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Kulbay M, Marcotte E, Remtulla R, Lau THA, Paez-Escamilla M, Wu KY, Burnier MN. Uveal Melanoma: Comprehensive Review of Its Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Perspectives. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1758. [PMID: 39200222 PMCID: PMC11352094 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081758] [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: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults. Recent advances highlight the role of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TEV) and circulating hybrid cells (CHC) in UM tumorigenesis. Bridged with liquid biopsies, a novel technology that has shown incredible performance in detecting cancer cells or products derived from tumors in bodily fluids, it can significantly impact disease management and outcome. The aim of this comprehensive literature review is to provide a summary of current knowledge and ongoing advances in posterior UM pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. The first section of the manuscript discusses the complex and intricate role of TEVs and CHCs. The second part of this review delves into the epidemiology, etiology and risk factors, clinical presentation, and prognosis of UM. Third, current diagnostic methods, ensued by novel diagnostic tools for the early detection of UM, such as liquid biopsies and artificial intelligence-based technologies, are of paramount importance in this review. The fundamental principles, limits, and challenges associated with these diagnostic tools, as well as their potential as a tracker for disease progression, are discussed. Finally, a summary of current treatment modalities is provided, followed by an overview of ongoing preclinical and clinical research studies to provide further insights on potential biomolecular pathway alterations and therapeutic targets for the management of UM. This review is thus an important resource for all healthcare professionals, clinicians, and researchers working in the field of ocular oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Kulbay
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3S5, Canada; (M.K.); (R.R.); (T.H.A.L.); (M.P.-E.)
| | - Emily Marcotte
- McGill University Ocular Pathology and Translational Research Laboratory, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Raheem Remtulla
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3S5, Canada; (M.K.); (R.R.); (T.H.A.L.); (M.P.-E.)
| | - Tsz Hin Alexander Lau
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3S5, Canada; (M.K.); (R.R.); (T.H.A.L.); (M.P.-E.)
| | - Manuel Paez-Escamilla
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3S5, Canada; (M.K.); (R.R.); (T.H.A.L.); (M.P.-E.)
| | - Kevin Y. Wu
- Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1G 2E8, Canada;
| | - Miguel N. Burnier
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3S5, Canada; (M.K.); (R.R.); (T.H.A.L.); (M.P.-E.)
- McGill University Ocular Pathology and Translational Research Laboratory, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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Beigi YZ, Lanjanian H, Fayazi R, Salimi M, Hoseyni BHM, Noroozizadeh MH, Masoudi-Nejad A. Heterogeneity and molecular landscape of melanoma: implications for targeted therapy. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2024; 5:17. [PMID: 38724687 PMCID: PMC11082128 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-024-00182-2] [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: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Uveal cancer (UM) offers a complex molecular landscape characterized by substantial heterogeneity, both on the genetic and epigenetic levels. This heterogeneity plays a critical position in shaping the behavior and response to therapy for this uncommon ocular malignancy. Targeted treatments with gene-specific therapeutic molecules may prove useful in overcoming radiation resistance, however, the diverse molecular makeups of UM call for a patient-specific approach in therapy procedures. We need to understand the intricate molecular landscape of UM to develop targeted treatments customized to each patient's specific genetic mutations. One of the promising approaches is using liquid biopsies, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), for detecting and monitoring the disease at the early stages. These non-invasive methods can help us identify the most effective treatment strategies for each patient. Single-cellular is a brand-new analysis platform that gives treasured insights into diagnosis, prognosis, and remedy. The incorporation of this data with known clinical and genomics information will give a better understanding of the complicated molecular mechanisms that UM diseases exploit. In this review, we focused on the heterogeneity and molecular panorama of UM, and to achieve this goal, the authors conducted an exhaustive literature evaluation spanning 1998 to 2023, using keywords like "uveal melanoma, "heterogeneity". "Targeted therapies"," "CTCs," and "single-cellular analysis".
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Zohrab Beigi
- Laboratory of System Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Lanjanian
- Software Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Istanbul Topkapi University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Reyhane Fayazi
- Laboratory of System Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdieh Salimi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Medical Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnaz Haji Molla Hoseyni
- Laboratory of System Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ali Masoudi-Nejad
- Laboratory of System Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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Păsărică MA, Curcă PF, Dragosloveanu CDM, Grigorescu AC, Nisipașu CI. Pathological and Molecular Diagnosis of Uveal Melanoma. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:958. [PMID: 38732371 PMCID: PMC11083017 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14090958] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) is a common malignant intraocular tumor that presents with significant genetic differences to cutaneous melanoma and has a high genetic burden in terms of prognosis. (2) Methods: A systematic literature search of several repositories on uveal melanoma diagnosis, prognosis, molecular analysis, and treatment was conducted. (3) Results: Recent genetic understanding of oncogene-initiation mutations in GNAQ, GNA11, PLCB4, and CYSLTR2 and secondary progression drivers of BAP1 inactivation and SF3B1 and EIF1AX mutations offers an appealing explanation to the high prognostic impact of adding genetic profiling to clinical UM classification. Genetic information could help better explain peculiarities in uveal melanoma, such as the low long-term survival despite effective primary tumor treatment, the overwhelming propensity to metastasize to the liver, and possibly therapeutic behaviors. (4) Conclusions: Understanding of uveal melanoma has improved step-by-step from histopathology to clinical classification to more recent genetic understanding of oncogenic initiation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihai Adrian Păsărică
- Clinical Department of Ophthalmology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (M.A.P.); (C.D.M.D.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital for Ophthalmological Emergencies, 010464 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Paul Filip Curcă
- Clinical Department of Ophthalmology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (M.A.P.); (C.D.M.D.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital for Ophthalmological Emergencies, 010464 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Christiana Diana Maria Dragosloveanu
- Clinical Department of Ophthalmology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (M.A.P.); (C.D.M.D.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital for Ophthalmological Emergencies, 010464 Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Cosmin Ionuț Nisipașu
- Department of Dental Medicine I, Implant-Prosthetic Therapy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania;
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Loda A, Semeraro F, Parolini S, Ronca R, Rezzola S. Cancer stem-like cells in uveal melanoma: novel insights and therapeutic implications. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189104. [PMID: 38701937 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189104] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary ocular tumor in the adult population. Even though these primary tumors are successfully treated in 90% of cases, almost 50% of patients ultimately develop metastasis, mainly in the liver, via hematological dissemination, with a median survival spanning from 6 to 12 months after diagnosis. In this context, chemotherapy regimens and molecular targeted therapies have demonstrated poor response rates and failed to improve survival. Among the multiple reasons for therapy failure, the presence of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) represents the main cause of resistance to anticancer therapies. In the last few years, the existence of CSCs in UM has been demonstrated both in preclinical and clinical studies, and new molecular pathways and mechanisms have been described for this subpopulation of UM cells. Here, we will discuss the state of the art of CSC biology and their potential exploitation as therapeutic target in UM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Loda
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Semeraro
- Eye Clinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Parolini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology - CN3, Padova, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie (CIB), Italy
| | - Roberto Ronca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie (CIB), Italy
| | - Sara Rezzola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Semeniuk O, Yu E, Rivard MJ. Current and Emerging Radiotherapy Options for Uveal Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1074. [PMID: 38473430 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16051074] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
What treatment options are there for patients having uveal melanoma? A randomized, prospective, multi-institutional clinical trial (COMS) showed no difference in survival between brachytherapy and enucleation for medium-sized lesions. With the obvious benefit of retaining the eye, brachytherapy has flourished and many different approaches have been developed such as low-dose-rate sources using alternate low-energy photon-emitting radionuclides, different plaque designs and seed-loading techniques, high-dose-rate brachytherapy sources and applicators, and low- and high-dose-rate beta-emitting sources and applicators. There also have been developments of other radiation modalities like external-beam radiotherapy using linear accelerators with high-energy photons, particle accelerators for protons, and gamma stereotactic radiosurgery. This article examines the dosimetric properties, targeting capabilities, and outcomes of these approaches. The several modalities examined herein have differing attributes and it may be that no single approach would be considered optimal for all patients and all lesion characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksii Semeniuk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Esther Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Mark J Rivard
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA
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Maher NG, Vergara IA, Long GV, Scolyer RA. Prognostic and predictive biomarkers in melanoma. Pathology 2024; 56:259-273. [PMID: 38245478 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Biomarkers help to inform the clinical management of patients with melanoma. For patients with clinically localised primary melanoma, biomarkers can help to predict post-surgical outcome (including via the use of risk prediction tools), better select patients for sentinel lymph node biopsy, and tailor catch-all follow-up protocols to the individual. Systemic drug treatments, including immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies and BRAF-targeted therapies, have radically improved the prognosis of metastatic (stage III and IV) cutaneous melanoma patients, and also shown benefit in the earlier setting of stage IIB/C primary melanoma. Unfortunately, a response is far from guaranteed. Here, we review clinically relevant, established, and emerging, prognostic, and predictive pathological biomarkers that refine clinical decision-making in primary and metastatic melanoma patients. Gene expression profile assays and nomograms are emerging tools for prognostication and sentinel lymph node risk prediction in primary melanoma patients. Biomarkers incorporated into clinical practice guidelines include BRAF V600 mutations for the use of targeted therapies in metastatic cutaneous melanoma, and the HLA-A∗02:01 allele for the use of a bispecific fusion protein in metastatic uveal melanoma. Several predictive biomarkers have been proposed for ICI therapies but have not been incorporated into Australian clinical practice guidelines. Further research, validation, and assessment of clinical utility is required before more prognostic and predictive biomarkers are fluidly integrated into routine care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel G Maher
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ismael A Vergara
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Georgina V Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Neo SY, Oliveira MMS, Tong L, Chen Y, Chen Z, Cismas S, Burduli N, Malmerfelt A, Teo JKH, Lam KP, Alici E, Girnita L, Wagner AK, Westerberg LS, Lundqvist A. Natural killer cells drive 4-1BBL positive uveal melanoma towards EMT and metastatic disease. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:13. [PMID: 38191418 PMCID: PMC10775428 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02917-5] [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: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inflammation in the eye is often associated with aggravated ocular diseases such as uveal melanoma (UM). Poor prognosis of UM is generally associated with high potential of metastatic liver dissemination. A strong driver of metastatic dissemination is the activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulating transcription factor ZEB1, and high expression of ZEB1 is associated with aggressiveness of UM. While ZEB1 expression can be also associated with immune tolerance, the underlying drivers of ZEB1 activation remain unclear. METHODS Transcriptomic, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo analyses were used to investigate the impact on clinical prognosis of immune infiltration in the ocular tumor microenvironment. A metastatic liver dissemination model of was developed to address the role of natural killer (NK) cells in driving the migration of UM. RESULTS In a pan-cancer TCGA analysis, natural killer (NK) cells were associated with worse overall survival in uveal melanoma and more abundant in high-risk monosomy 3 tumors. Furthermore, uveal melanoma expressed high levels of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 4-1BB ligand, particularly in tumors with monosomy 3 and BAP1 mutations. Tumors expressing 4-1BB ligand induced CD73 expression on NK cells accompanied with the ability to promote tumor dissemination. Through ligation of 4-1BB, NK cells induced the expression of the ZEB1 transcription factor, leading to the formation of liver metastasis of uveal melanoma. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the present study demonstrates a role of NK cells in the aggravation of uveal melanoma towards metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Yong Neo
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mariana M S Oliveira
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Le Tong
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Ziqing Chen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Sonia Cismas
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nutsa Burduli
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Malmerfelt
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joey Kay Hui Teo
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Kong-Peng Lam
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Evren Alici
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leonard Girnita
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arnika K Wagner
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisa S Westerberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Lundqvist
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Togashi K, Suzuki S, Mitobe Y, Nakagawa-Saito Y, Sugai A, Takenouchi S, Sugimoto M, Kitanaka C, Okada M. CEP-1347 Dually Targets MDM4 and PKC to Activate p53 and Inhibit the Growth of Uveal Melanoma Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:118. [PMID: 38201546 PMCID: PMC10778035 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is among the most common primary intraocular neoplasms in adults, with limited therapeutic options for advanced/metastatic disease. Since UM is characterized by infrequent p53 mutation coupled with the overexpression of MDM4, a major negative regulator of p53, we aimed to investigate in this study the effects on UM cells of CEP-1347, a novel MDM4 inhibitor with a known safety profile in humans. We also examined the impact of CEP-1347 on the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway, known to play a pivotal role in UM cell growth. High-grade UM cell lines were used to analyze the effects of genetic and pharmacological inhibition of MDM4 and PKC, respectively, as well as those of CEP-1347 treatment, on p53 expression and cell viability. The results showed that, at its clinically relevant concentrations, CEP-1347 reduced not only MDM4 expression but also PKC activity, activated the p53 pathway, and effectively inhibited the growth of UM cells. Importantly, whereas inhibition of either MDM4 expression or PKC activity alone failed to efficiently activate p53 and inhibit cell growth, inhibition of both resulted in effective activation of p53 and inhibition of cell growth. These data suggest that there exists a hitherto unrecognized interaction between MDM4 and PKC to inactivate the p53-dependent growth control in UM cells. CEP-1347, which dually targets MDM4 and PKC, could therefore be a promising therapeutic candidate in the treatment of UM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Togashi
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Shuhei Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yuta Mitobe
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yurika Nakagawa-Saito
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Asuka Sugai
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Senri Takenouchi
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Masahiko Sugimoto
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
- Research Institute for Promotion of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Chifumi Kitanaka
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
- Research Institute for Promotion of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Masashi Okada
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
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Sundaramurthi H, Tonelotto V, Wynne K, O'Connell F, O’Reilly E, Costa-Garcia M, Kovácsházi C, Kittel A, Marcone S, Blanco A, Pallinger E, Hambalkó S, Piulats Rodriguez JM, Ferdinandy P, O'Sullivan J, Matallanas D, Jensen LD, Giricz Z, Kennedy BN. Ergolide mediates anti-cancer effects on metastatic uveal melanoma cells and modulates their cellular and extracellular vesicle proteomes. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2023; 3:88. [PMID: 37981907 PMCID: PMC10654492 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.15973.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Background Uveal melanoma is a poor prognosis cancer. Ergolide, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Inula Brittanica, exerts anti-cancer properties. The objective of this study was to 1) evaluate whether ergolide reduced metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM) cell survival/viability in vitro and in vivo; and 2) to understand the molecular mechanism of ergolide action. Methods Ergolide bioactivity was screened via long-term proliferation assay in UM/MUM cells and in zebrafish MUM xenograft models. Mass spectrometry profiled proteins modulated by ergolide within whole cell or extracellular vesicle (EVs) lysates of the OMM2.5 MUM cell line. Protein expression was analyzed by immunoblots and correlation analyses to UM patient survival used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Results Ergolide treatment resulted in significant, dose-dependent reductions (48.5 to 99.9%; p<0.0001) in OMM2.5 cell survival in vitro and of normalized primary zebrafish xenograft fluorescence (56%; p<0.0001) in vivo, compared to vehicle controls. Proteome-profiling of ergolide-treated OMM2.5 cells, identified 5023 proteins, with 52 and 55 proteins significantly altered at 4 and 24 hours, respectively ( p<0.05; fold-change >1.2). Immunoblotting of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) corroborated the proteomic data. Additional proteomics of EVs isolated from OMM2.5 cells treated with ergolide, detected 2931 proteins. There was a large overlap with EV proteins annotated within the Vesiclepedia compendium. Within the differentially expressed proteins, the proteasomal pathway was primarily altered. Interestingly, BRCA2 and CDKN1A Interacting Protein (BCCIP) and Chitinase Domain Containing 1 (CHID1), were the only proteins significantly differentially expressed by ergolide in both the OMM2.5 cellular and EV isolates and they displayed inverse differential expression in the cells versus the EVs. Conclusions Ergolide is a novel, promising anti-proliferative agent for UM/MUM. Proteomic profiling of OMM2.5 cellular/EV lysates identified candidate pathways elucidating the action of ergolide and putative biomarkers of UM, that require further examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Husvinee Sundaramurthi
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | - Valentina Tonelotto
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- Xenopat S.L., Business Bioincubator, Bellvitge Health Science Campus, Barcelona, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Kieran Wynne
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | - Fiona O'Connell
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eve O’Reilly
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | - Marcel Costa-Garcia
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Cancer (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Csenger Kovácsházi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Agnes Kittel
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Simone Marcone
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alfonso Blanco
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | - Eva Pallinger
- Department of Genetics and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | - Péter Ferdinandy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Jacintha O'Sullivan
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David Matallanas
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | | | - Zoltán Giricz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Breandán N. Kennedy
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
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10
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Sundaramurthi H, Tonelotto V, Wynne K, O'Connell F, O’Reilly E, Costa-Garcia M, Kovácsházi C, Kittel A, Marcone S, Blanco A, Pallinger E, Hambalkó S, Piulats Rodriguez JM, Ferdinandy P, O'Sullivan J, Matallanas D, Jensen LD, Giricz Z, Kennedy BN. Ergolide mediates anti-cancer effects on metastatic uveal melanoma cells and modulates their cellular and extracellular vesicle proteomes. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2023; 3:88. [PMID: 37981907 PMCID: PMC10654492 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.15973.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uveal melanoma is a poor prognosis cancer. Ergolide, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Inula Brittanica, exerts anti-cancer properties. The objective of this study was to 1) evaluate whether ergolide reduced metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM) cell survival/viability in vitro and in vivo; and 2) to understand the molecular mechanism of ergolide action. METHODS Ergolide bioactivity was screened via long-term proliferation assay in UM/MUM cells and in zebrafish MUM xenograft models. Mass spectrometry profiled proteins modulated by ergolide within whole cell or extracellular vesicle (EVs) lysates of the OMM2.5 MUM cell line. Protein expression was analyzed by immunoblots and correlation analyses to UM patient survival used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. RESULTS Ergolide treatment resulted in significant, dose-dependent reductions (48.5 to 99.9%; p<0.0001) in OMM2.5 cell survival in vitro and of normalized primary zebrafish xenograft fluorescence (56%; p<0.0001) in vivo, compared to vehicle controls. Proteome-profiling of ergolide-treated OMM2.5 cells, identified 5023 proteins, with 52 and 55 proteins significantly altered at 4 and 24 hours, respectively ( p<0.05; fold-change >1.2). Immunoblotting of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) corroborated the proteomic data. Additional proteomics of EVs isolated from OMM2.5 cells treated with ergolide, detected 2931 proteins. There was a large overlap with EV proteins annotated within the Vesiclepedia compendium. Within the differentially expressed proteins, the proteasomal pathway was primarily altered. Interestingly, BRCA2 and CDKN1A Interacting Protein (BCCIP) and Chitinase Domain Containing 1 (CHID1), were the only proteins significantly differentially expressed by ergolide in both the OMM2.5 cellular and EV isolates and they displayed inverse differential expression in the cells versus the EVs. CONCLUSIONS Ergolide is a novel, promising anti-proliferative agent for UM/MUM. Proteomic profiling of OMM2.5 cellular/EV lysates identified candidate pathways elucidating the action of ergolide and putative biomarkers of UM, that require further examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Husvinee Sundaramurthi
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | - Valentina Tonelotto
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- Xenopat S.L., Business Bioincubator, Bellvitge Health Science Campus, Barcelona, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Kieran Wynne
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | - Fiona O'Connell
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eve O’Reilly
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | - Marcel Costa-Garcia
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Cancer (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Csenger Kovácsházi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Agnes Kittel
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Simone Marcone
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alfonso Blanco
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | - Eva Pallinger
- Department of Genetics and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | - Péter Ferdinandy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Jacintha O'Sullivan
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David Matallanas
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
| | | | - Zoltán Giricz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Breandán N. Kennedy
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
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11
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Pašalić D, Nikuševa-Martić T, Sekovanić A, Kaštelan S. Genetic and Epigenetic Features of Uveal Melanoma-An Overview and Clinical Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12807. [PMID: 37628989 PMCID: PMC10454135 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is rare, but it is the most common primary intraocular malignancy among adults. This review represents the molecular, genetic, and immunobiological mechanisms involved in UM carcinogenesis and progression, as well as data about the association of chromosomal changes, genetic mutations, selective proteins, and biochemical biomarkers with the clinical implications of UM. Genetic analysis has the potential to identify patients with a high risk of UM metastasis, enabling management that is more effective and allowing for the follow-up of patients. Advancements in molecular characterization of UM offer opportunities to develop targeted therapeutic strategies by focusing on relevant signaling pathways. Changes in miRNA expression could be useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of UM, due to unique miRNA profiles in melanoma cells or tissue and its association with metastasis. Although liver function tests do not provide enough data on the prognosis of UM, due to the high frequency of liver metastasis, liver function tests (LFTs) might be useful indicators; however, the absence of rising LFT values cannot lead to the exclusion of liver metastases. Molecular analysis of tumor tissue will allow us to identify patients with the added benefit of new therapeutic agents and provide a better insight into melanoma pathogenesis and its biological behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Pašalić
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Tamara Nikuševa-Martić
- Department of Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ankica Sekovanić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Snježana Kaštelan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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12
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Kowalik A, Karpinski P, Markiewicz A, Orlowska-Heitzman J, Romanowska-Dixon B, Donizy P, Hoang MP. Molecular profiling of primary uveal melanoma: results of a Polish cohort. Melanoma Res 2023; 33:104-115. [PMID: 36719926 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
There is no published data regarding the molecular alterations of Polish patients with primary uveal melanoma. We performed whole exome sequencing of 20 primary uveal melanomas (UMs), 10 metastasizing and 10 non-metastasizing cases to identify significant molecular alterations. We detected mutations and copy number variants in the BAP1 gene in 50% (10 cases) of the cases. GNA11 mutations were detected in 50% (10 cases) including nine p.Q209L and one p.R183C. GNAQ mutations gene were detected in 40% (8 cases) and all were p.Q209P. SF3B1, EIF1AX, PLCB4 , and PALB2 mutations were detected in one case each. Genetic aberrations of FBXW7 were detected in 55% of cases, with copy number loss of 10 and missense mutation in one. Gain or loss of copy number was observed in 60%, 60%, and 10% of cases in MYC, MLH1 , and CDKN2A genes, respectively. BAP1 and GNAQ tumor suppressor genes are more often mutated in UM with metastasis, while GNA11 mutations are more frequently detected in non-metastasizing tumors. MYC copy gain was present twice as frequently (80% versus 40%) in cases with versus those without metastases. BAP1 mutation correlated with worse overall survival; while GNA11 mutation and CDKN2A loss correlated with better and worse progression-free survival, respectively. We have confirmed BAP1 prognostic potential and documented frequent MYC amplification in metastasizing cases. Although GNA11 mutation and CDKN2A loss significantly correlated with progression-free survival in our study, our sample size is small. The prognostic significance of GNAQ/GNA11 mutation and CDKN2A loss would require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Kowalik
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Holy Cross Cancer Center
- Division of Medical Biology, Institute of Biology, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce
| | | | - Anna Markiewicz
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ocular Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow
| | | | - Bozena Romanowska-Dixon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ocular Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow
| | - Piotr Donizy
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Wroclaw Medical University
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Cytology, Jan Mikulicz-Radecki University Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mai P Hoang
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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Zhu R, Chen YT, Wang BW, You YY, Wang XH, Xie HT, Jiang FG, Zhang MC. TAP1, a potential immune-related prognosis biomarker with functional significance in uveal melanoma. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:146. [PMID: 36774490 PMCID: PMC9921415 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10527-9] [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: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND TAP1 is an immunomodulation-related protein that plays different roles in various malignancies. This study investigated the transcriptional expression profile of TAP1 in uveal melanoma (UVM), revealed its potential biological interaction network, and determined its prognostic value. METHODS CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE bioinformatic methods were used on data sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) to determine the correlation between TAP1 expression, UVM prognosis, biological characteristics, and immune infiltration. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to discover the signaling pathways associated with TAP1, while STRING database and CytoHubba were used to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, respectively. An overall survival (OS) prognostic model was constructed to test the predictive efficacy of TAP1, and its effect on the in vitro proliferation activity and metastatic potential of UVM cell line C918 cells was verified by RNA interference. RESULTS There was a clear association between TAP1 expression and UVM patient prognosis. Upregulated TAP1 was strongly associated with a shorter survival time, higher likelihood of metastasis, and higher mortality outcomes. According to GSEA analysis, various immunity-related signaling pathways such as primary immunodeficiency were enriched in the presence of elevated TAP1 expression. A PPI network and a ceRNA network were constructed to show the interactions among mRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs. Furthermore, TAP1 expression showed a significant positive correlation with immunoscore, stromal score, CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells, whereas the correlation with B cells and neutrophils was negative. The Cox regression model and calibration plots confirmed a strong agreement between the estimated OS and actual observed patient values. In vitro silencing of TAP1 expression in C918 cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to demonstrate that TAP1 expression is positively correlated with clinicopathological factors and poor prognosis in UVM. In vitro experiments also verified that TAP1 is associated with C918 cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. These results suggest that TAP1 may function as an oncogene, prognostic marker, and importantly, as a novel therapeutic target in patients with UVM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Zhu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022 China
| | - Yu-Ting Chen
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022 China
| | - Bo-Wen Wang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022 China
| | - Ya-Yan You
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022 China
| | - Xing-Hua Wang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022 China
| | - Hua-Tao Xie
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022 China
| | - Fa-Gang Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Ming-Chang Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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14
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Barbagallo C, Stella M, Broggi G, Russo A, Caltabiano R, Ragusa M. Genetics and RNA Regulation of Uveal Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:775. [PMID: 36765733 PMCID: PMC9913768 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignant tumor and the most frequent melanoma not affecting the skin. While the rate of UM occurrence is relatively low, about 50% of patients develop metastasis, primarily to the liver, with lethal outcome despite medical treatment. Notwithstanding that UM etiopathogenesis is still under investigation, a set of known mutations and chromosomal aberrations are associated with its pathogenesis and have a relevant prognostic value. The most frequently mutated genes are BAP1, EIF1AX, GNA11, GNAQ, and SF3B1, with mutually exclusive mutations occurring in GNAQ and GNA11, and almost mutually exclusive ones in BAP1 and SF3B1, and BAP1 and EIF1AX. Among chromosomal aberrations, monosomy of chromosome 3 is the most frequent, followed by gain of chromosome 8q, and full or partial loss of chromosomes 1 and 6. In addition, epigenetic mechanisms regulated by non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), namely microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, have also been investigated. Several papers investigating the role of ncRNAs in UM have reported that their dysregulated expression affects cancer-related processes in both in vitro and in vivo models. This review will summarize current findings about genetic mutations, chromosomal aberrations, and ncRNA dysregulation establishing UM biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Barbagallo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences—Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Michele Stella
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences—Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Broggi
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G.F. Ingrassia—Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Russo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Rosario Caltabiano
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G.F. Ingrassia—Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Ragusa
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences—Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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15
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Reiter S, Schroeder C, Broche J, Sinnberg T, Bonzheim I, Süsskind D, Flatz L, Forschner A. Successful treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma with ipilimumab and nivolumab after severe progression under tebentafusp: a case report. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1167791. [PMID: 37207136 PMCID: PMC10189013 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1167791] [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: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare form of melanoma differing from cutaneous melanoma by etiology, prognosis, driver mutations, pattern of metastases and poor response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Recently, a bispecific gp100 peptide-HLA-directed CD3 T cell engager, tebentafusp, has been approved for the treatment of HLA-A*02:01 metastatic or unresectable UM. While the treatment regime is complex with weekly administrations and close monitoring, the response rate is limited. Only a few data exist on combined ICI in UM after previous progression on tebentafusp. In this case report, we present a patient with metastatic UM who first suffered extensive progression under treatment with tebentafusp but in the following had an excellent response to combined ICI. We discuss possible interactions that could explain responsiveness to ICI after pretreatment with tebentafusp in advanced UM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selina Reiter
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christopher Schroeder
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julian Broche
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Sinnberg
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Irina Bonzheim
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniela Süsskind
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Flatz
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Forschner
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Andrea Forschner,
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16
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Zhang F, Chen L. Molecular Threat of Splicing Factor Mutations to Myeloid Malignancies and Potential Therapeutic Modulations. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081972. [PMID: 36009519 PMCID: PMC9405558 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Splicing factors are frequently mutated in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These mutations are presumed to contribute to oncogenic transformation, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. While no specific treatment option is available for MDS/AML patients with spliceosome mutations, novel targeting strategies are actively explored, leading to clinical trials of small molecule inhibitors that target the spliceosome, DNA damage response pathway, and immune response pathway. Here, we review recent progress in mechanistic understanding of splicing factor mutations promoting disease progression and summarize potential therapeutic strategies, which, if successful, would provide clinical benefit to patients carrying splicing factor mutations.
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17
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Wang T, Bai J, Zhang Y, Xue Y, Peng Q. N6-Methyladenosine regulator RBM15B acts as an independent prognostic biomarker and its clinical significance in uveal melanoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:918522. [PMID: 36003405 PMCID: PMC9393712 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.918522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most frequent intraocular malignant tumor in adults. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is recognized as the most critical epigenetic change and is implicated in the development of many malignancies. However, its prognostic value in UM is poorly understood. RNA-seq and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) help us better understand the relationship between m6A regulators and UM patients. Herein, four UM groups established by consensus clustering were shown to have different immune cell infiltrations and prognostic survival. Five m6A regulators, including RBM15B, IGF2BP1, IGF2BP2, YTHDF3, and YTHDF1, were associated with the prognosis of UM patients. Intriguingly, RBM15B was confirmed to be the only independent prognostic factor for UM and it was significantly correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics of UM. Notably, RBM15B expression was significantly negatively correlated with immune checkpoints. Furthermore, LINC00665/hsa-let-7b-5p/RBM15B axis and LINC00638/hsa-miR-103a-3p/RBM15B axis were found to be potential prognostic biomarkers in UM. In a nutshell, this work, through bioinformatics analysis, systematically described the gene signatures and prognostic values of m6A regulators. RBM15B is an independent protective prognostic factor, which may help us better understand the crosstalk within UM.
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