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Banjan B, Vishwakarma R, Ramakrishnan K, Dev RR, Kalath H, Kumar P, Soman S, Raju R, Revikumar A, Rehman N, Abhinand CS. Targeting AFP-RARβ complex formation: a potential strategy for treating AFP-positive hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-024-10915-8. [PMID: 38955977 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10915-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein primarily expressed during embryogenesis, with declining levels postnatally. Elevated AFP levels correlate with pathological conditions such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent investigations underscore AFP's intracellular role in HCC progression, wherein it forms complexes with proteins like Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), Caspase 3 (CASP3), and Retinoic acid receptors and Retinoid X receptors (RAR/RXR). RAR and RXR regulate gene expression linked to cell death and tumorigenesis in normal physiology. AFP impedes RAR/RXR dimerization, nuclear translocation, and function, promoting gene expression favoring cancer progression in HCC that provoked us to target AFP as a drug candidate. Despite extensive studies, inhibitors targeting AFP to disrupt complex formation and activities remain scarce. In this study, employing protein-protein docking, amino acid residues involved in AFP-RARβ interaction were identified, guiding the definition of AFP's active site for potential inhibitor screening. Currently, kinase inhibitors play a significant role in cancer treatment and, the present study explores the potential of repurposing FDA-approved protein kinase inhibitors to target AFP. Molecular docking with kinase inhibitors revealed Lapatinib as a candidate drug of the AFP-RARβ complex. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding energy calculations, employing Mechanic/Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA), confirmed Lapatinib's stability with AFP. The study suggests Lapatinib's potential in disrupting the AFP-RARβ complex, providing a promising avenue for treating molecularly stratified AFP-positive HCC or its early stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Banjan
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - Riya Vishwakarma
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - Krishnapriya Ramakrishnan
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - Radul R Dev
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - Haritha Kalath
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- Nitte (Deemed to Be University), Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, NGSMPS, NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Sowmya Soman
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - Rajesh Raju
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
- Centre for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine (CSBMM), Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Amjesh Revikumar
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
- Kerala Genome Data Centre, Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council, Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - Niyas Rehman
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, 575018, India.
| | - Chandran S Abhinand
- Centre for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine (CSBMM), Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India.
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He L, Zhang C, Liu LL, Huang LP, Lu WJ, Zhang YY, Zou DY, Wang YF, Zhang Q, Yang XL. Development of a diagnostic nomogram for alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma based on serological biomarkers. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:2451-2463. [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Serum biomarkers play an important role in the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Because a certain percentage of HCC patients are negative for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC is essential to improve the detection rate of HCC.
AIM To establish an effective model for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC based on serum tumour biomarkers.
METHODS A total of 180 HCC patients were enrolled in this study. The expression levels of GP73, des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), CK18-M65, and CK18-M30 were detected by a fully automated chemiluminescence analyser. The variables were selected by logistic regression analysis. Several models were constructed using stepwise backward logistic regression. The performance of the models was compared using the C statistic, integrated discrimination improvement, net reclassification improvement, and calibration curves. The clinical utility of the nomogram was assessed using decision curve analysis (DCA).
RESULTS The results showed that the expression levels of GP73, DCP, CK18-M65, and CK18-M30 were significantly greater in AFP-negative HCC patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GP73, DCP, and CK18-M65 were independent factors for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC. By comparing the diagnostic performance of multiple models, we included GP73 and CK18-M65 as the model variables, and the model had good discrimination ability (area under the curve = 0.946) and good goodness of fit. The DCA curves indicated the good clinical utility of the nomogram.
CONCLUSION Our study identified GP73 and CK18-M65 as serum biomarkers with certain application value in the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC. The diagnostic nomogram based on CK18-M65 combined with GP73 demonstrated good performance and effectively identified high-risk groups of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li He
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Cui Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Lan-Lan Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Li-Ping Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jingyu County People’s Hospital, Baishan 135200, Jilin Province, China
| | - Wen-Jing Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - De-Yong Zou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yu-Fei Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Xiao-Li Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
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He L, Zhang C, Liu LL, Huang LP, Lu WJ, Zhang YY, Zou DY, Wang YF, Zhang Q, Yang XL. Development of a diagnostic nomogram for alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma based on serological biomarkers. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:2463-2475. [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Serum biomarkers play an important role in the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Because a certain percentage of HCC patients are negative for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC is essential to improve the detection rate of HCC.
AIM To establish an effective model for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC based on serum tumour biomarkers.
METHODS A total of 180 HCC patients were enrolled in this study. The expression levels of GP73, des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), CK18-M65, and CK18-M30 were detected by a fully automated chemiluminescence analyser. The variables were selected by logistic regression analysis. Several models were constructed using stepwise backward logistic regression. The performance of the models was compared using the C statistic, integrated discrimination improvement, net reclassification improvement, and calibration curves. The clinical utility of the nomogram was assessed using decision curve analysis (DCA).
RESULTS The results showed that the expression levels of GP73, DCP, CK18-M65, and CK18-M30 were significantly greater in AFP-negative HCC patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GP73, DCP, and CK18-M65 were independent factors for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC. By comparing the diagnostic performance of multiple models, we included GP73 and CK18-M65 as the model variables, and the model had good discrimination ability (area under the curve = 0.946) and good goodness of fit. The DCA curves indicated the good clinical utility of the nomogram.
CONCLUSION Our study identified GP73 and CK18-M65 as serum biomarkers with certain application value in the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC. The diagnostic nomogram based on CK18-M65 combined with GP73 demonstrated good performance and effectively identified high-risk groups of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li He
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Cui Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Lan-Lan Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Li-Ping Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jingyu County People’s Hospital, Baishan 135200, Jilin Province, China
| | - Wen-Jing Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - De-Yong Zou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yu-Fei Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Xiao-Li Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
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Pak VN, Sherman IA. Comprehensive approach to cancer immunotherapy - Simultaneous targeting of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and cancer cells with AFP conjugates. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 200:104407. [PMID: 38834093 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104407] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune system plays a pivotal role in combating diseases, including cancer, with monocytes emerging as key regulators of immune response dynamics. This article describes a novel strategy for cancer treatment centered on depleting myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), to enhance the overall immune response while simultaneously targeting cancer cells directly. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is an oncofetal protein that plays an important role in delivering nutrients to immature monocytes, embryonic, and cancer cells in a targeted manner. AFP can be repurposed, making it a vehicle for delivering toxins, rather than nutrients to kill cancer cells and deplete MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Depleting monocytes not only stimulates the immune system but also improves the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), often low in cancer patients. AFP combined with cytotoxic drugs, offers dual benefit-immune stimulation and targeted chemotherapy. Studies in xenograft models demonstrated high efficacy and safety of AFP-toxin conjugates, surpassing conventional targeted chemotherapy. Such conjugates have also been reported to provide superior efficacy and safety in cancer patients compared to chemotherapy. This approach, using AFP conjugated with toxins, either covalently or non-covalently, presents a safe and highly effective option for cancer immuno/chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir N Pak
- Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals Inc., 795 Pharmacy Avenue, Toronto, On, M1L 3K2 Canada
| | - Igor A Sherman
- Alpha Cancer Technologies Inc., MaRS Discovery District, South Tower 200 - 101 College St., Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.
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Said YA, Hammad SF, Halim MI, El-Moneim AA, Osman A. Assessment of the therapeutic potential of a novel phosphoramidate acyclic nucleoside on induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rat model. Life Sci 2024:122669. [PMID: 38677390 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122669] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is renowned as a deadly primary cancer of hepatic origin. Sorafenib is the drug-of-choice for targeted treatment of unresectable end-stage HCC. Unfortunately, great proportion of HCC patients showed intolerance or unresponsiveness to treatment. This study assesses potency of novel ProTide; SH-PAN-19 against N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced HCC in male Wistar rats, compared to Sorafenib. MAIN METHODS Structural entity of the synthesized compound was substantiated via FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic analysis. In vitro, SH-PAN-19 cytotoxicity was tested against 3 human cell lines; hepatocellular carcinoma; HepG-2, colorectal carcinoma; HCT-116 and normal fibroblasts; MRC-5. In vivo, therapeutic efficacy of SH-PAN-19 (300 mg/kg b.w./day) against HCC could be revealed and compared to that of Sorafenib (15 mg/kg b.w./day) by evaluating the morphometric, biochemical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular key markers. KEY FINDINGS SH-PAN-19 was relatively safe toward MRC-5 cells (IC50 = 307.6 μg/mL), highly cytotoxic to HepG-2 cells (IC50 = 24.9 μg/mL) and prominently hepato-selective (TSI = 12.35). Oral LD50 of SH-PAN-19 was >3000 mg/kg b.w. DEN-injected rats suffered hepatomegaly, oxidative stress, elevated liver enzymes, hypoalbuminemia, bilirubinemia and skyrocketed AFP plasma titre. SH-PAN-19 alleviated the DEN-induced alterations in apoptotic, angiogenic and inflammatory markers. SH-PAN-19 produced a 2.5-folds increase in Caspase-9 and downregulated VEGFR-2, IL-6, TNF-α, TGFβ-1, MMP-9 and CcnD-1 to levels comparable to that elicited by Sorafenib. SH-PAN-19 resulted in near-complete pathological response versus partial response achieved by Sorafenib. SIGNIFICANCE This research illustrated that SH-PAN-19 is a promising chemotherapeutic agent capable of restoring cellular plasticity and could stop HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef A Said
- Biotechnology Program, Basic and Applied Sciences Institute, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), 21934 New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Sherif F Hammad
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, PharmD Program, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), 21934 New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt; Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, 11795 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mariam I Halim
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Abd El-Moneim
- Graphene Center of Excellence, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), 21934 New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt; Physical Chemistry Department, National Research Centre (NRC), 12622 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Osman
- Biotechnology Program, Basic and Applied Sciences Institute, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), 21934 New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt
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Lu Y, Lin B, Li M. The role of alpha-fetoprotein in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1363695. [PMID: 38660138 PMCID: PMC11039944 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1363695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignant cancer worldwide, characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein synthesized by the liver and yolk sac during fetal development. However, the serum levels of AFP exhibit a significant correlation with the onset and progression of HCC in adults. Extensive research has demonstrated that the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the malignant transformation of HCC, and AFP is a key factor in the TME, promoting HCC development. The objective of this review was to analyze the existing knowledge regarding the role of AFP in the TME. Specifically, this review focused on the effect of AFP on various cells in the TME, tumor immune evasion, and clinical application of AFP in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. These findings offer valuable insights into the clinical treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lu
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Bo Lin
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Mengsen Li
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Institution of Tumor, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
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Zhang J, Wang L, Zhang S, Cao R, Zhao Y, Zhao Y, Song Y, Guo Z. Alpha-fetoprotein predicts the treatment efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors for gastric cancer patients. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:266. [PMID: 38408930 PMCID: PMC10895833 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11999-z] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are commonly used in conjunction with chemotherapy to improve treatment outcomes for patients with gastric cancer. Since AFP could influence immunity by both inhibiting natural killer (NK) cells and regulating negatively the function of dendritic cells, we evaluated the influence of baseline serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels on the curative effect of ICIs in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 158 AGC patients who underwent ICI treatment. The patients were divided into high and low groups based on the AFP threshold of 20 ng/ml. The efficacy of ICI treatment was assessed using objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS The higher levels of baseline AFP were found to be associated with a decrease in the effectiveness of ICIs, as evidenced by a DCR of 50.0% in the group with high AFP levels compared to 87.7% in the group with low AFP levels (P < 0.001). Further analysis using Kaplan-Meier survival techniques indicated that a high AFP level was linked to shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (P < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.001) in AGC individuals receiving ICIs. After propensity score matching, a log rank test revealed that the high AFP group had a decrease in median PFS (P = 0.011) and median OS (P = 0.036) compared to the low AFP group. The high AFP levels also showed its association with shorter PFS and OS in the subgroup analysis of ICI plus chemotherapy patients. CONCLUSIONS Baseline AFP levels may predict immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment efficacy in AGC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, 050011, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, P.R. China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 050011, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, P.R. China
| | - Shasha Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, 050011, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, P.R. China
| | - Ruijie Cao
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, 050011, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, P.R. China
| | - Yufei Zhao
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, 050011, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, P.R. China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, 050011, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, P.R. China
| | - Yanrong Song
- Department of Medical Technology, Xingtai Medical College, 054000, Xingtai, Hebei, P.R. China
| | - Zhanjun Guo
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, 050011, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, P.R. China.
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Gil-Rojas S, Suárez M, Martínez-Blanco P, Torres AM, Martínez-García N, Blasco P, Torralba M, Mateo J. Application of Machine Learning Techniques to Assess Alpha-Fetoprotein at Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1996. [PMID: 38396674 PMCID: PMC10888351 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25041996] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor and is associated with high mortality rates. Approximately 80% of cases occur in cirrhotic livers, posing a significant challenge for appropriate therapeutic management. Adequate screening programs in high-risk groups are essential for early-stage detection. The extent of extrahepatic tumor spread and hepatic functional reserve are recognized as two of the most influential prognostic factors. In this retrospective multicenter study, we utilized machine learning (ML) methods to analyze predictors of mortality at the time of diagnosis in a total of 208 patients. The eXtreme gradient boosting (XGB) method achieved the highest values in identifying key prognostic factors for HCC at diagnosis. The etiology of HCC was found to be the variable most strongly associated with a poorer prognosis. The widely used Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification in our setting demonstrated superiority over the TNM classification. Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains the most commonly used biological marker, elevated levels did not correlate with reduced survival. Our findings suggest the need to explore new prognostic biomarkers for individualized management of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Gil-Rojas
- Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Miguel Suárez
- Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Pablo Martínez-Blanco
- Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Ana M. Torres
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Pilar Blasco
- Department of Pharmacy, General University Hospital, 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Miguel Torralba
- Internal Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Guadalajara, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Translational Research Group in Cellular Immunology (GITIC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Jorge Mateo
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
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Festari MF, Jara E, Costa M, Iriarte A, Freire T. Truncated O-glycosylation in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer reveals a gene expression signature associated with extracellular matrix and proteolysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1809. [PMID: 38245559 PMCID: PMC10799929 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52204-2] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of death by cancer in women worldwide. Triple-negative (TN) BC constitutes aggressive and highly metastatic tumors associated with shorter overall survival of patients compared to other BC subtypes. The Tn antigen, a glycoconjugated structure resulting from an incomplete O-glycosylation process, is highly expressed in different adenocarcinomas, including BC. It also favors cancer growth, immunoregulation, and metastasis in TNBC. This work describes the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with BC aggressiveness and metastasis in an incomplete O-glycosylated TNBC cell model. We studied the transcriptome of a TNBC model constituted by the metastatic murine 4T1 cell line that overexpresses the Tn antigen due to a mutation in one of the steps of the O-glycosylation pathway. We analyzed and compared the results with the parental wild-type cell line and with a Tn-negative cell clone that was poorly metastatic and less aggressive than the 4T1 parental cell line. To gain insight into the generated expression data, we performed a gene set analysis. Biological processes associated with cancer development and metastasis, immune evasion, and leukocyte recruitment were highly enriched among functional terms of DEGs. Furthermore, different highly O-glycosylated protein-coding genes, such as mmp9, ecm1 and ankyrin-2, were upregulated in 4T1/Tn+ tumor cells. The altered biological processes and DEGs that promote tumor growth, invasion and immunomodulation might explain the aggressive properties of 4T1/Tn+ tumor cells. These results support the hypothesis that incomplete O-glycosylation that leads to the expression of the Tn antigen, which might regulate activity or interaction of different molecules, promotes cancer development and immunoregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Florencia Festari
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Vacunas, Departamento de Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2125, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Eugenio Jara
- Unidad de Genética y Mejora Animal, Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Monique Costa
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Vacunas, Departamento de Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2125, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Andrés Iriarte
- Laboratorio de Biología Computacional, Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Dr. Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Teresa Freire
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Vacunas, Departamento de Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2125, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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10
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Samban SS, Hari A, Nair B, Kumar AR, Meyer BS, Valsan A, Vijayakurup V, Nath LR. An Insight Into the Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in the Development and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Mol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s12033-023-00890-0. [PMID: 37782430 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00890-0] [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: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary malignancy of hepatocytes and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality across the globe. Despite significant advancements in screening, diagnosis, and treatment modalities for HCC, the mortality-to-incidence ratio remain unacceptably high. A recent study indicates that a minor population of HCCs are AFP negative or express the normal range of AFP levels. Although it is a gold standard and a more reliable biomarker in the advanced stage of HCC and poorly differentiated tumors, it does not serve as a suitable means for screening HCC. AFP plays a significant role in the development and progression of HCC and understanding its role is crucial. By examining the molecular mechanisms involved in AFP-mediated tumorigenesis, we can better understand HCC pathogenesis and identify potential therapeutic targets. This article details the role of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the carcinogenic transformation of hepatocytes. The article also focuses on information about the structure, biosynthesis, and regulation of AFP at the gene level. Additionally, it discusses the immune evasion, metastasis, and control of gene expression that AFP mediates during HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swathy S Samban
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, AIMS Health Science Campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Aparna Hari
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, AIMS Health Science Campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Bhagyalakshmi Nair
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, AIMS Health Science Campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Ayana R Kumar
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, AIMS Health Science Campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Benjamin S Meyer
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Arun Valsan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amrita Institute of Medical Science, AIMS Health Science Campus, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Vinod Vijayakurup
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Lekshmi R Nath
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, AIMS Health Science Campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India.
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11
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Ugonabo O, Udoh UAS, Rajan PK, Reeves H, Arcand C, Nakafuku Y, Joshi T, Finley R, Pierre SV, Sanabria JR. The Current Status of the Liver Liquid Biopsy in MASH Related HCC: Overview and Future Directions. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1369. [PMID: 37759769 PMCID: PMC10526956 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091369] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is one of the major risk factors for chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The incidence of MASH in Western countries continues to rise, driving HCC as the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC has become a major global health challenge, partly from the obesity epidemic promoting metabolic cellular disturbances but also from the paucity of biomarkers for its early detection. Over 50% of HCC cases are clinically present at a late stage, where curative measures are no longer beneficial. Currently, there is a paucity of both specific and sensitive biological markers for the early-stage detection of HCC. The search for biological markers in the diagnosis of early HCC in high-risk populations is intense. We described the potential role of surrogates for a liver biopsy in the screening and monitoring of patients at risk for nesting HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onyinye Ugonabo
- Department of Medicine, Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA; (O.U.); (T.J.)
| | - Utibe-Abasi Sunday Udoh
- Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, WV 25703, USA; (U.-A.S.U.); (P.K.R.); (Y.N.); (S.V.P.)
- Department of Surgery, Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA; (H.R.); (C.A.); (R.F.)
| | - Pradeep Kumar Rajan
- Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, WV 25703, USA; (U.-A.S.U.); (P.K.R.); (Y.N.); (S.V.P.)
- Department of Surgery, Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA; (H.R.); (C.A.); (R.F.)
| | - Heather Reeves
- Department of Surgery, Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA; (H.R.); (C.A.); (R.F.)
| | - Christina Arcand
- Department of Surgery, Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA; (H.R.); (C.A.); (R.F.)
| | - Yuto Nakafuku
- Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, WV 25703, USA; (U.-A.S.U.); (P.K.R.); (Y.N.); (S.V.P.)
- Department of Surgery, Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA; (H.R.); (C.A.); (R.F.)
| | - Tejas Joshi
- Department of Medicine, Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA; (O.U.); (T.J.)
| | - Rob Finley
- Department of Surgery, Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA; (H.R.); (C.A.); (R.F.)
| | - Sandrine V. Pierre
- Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, WV 25703, USA; (U.-A.S.U.); (P.K.R.); (Y.N.); (S.V.P.)
| | - Juan Ramon Sanabria
- Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, WV 25703, USA; (U.-A.S.U.); (P.K.R.); (Y.N.); (S.V.P.)
- Department of Surgery, Marshall University School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA; (H.R.); (C.A.); (R.F.)
- Department of Nutrition and Metabolomic Core Facility, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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12
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Khalid Z, Coco S, Ullah N, Pulliero A, Cortese K, Varesano S, Orsi A, Izzotti A. Anticancer Activity of Measles-Mumps-Rubella MMR Vaccine Viruses against Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4304. [PMID: 37686579 PMCID: PMC10486717 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oncolytic viruses (OVs) have been utilized since 1990s for targeted cancer treatment. Our study examined the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine's cancer-killing potency against Glioblastoma (GBM), a therapy-resistant, aggressive cancer type. METHODOLOGY We used GBM cell lines, primary GBM cells, and normal mice microglial cells, to assess the MMR vaccine's efficacy through cell viability, cell cycle analysis, intracellular viral load via RT-PCR, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). RESULTS After 72 h of MMR treatment, GBM cell lines and primary GBM cells exhibited significant viability reduction compared to untreated cells. Conversely, normal microglial cells showed only minor changes in viability and morphology. Intracellular viral load tests indicated GBM cells' increased sensitivity to MMR viruses compared to normal cells. The cell cycle study also revealed measles and mumps viruses' crucial role in cytopathic effects, with the rubella virus causing cell cycle arrest. CONCLUSION Herein the reported results demonstrate the anti-cancer activity of the MMR vaccine against GBM cells. Accordingly, the MMR vaccine warrants further study as a potential new tool for GBM therapy and relapse prevention. Therapeutic potential of the MMR vaccine has been found to be promising in earlier studies as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zumama Khalid
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Via Pastore 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (Z.K.); (N.U.); (A.P.); (A.O.)
| | - Simona Coco
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (S.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Nadir Ullah
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Via Pastore 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (Z.K.); (N.U.); (A.P.); (A.O.)
| | - Alessandra Pulliero
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Via Pastore 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (Z.K.); (N.U.); (A.P.); (A.O.)
| | - Katia Cortese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Serena Varesano
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (S.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Andrea Orsi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Via Pastore 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (Z.K.); (N.U.); (A.P.); (A.O.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (S.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Alberto Izzotti
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (S.C.); (S.V.)
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
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Geka G, Kanioura A, Likodimos V, Gardelis S, Papanikolaou N, Kakabakos S, Petrou P. SERS Immunosensors for Cancer Markers Detection. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:3733. [PMID: 37241360 PMCID: PMC10221005 DOI: 10.3390/ma16103733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Early diagnosis and monitoring are essential for the effective treatment and survival of patients with different types of malignancy. To this end, the accurate and sensitive determination of substances in human biological fluids related to cancer diagnosis and/or prognosis, i.e., cancer biomarkers, is of ultimate importance. Advancements in the field of immunodetection and nanomaterials have enabled the application of new transduction approaches for the sensitive detection of single or multiple cancer biomarkers in biological fluids. Immunosensors based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are examples where the special properties of nanostructured materials and immunoreagents are combined to develop analytical tools that hold promise for point-of-care applications. In this frame, the subject of this review article is to present the advancements made so far regarding the immunochemical determination of cancer biomarkers by SERS. Thus, after a short introduction about the principles of both immunoassays and SERS, an extended presentation of up-to-date works regarding both single and multi-analyte determination of cancer biomarkers is presented. Finally, future perspectives on the field of SERS immunosensors for cancer markers detection are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Geka
- Immunoassays/Immunosensors Lab, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR “Demokritos”, 15341 Aghia Paraskevi, Greece; (G.G.); (A.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Anastasia Kanioura
- Immunoassays/Immunosensors Lab, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR “Demokritos”, 15341 Aghia Paraskevi, Greece; (G.G.); (A.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Vlassis Likodimos
- Section of Condensed Matter Physics, Department of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, 15784 Athens, Greece; (V.L.); (S.G.)
| | - Spiros Gardelis
- Section of Condensed Matter Physics, Department of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, 15784 Athens, Greece; (V.L.); (S.G.)
| | - Nikolaos Papanikolaou
- Institute of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, NCSR “Demokritos”, 15341 Aghia Paraskevi, Greece;
| | - Sotirios Kakabakos
- Immunoassays/Immunosensors Lab, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR “Demokritos”, 15341 Aghia Paraskevi, Greece; (G.G.); (A.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Panagiota Petrou
- Immunoassays/Immunosensors Lab, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR “Demokritos”, 15341 Aghia Paraskevi, Greece; (G.G.); (A.K.); (S.K.)
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