Increases in serum CYFRA21-1 concentration during successful treatment with crizotinib

Tissue and Blood Biomarkers in Lung Cancer: A Review

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death, worldwide. Historically, lung cancer has been divided into two main histological types: small cell and nonsmall cell (NSC) type with the latter being subdivided into adenocarcinoma, squamous cell type, and large cell type. The treatment of the NSC lung cancer (NSCLC), especially the adenocarcinoma subtype, has been transformed in the last decade by the availability of predictive biomarkers for molecularly targeted therapies. Currently, for patients with advanced adenocarcinomas, testing for sensitizing mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is mandatory prior to the administration of anti-EGFR inhibitors such as erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib, or osimertinib. For patients unable to provide tumor tissue, EGFR mutational analysis may be performed on plasma. For predicting response to crizotinib, testing for ALK and ROS1 gene rearrangement is necessary. The presence of ALK rearrangements is also a prerequisite for treatment with ceritinib, alectinib, or brigatinib. For predicting response to single agent pembrolizumab in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced adenocarcinoma or squamous cell NSCLCs, PD-L1 should be measured by an approved assay (e.g., PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx method). Although not widely used, serum biomarkers such as neuron-specific enolase, progastrin-releasing peptide, carcinoembryonic antigen, CYFRA 21-1, and squamous cell carcinoma antigen may help in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer when a tissue diagnosis is not possible. Serum biomarkers may also be of use in determining prognosis and monitoring response to systemic therapies. With the increasing use of biomarkers, personalized treatment especially for patients with adenocarcinoma-type NSCLC is finally on the horizon.

Association of CD44 Gene Polymorphism with Survival of NSCLC and Risk of Bone Metastasis

Background

Previous studies have reported CD44 expression influenced the development and progression of tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CD44 gene are associated with survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and occurrence rate of bone metastasis.

Material/Methods

A total of 234 patients with NSCLC between 2003 and 2010 were enrolled in this study and 468 healthy persons were used as controls. Two polymorphisms, rs13347 and rs187115, in the CD44 gene were genotyped using DNA from blood lymphocytes. For statistical analysis we used the chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test.

Results

CD44 gene rs13347 polymorphism was not associated with NSCLC risk. For rs187115, the association with NSCLC risk was observed (P<0.001). Allele G carriers had significantly higher occurrence rates of bone metastasis (OR=0.4, 95%CI: 0.20–0.64, P<0.001) and more advanced tumor stage (OR=2.6, 95%CI: 1.50–4.45, P=0.001) compared to carriers of allele A. The survival rates for patients with AA genotype were significantly higher than for patients with the AG+GG genotypes (P<0.001). In multivariate analysis of survival in NSCLC patients, significant predictors were CD44 gene (AG+GG) (RR=0.48, 95%CI: 0.34–0.68, P<0.001), tumor stage (RR=0.45, 95%CI: 0. 0.31–0.65, P<0.001), and bone metastasis (RR=1.52, 95%CI: 1.05–2.21, P=0.027).

Conclusions

CD44 gene rs187115 polymorphism is a potential predictive marker of survival in NSCLC patients, and is significantly correlated with bone metastasis and tumor stage.

Rhizoma Paridis Saponins Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma A549 Cells

BACKGROUND

As a traditional Chinese medicine herb, Chonglou (Paris polyphylla var. chensiins) has been used as anticancer medicine in China in recent decades, as it can induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in numerous cancer cells. The saponins extract from the rhizoma of Chonglou [Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS)] is known as the main active component for anticancer treatment. However, the molecular mechanism of the anticancer effect of RPS is unknown.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present study evaluated the effect of RPS in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry. Subsequently, the expression of several genes associated with cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting.

RESULTS

RPS was revealed to inhibit cell growth, causing a number of cells to accumulate in the G 1 phase of the cell cycle, leading to apoptosis. In addition, the effect was dose-dependent. Moreover, the results of qRT-PCR and Western blotting showed that p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) were significantly downregulated, and that BCL2, BAX, and p21 were upregulated, by RPS treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

We speculated that the RPS could act on a pathway, including p53, p21, BCL2, BAX, and CDK2, and results in G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in NSCLC cells.