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Aung TM, Ngamjarus C, Proungvitaya T, Saengboonmee C, Proungvitaya S. Biomarkers for prognosis of meningioma patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303337. [PMID: 38758750 PMCID: PMC11101050 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor and many studies have evaluated numerous biomarkers for their prognostic value, often with inconsistent results. Currently, no reliable biomarkers are available to predict the survival, recurrence, and progression of meningioma patients in clinical practice. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of immunohistochemistry-based (IHC) biomarkers of meningioma patients. A systematic literature search was conducted up to November 2023 on PubMed, CENTRAL, CINAHL Plus, and Scopus databases. Two authors independently reviewed the identified relevant studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the studies included. Meta-analyses were performed with the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and progression-free survival (PFS). The risk of bias in the included studies was evaluated using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. A total of 100 studies with 16,745 patients were included in this review. As the promising markers to predict OS of meningioma patients, Ki-67/MIB-1 (HR = 1.03, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.05) was identified to associate with poor prognosis of the patients. Overexpression of cyclin A (HR = 4.91, 95%CI 1.38 to 17.44), topoisomerase II α (TOP2A) (HR = 4.90, 95%CI 2.96 to 8.12), p53 (HR = 2.40, 95%CI 1.73 to 3.34), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (HR = 1.61, 95%CI 1.36 to 1.90), and Ki-67 (HR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.21 to 1.46), were identified also as unfavorable prognostic biomarkers for poor RFS of meningioma patients. Conversely, positive progesterone receptor (PR) and p21 staining were associated with longer RFS and are considered biomarkers of favorable prognosis of meningioma patients (HR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.88 and HR = 1.89, 95%CI 1.11 to 3.20). Additionally, high expression of Ki-67 was identified as a prognosis biomarker for poor PFS of meningioma patients (HR = 1.02, 95%CI 1.00 to 1.04). Although only in single studies, KPNA2, CDK6, Cox-2, MCM7 and PCNA are proposed as additional markers with high expression that are related with poor prognosis of meningioma patients. In conclusion, the results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that PR, cyclin A, TOP2A, p21, p53, VEGF and Ki-67 are either positively or negatively associated with survival of meningioma patients and might be useful biomarkers to assess the prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tin May Aung
- Centre of Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Chetta Ngamjarus
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Tanakorn Proungvitaya
- Centre of Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Charupong Saengboonmee
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Siriporn Proungvitaya
- Centre of Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
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Marastoni E, Barresi V. Atypical meningioma: Histopathological, genetic, and epigenetic features to predict recurrence risk. Histol Histopathol 2024; 39:293-302. [PMID: 37921468 DOI: 10.14670/hh-18-670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Grading assessed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria is a major prognostic factor for determining the risk of recurrence in patients with meningiomas and establishing the most appropriate therapeutic strategy after surgery. However, the main issue is to predict the recurrence risk of WHO grade 2 meningioma and, more specifically, of the atypical subtype. Indeed, owing to a reported recurrence rate of 50%, either radiotherapy or observation is currently considered an option after gross total surgical resection of atypical meningiomas. These heterogeneous clinical outcomes are likely related to the broad histopathological diagnostic criteria for this subtype, and whether meningiomas only present as brain invasion should be classified as atypical remains controversial. Over the last few years, several studies have shown that DNA methylation profiling, next-generation sequencing, and transcriptomics can better stratify meningiomas for their recurrence risk than histology. The main limitations to the widespread use of these approaches to classify meningiomas are their high cost and the need for sophisticated technologies. However, all studies concurred that atypical meningiomas without chromosome 1p deletion display a low recurrence risk, suggesting that the assessment of this cytogenetic alteration could represent an easy and quick method to determine which patients could benefit from adjuvant treatment after surgery. In addition, prognostically unfavorable molecular groups can be distinguished using specific immunostainings, although further validation is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Marastoni
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Valeria Barresi
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Marastoni E, Ammendola S, Rossi S, Giovannoni I, Broggi G, Masotto B, Feletti A, Barresi V. H3 K27M mutation in rosette-forming glioneuronal tumors: a potential diagnostic pitfall. Virchows Arch 2024:10.1007/s00428-024-03739-2. [PMID: 38233563 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-024-03739-2] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
According to the fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), diffuse midline glioma H3 K27-altered is a grade 4 infiltrative glioma that arises from midline anatomical structures and is characterized by the loss of H3 K27me3 and co-occurring H3 K27M mutation or EZHIP overexpression. However, the H3 K27M mutation has also been observed in circumscribed gliomas and glioneuronal tumors arising in midline anatomical structures, which may result in diagnostic pitfalls.Rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor (RGNT) is a CNS WHO grade 1 neoplasm that histologically features neurocytic and glial components and originates in midline anatomical structures.This study aimed to assess whether RGNTs, similar to other midline tumors, may exhibit immunohistochemical loss of H3 K27me3 and harbor the H3 K27M mutation.All seven analyzed RGNTs displayed immunohistochemical loss of H3 K27me3 in all tumor cells or H3 K27me3 mosaic immunostaining. In one case, H3 K27me3 loss was associated with the H3 K27M mutation, whereas the other six cases did not exhibit any H3 mutations or EZHIP overexpression. During a follow-up period of 23 months, the H3 K27M-mutant case remained unchanged in size despite partial resection, indicating that the H3 mutation may not confer higher biological aggressiveness to RGNT.The immunohistochemical loss of H3 K27me3 co-occurring with the H3 K27M mutation may result in the potential misdiagnosis of RGNT, especially in cases of small biopsy specimens consisting of only the glial component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Marastoni
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, P.le L.A. Scuro, 10, 37138, Verona, Italy
| | - Serena Ammendola
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, P.le L.A. Scuro, 10, 37138, Verona, Italy
| | - Sabrina Rossi
- Unit of Anatomic Pathology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Broggi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies, G.F. Ingrassia, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Barbara Masotto
- Unit of Cranial Posterior Fossa Surgery, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alberto Feletti
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Valeria Barresi
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, P.le L.A. Scuro, 10, 37138, Verona, Italy.
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Kim H, Lee K, Shim YM, Kim EE, Kim SK, Phi JH, Park CK, Choi SH, Park SH. Epigenetic Alteration of H3K27me3 as a Possible Oncogenic Mechanism of Central Neurocytoma. J Transl Med 2023; 103:100159. [PMID: 37088465 DOI: 10.1016/j.labinv.2023.100159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Central neurocytoma (CN) is a low-grade neuronal tumor that mainly arises from the lateral ventricle (LV). This tumor remains poorly understood in the sense that no driver gene aberrations have been identified thus far. We investigated immunomarkers in fetal and adult brains and 45 supratentorial periventricular tumors to characterize the biomarkers, cell of origin, and tumorigenesis of CN. All CNs occurred in the LV. A minority involved the third ventricle, but none involved the fourth ventricle. As expected, next-generation sequencing performed using a brain-tumor-targeted gene panel in 7 CNs and whole exome sequencing in 5 CNs showed no driver mutations. Immunohistochemically, CNs were robustly positive for FGFR3 (100%), SSTR2 (92%), TTF-1 (Nkx2.1) (88%), GLUT-1 (84%), and L1CAM (76%), in addition to the well-known markers of CN, synaptophysin (100%) and NeuN (96%). TTF-1 was also positive in subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (100%, 5/5) and the pituicyte tumor family, including pituicytoma and spindle cell oncocytoma (100%, 5/5). Interestingly, 1 case of LV subependymoma (20%, 1/5) was positive for TTF-1, but all LV ependymomas were negative (0/5 positive). Because TTF-1-positive cells were detected in the medial ganglionic eminence around the foramen of Monro of the fetal brain and in the subventricular zone of the LV of the adult brain, CN may arise from subventricular TTF-1-positive cells undergoing neuronal differentiation. H3K27me3 loss was observed in all CNs and one case (20%) of LV subependymoma, suggesting that chromatin remodeling complexes or epigenetic alterations may be involved in the tumorigenesis of all CNs and some ST-subependymomas. Further studies are required to determine the exact tumorigenic mechanism of CN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunhee Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwanghoon Lee
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Mi Shim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eric Eunshik Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ki Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Phi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul-Kee Park
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hong Choi
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hye Park
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Cello G, Patel RV, McMahon JT, Santagata S, Bi WL. Impact of H3K27 trimethylation loss in meningiomas: a meta-analysis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:122. [PMID: 37491289 PMCID: PMC10369842 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01615-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3) loss has been implicated in worse prognoses for patients with meningiomas. However, there have been challenges in measuring H3K27me3 loss, quantifying its impact, and interpreting its clinical utility. We conducted a systematic review across Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify studies examining H3K27me3 loss in meningioma. Clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) characteristics were aggregated. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to assess prevalence of H3K27me3 loss and meningioma recurrence risk. Study bias was characterized using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool and funnel plots. Nine publications met inclusion criteria with a total of 2376 meningioma cases. The prevalence of H3K27me3 loss was 16% (95% CI 0.09-0.27), with higher grade tumors associated with a significantly greater proportion of loss. H3K27me3 loss was more common in patients who were male, had recurrent meningiomas, or required adjuvant radiation therapy. Patients were 1.70 times more likely to have tumor recurrence with H3K27me3 loss (95% CI 1.35-2.15). The prevalence of H3K27me3 loss in WHO grade 2 and 3 meningiomas was found to be significantly greater in tissue samples less than five years old versus tissue of all ages and when a broader definition of IHC staining loss was applied. This analysis demonstrates that H3K27me3 loss significantly associates with more aggressive meningiomas. While differences in IHC and tumor tissue age have led to heterogeneity in studying H3K27me3 loss, a robust prognostic signal is present. Our findings suggest an opportunity to improve study design and standardize tissue processing to optimize clinical viability of this epigenetic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Cello
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruchit V Patel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James Tanner McMahon
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sandro Santagata
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wenya Linda Bi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Zhang T, Feng Y, Liu K, Liu Z. Advances and trends in meningioma research over the last decade: A scientometric and visual analysis. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1112018. [PMID: 36969005 PMCID: PMC10030862 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1112018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveWe conducted a scientometric and visual analysis of meningioma studies in the past ten years and discussed the current status and trends of meningioma research to provide a reference basis for conducting relevant clinical practice or research.MethodA search of the topic of meningioma in the Web of Science Core Collection database was conducted for January 2012-December 2021. The scientometric tools CiteSpace (version 5.8.R3), VOS viewer (version 1.6.17), and the Bibliometrix package of R software (version 4.2.1) were used to visualize and analyze the country of publication, institution, author, keywords, and cited literature of meningioma.ResultsA total of 10,397 documents related to meningioma were collected, of which 6,714 articles were analyzed. The annual analysis shows an increase in published articles, with an annual growth rate of 8.9%. 26,696 authors from 111 countries or regions were involved in publishing relevant studies. The country with the highest number of publications was the United States (1671), and the institution with the highest number of publications was the University of California, San Francisco (242). The keyword clustering of current studies can be grouped into five groups: meningioma characteristics and basic research, surgical treatment, radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and management of complications. Keyword trend analysis shows that meningioma classification and molecular characteristics are emerging hotspots for meningioma research in recent years.ConclusionThe scientometric and visual analysis demonstrated the research status and trends of meningioma. Over the past decade, meningioma research has focused on managing meningiomas with a predominance of surgical treatment and radiation therapy. At the same time, meningioma classification and molecular characteristics are emerging as current and possible research hotspots in the coming period.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kui Liu
- *Correspondence: Kui Liu, ; Zheng Liu,
| | - Zheng Liu
- *Correspondence: Kui Liu, ; Zheng Liu,
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Hua L, Ren L, Wu Q, Deng J, Chen J, Cheng H, Wang D, Chen H, Xie Q, Wakimoto H, Gong Y. Loss of H3K27me3 expression enriches in recurrent grade 1&2 meningiomas and maintains as a biomarker stratifying progression risk. J Neurooncol 2023; 161:267-275. [PMID: 36329368 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-022-04169-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine if loss of H3K27me3 could predict higher risk of re-recurrence in recurrent meningiomas. METHODS A retrospective, single-center cohort study was performed for patients who underwent resection of recurrent grade 1 (N = 132) &2 (N = 32) meningiomas from 2009 to 2013. Association of H3K27me3 staining and clinical parameters was analyzed. Additionally, H3K27me3 staining was performed from 45 patients whose tumors recurred and were resected during the follow-up, to evaluate H3K27me3 change during tumor progression. Survival analysis was performed as well. RESULTS Loss of H3K27me3 expression was observed in 83 patients, comprising 63 grade 1 (47.7%) and 20 grade 2 patients (62.5%). Both grade 1 (p < 0.001) and grade 2 recurrent meningiomas (p < 0.001) had a higher frequency of H3K27me3 loss, compared to de novo meningiomas. 8 of 27 tumors with retained H3K27me3 lost H3K27me3 during re-recurrence (29.6%), while no gain of H3K27me3 was observed in progressive disease from 18 tumors with H3K27me3 loss. Loss of H3K27me3 expression was associated with an earlier re-recurrence in recurrent meningiomas grade 1 and 2 (p < 0.001), and was an independent prognostic factor for PFS in recurrent grade 1 meningiomas (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION Compared to primary meningiomas, recurrent meningiomas more predominantly had loss of H3K27me3 expression, and further loss can occur during the progression of recurrent tumors. Our results further demonstrated that loss of H3K27me3 predicted shorter PFS in recurrent grade 1 and grade 2 meningiomas. Our work thus supports clinical testing of H3K27me3 in recurrent meningiomas WHO grade 1 and 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyang Hua
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China.,Neurosurgical Institute, Fudan University, Shangha, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Leihao Ren
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China.,Neurosurgical Institute, Fudan University, Shangha, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Wu
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaojiao Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China.,Neurosurgical Institute, Fudan University, Shangha, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiawei Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China.,Neurosurgical Institute, Fudan University, Shangha, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Haixia Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daijun Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China.,Neurosurgical Institute, Fudan University, Shangha, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Xie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China.,Neurosurgical Institute, Fudan University, Shangha, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Hiroaki Wakimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ye Gong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. .,National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China. .,Neurosurgical Institute, Fudan University, Shangha, China. .,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China. .,Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 12# Middle Wulumuqi Road, Jingan District, Shanghai, 200040, China.
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H3K27me3 Immunohistochemical Loss Predicts Lower Response to Neo-Adjuvant Chemo-Radiotherapy in Rectal Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10082042. [PMID: 36009589 PMCID: PMC9405749 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10082042] [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: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A watch-and-wait approach was suggested to avoid the possible complications related to surgery in patients with rectal carcinoma showing clinical complete response after neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). Since clinical response may not correlate with pathological response, markers with higher accuracy are needed to identify patients who are likely responders and could be spared surgery. This study aims to assess whether H3K27me3 immunohistochemical expression in pre-treatment rectal carcinoma predicts response to neoadjuvant CRT or shows prognostic relevance. We assessed H3K27me3 immunostaining in 46 endoscopic biopsies of rectal carcinomas treated with neoadjuvant CRT and surgery. H3K27me3 immunostaining was lost in 20, retained in 19, and inconclusive (absent in neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells) in 7 cases. Retained H3K27me3 immuno-expression was significantly associated with ypTNM stage 0 (p = 0.0111) and high tumor regression, measured using either five-tiered (p = 0.0042) or two-tiered Dworak tumor regression grade (p = 0.0009). Poor differentiation, determined counting the number of poorly differentiated clusters (PDC grade) or tumor budding (TB) foci (TB grade), in the pre-treatment biopsy, was significantly associated with a shorter time to progression after surgery (p = 0.008; p = 0.0093). However, only PDC grade (p = 0.0023), together with radial margin involvement (p = 0.0001), retained prognostic significance in the multivariate analysis. The assessment of H3K27me3 immunostaining in pre-treatment endoscopic biopsy of rectal carcinoma could be useful to predict response to neo-adjuvant CRT and to identify patients who could safely undergo watch-and-wait approach. PDC and TB grade in the pre-treatment biopsy could provide additional prognostic information in patients with rectal carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant CRT and surgery.
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