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Estévez Pérez LS, Alén BO, Otero Alén M, Hormaetxe SD, Simón L, Concha Á. Simultaneous Detection of Collagen I Alpha II and Cytokeratin 19 mRNA by Multiplex qPCR in Liquid Biopsy in Diagnosis of Patients with Resectable Solid Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9567. [PMID: 39273514 PMCID: PMC11395584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The early detection of tumors is one of the key factors in increasing overall survival in cancer patients. A wide range of cancers still do not have a system of early diagnosis; therefore, the development of new non-invasive tools in this line is essential. Accordingly, the objective of our work was to develop a non-invasive screening method for the early detection of various carcinomas in plasma using a panel that combines two markers using RT-qPCR. A retrospective case-control study was conducted to develop a cancer screening test based on the detection of stromal and epithelial biomarkers (COL1A2 and KRT19) in plasma. The expression of biomarkers was evaluated using multiplex quantitative PCR applied to 47 cases with non-metastatic tumors and 13 control participants. For both biomarkers, a cut-off value was stablished using Youden's J index through ROC curve analysis and areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated. The plasma mRNA expression level of both biomarkers was significantly higher in diseased versus healthy patients. Moreover, ROC curve analysis showed an AUC value of 0.897 for the combined model. This model also resulted in a cutoff value of 0.664, as well as a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 84.6%. These results suggest that the plasma expression levels of COL1A2 and KRT19 could a have potential role in detecting various types of cancer at the early stages. The combined analysis of both stromal and epithelial biomarkers would provide a non-invasive screening method that would allow us to differentiate patients with an active neoplastic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Sofía Estévez Pérez
- Pathology Department, Biomedical Research Institute A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Begoña O Alén
- Pathology Department, Biomedical Research Institute A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - María Otero Alén
- Santiago de Compostela Health Research Institute (IDIS), University Hospital Complex Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | | | - Ángel Concha
- Pathology Department, Biomedical Research Institute A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
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Expression of Epithelial and Mesenchymal Markers in Plasmatic Extracellular Vesicles as a Diagnostic Tool for Neoplastic Processes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043578. [PMID: 36834987 PMCID: PMC9964693 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TD-EVs) have active roles as cancer hallmark enablers. EVs RNA of epithelial and stromal cells carry information that facilitates the communication processes that contribute to oncological progression, so the objective of this work was to validate by RT-PCR the presence of epithelial (KRT19; CEA) and stromal (COL1A2; COL11A1) markers in RNA of plasmatic EVs in healthy and diverse-malignancy patients for the development of a non-invasive cancer diagnosis system using liquid biopsy. Ten asymptomatic controls and 20 cancer patients were included in the study, and results showed that the isolated plasmatic EVs by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) andBiomedical Research Institute A Coruña nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) contained most exosome structures with also a considerable percentage of microvesicles. No differences were found in concentration and size distribution between the two cohorts of patients, but significant gene expression in epithelial and mesenchymal markers between healthy donors and patients with active oncological disease was shown. Results of quantitative RT-PCR are solid and reliable for KRT19, COL1A2, and COL11A1, so the analysis of RNA extracted from TD-EVs could be a correct approach to develop a diagnostic tool in oncological processes.
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Santolla MF, Talia M, Cirillo F, Scordamaglia D, De Rosis S, Spinelli A, Miglietta AM, Nardo B, Filippelli G, De Francesco EM, Belfiore A, Lappano R, Maggiolini M. The AGEs/RAGE Transduction Signaling Prompts IL-8/CXCR1/2-Mediated Interaction between Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) and Breast Cancer Cells. Cells 2022; 11:2402. [PMID: 35954247 PMCID: PMC9368521 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and the cognate receptor, named RAGE, are involved in metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Moreover, the AGEs/RAGE transduction pathway prompts a dysfunctional interaction between breast cancer cells and tumor stroma toward the acquisition of malignant features. However, the action of the AGEs/RAGE axis in the main players of the tumor microenvironment, named breast cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), remains to be fully explored. In the present study, by chemokine array, we first assessed that interleukin-8 (IL-8) is the most up-regulated pro-inflammatory chemokine upon AGEs/RAGE activation in primary CAFs, obtained from breast tumors. Thereafter, we ascertained that the AGEs/RAGE signaling promotes a network cascade in CAFs, leading to the c-Fos-dependent regulation of IL-8. Next, using a conditioned medium from AGEs-exposed CAFs, we determined that IL-8/CXCR1/2 paracrine activation induces the acquisition of migratory and invasive features in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Altogether, our data provide new insights on the involvement of IL-8 in the AGEs/RAGE transduction pathway among the intricate connections linking breast cancer cells to the surrounding stroma. Hence, our findings may pave the way for further investigations to define the role of IL-8 as useful target for the better management of breast cancer patients exhibiting metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Francesca Santolla
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Marianna Talia
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Francesca Cirillo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Domenica Scordamaglia
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Salvatore De Rosis
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Asia Spinelli
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Miglietta
- Breast and General Surgery Unit, Regional Hospital Cosenza, 87100 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Bruno Nardo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Breast and General Surgery Unit, Regional Hospital Cosenza, 87100 Cosenza, Italy
| | | | - Ernestina Marianna De Francesco
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonino Belfiore
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Rosamaria Lappano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Marcello Maggiolini
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
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Аnalysis of the cytokine profile of blood serum and tumor supernatants in breast cancer. ACTA BIOMEDICA SCIENTIFICA 2022. [DOI: 10.29413/abs.2022-7.2.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. A crucial role in the development of cancer is played by the tumor microenvironment (TM) – a microenvironment that is formed as a result of the interaction between the tumor tissue and macroorganism cells. The concentration of TM cytokines in the blood varies depending on the activity of the tumor and the presence of a metastatic process. It is advisable to study the existing mediator imbalance of TM, its characteristic features in the process of tumor development for the diagnosis and prognosis of the tumor process.The aim. To identify markers of tumor progression in the study of tissue and serum cytokines in women diagnosed with breast cancer.Materials and methods. The object of the study is blood serum cytokines and tumor supernatants (MCP-1, VEGF, TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β1, G-CSF, GM-CSF). The study involved 80 patients with breast cancer aged 50–69 years and 26 practically healthy women aged 41 to 62 years. A standard examination of women was conducted; a cytokine profile study was conducted before the appointment of therapy. To study the cytokine profile at the tissue level, tumor biopsies (n = 30) and biopsies of unchanged breast tissue (n = 6) were incubated to determine the production of MCP-1, VEGF, TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β1, G-CSF, GM-CSF.Results. There was a moderate positive correlation between the stage of the disease and the level of TGF-β1, MCP-1 blood serum, a weak one – with G-CSF. In the incubated tumor tissue, a high positive correlation of cytokines on the stage of the disease is observed in growth factors: VEGF (R = 0.79; p > 0.05) and TGF-β1 (R = 0.61; p > 0.05).Conclusion. The study revealed the characteristic features of the cytokine profile of blood serum and tumor tissue in breast cancer at local and widespread stages. The revealed differences in the level of cytokines should be used as additional diagnostic indicators of the degree of activity and prevalence of the tumor process.
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Abstract
Over the years, the engineering aspect of nanotechnology has been significantly exploited. Medical intervention strategies have been developed by leveraging existing molecular biology knowledge and combining it with nanotechnology tools to improve outcomes. However, little attention has been paid to harnessing the strengths of nanotechnology as a biological discovery tool. Fundamental understanding of controlling dynamic biological processes at the subcellular level is key to developing personalized therapeutic and diagnostic interventions. Single-cell analyses using intravital microscopy, expansion microscopy, and microfluidic-based platforms have been helping to better understand cell heterogeneity in healthy and diseased cells, a major challenge in oncology. Also, single-cell analysis has revealed critical signaling pathways and biological intracellular components with key biological functions. The physical manipulation enabled by nanotools can allow real-time monitoring of biological changes at a single-cell level by sampling intracellular fluid from the same cell. The formation of intercellular highways by nanotube-like structures has important clinical implications such as metastasis development. The integration of nanomaterials into optical and molecular imaging techniques has rendered valuable morphological, structural, and biological information. Nanoscale imaging unravels mechanisms of temporality by enabling the visualization of nanoscale dynamics never observed or measured between individual cells with standard biological techniques. The exceptional sensitivity of nanozymes, artificial enzymes, make them perfect components of the next-generation mobile diagnostics devices. Here, we highlight these impactful cancer-related biological discoveries enabled by nanotechnology and producing a paradigm shift in cancer research and oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Salvador-Morales
- Nanodelivery Systems and Devices Branch, Cancer Imaging Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Piotr Grodzinski
- Nanodelivery Systems and Devices Branch, Cancer Imaging Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
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Pirš B, Škof E, Smrkolj V, Smrkolj Š. Overview of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gynecological Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:631. [PMID: 35158899 PMCID: PMC8833536 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last ten years, clinical oncology has been revolutionized by the introduction of oncological immunotherapy, mainly in the form of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that transformed the standard of care of several advanced solid malignancies. Using ICIs for advanced gynecological cancers has yielded good results, especially for endometrial cancer. In ovarian or cervical cancer, combining ICIs with other established agents has shown some promise. Concurrently with the clinical development of ICIs, biomarkers that predict responses to such therapy have been discovered and used in clinical trials. The translation of these biomarkers to clinical practice was somewhat hampered by lacking assay standardization and non-comprehensive reporting of biomarker status in trials often performed on a small number of gynecological cancer patients. We can expect increased use of ICIs combined with other agents in gynecological cancer in the near future. This will create a need for reliable response prediction tools, which we believe will be based on biomarker, clinical, and tumor characteristics. In this article, we review the basic biology of ICIs and response prediction biomarkers, as well as the latest clinical trials that focus on subgroup effectiveness based on biomarker status in gynecological cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boštjan Pirš
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.P.); (E.Š.); (V.S.)
- Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Erik Škof
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.P.); (E.Š.); (V.S.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vladimir Smrkolj
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.P.); (E.Š.); (V.S.)
| | - Špela Smrkolj
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.P.); (E.Š.); (V.S.)
- Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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