1
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Ju HY, Ho JY, Kang J, Hur SY, Kim S, Choi YJ, Han MR. Whole-Exome Sequencing Reveals Clinical Potential of Circulating Tumor DNA from Peritoneal Fluid and Plasma in Endometrial Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2506. [PMID: 35626111 PMCID: PMC9139435 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common type of gynecological cancer. Studies comparing tumor gDNA and ctDNA isolated from the plasma and peritoneal fluid of EC patients are limited. Whole-exome sequencing and P53 immunohistochemistry of 24 paired tissue, plasma, and peritoneal fluid samples from 10 EC patients were performed to analyze somatic mutations, copy number alterations, microsatellite instability, and mutational signatures. Mutations in cancer-related genes (KMT2C, NOTCH2, PRKAR1A, SDHA, and USP6) and genes related to EC (ARID1A, CTNNB1, PIK3CA, and PTEN) were identified with high frequencies among the three samples. TP53 and POLE mutations, which are highly related to the molecular classification of EC, were identified based on several key observations. The ctDNA of two patients with negative peritoneal fluid presented TP53 mutations concordant with those in tissues. ctDNA from the plasma and peritoneal fluid of a patient with positive cytology harbored both TP53 and POLE mutations, although none were detected in tissues. Additionally, the patient presented with wild type P53 immunohistochemistry, with a focal "high" expression in a "low" wild type background. The tissues and peritoneal fluid of 75% EC patients showed concordant microsatellite instability. Furthermore, we observed strong mutational concordance between the peritoneal fluid and tumors. Our data suggest that the ctDNA from peritoneal fluid might be a suitable biomarker for identifying the mutational landscape of EC and could complement tumor heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Yeon Ju
- Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea;
| | - Jung Yoon Ho
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (J.Y.H.); (S.Y.H.); (S.K.)
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Jun Kang
- Department of Hospital Pathology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea;
| | - Soo Young Hur
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (J.Y.H.); (S.Y.H.); (S.K.)
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Sejin Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (J.Y.H.); (S.Y.H.); (S.K.)
| | - Youn Jin Choi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (J.Y.H.); (S.Y.H.); (S.K.)
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Mi-Ryung Han
- Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea;
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2
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Kasper B, D'Ambrosio L, Davis EJ, Ingham M, Broto JM, Trent JC, van Houdt WJ, Van Tine BA. What Clinical Trials Are Needed for Treatment of Leiomyosarcoma? Curr Treat Options Oncol 2022; 23:439-449. [PMID: 35275323 PMCID: PMC8930904 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-021-00928-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT Leiomyosarcoma is one of the most common subtypes of soft tissue sarcomas accounting for approximately 20% of sarcomas. As leiomyosarcoma patients frequently develop metastatic disease, effective systemic therapies are needed to improve clinical outcomes. The overall activity of the currently available conventional systemic therapies and the prognosis of patients with advanced and/or metastatic disease are poor. As such, the treatment of this patient population remains challenging. As a result, there is a clear unmet medical need, and designing and performing meaningful clinical studies are of utmost importance to improve the prognosis of this patient group. Therefore, the aim of this review is to briefly summarize state-of-the-art treatments for leiomyosarcoma patients and to describe trial characteristics needed for informative clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Kasper
- Mannheim University Medical Center, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167, Mannheim, Germany.
| | | | - Elizabeth J Davis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| | | | - Javier Martin Broto
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jonathan C Trent
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, USA
| | - Winan J van Houdt
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Brian A Van Tine
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
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3
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Hadjimichael AC, Pergaris A, Kaspiris A, Foukas AF, Theocharis SE. Liquid Biopsy: A New Translational Diagnostic and Monitoring Tool for Musculoskeletal Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11526. [PMID: 34768955 PMCID: PMC8583711 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue and bone sarcomas represent a group of aggressive neoplasms often accompanied by dismal patient prognosis, especially when distant metastases are present. Moreover, effective treatment can pose a challenge, as recurrences are frequent and almost half of patients present with advanced disease. Researchers have unveiled the molecular abnormalities implicated in sarcomas' carcinogenesis, paving the way for novel treatment strategies based on each individual tumor's characteristics. Therefore, the development of new techniques aiding in early disease detection and tumor molecular profiling is imperative. Liquid biopsy refers to the sampling and analysis of patients' fluids, such as blood, to identify tumor biomarkers, through a variety of methods, including qRT-PCR, qPCR, droplet digital PCR, magnetic microbeads and digital PCR. Assessment of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating free DNA (ctDNA), micro RNAs (miRs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), exosomes and exosome-associated proteins can yield a plethora of information on tumor molecular signature, histologic type and disease stage. In addition, the minimal invasiveness of the procedure renders possible its wide application in the clinical setting, and, therefore, the early detection of the presence of tumors. In this review of the literature, we gathered information on biomarkers assessed through liquid biopsy in soft tissue and bone sarcoma patients and we present the information they can yield for each individual tumor type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyris C. Hadjimichael
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Street, Bld 10, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.C.H.); (A.P.)
- Third Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, “KAT” General Hospital of Athens, Nikis 2, 14561 Kifissia, Greece;
| | - Alexandros Pergaris
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Street, Bld 10, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.C.H.); (A.P.)
| | - Angelos Kaspiris
- Division for Orthopaedic Research, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - Athanasios F. Foukas
- Third Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, “KAT” General Hospital of Athens, Nikis 2, 14561 Kifissia, Greece;
| | - Stamatios E. Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Street, Bld 10, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.C.H.); (A.P.)
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4
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van der Laan P, van Houdt WJ, van den Broek D, Steeghs N, van der Graaf WTA. Liquid Biopsies in Sarcoma Clinical Practice: Where Do We Stand? Biomedicines 2021; 9:1315. [PMID: 34680432 PMCID: PMC8533081 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas are rare tumors of bone and soft tissue with a mesenchymal origin. This uncommon type of cancer is marked by a high heterogeneity, consisting of over 70 subtypes. Because of this broad spectrum, their treatment requires a subtype-specific therapeutic approach. Tissue biopsy is currently the golden standard for sarcoma diagnosis, but it has its limitations. Over the recent years, methods to detect, characterize, and monitor cancer through liquid biopsy have evolved rapidly. The analysis of circulating biomarkers in peripheral blood, such as circulating tumor cells (CTC) or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), could provide real-time information on tumor genetics, disease state, and resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, it traces tumor evolution and can assess tumor heterogeneity. Although the first results in sarcomas are encouraging, there are technical challenges that need to be addressed for implementation in clinical practice. Here, we summarize current knowledge about liquid biopsies in sarcomas and elaborate on different strategies to integrate liquid biopsy into sarcoma clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia van der Laan
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (P.v.d.L.); (W.J.v.H.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Winan J. van Houdt
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (P.v.d.L.); (W.J.v.H.)
| | - Daan van den Broek
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Neeltje Steeghs
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Winette T. A. van der Graaf
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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5
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Tsoi KM, Gokgoz N, Darville-O'Quinn P, Prochazka P, Malekoltojari A, Griffin AM, Ferguson PC, Wunder JS, Andrulis IL. Detection and utility of cell-free and circulating tumour DNA in bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. Bone Joint Res 2021; 10:602-610. [PMID: 34558310 PMCID: PMC8479566 DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.109.bjr-2021-0014.r1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) are used for prognostication and monitoring in patients with carcinomas, but their utility is unclear in sarcomas. The objectives of this pilot study were to explore the prognostic significance of cfDNA and investigate whether tumour-specific alterations can be detected in the circulation of sarcoma patients. Methods Matched tumour and blood were collected from 64 sarcoma patients (n = 70 samples) prior to resection of the primary tumour (n = 57) or disease recurrence (n = 7). DNA was isolated from plasma, quantified, and analyzed for cfDNA. A subset of cases (n = 6) underwent whole exome sequencing to identify tumour-specific alterations used to detect ctDNA using digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). Results Cell-free was present in 69 of 70 samples above 0.5 ng/ml. Improved disease-free survival was found for patients with lower cfDNA levels (90% vs 48% at one-year for ≤ 6 ng/ml and > 6 ng/ml, respectively; p = 0.005). Digital droplet PCR was performed as a pilot study and mutant alleles were detectable at 0.5% to 2.5% of the wild type genome, and at a level of 0.25 ng tumour DNA. Tumour-specific alterations (ctDNA) were found in five of six cases. Conclusion This work demonstrates the feasibility and potential utility of cfDNA and ctDNA as biomarkers for bone and soft-tissue sarcomas, despite the lack of recurrent genomic alterations. A larger study is required to validate these findings. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2021;10(9):602–610.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M Tsoi
- University of Toronto Musculoskeletal Oncology Unit, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nalan Gokgoz
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Patrick Prochazka
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ainaz Malekoltojari
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anthony M Griffin
- University of Toronto Musculoskeletal Oncology Unit, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada
| | - Peter C Ferguson
- University of Toronto Musculoskeletal Oncology Unit, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jay S Wunder
- University of Toronto Musculoskeletal Oncology Unit, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Irene L Andrulis
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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6
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Jones J, Cain S, Pesic-Smith J, Choong PFM, Morokoff AP, Drummond KJ, Dabscheck G. Circulating tumor DNA for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors in neurofibromatosis type 1. J Neurooncol 2021; 154:265-274. [PMID: 34529228 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-021-03846-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The leading cause of early death in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). The principles of management include early diagnosis, surgical clearance and close monitoring for tumor recurrence. Current methods for diagnosis, detection of residual disease and monitoring tumor burden are inadequate, as clinical and radiological features are non-specific for malignancy in patients with multiple tumors and lack the sensitivity to identify early evidence of malignant transformation or tumor recurrence. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising tool in cancer management and has the potential to improve the care of patients with NF1. In the following article we summarise the current understanding of the genomic landscape of MPNST, report on the previous literature of ctDNA in MPNST and outline the potential clinical applications for ctDNA in NF1 associated MPNST. Finally, we describe our prospective cohort study protocol investigating the utility of using ctDNA as an early diagnostic tool for MPNSTs in NF1 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Jones
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3050, Australia.
| | - Sarah Cain
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3050, Australia
| | - Jonathan Pesic-Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3050, Australia
| | - Peter F M Choong
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Orthopaedics, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Service, Perter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew P Morokoff
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3050, Australia
| | - Kate J Drummond
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3050, Australia
| | - Gabriel Dabscheck
- Department of Neurology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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7
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Scheipl S, Brcic I, Moser T, Fischerauer S, Riedl J, Bergovec M, Smolle M, Posch F, Gerger A, Pichler M, Stoeger H, Leithner A, Heitzer E, Liegl-Atzwanger B, Szkandera J. Molecular profiling of soft-tissue sarcomas with FoundationOne ® Heme identifies potential targets for sarcoma therapy: a single-centre experience. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2021; 13:17588359211029125. [PMID: 34367342 PMCID: PMC8317253 DOI: 10.1177/17588359211029125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Molecular diagnosis has become an established tool in the characterisation of adult soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). FoundationOne® Heme analyses somatic gene alterations in sarcomas via DNA and RNA-hotspot sequencing of tumour-associated genes. Methods: We evaluated FoundationOne® Heme testing in 81 localised STS including 35 translocation-associated and 46 complex-karyotyped cases from a single institution. Results: Although FoundationOne® Heme achieved broad patient coverage and identified at least five genetic alterations in each sample, the sensitivity for fusion detection was rather low, at 42.4%. Nevertheless, potential targets for STS treatment were detected using the FoundationOne® Heme assay: complex-karyotyped sarcomas frequently displayed copy-number alterations of common tumour-suppressor genes, particularly deletions in TP53, NF1, ATRX, and CDKN2A. A subset of myxofibrosarcomas (MFS) was amplified for HGF (n = 3) and MET (n = 1). PIK3CA was mutated in 7/15 cases of myxoid liposarcoma (MLS; 46.7%). Epigenetic regulators (e.g. MLL2 and MLL3) were frequently mutated. Conclusions: In summary, FoundationOne® Heme detected a broad range of genetic alterations and potential therapeutic targets in STS (e.g. HGF/MET in a subset of MFS, or PIK3CA in MLS). The assay’s sensitivity for fusion detection was low in our sample and needs to be re-evaluated in a larger cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Scheipl
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Iva Brcic
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Tina Moser
- Institute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Stefan Fischerauer
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Jakob Riedl
- Division of Clinical Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Marko Bergovec
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Maria Smolle
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Florian Posch
- Division of Clinical Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Armin Gerger
- Division of Clinical Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Pichler
- Division of Clinical Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Herbert Stoeger
- Division of Clinical Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Leithner
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Ellen Heitzer
- Institute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Bernadette Liegl-Atzwanger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Diagnostic and Research Centre for Molecular BioMedicine, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 10, Graz 8010 Austria
| | - Joanna Szkandera
- Division of Clinical Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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8
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Agnoletto C, Caruso C, Garofalo C. Heterogeneous Circulating Tumor Cells in Sarcoma: Implication for Clinical Practice. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092189. [PMID: 34063272 PMCID: PMC8124844 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The present review is aimed to discuss the relevance of assaying for the presence and isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with sarcoma. Just a few studies have been performed to detect and enumerate viable CTCs in sarcoma and a majority of them still represent proof-of-concept studies, while more frequently tumor cells have been detected in the circulation by using the PCR-based method. Nevertheless, recent advances in technologies allowed detection of epithelial–mesenchymal transitioned CTCs from patients with mesenchymal malignancies, despite results being mostly preliminary. The possibility to identify CTCs holds a great promise for both applications of liquid biopsy in sarcoma for precision medicine, and for research purposes to pinpoint the mechanism of the metastatic process through the characterization of tumor mesenchymal cells. Coherently, clinical trials in sarcoma have been designed accordingly to detect CTCs, for diagnosis, identification of novel therapeutic targets and resistance mechanisms of systemic therapies, and patient stratification. Abstract Bone and soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) represent a group of heterogeneous rare malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin, with a poor prognosis. Due to their low incidence, only a few studies have been reported addressing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in sarcoma, despite the well-documented relevance for applications of liquid biopsy in precision medicine. In the present review, the most recent data relative to the detection and isolation of viable and intact CTCs in these tumors will be reviewed, and the heterogeneity in CTCs will be discussed. The relevance of epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity and stemness in defining the phenotypic and functional properties of these rare cells in sarcoma will be highlighted. Of note, the existence of dynamic epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related processes in sarcoma tumors has only recently been related to their clinical aggressiveness. Also, the presence of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-positive CTC in sarcoma has been weakly correlated with poor outcome and disease progression, thus proving the existence of both epithelial and mesenchymal CTC in sarcoma. The advancement in technologies for capturing and enumerating all diverse CTCs phenotype originating from these mesenchymal tumors are presented, and results provide a promising basis for clinical application of CTC detection in sarcoma.
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9
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Gao T, Finkelman BS, Ban Y, Li Y, Yin P, Bulun SE, Lu X, Ha C, Wei JJ. Integrated histologic and molecular analysis of uterine leiomyosarcoma and 2 benign variants with nuclear atypia. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:2046-2059. [PMID: 33338329 PMCID: PMC8088951 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare but deadly disease. Due to poor understanding of the molecular and genetic causes of the disease, the diagnosis of LMS has been based primarily on histology. Nuclear atypia is one of hallmarks in LMS, however, it also occurs in 2 clinically benign variants, including smooth muscle tumors with fumarate hydratase alteration (SMT‐FH) and leiomyoma with bizarre nuclei (LM‐BN). In addition to nuclear atypia, many well recognized biomarkers used for LMS are also frequently overexpressed in LM‐BN, and the histogenesis and molecular natures for LM‐BN and LMS remain largely unknown. To characterize the molecular profiling of LMS, SMT‐FH, and LM‐BN, we performed integrated comprehensive genomic profiling including whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) and RNA sequencing and genomic microarray analyses to assess genome‐wide copy number alterations (CNAs) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in all 3 tumor types. We found that both LM‐BN and LMS showed genomic instability and harbored extensive CNAs throughout the whole genome. By contrast, the SMT‐FH presented its characteristic 1q43‐44 deletions in all cases tested, with minimal CNAs in the rest of genomic regions. Further analyses revealed that LMS and LM‐BN groups showed similar patterns of CNAs that are tended to cluster together and separated from the SMT‐FH group. The integrated molecular profiling enabled the detection of novel and traditional biomarkers and showed excellent discrimination between LM‐BN and LMS. Our study suggests that LM‐BN, despite having similar nuclear atypia to SMT‐FH, showed similar genomic instability but distinct genomic alterations with its malignant counterpart of LMS. The integrated molecular profiling is of clinical importance in characterizing these rare uterine smooth muscle tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, China.,Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Brian S Finkelman
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yanli Ban
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yinuo Li
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ping Yin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Serdar E Bulun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Xinyan Lu
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chunfang Ha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, China
| | - Jian-Jun Wei
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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10
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Kasper B, Achee A, Schuster K, Wilson R, van Oortmerssen G, Gladdy RA, Hemming ML, Huang P, Ingham M, Jones RL, Pollack SM, Reinke D, Sanfilippo R, Schuetze SM, Somaiah N, Van Tine BA, Wilky B, Okuno S, Trent J. Unmet Medical Needs and Future Perspectives for Leiomyosarcoma Patients-A Position Paper from the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation (NLMSF) and Sarcoma Patients EuroNet (SPAEN). Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:886. [PMID: 33672607 PMCID: PMC7924026 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As leiomyosarcoma patients are challenged by the development of metastatic disease, effective systemic therapies are the cornerstone of outcome. However, the overall activity of the currently available conventional systemic treatments and the prognosis of patients with advanced or metastatic disease are still poor, making the treatment of this patient group challenging. Therefore, in a joint effort together with patient networks and organizations, namely Sarcoma Patients EuroNet (SPAEN), the international network of sarcoma patients organizations, and the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation (NLMSF) in the United States, we aim to summarize state-of-the-art treatments for leiomyosarcoma patients in order to identify knowledge gaps and current unmet needs, thereby guiding the community to design innovative clinical trials and basic research and close these research gaps. This position paper arose from a leiomyosarcoma research meeting in October 2020 hosted by the NLMSF and SPAEN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Kasper
- Mannheim University Medical Center, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Annie Achee
- National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation (NLMSF), Denver, CO 80222, USA;
| | - Kathrin Schuster
- Sarcoma Patients EuroNet, SPAEN, 61200 Wölfersheim, Germany; (K.S.); (R.W.); (G.v.O.)
| | - Roger Wilson
- Sarcoma Patients EuroNet, SPAEN, 61200 Wölfersheim, Germany; (K.S.); (R.W.); (G.v.O.)
| | | | - Rebecca A. Gladdy
- Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1XS, Canada;
| | | | - Paul Huang
- Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK; (P.H.); (R.L.J.)
| | - Matthew Ingham
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Robin L. Jones
- Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK; (P.H.); (R.L.J.)
- Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Seth M. Pollack
- Northwestern Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA;
| | - Denise Reinke
- Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration (SARC), Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA;
| | | | - Scott M. Schuetze
- Michigan Medicine Sarcoma Clinic, Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Neeta Somaiah
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Care Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Brian A. Van Tine
- Barnes and Jewish Hospital, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA;
| | - Breelyn Wilky
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Scott Okuno
- Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
| | - Jonathan Trent
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
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11
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Hemming ML, Fan C, Raut CP, Demetri GD, Armstrong SA, Sicinska E, George S. Oncogenic Gene-Expression Programs in Leiomyosarcoma and Characterization of Conventional, Inflammatory, and Uterogenic Subtypes. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 18:1302-1314. [PMID: 32518213 PMCID: PMC7484251 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a mesenchymal neoplasm with complex copy-number alterations and characteristic loss of tumor suppressor genes without known recurrent activating mutations. Clinical management of advanced LMS relies on chemotherapy and complementary palliative approaches, and research efforts to date have had limited success identifying clinically actionable biomarkers or targeted therapeutic vulnerabilities. To explore the biological underpinning of LMS, we evaluated gene-expression patterns of this disease in comparison with diverse sarcomas, nonmesenchymal neoplasms, and normal myogenic tissues. We identified a recurrent gene-expression program in LMS, with evidence of oncogenic evolution of an underlying smooth-muscle lineage-derived program characterized by activation of E2F1 and downstream effectors. Recurrently amplified or highly expressed genes in LMS were identified, including IGF1R and genes involved in retinoid signaling pathways. Though the majority of expressed transcripts were conserved across LMS samples, three separate subtypes were identified that were enriched for muscle-associated transcripts (conventional LMS), immune markers (inflammatory LMS), or a uterine-like gene-expression program (uterogenic LMS). Each of these subtypes expresses a unique subset of genes that may be useful in the management of LMS: IGF1R was enriched in conventional LMS, worse disease-specific survival was observed in inflammatory LMS, and prolactin was elaborated by uterogenic LMS. These results extend our understanding of LMS biology and identify several strategies and challenges for further translational investigation. IMPLICATIONS: LMS has a recurrent oncogenic transcriptional program and consists of molecular subtypes with biological and possible clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Hemming
- Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Changyu Fan
- Department of Informatics and Analytics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Chandrajit P Raut
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - George D Demetri
- Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Ludwig Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Scott A Armstrong
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ewa Sicinska
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Suzanne George
- Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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12
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Genomic Database Analysis of Uterine Leiomyosarcoma Mutational Profile. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082126. [PMID: 32751892 PMCID: PMC7464219 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine Leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) is by far the most common type of uterine sarcoma, characterized by an aggressive clinical course, a heterogeneous genetic profile and a very scarce response to cytotoxic chemotherapy. The genetic make-up of uLMS is an area of active study that could provide essential cues for the development of new therapeutic approaches. A total of 216 patients with uLMS from cBioPortal and AACR-GENIE databases were included in the study. The vast majority of patients (81%) carried at least one mutation in either TP53, RB1, ATRX or PTEN. The most frequently mutated gene was TP53, with 61% of the patients harboring at least one mutation, followed by RB1 at 48%. PTEN alteration was more frequent in metastases than in primary lesions, consistent with a later acquisition during tumor progression. There was a significant trend for TP53 and RB1 mutations to occur together, while both TP53 and RB1 were mutually exclusive with respect to CDKN2A/B inactivation. Overall survival did not show significant correlation with the mutational status, even if RB1 mutation emerged as a favorable prognostic factor in the TP53-mutant subgroup. This comprehensive analysis shows that uLMS is driven almost exclusively by the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and suggests that future therapeutic strategies should be directed at targeting the main genetic drivers of uLMS oncogenesis.
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13
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Wei J, Liu X, Li T, Xing P, Zhang C, Yang J. The new horizon of liquid biopsy in sarcoma: the potential utility of circulating tumor nucleic acids. J Cancer 2020; 11:5293-5308. [PMID: 32742476 PMCID: PMC7391194 DOI: 10.7150/jca.42816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of sarcoma are mainly dependent on tissue biopsy, which is limited in its ability to provide a panoramic view into the dynamics of tumor progression. In addition, effective biomarkers to monitor the progression and therapeutic response of sarcoma are lacking. Liquid biopsy, a recent technological breakthrough, has gained great attention in the last few decades. Nucleic acids (such as DNA, mRNAs, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs) that are released from tumors circulate in the blood of cancer patients and can be evaluated through liquid biopsy. Circulating tumor nucleic acids reflect the intertumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity, and thus liquid biopsy provides a noninvasive strategy to examine these molecules compared with traditional tissue biopsy. Over the past decade, a great deal of information on the potential utilization of circulating tumor nucleic acids in sarcoma screening, prognosis and therapy efficacy monitoring has emerged. Several specific gene mutations in sarcoma can be detected in peripheral blood samples from patients and can be found in circulating tumor DNA to monitor sarcoma. In addition, circulating tumor non-coding RNA may also be a promising biomarker in sarcoma. In this review, we discuss the clinical application of circulating tumor nucleic acids as blood-borne biomarkers in sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqiang Wei
- Department of bone and soft tissue tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, China
| | - Xinyue Liu
- Department of bone and soft tissue tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of bone and soft tissue tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Peipei Xing
- Department of bone and soft tissue tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of bone and soft tissue tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Jilong Yang
- Department of bone and soft tissue tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
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14
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Eastley N, Sommer A, Ottolini B, Neumann R, Luo JL, Hastings RK, McCulloch T, Esler CP, Shaw JA, Ashford RU, Royle NJ. The Circulating Nucleic Acid Characteristics of Non-Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124483. [PMID: 32599895 PMCID: PMC7349923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare, malignant tumours with a generally poor prognosis. Our aim was to explore the potential of cell free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) analysis to track non-metastatic STS patients undergoing attempted curative treatment. The analysed cohort (n = 29) contained multiple STS subtypes including myxofibrosarcomas, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas, leiomyosarcomas, and dedifferentiated liposarcomas amongst others. Perioperative cfDNA levels trended towards being elevated in patients (p = 0.07), although did not correlate with tumour size, grade, recurrence or subtype, suggesting a limited diagnostic or prognostic role. To characterise ctDNA, an amplicon panel covering three genes commonly mutated in STSs was first trialled on serial plasma collected from nine patients throughout follow-up. This approach only identified ctDNA in 2.5% (one in 40) of the analysed samples. Next custom-designed droplet digital PCR assays and Ion AmpliSeq™ panels were developed to track single nucleotide variants identified in patients’ STSs by whole exome sequencing (1–6 per patient). These approaches identified ctDNA in 17% of patients. Although ctDNA was identified before radiologically detectable recurrence in two cases, the absence of demonstrable ctDNA in 83% of cases highlights the need for much work before circulating nucleic acids can become a useful means to track STS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Eastley
- Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK;
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; (A.S.); (B.O.); (R.N.); (J.-L.L.); (R.K.H.); (JAS); (N.J.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Aurore Sommer
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; (A.S.); (B.O.); (R.N.); (J.-L.L.); (R.K.H.); (JAS); (N.J.R.)
| | - Barbara Ottolini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; (A.S.); (B.O.); (R.N.); (J.-L.L.); (R.K.H.); (JAS); (N.J.R.)
| | - Rita Neumann
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; (A.S.); (B.O.); (R.N.); (J.-L.L.); (R.K.H.); (JAS); (N.J.R.)
| | - Jin-Li Luo
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; (A.S.); (B.O.); (R.N.); (J.-L.L.); (R.K.H.); (JAS); (N.J.R.)
| | - Robert K. Hastings
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; (A.S.); (B.O.); (R.N.); (J.-L.L.); (R.K.H.); (JAS); (N.J.R.)
| | - Thomas McCulloch
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK; (T.M.); (C.P.E.)
| | - Claire P. Esler
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK; (T.M.); (C.P.E.)
| | - Jacqueline A. Shaw
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; (A.S.); (B.O.); (R.N.); (J.-L.L.); (R.K.H.); (JAS); (N.J.R.)
| | - Robert U. Ashford
- Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK;
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK; (T.M.); (C.P.E.)
| | - Nicola J. Royle
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; (A.S.); (B.O.); (R.N.); (J.-L.L.); (R.K.H.); (JAS); (N.J.R.)
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15
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Arshad J, Barreto-Coelho P, Jonczak E, Espejo A, D'Amato G, Trent JC. Identification of Genetic Alterations by Circulating Tumor DNA in Leiomyosarcoma: A Molecular Analysis of 73 Patients. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOTHERAPY AND PRECISION ONCOLOGY 2020; 3:64-68. [PMID: 36751526 PMCID: PMC9179395 DOI: 10.36401/jipo-20-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Background Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor of cells of smooth muscle lineage arising commonly in retroperitoneum, uterus, large veins, and the limbs. The genetics of leiomyosarcomas are complex and there is very limited understanding of common driver mutations. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers a rapid and noninvasive method of next-generation sequencing (NGS) that could be used for diagnosis, therapy, and detection of recurrence. Methods ctDNA testing was performed using Guardant360, which detects single nucleotide variants, amplifications, fusions, and specific insertion/deletion mutations in 73 genes using NGS. Results Of 73 patients, 59 were found to have one or more cancer-associated genomic alteration. Forty-five (76%) were female with a median age of 63 (range, 38-87) years. All samples were designated metastatic. The most common alterations were detected in Tp53 (65%), BRAF (13%), CCNE (13%), EGFR (12%), PIK3CA (12%), FGFR1 (10%), RB1(10%), KIT (8%), and PDGFRA (8%). Some of the other alterations included RAF1, ERBB2, MET, PTEN TERT, APC, and NOTCH1. Potentially targetable mutations, by Food and Drug Administration-approved or clinical trials, were found in 24 (40%) of the 73 patients. Four patients (5%) were found to have incidental germline TP53 mutations. Conclusion NGS of ctDNA allows identification of genomic alterations in plasma from patients with leiomyosarcoma. Unfortunately, there is limited activity of current targeted agents in leiomyosarcomas. These results suggest opportunities to develop therapy against TP53, cell cycle, and kinase signaling pathways. Further validation and prospective evaluation is warranted to investigate the clinical utility of ctDNA for patients with leiomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Arshad
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Priscila Barreto-Coelho
- Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Emily Jonczak
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Andrea Espejo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Gina D'Amato
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jonathan C. Trent
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL, USA
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16
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De Bruyn C, Baert T, Van den Bosch T, Coosemans A. Circulating Transcripts and Biomarkers in Uterine Tumors: Is There a Predictive Role? Curr Oncol Rep 2020; 22:12. [PMID: 31997106 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-020-0864-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Uterine cancer comprises endometrial carcinoma and the uterine sarcoma. Endometrial carcinomas are the most frequent variant and have early symptoms and a solid diagnostic work up, resulting in a rather fair prognosis. However, in case of advanced stage disease and relapse, treatment options are limited and prognosis is impaired. Uterine sarcomas are rare, often lacking symptoms and no diagnostic tool for correct pre-operative diagnosis are available. Prognosis is poor. RECENT FINDINGS Circulating biomarkers as a liquid biopsy could be beneficial as a diagnostic tool in uterine sarcomas. For both carcinomas and sarcomas, circulating biomarkers could be of use in predicting early disease recurrence. This review in endometrial carcinoma and uterine sarcoma focus on circulating biomarkers; such as proteins; circulating tumor cells; circulating tumor DNA; microRNA; and immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine De Bruyn
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Thaïs Baert
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Kliniken Essen Mitte (KEM), Essen, Germany
| | - Thierry Van den Bosch
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Coosemans
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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17
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Hasegawa N, Takeda Nakamura I, Ueno T, Kojima S, Kawazu M, Akaike K, Okubo T, Takagi T, Suehara Y, Hayashi T, Saito T, Kaneko K, Mano H, Kohsaka S. Detection of circulating sarcoma tumor cells using a microfluidic chip-type cell sorter. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20047. [PMID: 31882696 PMCID: PMC6934608 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56377-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Analyses of circulating tumor cells have been shown to be effective for the detection of cancer relapse and prognosis prediction. However, research regarding its utility in sarcoma remains scarce. In this study, the microfluidic chip-type cell sorter On-chip Sort was used to construct a system for detecting circulating sarcoma cells (CSCs). A pilot study using normal fibroblast or sarcoma cell lines was designed to establish a reliable protocol to separate CSCs by On-chip Sort. A single CSC was separated and recovered from 10 ml of whole blood from a patient with locally advanced myxofibrosarcoma. The nonsynonymous mutation for KMT2B p.Ile2602Val identified in the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor sample was also confirmed in the CSC. Use of the developed protocol may allow CSCs to become an early predictor for metastasis and recurrence of sarcoma. Further, it may aid in optimizing post-operative therapies for patients without metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhiko Hasegawa
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan
| | - Ikuko Takeda Nakamura
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan
| | - Toshihide Ueno
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan
| | - Shinya Kojima
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan
| | - Masahito Kawazu
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan
| | - Keisuke Akaike
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan
| | - Taketo Okubo
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Takagi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Suehara
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan
| | - Takuo Hayashi
- Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Saito
- Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kaneko
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mano
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.
| | - Shinji Kohsaka
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.
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18
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Jahangiri L, Hurst T. Assessing the Concordance of Genomic Alterations between Circulating-Free DNA and Tumour Tissue in Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11121938. [PMID: 31817150 PMCID: PMC6966532 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic alterations to the genomes of solid tumours, which in some cases represent actionable drivers, provide diagnostic and prognostic insight into these complex diseases. Spatial and longitudinal tracking of somatic genomic alterations (SGAs) in patient tumours has emerged as a new avenue of investigation, not only as a disease monitoring strategy, but also to improve our understanding of heterogeneity and clonal evolution from diagnosis through disease progression. Furthermore, analysis of circulating-free DNA (cfDNA) in the so-called "liquid biopsy" has emerged as a non-invasive method to identify genomic information to inform targeted therapy and may also capture the heterogeneity of the primary and metastatic tumours. Considering the potential of cfDNA analysis as a translational laboratory tool in clinical practice, establishing the extent to which cfDNA represents the SGAs of tumours, particularly actionable driver alterations, becomes a matter of importance, warranting standardisation of methods and practices. Here, we assess the utilisation of cfDNA for molecular profiling of SGAs in tumour tissue across a broad range of solid tumours. Moreover, we examine the underlying factors contributing to discordance of detected SGAs between cfDNA and tumour tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Jahangiri
- Department of Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B15 3TN, UK;
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Lab blocks level 3, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Tara Hurst
- Department of Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B15 3TN, UK;
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19
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Prospective Evaluation of the Concordance of Commercial Circulating Tumor DNA Alterations with Tumor-Based Sequencing across Multiple Soft Tissue Sarcoma Subtypes. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11121829. [PMID: 31766329 PMCID: PMC6966562 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are diverse tumors with heterogenous alterations. Platforms to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) have rapidly increased in popularity as they may avoid invasive biopsy morbidity. However, ctDNA profiling concordance with standard solid tumor comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is poorly characterized. Here, we report the outcomes of a single-institution experience comparing mutational results from commercial ctDNA and solid tumor CGP in advanced STS subjects. We identified STS subjects who had undergone solid tumor based CGP in four distinct cohorts: Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS), leiomyosarcoma (LMS), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Subjects with radiographically measurable tumor were profiled using a commercial ctDNA CGP panel. Overlapping genes/exons on both biopsy panels were analyzed. Twenty-four subjects completed both ctDNA and solid tumor CGP. ctDNA was detected in 18/24 subjects. Subject level concordance rates in all overlapping genes were: LMS = 4/6; UPS = 2/6; DDLPS = 1/6; GIST = 0/6. Copy number alterations were notably poorly concordant. For subjects with short variant alterations and detectable tumor fractions, concordance with solid tumor CGP was 76% (13/17). LMS subjects had the highest median tumor fraction and concordance. No correlation was seen between tumor fraction or radiographic tumor volume largely driven by low estimated tumor fraction. A limitation of the study is that only targeted sequencing was performed. However, given the poor concordance in commonly altered genes, ctDNA panels in sarcoma cannot be broadly applied. Further, more extensive studies will need to be performed.
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20
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Cell-free DNA in blood as a noninvasive insight into the sarcoma genome. Mol Aspects Med 2019; 72:100827. [PMID: 31703948 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2019.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Sarcomas are malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin that arise mainly from connective and supportive tissue. Sarcomas include a wide range of histological subtypes, showing a large diversity at the molecular level, from simple to highly complex karyotypes but with few recurrent somatic changes. Therapeutic decisions increasingly rely on the molecular characteristics of the individual tumor. Circulating cell-free DNA (ctDNA) is released into peripheral blood and can be used for the genomic analysis of sarcomas. However, the diversity and heterogeneity of somatic changes observed in sarcomas pose a challenge when choosing an adequate assay for the detection of ctDNA in body fluids. In this review, we provide an overview of different studies on ctDNA from blood in bone and soft tissue sarcomas, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We will specifically address the technological challenges that must be considered to achieve the sensitive detection of ctDNA and discuss the clinical applications of ctDNA in the management and treatment of sarcomas.
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21
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Dvorská D, Škovierová H, Braný D, Halašová E, Danková Z. Liquid Biopsy as a Tool for Differentiation of Leiomyomas and Sarcomas of Corpus Uteri. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3825. [PMID: 31387281 PMCID: PMC6695893 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Utilization of liquid biopsy in the management of cancerous diseases is becoming more attractive. This method can overcome typical limitations of tissue biopsies, especially invasiveness, no repeatability, and the inability to monitor responses to medication during treatment as well as condition during follow-up. Liquid biopsy also provides greater possibility of early prediction of cancer presence. Corpus uteri mesenchymal tumors are comprised of benign variants, which are mostly leiomyomas, but also a heterogenous group of malignant sarcomas. Pre-surgical differentiation between these tumors is very difficult and the final description of tumor characteristics usually requires excision and histological examination. The leiomyomas and malignant leiomyosarcomas are especially difficult to distinguish and can, therefore, be easily misdiagnosed. Because of the very aggressive character of sarcomas, liquid biopsy based on early diagnosis and differentiation of these tumors would be extremely helpful. Moreover, after excision of the tumor, liquid biopsy can contribute to an increased knowledge of sarcoma behavior at the molecular level, especially on the formation of metastases which is still not well understood. In this review, we summarize the most important knowledge of mesenchymal uterine tumors, the possibilities and benefits of liquid biopsy utilization, the types of molecules and cells that can be analyzed with this approach, and the possibility of their isolation and capture. Finally, we review the typical abnormalities of leiomyomas and sarcomas that can be searched and analyzed in liquid biopsy samples with the final aim to pre-surgically differentiate between benign and malignant mesenchymal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Dvorská
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia
| | - Henrieta Škovierová
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia
| | - Dušan Braný
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia.
| | - Erika Halašová
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Danková
- Division of Oncology, Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia
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