooperate to Induce Invasion through MMP1 in HNSCC. Mol Cancer Res 2017. [PMID: 28637905 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-17-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent improvements in treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), half of all patients with a regional or advanced disease will die within 5 years from diagnosis. Therefore, identification of mechanisms driving the aggressive behavior of HNSCC is of utmost importance. Because p120-catenin (CTNND1/P120CTN) downregulation and PIK3CA mutations are commonly found in HNSCC, the objective of this study was to identify their impact on fundamental processes of metastasis, specifically, migration and invasion. Furthermore, this study aimed to identify the key effector proteins regulated by P120CTN downregulation and PIK3CA mutations. Studies using oral keratinocytes demonstrated that P120CTN downregulation and PIK3CA mutations increased migration and invasion. In addition, P120CTN downregulation and PIK3CA mutations resulted in elevated matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1) levels. Inhibition of MMP1 resulted in decreased invasion, suggesting that MMP1 plays a critical role in HNSCC invasion. Moreover, analysis of HNSCC patient specimens from The Cancer Genome Atlas confirmed these findings. Tumors with low P120CTN and PI3K pathway mutations have higher levels of MMP1 compared to tumors with high P120CTN and no PI3K pathway mutations. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that P120CTN downregulation and PIK3CA mutations promote MMP1-driven invasion, providing a potential novel target for limiting metastasis in HNSCC.Implications: Because of its role in invasion, MMP1 represents a novel, potential target for limiting metastasis in a subset of HNSCCs with P120CTN downregulation and PIK3CA mutations. Mol Cancer Res; 15(10); 1398-409. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Kidacki
- Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Heather L Lehman
- Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Michelle V Green
- Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Joshua I Warrick
- Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Douglas B Stairs
- Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
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17
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Peterson LE, Kovyrshina T. Progression inference for somatic mutations in cancer. Heliyon 2017; 3:e00277. [PMID: 28492066 PMCID: PMC5415494 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Computational methods were employed to determine progression inference of genomic alterations in commonly occurring cancers. Using cross-sectional TCGA data, we computed evolutionary trajectories involving selectivity relationships among pairs of gene-specific genomic alterations such as somatic mutations, deletions, amplifications, downregulation, and upregulation among the top 20 driver genes associated with each cancer. Results indicate that the majority of hierarchies involved TP53, PIK3CA, ERBB2, APC, KRAS, EGFR, IDH1, VHL, etc. Research into the order and accumulation of genomic alterations among cancer driver genes will ever-increase as the costs of nextgen sequencing subside, and personalized/precision medicine incorporates whole-genome scans into the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leif E. Peterson
- Center for Biostatistics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Dept. of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Dept. of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Texas – Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Dept. of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Tatiana Kovyrshina
- Center for Biostatistics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Houston – Downtown, Houston, TX 77002, USA
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18
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Liu F, Jiao Y, Jiao Y, Garcia-Godoy F, Gu W, Liu Q. Sex difference in EGFR pathways in mouse kidney-potential impact on the immune system. BMC Genet 2016; 17:146. [PMID: 27881077 PMCID: PMC5122204 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-016-0449-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr) has been the target of several drugs for cancers. The potential gender differences in genes in the Egfr axis have been suggested in humans and in animal models. Female and male mice from the same recombinant inbred (RI) strain have the same genomic components except the sex difference. A population of different RI mouse strains allows to conduct precise analysis of molecular pathways and regulation of Egfr between female and male mice. Methods The whole genome expression profiles of 70 genetically diverse RI strains of mice were used to compare three major molecular aspects of Egfr gene: the relative expression levels, gene network and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) that regulate the expression of Egfr between female and male mice. Results Our data showed that there is a significant sex difference in the expression levels in kidney. A considerable number of genes in the gene network of Egfr are sex differentially expressed. The expression levels of Egfr in mice are statistical significant different between C57BL/6 J (B6) and DBA/2 J (D2) genotypes in male while no difference in female mice. The eQTLs that regulate the expression levels of Egfr between female and male mice are also different. Furthermore, the differential expression levels of Egfr showed significantly different correlations with two known biological traits between male and female mice. Conclusion Overall there is a substantial sex difference in the Egfr pathways in mice. These data may have significant impact on drug target design, development, formulation, and dosage determinant for women and men in clinical trials. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-016-0449-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengxia Liu
- The Fourth Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050011, China.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and BME-Campbell Clinic, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yan Jiao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and BME-Campbell Clinic, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yun Jiao
- Department of Neuroscience, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Franklin Garcia-Godoy
- Bioscience Research Center, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 875 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Weikuan Gu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and BME-Campbell Clinic, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA. .,Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1030 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN, USA. .,, 956 Court Ave, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
| | - Qingyi Liu
- The Fourth Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050011, China.
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