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Wu J, Li T, Ji H, Chen Z, Zhai B. VRK1 Predicts Poor Prognosis and Promotes Bladder Cancer Growth and Metastasis In Vitro and In Vivo. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:874235. [PMID: 35559251 PMCID: PMC9086458 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.874235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the urinary system with growing morbidity and diagnostic rate in recent years. Therefore, identifying new molecular biomarkers that inhibit the progression of bladder cancer is needed for developing further therapeutics. This study found a new potential treatment target: vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) and explored the function and mechanism of VRK1 in the development of bladder cancer. First, TCGA database and tissue microarray analysis showed that VRK1 was significantly upregulated in bladder cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicates that the OS and PFS of the VRK1 high expression group were significantly lower than the VRK1 low expression group (p = 0.002, p = 0.005). Cox multi-factor analysis results show that VRK1 expression is an independent risk factor affecting tumor progress. The maximum tumor diameter, staging, and adjuvant chemotherapy also have a certain impact on tumor progression (p < 0.05). In internal validation, the column C index is 0.841 (95% CI, 0.803-0.880). In addition, cell functional studies have shown that VRK1 can significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of bladder cancer cells. In vivo, nude mice transplanted tumors further prove that low VRK1 can significantly inhibit the proliferation capacity of bladder cancer cells. In summary, VRK1 expression is significantly related to the staging, grade, and poor prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. At the same time, in vivo and in vitro experiments have shown that downregulation of VRK1 can significantly inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells. These findings provide a basis for using VRK1 as a potential therapeutic target for patients with bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Wu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hao Ji
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Longquanyi District, Chengdu, China
| | - Baoqian Zhai
- Department of Oncology Radiotherapy, Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, China
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2
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Puja R, Chakraborty A, Dutta S, Bose K. Purification, Characterization and Functional Site Prediction of the Vaccinia-related Kinase 2A Small Transmembrane Domain. MethodsX 2022; 9:101704. [PMID: 35518920 PMCID: PMC9062753 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2022.101704] [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: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccinia-related kinases (VRK) are serine-threonine kinases that regulate several signaling pathways. The isoform-VRK2A of one such kinase VRK2 controls cell stress response by interacting with TAK1, a mitogen-activated protein 3 kinase (MAP3K), via its partly cytosolic C-terminal transmembrane domain (VTMD). To establish the driving force and identify the key residues of the VRK2A-TAK1 interaction, we expressed and purified the standalone 3.6 kDa VTMD in the bacterial system using a unique and atypical two-step approach, when the effort to obtain full-length VRK2A remained unsuccessful. Characterization of biophysical properties demonstrated that VTMD domain maintains its structural integrity. Furthermore, dissecting the VRK2A-TAK1 binding interface using in silico tools provided important cues toward engineering the VRK2A-TAK1 interface to modulate its functions with desired characteristics. Most importantly, this novel purification strategy demonstrates its universal applicability in protein biochemistry research by serving as a model system for obtaining difficult-to-purify small proteins or domains.VRK2A is a highly disordered transmembrane (TM) kinase, whose TM domain interacts with TAK1 (transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase). The standalone VRK2A-TM domain (VTMD) was purified using affinity chromatography followed by two-step centricon based approach. Biophysical and in silico analyses confirmed structural integrity of the domain.
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Wang J, Liu J, Wang J, Wang S, Li F, Li R, Liu P, Li M, Wang C. Identification of proteomic markers for prediction of the response to 5-Fluorouracil based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer patients. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:117. [PMID: 35292026 PMCID: PMC8922748 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02530-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) prior to surgery is the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), while parts of them show poor therapeutic response accompanied by therapy adverse effects. Predictive biomarkers for nCRT response could facilitate the guidance on treatment decisions but are still insufficient until now, which limits the clinical applications of nCRT in LARC patients. Methods In our study, 37 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor biopsies were obtained from patients with LARC before receiving 5-fluorouracil based nCRT. Proteomics analyses were conducted to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between total responders (TR) and poor responders (PR). The DEPs were validated via ROC plotter web tool and their predictive performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Functional enrichment analyses were performed to further explore the potential mechanisms underlying nCRT response. Results Among 3,998 total proteins, 91 DEPs between TR and PR were screened out. HSPA4, NIPSNAP1, and SPTB all with areas under the curve (AUC) ~ 0.8 in the internal discovery cohort were independently validated by the external mRNA datasets (AUC ~ 0.7), and their protein levels were linearly correlated with the graded responses to nCRT in the internal cohort. The combination of HSPA4 and SPTB could distinctly discriminate the TR and PR groups (AUC = 0.980, p < 0.0001). Moreover, multiple combinations of the three proteins realized increased specificity and/or sensitivity, while achieving favorable predictive value when moderate responders were introduced into the ROC analysis. Pathways including DNA damage repair, cell cycle, and epithelial mesenchymal transition were involved in nCRT response according to the enrichment analysis results. Conclusions HSPA4, SPTB and NIPSNAP1 in tumor biopsies and/or their optional combinations might be potential predictive markers for nCRT response in patients with LARC. The DEPs and their related functions have implications for the potential mechanisms of treatment response to nCRT in patients with LARC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02530-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianan Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.,Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Jiayu Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Jinyang Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.,School of Laboratory Medicine, Weifang Medical College, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China
| | - Shijian Wang
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Feifei Li
- Department of Pathology, The First Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Ruibing Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Pathology, The First Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Mianyang Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
| | - Chengbin Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
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Li M, Xiao Q, Venkatachalam N, Hofheinz RD, Veldwijk MR, Herskind C, Ebert MP, Zhan T. Predicting response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer: from biomarkers to tumor models. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2022; 14:17588359221077972. [PMID: 35222695 PMCID: PMC8864271 DOI: 10.1177/17588359221077972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major contributor to cancer-associated morbidity worldwide and over one-third of CRC is located in the rectum. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgical resection is commonly applied to treat locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). In this review, we summarize current and novel concepts of neoadjuvant therapy for LARC such as total neoadjuvant therapy and describe how these developments impact treatment response. Moreover, as response to nCRT is highly divergent in rectal cancers, we discuss the role of potential predictive biomarkers. We review recent advances in biomarker discovery, from a clinical as well as a histopathological and molecular perspective. Furthermore, the role of emerging predictive biomarkers derived from the tumor environment such as immune cell composition and gut microbiome is presented. Finally, we describe how different tumor models such as patient-derived cancer organoids are used to identify novel predictive biomarkers for chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in rectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moying Li
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim
| | - Qiyun Xiao
- Department of Medicine II, Mannheim University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Nachiyappan Venkatachalam
- Department of Medicine II, Mannheim University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ralf-Dieter Hofheinz
- Department of Medicine III, Mannheim University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, GermanyMannheim Cancer Center, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marlon R. Veldwijk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mannheim University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Carsten Herskind
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mannheim University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Matthias P. Ebert
- Department of Medicine II, Mannheim University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, GermanyMannheim Cancer Center, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, GermanyDKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Tianzuo Zhan
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Mannheim University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, GermanyMannheim Cancer Center, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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5
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Campillo-Marcos I, García-González R, Navarro-Carrasco E, Lazo PA. The human VRK1 chromatin kinase in cancer biology. Cancer Lett 2021; 503:117-128. [PMID: 33516791 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
VRK1 is a nuclear Ser-Thr chromatin kinase that does not mutate in cancer, and is overexpressed in many types of tumors and associated with a poor prognosis. Chromatin VRK1 phosphorylates several transcription factors, including p53, histones and proteins implicated in DNA damage response pathways. In the context of cell proliferation, VRK1 regulates entry in cell cycle, chromatin condensation in G2/M, Golgi fragmentation, Cajal body dynamics and nuclear envelope assembly in mitosis. This kinase also controls the initial chromatin relaxation associated with histone acetylation, and the non-homologous-end joining (NHEJ) DNA repair pathway, which involves sequential steps such as γH2AX, NBS1 and 53BP1 foci formation, all phosphorylated by VRK1, in response to ionizing radiation or chemotherapy. In addition, VRK1 can be an alternative target for therapies based on synthetic lethality strategies. Therefore, VRK1 roles on proliferation have a pro-tumorigenic effect. Functions regulating chromatin stability and DNA damage responses have a protective anti-tumor role in normal cells, but in tumor cells can also facilitate resistance to genotoxic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Campillo-Marcos
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular Del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Raúl García-González
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular Del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Elena Navarro-Carrasco
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular Del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Pedro A Lazo
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular Del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
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Fischer J, Eglinton TW, Richards SJ, Frizelle FA. Predicting pathological response to chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer: a systematic review. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2021; 21:489-500. [PMID: 33356679 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2021.1868992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Pathological complete response (pCR) rates of approximately 20% following neoadjuvant long-course chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer have given rise to non-operative or watch-and-wait (W&W) management. To improve outcomes there has been significant research into predictors of response. The goal is to optimize selection for W&W, avoid chemoradiotherapy in those who won't benefit and improve treatment to maximize the clinical complete response (cCR) rate and the number of patients who can be considered for W&W.Areas covered: A systematic review of articles published 2008-2018 and indexed in PubMed, Embase or Medline was performed to identify predictors of pathological response (including pCR and recognized tumor regression grades) to fluoropyrimidine-based chemoradiotherapy in patients who underwent total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. Evidence for clinical, biomarker and radiological predictors is discussed as well as potential future directions.Expert opinion: Our current ability to predict the response to chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer is very limited. cCR of 40% has been achieved with total neoadjuvant therapy. If neoadjuvant treatment for rectal cancer continues to improve it is possible that the treatment for rectal cancer may eventually parallel that of anal squamous cell carcinoma, with surgery reserved for the minority of patients who don't respond to chemoradiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Fischer
- Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Department of General Surgery, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tim W Eglinton
- Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Department of General Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Simon Jg Richards
- Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Department of General Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Frank A Frizelle
- Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Department of General Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
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7
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4-Hydroxytamoxifen enhances sensitivity of estrogen receptor α-positive breast cancer to docetaxel in an estrogen and ZNF423 SNP-dependent fashion. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019; 175:567-578. [DOI: 10.1007/s10549-019-05194-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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8
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Li M, Yue W. VRK2, a Candidate Gene for Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. MOLECULAR NEUROPSYCHIATRY 2018; 4:119-133. [PMID: 30643786 PMCID: PMC6323383 DOI: 10.1159/000493941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent large-scale genetic approaches, such as genome-wide association studies, have identified multiple genetic variations that contribute to the risk of mental illnesses, among which single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within or near the vaccinia related kinase 2 (VRK2) gene have gained consistent support for their correlations with multiple psychiatric and neurological disorders including schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and genetic generalized epilepsy. For instance, the genetic variant rs1518395 in VRK2 showed genome-wide significant associations with SCZ (35,476 cases and 46,839 controls, p = 3.43 × 10-8) and MDD (130,620 cases and 347,620 controls, p = 4.32 × 10-12) in European populations. This SNP was also genome-wide significantly associated with SCZ in Han Chinese population (12,083 cases and 24,097 controls, p = 3.78 × 10-13), and all associations were in the same direction of allelic effects. These studies highlight the potential roles of VRK2 in the central nervous system, and this gene therefore might be a good candidate to investigate the shared genetic and molecular basis between SCZ and MDD, as it is one of the few genes known to show genome-wide significant associations with both illnesses. Furthermore, the VRK2 gene was found to be involved in multiple other congenital deficits related to the malfunction of neurodevelopment, adding further support for the involvement of this gene in the pathogenesis of these neurological and psychiatric illnesses. While the precise function of VRK2 in these conditions remains unclear, preliminary evidence suggests that it may affect neuronal proliferation and migration via interacting with multiple essential signaling pathways involving other susceptibility genes/proteins for psychiatric disorders. Here, we have reviewed the recent progress of genetic and molecular studies of VRK2, with an emphasis on its role in psychiatric illnesses and neurological functions. We believe that attention to this important gene is necessary, and further investigations of VRK2 may provide hints into the underlying mechanisms of SCZ and MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihua Yue
- Peking University Sixth Hospital/Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University) and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
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Abstract
The management of locally-advanced rectal cancer involves a combination of chemotherapy, chemoradiation, and surgical resection to provide excellent local tumor control and overall survival. However, aspects of this multimodality approach are associated with significant morbidity and long-term sequelae. In addition, there is growing evidence that patients with a clinical complete response to chemotherapy and chemoradiation treatments may be safely offered initial non-operative management in a rigorous surveillance program. Weighed against the morbidity and significant sequelae of rectal resection, recognizing how to best optimize non-operative strategies without compromising oncologic outcomes is critical to our understanding and treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris H Wei
- Colorectal Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, NY, USA -
| | - Julio Garcia-Aguilar
- Colorectal Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, NY, USA
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Dayde D, Tanaka I, Jain R, Tai MC, Taguchi A. Predictive and Prognostic Molecular Biomarkers for Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Rectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18030573. [PMID: 28272347 PMCID: PMC5372589 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18030573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The standard of care in locally advanced rectal cancer is neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) followed by radical surgery. Response to nCRT varies among patients and pathological complete response is associated with better outcome. However, there is a lack of effective methods to select rectal cancer patients who would or would not have a benefit from nCRT. The utility of clinicopathological and radiological features are limited due to lack of adequate sensitivity and specificity. Molecular biomarkers have the potential to predict response to nCRT at an early time point, but none have currently reached the clinic. Integration of diverse types of biomarkers including clinicopathological and imaging features, identification of mechanistic link to tumor biology, and rigorous validation using samples which represent disease heterogeneity, will allow to develop a sensitive and cost-effective molecular biomarker panel for precision medicine in rectal cancer. Here, we aim to review the recent advance in tissue- and blood-based molecular biomarker research and illustrate their potential in predicting nCRT response in rectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Dayde
- Departments of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Ichidai Tanaka
- Departments of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Rekha Jain
- Departments of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Mei Chee Tai
- Departments of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Ayumu Taguchi
- Departments of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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