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Liguoro D, Frigerio R, Ortolano A, Sacconi A, Acunzo M, Romano G, Nigita G, Bellei B, Madonna G, Capone M, Ascierto PA, Mancini R, Ciliberto G, Fattore L. The MITF/mir-579-3p regulatory axis dictates BRAF-mutated melanoma cell fate in response to MAPK inhibitors. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:208. [PMID: 38472212 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06580-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Therapy of melanoma has improved dramatically over the last years thanks to the development of targeted therapies (MAPKi) and immunotherapies. However, drug resistance continues to limit the efficacy of these therapies. Our research group has provided robust evidence as to the involvement of a set of microRNAs in the development of resistance to target therapy in BRAF-mutated melanomas. Among them, a pivotal role is played by the oncosuppressor miR-579-3p. Here we show that miR-579-3p and the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) influence reciprocally their expression through positive feedback regulatory loops. In particular we show that miR-579-3p is specifically deregulated in BRAF-mutant melanomas and that its expression levels mirror those of MITF. Luciferase and ChIP studies show that MITF is a positive regulator of miR-579-3p, which is located in the intron 11 of the human gene ZFR (Zink-finger recombinase) and is co-transcribed with its host gene. Moreover, miR-579-3p, by targeting BRAF, is able to stabilize MITF protein thus inducing its own transcription. From biological points of view, early exposure to MAPKi or, alternatively miR-579-3p transfection, induce block of proliferation and trigger senescence programs in BRAF-mutant melanoma cells. Finally, the long-term development of resistance to MAPKi is able to select cells characterized by the loss of both miR-579-3p and MITF and the same down-regulation is also present in patients relapsing after treatments. Altogether these findings suggest that miR-579-3p/MITF interplay potentially governs the balance between proliferation, senescence and resistance to therapies in BRAF-mutant melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Liguoro
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Rachele Frigerio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Arianna Ortolano
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Acunzo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Giulia Romano
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Giovanni Nigita
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Barbara Bellei
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Madonna
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariaelena Capone
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Antonio Ascierto
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Rita Mancini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Directorate, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Luigi Fattore
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
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2
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Sinclair R, Wong XL, Shumack S, Baker C, MacMahon B. The role of micrometastasis in high-risk skin cancers. Australas J Dermatol 2024; 65:143-152. [PMID: 38156714 DOI: 10.1111/ajd.14206] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The propensity to metastasize is the most important prognostic indicator for solid cancers. New insights into the mechanisms of early carcinogenesis have revealed micrometastases are generated far earlier than previously thought. Evidence supports a synergistic relationship between vascular and lymphatic seeding which can occur before there is clinical evidence of a primary tumour. Early vascular seeding prepares distal sites for colonisation while regional lymphatics are co-opted to promote facilitative cancer cell mutations. In response, the host mounts a global inflammatory and immunomodulatory response towards these cells supporting the concept that cancer is a systemic disease. Cancer staging systems should be refined to better reflect cancer cell loads in various tissue compartments while clinical perspectives should be broadened to encompass this view when approaching high-risk cancers. Measured adjunctive therapies implemented earlier for low-volume, in-transit cancer offers the prospect of preventing advanced disease and the need for heroic therapeutic interventions. This review seeks to re-appraise how we view the metastatic process for solid cancers. It will explore in-transit metastasis in the context of high-risk skin cancer and how it dictates disease progression. It will also discuss how these implications will influence our current staging systems and its consequences on management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Sinclair
- Queensland Institute of Dermatology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Xin Lin Wong
- St George Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centre, New South Wales, Kogarah, Australia
| | - Stephen Shumack
- St George Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centre, New South Wales, Kogarah, Australia
- Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Christopher Baker
- Department of Dermatology, St Vincents Hospital, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
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3
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Anitha K, Posinasetty B, Naveen Kumari K, Chenchula S, Padmavathi R, Prakash S, Radhika C. Liquid biopsy for precision diagnostics and therapeutics. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 554:117746. [PMID: 38151071 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117746] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Liquid biopsy (LB) has emerged as a highly promising and non-invasive diagnostic approach, particularly in the field of oncology, and has garnered interest in various medical disciplines. This technique involves the examination of biomolecules released into physiological fluids, such as urine samples, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The analysed biomolecules included circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumour cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), exosomes, and other cell-free components. In contrast to conventional tissue biopsies, LB provides minimally invasive diagnostics, offering invaluable insights into tumor characteristics, treatment response, and early disease detection. This Review explores the contemporary landscape of technologies and clinical applications in the realm of LB, with a particular emphasis on the isolation and analysis of ctDNA and/or cfDNA. Various methodologies have been employed, including droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (DDP), BEAMing (beads, emulsion, amplification, and magnetics), TAm-Seq (tagged-amplicon deep sequencing), CAPP-Seq (cancer personalized profiling by deep sequencing), WGBS-Seq (whole genome bisulfite sequencing), WES (whole exome sequencing), and WGS (whole-genome sequencing). Additionally, CTCs have been successfully isolated through biomarker-based cell capture, employing both positive and negative enrichment strategies based on diverse biophysical and other inherent properties. This approach also addresses challenges and limitations associated with liquid biopsy techniques, such as sensitivity, specificity, standardization and interpretability of findings. This review seeks to identify the current technologies used in liquid biopsy samples, emphasizing their significance in identifying tumor markers for cancer detection, prognosis, and treatment outcome monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuttiappan Anitha
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy and Technology Management (SPTM), SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) Deemed-to-University, Shirpur 425405, India
| | | | - K Naveen Kumari
- Sri Krishna Teja Pharmacy College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 517502, India
| | | | - R Padmavathi
- SVS Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Satya Prakash
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
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Zdrenka M, Kowalewski A, Ahmadi N, Sadiqi RU, Chmura Ł, Borowczak J, Maniewski M, Szylberg Ł. Refining PD-1/PD-L1 assessment for biomarker-guided immunotherapy: A review. BIOMOLECULES & BIOMEDICINE 2024; 24:14-29. [PMID: 37877810 PMCID: PMC10787614 DOI: 10.17305/bb.2023.9265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) immunotherapy is an increasingly crucial in cancer treatment. To date, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining protocols, commercially available in the form of "kits", facilitating testing for PD-L1 expression. These kits comprise four PD-L1 antibodies on two separate IHC platforms, each utilizing distinct, non-interchangeable scoring systems. Several factors, including tumor heterogeneity and the size of the tissue specimens assessed, can lead to PD-L1 status misclassification, potentially hindering the initiation of therapy. Therefore, the development of more accurate predictive biomarkers to distinguish between responders and non-responders prior to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy warrants further research. Achieving this goal necessitates refining sampling criteria, enhancing current methods of PD-L1 detection, and deepening our understanding of the impact of additional biomarkers. In this article, we review potential solutions to improve the predictive accuracy of PD-L1 assessment in order to more precisely anticipate patients' responses to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, monitor disease progression and predict clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Zdrenka
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Adam Kowalewski
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Navid Ahmadi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Łukasz Chmura
- Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jędrzej Borowczak
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Oncology, Chair of Pathomorphology and Clinical Placentology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Mateusz Maniewski
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Oncology, Chair of Pathomorphology and Clinical Placentology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Łukasz Szylberg
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Oncology, Chair of Pathomorphology and Clinical Placentology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
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Castaldo V, Minopoli M, Di Modugno F, Sacconi A, Liguoro D, Frigerio R, Ortolano A, Di Martile M, Gesualdi L, Madonna G, Capone M, Cirombella R, Catizone A, Del Bufalo D, Vecchione A, Carriero MV, Ascierto PA, Mancini R, Fattore L, Ciliberto G. Upregulated expression of miR-4443 and miR-4488 in drug resistant melanomas promotes migratory and invasive phenotypes through downregulation of intermediate filament nestin. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:317. [PMID: 38008717 PMCID: PMC10680267 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02878-9] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BRAF-mutant melanoma patients benefit from the combinatorial treatments with BRAF and MEK inhibitors. However, acquired drug resistance strongly limits the efficacy of these targeted therapies in time. Recently, many findings have underscored the involvement of microRNAs as main drivers of drug resistance. In this context, we previously identified a subset of oncomiRs strongly up-regulated in drug-resistant melanomas. In this work, we shed light on the molecular role of two as yet poorly characterized oncomiRs, miR-4443 and miR-4488. METHODS Invasion and migration have been determined by wound healing, transwell migration/invasion assays and Real Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) technology. miR-4488 and miR-4443 have been measured by qRT-PCR. Nestin levels have been tested by western blot, confocal immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical and flow cytometry analyses. RESULTS We demonstrate that the two oncomiRs are responsible for the enhanced migratory and invasive phenotypes, that are a hallmark of drug resistant melanoma cells. Moreover, miR-4443 and miR-4488 promote an aberrant cytoskeletal reorganization witnessed by the increased number of stress fibers and cellular protrusions-like cancer cell invadopodia. Mechanistically, we identified the intermediate filament nestin as a molecular target of both oncomiRs. Finally, we have shown that nestin levels are able to predict response to treatments in melanoma patients. CONCLUSIONS Altogether these findings have profound translational implications in the attempt i) to develop miRNA-targeting therapies to mitigate the metastatic phenotypes of BRAF-mutant melanomas and ii) to identify novel biomarkers able to guide clinical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Castaldo
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Minopoli
- Preclinical Models of Tumor Progression Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Liguoro
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rachele Frigerio
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Ortolano
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Di Martile
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Gesualdi
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Madonna
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariaelena Capone
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Cirombella
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Angiolina Catizone
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Vecchione
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Vincenza Carriero
- Preclinical Models of Tumor Progression Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Antonio Ascierto
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Rita Mancini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Fattore
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Directorate, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
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Aoude LG, Brosda S, Ng J, Lonie JM, Belle CJ, Patel K, Koufariotis LT, Wood S, Atkinson V, Smithers BM, Pearson JV, Waddell N, Barbour AP, Bonazzi VF. Circulating Tumor DNA: A Promising Biomarker for Predicting Recurrence in Patients with BRAF-Negative Melanoma. J Mol Diagn 2023; 25:771-781. [PMID: 37544359 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2023.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
For patients with BRAF wild-type stage III and IV melanoma, there is an urgent clinical need to identify prognostic biomarkers and biomarkers predictive of treatment response. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is emerging as a blood-based biomarker and has shown promising results for many cancers, including melanoma. The purpose of this study was to identify targetable, tumor-derived mutations in patient blood that may lead to treatment alternatives and improved outcomes for patients with BRAF-negative melanoma. Using a CAncer Personalized Profiling by deep Sequencing (CAPP-seq) pan-cancer gene panel, ctDNA from 150 plasma samples (n = 106 patients) was assessed, including serial blood collections for a subset of patients (n = 16). ctDNA variants were detected in 85% of patients, all in targetable pathways, such as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT, Bcl2/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), ALK/MET, and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6. Patients with stage IV melanoma with low ctDNA concentrations, <10 ng/mL, had significantly better disease-specific survival and progression-free survival. Patients with both a high concentration of ctDNA and any detectable ctDNA variants had the worst prognosis. In addition, these results indicated that longitudinal changes in ctDNA correlated with treatment response and disease progression determined by radiology. This study confirms that ctDNA may be used as a noninvasive liquid biopsy to identify recurrent disease and detect targetable variants in patients with late-stage melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren G Aoude
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland.
| | - Sandra Brosda
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland
| | - Jessica Ng
- Queensland Melanoma Project, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland
| | - James M Lonie
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland
| | - Clemence J Belle
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland
| | - Kalpana Patel
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland
| | | | - Scott Wood
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland
| | - Victoria Atkinson
- Queensland Melanoma Project, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland
| | - B Mark Smithers
- Queensland Melanoma Project, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - John V Pearson
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland
| | - Nicola Waddell
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland
| | - Andrew P Barbour
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland; Queensland Melanoma Project, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland
| | - Vanessa F Bonazzi
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland.
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Pickering C, Aiyetan P, Xu G, Mitchell A, Rice R, Najjar YG, Markowitz J, Ebert LM, Brown MP, Tapia-Rico G, Frederick D, Cong X, Serie D, Lindpaintner K, Schwarz F, Boland GM. Plasma glycoproteomic biomarkers identify metastatic melanoma patients with reduced clinical benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1187332. [PMID: 37388743 PMCID: PMC10302726 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1187332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical success of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in both resected and metastatic melanoma has confirmed the validity of therapeutic strategies that boost the immune system to counteract cancer. However, half of patients with metastatic disease treated with even the most aggressive regimen do not derive durable clinical benefit. Thus, there is a critical need for predictive biomarkers that can identify individuals who are unlikely to benefit with high accuracy so that these patients may be spared the toxicity of treatment without the likely benefit of response. Ideally, such an assay would have a fast turnaround time and minimal invasiveness. Here, we utilize a novel platform that combines mass spectrometry with an artificial intelligence-based data processing engine to interrogate the blood glycoproteome in melanoma patients before receiving ICI therapy. We identify 143 biomarkers that demonstrate a difference in expression between the patients who died within six months of starting ICI treatment and those who remained progression-free for three years. We then develop a glycoproteomic classifier that predicts benefit of immunotherapy (HR=2.7; p=0.026) and achieves a significant separation of patients in an independent cohort (HR=5.6; p=0.027). To understand how circulating glycoproteins may affect efficacy of treatment, we analyze the differences in glycosylation structure and discover a fucosylation signature in patients with shorter overall survival (OS). We then develop a fucosylation-based model that effectively stratifies patients (HR=3.5; p=0.0066). Together, our data demonstrate the utility of plasma glycoproteomics for biomarker discovery and prediction of ICI benefit in patients with metastatic melanoma and suggest that protein fucosylation may be a determinant of anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad Pickering
- InterVenn Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Paul Aiyetan
- InterVenn Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Gege Xu
- InterVenn Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Alan Mitchell
- InterVenn Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Rachel Rice
- InterVenn Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Yana G. Najjar
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Joseph Markowitz
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
- Immuno-Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Lisa M. Ebert
- Centre for Cancer Biology, South Australia (SA) Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Michael P. Brown
- Centre for Cancer Biology, South Australia (SA) Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Gonzalo Tapia-Rico
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Dennie Frederick
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Xin Cong
- InterVenn Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Daniel Serie
- InterVenn Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Flavio Schwarz
- InterVenn Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Genevieve M. Boland
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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8
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Caputo V, Ciardiello F, Corte CMD, Martini G, Troiani T, Napolitano S. Diagnostic value of liquid biopsy in the era of precision medicine: 10 years of clinical evidence in cancer. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:102-138. [PMID: 36937316 PMCID: PMC10017193 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid biopsy is a diagnostic repeatable test, which in last years has emerged as a powerful tool for profiling cancer genomes in real-time with minimal invasiveness and tailoring oncological decision-making. It analyzes different blood-circulating biomarkers and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is the preferred one. Nevertheless, tissue biopsy remains the gold standard for molecular evaluation of solid tumors whereas liquid biopsy is a complementary tool in many different clinical settings, such as treatment selection, monitoring treatment response, cancer clonal evolution, prognostic evaluation, as well as the detection of early disease and minimal residual disease (MRD). A wide number of technologies have been developed with the aim of increasing their sensitivity and specificity with acceptable costs. Moreover, several preclinical and clinical studies have been conducted to better understand liquid biopsy clinical utility. Anyway, several issues are still a limitation of its use such as false positive and negative results, results interpretation, and standardization of the panel tests. Although there has been rapid development of the research in these fields and recent advances in the clinical setting, many clinical trials and studies are still needed to make liquid biopsy an instrument of clinical routine. This review provides an overview of the current and future clinical applications and opening questions of liquid biopsy in different oncological settings, with particular attention to ctDNA liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenza Caputo
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Fortunato Ciardiello
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Carminia Maria Della Corte
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Giulia Martini
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Teresa Troiani
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Stefania Napolitano
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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9
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Metastatic Melanoma: Liquid Biopsy as a New Precision Medicine Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044014. [PMID: 36835424 PMCID: PMC9962821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Precision medicine has driven a major change in the treatment of many forms of cancer. The discovery that each patient is different and each tumor mass has its own characteristics has shifted the focus of basic and clinical research to the singular individual. Liquid biopsy (LB), in this sense, presents new scenarios in personalized medicine through the study of molecules, factors, and tumor biomarkers in blood such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), exosomes and circulating tumor microRNAs (ct-miRNAs). Moreover, its easy application and complete absence of contraindications for the patient make this method applicable in a great many fields. Melanoma, given its highly heterogeneous characteristics, is a cancer form that could significantly benefit from the information linked to liquid biopsy, especially in the treatment management. In this review, we will focus our attention on the latest applications of liquid biopsy in metastatic melanoma and possible developments in the clinical setting.
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Himawan A, Vora LK, Permana AD, Sudir S, Nurdin AR, Nislawati R, Hasyim R, Scott CJ, Donnelly RF. Where Microneedle Meets Biomarkers: Futuristic Application for Diagnosing and Monitoring Localized External Organ Diseases. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202066. [PMID: 36414019 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202066] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular tissue fluids are interesting biomatrices that have recently attracted scientists' interest. Many significant biomarkers for localized external organ diseases have been isolated from this biofluid. In the diagnostic and disease monitoring context, measuring biochemical entities from the fluids surrounding the diseased tissues may give more important clinical value than measuring them at a systemic level. Despite all these facts, pushing tissue fluid-based diagnosis and monitoring forward to clinical settings faces one major problem: its accessibility. Most extracellular tissue fluid, such as interstitial fluid (ISF), is abundant but hard to collect, and the currently available technologies are invasive and expensive. This is where novel microneedle technology can help tackle this significant obstacle. The ability of microneedle technology to minimally invasively access tissue fluid-containing biomarkers will enable ISF and other tissue fluid utilization in the clinical diagnosis and monitoring of localized diseases. This review attempts to present the current pursuit of the application of microneedle systems as a diagnostic and monitoring platform, along with the recent progress of biomarker detection in diagnosing and monitoring localized external organ diseases. Then, the potential use of various microneedles in future clinical diagnostics and monitoring of localized diseases is discussed by presenting the currently studied cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achmad Himawan
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT97BL, UK.,Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
| | | | - Andi Dian Permana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
| | - Sumarheni Sudir
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
| | - Airin R Nurdin
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia.,Hasanuddin University Hospital, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
| | - Ririn Nislawati
- Hasanuddin University Hospital, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia.,Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
| | - Rafikah Hasyim
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
| | - Christopher J Scott
- Patrick G Johnson Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT97BL, UK
| | - Ryan F Donnelly
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT97BL, UK
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11
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Watanabe F, Suzuki K, Noda H, Rikiyama T. Liquid biopsy leads to a paradigm shift in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6478-6496. [PMID: 36569270 PMCID: PMC9782840 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i46.6478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most cancers. Its 5-year survival rate is very low. The recent induction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and improvements in chemotherapy for patients with pancreatic cancer have resulted in improved survival outcomes. However, the prognosis of pancreatic cancer is still poor. To dramatically improve the prognosis, we need to develop more tools for early diagnosis, treatment selection, disease monitoring, and response rate evaluation. Recently, liquid biopsy (circulating free DNA, circulating tumor DNA, circulating tumor cells, exosomes, and microRNAs) has caught the attention of many researchers as a new biomarker that is minimally invasive, confers low-risk, and displays an overall state of the tumor. Thus, liquid biopsy does not employ the traditional difficulties of obtaining tumor samples from patients with advanced PDAC to investigate their molecular biological status. In addition, it allows for long-term monitoring of the molecular profile of tumor progression. These could help in identifying tumor-specific alterations that use the target structure for tailor-made therapy. Through this review, we highlighted the latest discoveries and advances in liquid biopsy technology in pancreatic cancer research and showed how it can be applied in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiaki Watanabe
- Department of Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama 330-8503, Japan
| | - Koichi Suzuki
- Department of Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama 330-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Noda
- Department of Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama 330-8503, Japan
| | - Toshiki Rikiyama
- Department of Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama 330-8503, Japan
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12
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Liquid Biopsy and Dielectrophoretic Analysis—Complementary Methods in Skin Cancer Monitoring. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12073366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The incidence and prevalence of skin cancers is currently increasing worldwide, with early detection, adequate treatment, and prevention of recurrences being topics of great interest for researchers nowadays. Although tumor biopsy remains the gold standard of diagnosis, this technique cannot be performed in a significant proportion of cases, so that the use of alternative methods with high sensitivity and specificity is becoming increasingly desirable. In this context, liquid biopsy appears to be a feasible solution for the study of cellular and molecular markers relevant to different types of skin cancers. Circulating tumor cells are just one of the components of interest obtained from performing liquid biopsy, and their study by complementary methods, such as dielectrophoresis, could bring additional benefits in terms of characterizing skin tumors and subsequently applying personalized therapy. One purpose of this review is to demonstrate the utility of liquid biopsy primarily in monitoring the most common types of skin tumors: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malign melanoma. In addition, the originality of the article is based on the detailed presentation of the dielectrophoretic analysis method of the most important elements obtained from liquid biopsy, with direct impact on the clinical and therapeutic approach of skin tumors.
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Fatima S, Ma Y, Safrachi A, Haider S, Spring KJ, Vafaee F, Scott KF, Roberts TL, Becker TM, de Souza P. Harnessing Liquid Biopsies to Guide Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1669. [PMID: 35406441 PMCID: PMC8997025 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy (IO), involving the use of immune checkpoint inhibition, achieves improved response-rates and significant disease-free survival for some cancer patients. Despite these beneficial effects, there is poor predictability of response and substantial rates of innate or acquired resistance, resulting in heterogeneous responses among patients. In addition, patients can develop life-threatening adverse events, and while these generally occur in patients that also show a tumor response, these outcomes are not always congruent. Therefore, predicting a response to IO is of paramount importance. Traditionally, tumor tissue analysis has been used for this purpose. However, minimally invasive liquid biopsies that monitor changes in blood or other bodily fluid markers are emerging as a promising cost-effective alternative. Traditional biomarkers have limitations mainly due to difficulty in repeatedly obtaining tumor tissue confounded also by the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of tumours. Liquid biopsy has the potential to circumvent tumor heterogeneity and to help identifying patients who may respond to IO, to monitor the treatment dynamically, as well as to unravel the mechanisms of relapse. We present here a review of the current status of molecular markers for the prediction and monitoring of IO response, focusing on the detection of these markers in liquid biopsies. With the emerging improvements in the field of liquid biopsy, this approach has the capacity to identify IO-eligible patients and provide clinically relevant information to assist with their ongoing disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadma Fatima
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; (A.S.); (F.V.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Yafeng Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
- Centre for Circulating Tumor Cell Diagnosis and Research, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - Azadeh Safrachi
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; (A.S.); (F.V.)
| | - Sana Haider
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Kevin J. Spring
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Vafaee
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; (A.S.); (F.V.)
- UNSW Data Science Hub, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Kieran F. Scott
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Tara L. Roberts
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Therese M. Becker
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
- Centre for Circulating Tumor Cell Diagnosis and Research, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - Paul de Souza
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
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Lone SN, Nisar S, Masoodi T, Singh M, Rizwan A, Hashem S, El-Rifai W, Bedognetti D, Batra SK, Haris M, Bhat AA, Macha MA. Liquid biopsy: a step closer to transform diagnosis, prognosis and future of cancer treatments. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:79. [PMID: 35303879 PMCID: PMC8932066 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01543-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 105.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, invasive techniques for diagnosing and monitoring cancers are slowly being replaced by non-invasive methods such as liquid biopsy. Liquid biopsies have drastically revolutionized the field of clinical oncology, offering ease in tumor sampling, continuous monitoring by repeated sampling, devising personalized therapeutic regimens, and screening for therapeutic resistance. Liquid biopsies consist of isolating tumor-derived entities like circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, tumor extracellular vesicles, etc., present in the body fluids of patients with cancer, followed by an analysis of genomic and proteomic data contained within them. Methods for isolation and analysis of liquid biopsies have rapidly evolved over the past few years as described in the review, thus providing greater details about tumor characteristics such as tumor progression, tumor staging, heterogeneity, gene mutations, and clonal evolution, etc. Liquid biopsies from cancer patients have opened up newer avenues in detection and continuous monitoring, treatment based on precision medicine, and screening of markers for therapeutic resistance. Though the technology of liquid biopsies is still evolving, its non-invasive nature promises to open new eras in clinical oncology. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current methodologies involved in liquid biopsies and their application in isolating tumor markers for detection, prognosis, and monitoring cancer treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saife N Lone
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tariq Masoodi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mayank Singh
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India
| | - Arshi Rizwan
- Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sheema Hashem
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Cancer Research Department, Research Branch, Sidra Medicince, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE 68198, Omaha, USA
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE 68198, Omaha, USA
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, (IUST), 192122, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
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Li C, Phoon YP, Karlinsey K, Tian YF, Thapaliya S, Thongkum A, Qu L, Matz AJ, Cameron M, Cameron C, Menoret A, Funchain P, Song JM, Diaz-Montero CM, Tamilselvan B, Golden JB, Cartwright M, Rodriguez A, Bonin C, Vella A, Zhou B, Gastman BR. A high OXPHOS CD8 T cell subset is predictive of immunotherapy resistance in melanoma patients. J Exp Med 2022; 219:212867. [PMID: 34807232 PMCID: PMC8611729 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy continues to revolutionize melanoma treatment, but only a subset of patients respond. Major efforts are underway to develop minimally invasive predictive assays of ICI response. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we discovered a unique CD8 T cell blood/tumor-shared subpopulation in melanoma patients with high levels of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), the ectonucleotidases CD38 and CD39, and both exhaustion and cytotoxicity markers. We called this population with high levels of OXPHOS “CD8+ TOXPHOS cells.” We validated that higher levels of OXPHOS in tumor- and peripheral blood–derived CD8+ TOXPHOS cells correlated with ICI resistance in melanoma patients. We then developed an ICI therapy response predictive model using a transcriptomic profile of CD8+ TOXPHOS cells. This model is capable of discerning responders from nonresponders using either tumor or peripheral blood CD8 T cells with high accuracy in multiple validation cohorts. In sum, CD8+ TOXPHOS cells represent a critical immune population to assess ICI response with the potential to be a new target to improve outcomes in melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
| | - Yee Peng Phoon
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Keaton Karlinsey
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
| | - Ye F Tian
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Samjhana Thapaliya
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Angkana Thongkum
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Lili Qu
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
| | - Alyssa Joyce Matz
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
| | - Mark Cameron
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Cheryl Cameron
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Antoine Menoret
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
| | | | - Jung-Min Song
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | | | | | - Jackelyn B Golden
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Michael Cartwright
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | | | | | - Anthony Vella
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT.,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
| | - Beiyan Zhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT.,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
| | - Brian R Gastman
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.,Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
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Cabozantinib Is Effective in Melanoma Brain Metastasis Cell Lines and Affects Key Signaling Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212296. [PMID: 34830178 PMCID: PMC8621572 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanomas have a high potential to metastasize to the brain. Recent advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies have changed the therapeutical landscape of extracranial melanomas. However, few patients with melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) respond effectively to these treatments and new therapeutic strategies are needed. Cabozantinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor, already approved for the treatment of non-skin-related cancers. The drug targets several of the proteins that are known to be dysregulated in melanomas. The anti-tumor activity of cabozantinib was investigated using three human MBM cell lines. Cabozantinib treatment decreased the viability of all cell lines both when grown in monolayer cultures and as tumor spheroids. The in vitro cell migration was also inhibited and apoptosis was induced by cabozantinib. The phosphorylated RTKs p-PDGF-Rα, p-IGF-1R, p-MERTK and p-DDR1 were found to be downregulated in the p-RTK array of the MBM cells after cabozantinib treatment. Western blot validated these results and showed that cabozantinib treatment inhibited p-Akt and p-MEK 1/2. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the therapeutic potential of cabozantinib for patients with MBM.
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