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Bertoli E, De Carlo E, Bortolot M, Stanzione B, Del Conte A, Spina M, Bearz A. Targeted Therapy in Mesotheliomas: Uphill All the Way. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1971. [PMID: 38893092 PMCID: PMC11171080 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16111971] [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: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive and lethal disease with few therapeutic opportunities. Platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy is the backbone of first-line treatment for MM. The introduction of immunotherapy (IO) has been the only novelty of the last decades, allowing an increase in survival compared to standard chemotherapy (CT). However, IO is not approved for epithelioid histology in many countries. Therefore, therapy for relapsed MM remains an unmet clinical need, and the prognosis of MM remains poor, with an average survival of only 18 months. Increasing evidence reveals MM complexity and heterogeneity, of which histological classification fails to explain. Thus, scientific focus on possibly new molecular markers or cellular targets is increasing, together with the search for target therapies directed towards them. The molecular landscape of MM is characterized by inactivating tumor suppressor alterations, the most common of which is found in CDKN2A, BAP1, MTAP, and NF2. In addition, cellular targets such as mesothelin or metabolic enzymes such as ASS1 could be potentially amenable to specific therapies. This review examines the major targets and relative attempts of therapeutic approaches to provide an overview of the potential prospects for treating this rare neoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Bertoli
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; (E.B.); (E.D.C.); (M.B.); (B.S.); (A.D.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Elisa De Carlo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; (E.B.); (E.D.C.); (M.B.); (B.S.); (A.D.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Martina Bortolot
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; (E.B.); (E.D.C.); (M.B.); (B.S.); (A.D.C.); (M.S.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Brigida Stanzione
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; (E.B.); (E.D.C.); (M.B.); (B.S.); (A.D.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Alessandro Del Conte
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; (E.B.); (E.D.C.); (M.B.); (B.S.); (A.D.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Michele Spina
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; (E.B.); (E.D.C.); (M.B.); (B.S.); (A.D.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Alessandra Bearz
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; (E.B.); (E.D.C.); (M.B.); (B.S.); (A.D.C.); (M.S.)
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Zupanc C, Franko A, Strbac D, Kovac V, Dolzan V, Goricar K. The association of genetic factors with serum calretinin levels in asbestos-related diseases. Radiol Oncol 2023; 57:473-486. [PMID: 38038422 PMCID: PMC10690752 DOI: 10.2478/raon-2023-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asbestos exposure is associated with different asbestos-related diseases, including malignant mesothelioma (MM). MM diagnosis is confirmed with immunohistochemical analysis of several markers, including calretinin. Increased circulating calretinin was also observed in MM. The aim of the study was to determine if CALB2 polymorphisms or polymorphisms in genes that can regulate calretinin expression are associated with serum calretinin levels or MM susceptibility. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study included 288 MM patients and 616 occupationally asbestos-exposed subjects without MM (153 with asbestosis, 380 with pleural plaques and 83 without asbestos-related disease). Subjects were genotyped for seven polymorphisms in CALB2, E2F2, MIR335, NRF1 and SEPTIN7 genes using competitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum calretinin was determined with ELISA in 545 subjects. Nonparametric tests, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Carriers of at least one polymorphic CALB2 rs889704 allele had lower calretinin levels (P = 0.036). Carriers of two polymorphic MIR335 rs3807348 alleles had higher calretinin (P = 0.027), while carriers of at least one polymorphic NRF1 rs13241028 allele had lower calretinin levels (P = 0.034) in subjects without MM. Carriers of two polymorphic E2F2 rs2075995 alleles were less likely to develop MM (odds ratio [OR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.43-0.96, P = 0.032), but the association was no longer significant after adjustment for age (P = 0.093). Optimal serum calretinin cut-off values differentiating MM patients from other subjects differed according to CALB2, NRF1, E2F2, and MIR335 genotypes. CONCLUSIONS The results of presented study suggest that genetic variability could influence serum calretinin levels. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of calretinin regulation and potentially to earlier MM diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cita Zupanc
- Military Medical Unit-Slovenian Army, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alenka Franko
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Clinical Institute of Occupational Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Danijela Strbac
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Viljem Kovac
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vita Dolzan
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Goricar
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Sorino C, Mondoni M, Marchetti G, Agati S, Inchingolo R, Mei F, Flamini S, Lococo F, Feller-Kopman D. Pleural Mesothelioma: Advances in Blood and Pleural Biomarkers. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7006. [PMID: 38002620 PMCID: PMC10672377 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12227006] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a type of cancer that is highly related to exposure to asbestos fibers. It shows aggressive behavior, and the current therapeutic approaches are usually insufficient to change the poor prognosis. Moreover, apart from staging and histological classification, there are no validated predictors of its response to treatment or its long-term outcomes. Numerous studies have investigated minimally invasive biomarkers in pleural fluid or blood to aid in earlier diagnosis and prognostic assessment of PM. The most studied marker in pleural effusion is mesothelin, which exhibits good specificity but low sensitivity, especially for non-epithelioid PM. Other biomarkers found in pleural fluid include fibulin-3, hyaluronan, microRNAs, and CYFRA-21.1, which have lower diagnostic capabilities but provide prognostic information and have potential roles as therapeutic targets. Serum is the most investigated matrix for biomarkers of PM. Several serum biomarkers in PM have been studied, with mesothelin, osteopontin, and fibulin-3 being the most often tested. A soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) is the only FDA-approved biomarker in patients with suspected mesothelioma. With different serum and pleural fluid cut-offs, it provides useful information on the diagnosis, prognosis, follow-up, and response to therapy in epithelioid PM. Panels combining different markers and proteomics technologies show promise in terms of improving clinical performance in the diagnosis and monitoring of mesothelioma patients. However, there is still no evidence that early detection can improve the treatment outcomes of PM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Sorino
- Division of Pulmonology, Sant’Anna Hospital of Como, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy; (C.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Michele Mondoni
- Respiratory Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Sergio Agati
- Division of Pulmonology, Sant’Anna Hospital of Como, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy; (C.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Riccardo Inchingolo
- Pulmonary Medicine Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Federico Mei
- Respiratory Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Sara Flamini
- Departement of Thoracic Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.F.); (F.L.)
- Thoracic Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Lococo
- Departement of Thoracic Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.F.); (F.L.)
- Thoracic Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - David Feller-Kopman
- Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA;
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA
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Shen K, Cheng Q, Xiao J, Zhou X, Wang Y, Liu K, Ni P, Fan H, Hu L, Xu Z, Yang L. Polymorphism rs1057147 located in mesothelin gene predicts lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:3637-3651. [PMID: 37145159 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12555-8] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Lymph node metastasis, a crucial factor in the spread of gastric cancer (GC), is strongly associated with a negative prognosis for patients. This study aimed to investigate the association of the mesothelin (MSLN) gene polymorphisms (rs3764247, rs3764246, rs12597489, rs1057147, and rs3765319) with the risk of lymph node metastasis of GC patients in a Chinese Han population. The PCR-LDR genotyping was used to detect the genotypes of MSLN polymorphisms in GC patients with lymph node metastasis (n = 610) or without (n = 356). Our research indicates that certain genetic markers, specifically rs3764247, rs3764246, rs12597489, and rs3765319, do not appear to be linked with an increased risk of lymph node metastasis in GC. However, we did observe that patients with the rs1057147 GA genotype exhibited a higher likelihood of lymph node metastasis in GC when compared to those with the GG genotype (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.76, P = 0.045). Patients with rs1057147 GA + AA genotype were found to have a higher likelihood of lymph node involvement (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.03 - 1.77, P = 0.029) when compared to those with GG genotype in the dominant model. The allelic model revealed that the A allele of rs1057147 exhibited a stronger correlation with lymph node metastasis compared to the G allele (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.02 - 1.60, P = 0.031). In addition, we found that rs1057147 polymorphism revealed a poor prognosis for GC patients with lymph node metastasis. Further stratified analysis revealed that the prognostic effect of rs1057147 was more pronounced in patients with GC who had lymph node metastasis and had a tumor size of 4 cm or greater, as well as more than 2 lymph node metastases. Bioinformatics studies showed that the binding mode of miR-3144-5p or miR-3619-3p to MSLN was altered by the mutation of rs1057147. Our study confirmed the important role of MSLN rs1057147 polymorphism locus in GC lymph node metastases and suggested a potential prognostic factor during GC progression. KEY POINTS: • Rs1057147 GA genotype had an increased risk of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer. • The A allele of rs1057147 had a stronger association with lymph node metastasis than the G allele. • The binding mode of miR-3144-5p or miR-3619-3p to MSLN was altered by the mutation of rs1057147.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Shen
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Quan Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xinyi Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yuanhang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Kanghui Liu
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Peidong Ni
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hao Fan
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Li Hu
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zekuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Liyang People's Hospital, Liyang Branch Hospital of Jiangsu Province Hospital, Liyang, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Mesothelin Gene Variants Affect Soluble Mesothelin-Related Protein Levels in the Plasma of Asbestos-Exposed Males and Mesothelioma Patients from Germany. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11121826. [PMID: 36552335 PMCID: PMC9776112 DOI: 10.3390/biology11121826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a severe disease mostly caused by asbestos exposure. Today, one of the best available biomarkers is the soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP), also known as mesothelin. Recent studies have shown that mesothelin levels are influenced by individual genetic variability. This study aimed to investigate the influence of three mesothelin (MSLN) gene variants (SNPs) in the 5′-untranslated promoter region (5′-UTR), MSLN rs2235503 C > A, rs3764246 A > G, rs3764247 A > C, and one (rs1057147 G > A) in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of the MSLN gene on plasma concentrations of mesothelin in 410 asbestos-exposed males without cancer and 43 males with prediagnostic MM (i.e., with MM diagnosed later on) from the prospective MoMar study, as well as 59 males with manifest MM from Germany. The mesothelin concentration differed significantly between the different groups (p < 0.0001), but not between the prediagnostic and manifest MM groups (p = 0.502). Five to eight mutations of the four SNP variants studied were associated with increased mesothelin concentrations (p = 0.001). The highest mesothelin concentrations were observed for homozygous variants of the three promotor SNPs in the 5′-UTR (p < 0.001), and the highest odds ratio for an elevated mesothelin concentration was observed for MSLN rs2235503 C > A. The four studied SNPs had a clear influence on the mesothelin concentration in plasma. Hence, the analysis of these SNPs may help to elucidate the diagnostic background of patients displaying increased mesothelin levels and might help to reduce false-positive results when using mesothelin for MM screening in high-risk groups.
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Serum Calretinin as a Biomarker in Malignant Mesothelioma. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10214875. [PMID: 34768395 PMCID: PMC8585060 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10214875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The early diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma (MM) could improve the prognosis of MM patients. To confirm an MM diagnosis, an immunohistochemical analysis of several tumor tissue markers, including calretinin, is currently required. Our aim is to evaluate serum calretinin as a potential biomarker in asbestos-related diseases, especially in MM. Our study includes 549 subjects: 164 MM patients, 117 subjects with asbestosis, 195 subjects with pleural plaques and 73 occupationally asbestos-exposed subjects without asbestos-related diseases. The serum calretinin concentration was determined with a commercially available enzyme immunoassay. Data on the soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP) concentration are available from previous studies. MM patients had a significantly higher calretinin concentration than subjects without disease, subjects with pleural plaques or subjects with asbestosis (all p < 0.001). The histological type was significantly associated with serum calretinin: patients with sarcomatoid MM had lower calretinin than patients with the epithelioid type (p = 0.001). In a ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve for calretinin concentration predicting MM was 0.826 (95% CI = 0.782-0.869; p < 0.001). At the cutoff value of 0.32 ng/mL, sensitivity was 0.683, while specificity was 0.886. The combination of calretinin and SMRP had the highest predictive value. Calretinin is a useful biomarker that can distinguish MM from other asbestos-related diseases and could, therefore, contribute to an earlier non-invasive diagnosis of MM.
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Goričar K, Holcar M, Mavec N, Kovač V, Lenassi M, Dolžan V. Extracellular Vesicle Enriched miR-625-3p Is Associated with Survival of Malignant Mesothelioma Patients. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11101014. [PMID: 34683154 PMCID: PMC8538530 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11101014] [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: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is characterized by poor prognosis and short survival. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound particles released from cells into various body fluids, and their molecular composition reflects the characteristics of the origin cell. Blood EVs or their miRNA cargo might serve as new minimally invasive biomarkers that would enable earlier detection of MM or treatment outcome prediction. Our aim was to evaluate miRNAs enriched in serum EVs as potential prognostic biomarkers in MM patients in a pilot longitudinal study. EVs were isolated from serum samples obtained before and after treatment using ultracentrifugation on 20% sucrose cushion. Serum EV-enriched miR-103-3p, miR-126-3p and miR-625-3p were quantified using qPCR. After treatment, expression of miR-625-3p and miR-126-3p significantly increased in MM patients with poor treatment outcome (p = 0.012 and p = 0.036, respectively). A relative increase in miR-625-3p expression after treatment for more than 3.2% was associated with shorter progression-free survival (7.5 vs. 19.4 months, HR = 3.92, 95% CI = 1.20-12.80, p = 0.024) and overall survival (12.5 vs. 49.1 months, HR = 5.45, 95% CI = 1.06-28.11, p = 0.043) of MM patients. Bioinformatic analysis showed enrichment of 33 miR-625-3p targets in eight biological pathways. Serum EV-enriched miR-625-3p could therefore serve as a prognostic biomarker in MM and could contribute to a more personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Goričar
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.G.); (M.H.); (N.M.); (M.L.)
| | - Marija Holcar
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.G.); (M.H.); (N.M.); (M.L.)
| | - Nina Mavec
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.G.); (M.H.); (N.M.); (M.L.)
| | - Viljem Kovač
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Metka Lenassi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.G.); (M.H.); (N.M.); (M.L.)
| | - Vita Dolžan
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.G.); (M.H.); (N.M.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +386-1-543-76
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Yeo D, Castelletti L, van Zandwijk N, Rasko JEJ. Hitting the Bull's-Eye: Mesothelin's Role as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3932. [PMID: 34439085 PMCID: PMC8391149 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. MPM originates from the mesothelial lining of the pleura. Mesothelin (MSLN) is a glycoprotein expressed at low levels in normal tissues and at high levels in MPM. Many other solid cancers overexpress MSLN, and this is associated with worse survival rates. However, this association has not been found in MPM, and the exact biological role of MSLN in MPM requires further exploration. Here, we discuss the current research on the diagnostic and prognostic value of MSLN in MPM patients. Furthermore, MSLN has become an attractive immunotherapy target in MPM, where better treatment strategies are urgently needed. Several MSLN-targeted monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, immunotoxins, cancer vaccines, and cellular therapies have been tested in the clinical setting. The biological rationale underpinning MSLN-targeted immunotherapies and their potential to improve MPM patient outcomes are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannel Yeo
- Li Ka Shing Cell & Gene Therapy Program, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (D.Y.); (L.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia;
- Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Laura Castelletti
- Li Ka Shing Cell & Gene Therapy Program, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (D.Y.); (L.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia;
- Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Nico van Zandwijk
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia;
- Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), Concord, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - John E. J. Rasko
- Li Ka Shing Cell & Gene Therapy Program, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (D.Y.); (L.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia;
- Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
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Abou-El-Naga AM, Abo El-Khair SM, Mahmoud AZ, Hamza M, Elshazli RM. Association of genetic variants in the 3'-untranslated region of the mesothelin (MSLN) gene with ovarian carcinoma. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2020; 35:e22637. [PMID: 32997381 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Limited information has been offered regarding the association of mesothelin (MSLN) gene variants at the 3'-untranslated region with the risk of ovarian carcinoma. The primary objective of this work is to assess the impact of the MSLN (rs1057147 and rs57272256) variants on the progression of ovarian carcinoma among Egyptian women. The study was conceived based on 127 women diagnosed with ovarian carcinoma and 106 unrelated cancer-free controls. Genomic DNA of these MSLN variants was genotyped utilizing the PCR technique. The frequencies of the MSLN (rs1057147) variant revealed a significant association with increased risk of ovarian carcinoma under allelic and dominant models (P < .05). Nonetheless, ovarian cancer patients with the MSLN (rs57272256) variant did not attain considerable significance under all genetic models (P > .05). Together, our findings suggested that the MSLN (rs1057147) variant was associated with an increased risk of ovarian carcinoma, but not the MSLN (rs57272256) variant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Salwa M Abo El-Khair
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Ashraf Z Mahmoud
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Hamza
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Rami M Elshazli
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Horus University - Egypt, New Damietta, Egypt
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Silvestri R, Pucci P, De Santi C, Dell’Anno I, Miglietta S, Corrado A, Nicolí V, Marolda D, Cipollini M, Pellegrino E, Evangelista M, Bonotti A, Foddis R, Cristaudo A, Landi S, Gemignani F. Variation rs2235503 C > A Within the Promoter of MSLN Affects Transcriptional Rate of Mesothelin and Plasmatic Levels of the Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptide. Front Genet 2020; 11:975. [PMID: 33014022 PMCID: PMC7461867 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) is a promising biomarker for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), but several confounding factors can reduce SMRP-based test's accuracy. The identification of these confounders could improve the diagnostic performance of SMRP. In this study, we evaluated the sequence of 1,000 base pairs encompassing the minimal promoter region of the MSLN gene to identify expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) that can affect SMRP. We assessed the association between four MSLN promoter variants and SMRP levels in a cohort of 72 MPM and 677 non-MPM subjects, and we carried out in vitro assays to investigate their functional role. Our results show that rs2235503 is an eQTL for MSLN associated with increased levels of SMRP in non-MPM subjects. Furthermore, we show that this polymorphic site affects the accuracy of SMRP, highlighting the importance of evaluating the individual's genetic background and giving novel insights to refine SMRP specificity as a diagnostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Perla Pucci
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara De Santi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Simona Miglietta
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Alda Corrado
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Bioscience, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Vanessa Nicolí
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Alessandra Bonotti
- Preventive and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rudy Foddis
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alfonso Cristaudo
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Landi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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11
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Ahmadzada T, Kao S, Reid G, Clarke S, Grau GE, Hosseini-Beheshti E. Extracellular vesicles as biomarkers in malignant pleural mesothelioma: A review. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2020; 150:102949. [PMID: 32330840 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.102949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EV) are secreted by all cells, including cancer cells, as a mode of intercellular transport and communication. The main types of EV known to date include exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies, as well as oncosomes and large oncosomes, which are specific to cancer cells. These different EV populations carry specific cargo from one cell to another to stimulate a specific response. They can be found in all body fluids and can be detected in liquid biopsies. EV released from mesothelioma cells can reveal important information about the molecules and signalling pathways involved in the development and progression of the tumour. The presence of tumour-derived EV in circulating body fluids makes them potential novel biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostication and surveillance of cancer. In this review, we explore the characteristics and functional roles of EV reported in the literature, with a focus on their role in malignant pleural mesothelioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamkin Ahmadzada
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Steven Kao
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Glen Reid
- Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stephen Clarke
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Georges E Grau
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Vascular Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Elham Hosseini-Beheshti
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Vascular Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
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