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de Melo IG, Tavares V, Pereira D, Medeiros R. Contribution of Endothelial Dysfunction to Cancer Susceptibility and Progression: A Comprehensive Narrative Review on the Genetic Risk Component. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:4845-4873. [PMID: 38785560 PMCID: PMC11120512 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46050292] [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: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a challenging clinical obstacle in oncological settings, marked by elevated incidence rates and resulting morbidity and mortality. In the context of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT), endothelial dysfunction (ED) plays a crucial role in promoting a pro-thrombotic environment as endothelial cells lose their ability to regulate blood flow and coagulation. Moreover, emerging research suggests that this disorder may not only contribute to CAT but also impact tumorigenesis itself. Indeed, a dysfunctional endothelium may promote resistance to therapy and favour tumour progression and dissemination. While extensive research has elucidated the multifaceted mechanisms of ED pathogenesis, the genetic component remains a focal point of investigation. This comprehensive narrative review thus delves into the genetic landscape of ED and its potential ramifications on cancer progression. A thorough examination of genetic variants, specifically polymorphisms, within key genes involved in ED pathogenesis, namely eNOS, EDN1, ACE, AGT, F2, SELP, SELE, VWF, ICAM1, and VCAM1, was conducted. Overall, these polymorphisms seem to play a context-dependent role, exerting both oncogenic and tumour suppressor effects depending on the tumour and other environmental factors. In-depth studies are needed to uncover the mechanisms connecting these DNA variations to the pathogenesis of malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Guerra de Melo
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dep., Clinical Pathology SV/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto. CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (I.G.d.M.); (V.T.)
- Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Valéria Tavares
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dep., Clinical Pathology SV/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto. CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (I.G.d.M.); (V.T.)
- Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Deolinda Pereira
- Oncology Department, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Rui Medeiros
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dep., Clinical Pathology SV/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto. CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (I.G.d.M.); (V.T.)
- Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
- Research Department, Portuguese League Against Cancer (NRNorte), 4200-172 Porto, Portugal
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Drăgan A, Drăgan AŞ. Novel Insights in Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment Methods in Ambulatory Cancer Patients: From the Guidelines to Clinical Practice. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:458. [PMID: 38275899 PMCID: PMC10813930 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020458] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Many cancer patients will experience venous thromboembolism (VTE) at some stage, with the highest rate in the initial period following diagnosis. Novel cancer therapies may further enhance the risk. VTE in a cancer setting is associated with poor prognostic, a decreased quality of life, and high healthcare costs. If thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized cancer patients and perioperative settings is widely accepted in clinical practice and supported by the guidelines, it is not the same situation in ambulatory cancer patient settings. The guidelines do not recommend primary thromboprophylaxis, except in high-risk cases. However, nowadays, risk stratification is still challenging, although many tools have been developed. The Khrorana score remains the most used method, but it has many limits. This narrative review aims to present the current relevant knowledge of VTE risk assessment in ambulatory cancer patients, starting from the guideline recommendations and continuing with the specific risk assessment methods and machine learning models approaches. Biomarkers, genetic, and clinical features were tested alone or in groups. Old and new models used in VTE risk assessment are exposed, underlining their clinical utility. Imaging and biomolecular approaches to VTE screening of outpatients with cancer are also presented, which could help clinical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Drăgan
- Department of Cardiovascular Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases “Prof. Dr. C C Iliescu”, 258 Fundeni Road, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adrian Ştefan Drăgan
- Faculty of General Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
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Tavares V, Neto BV, Marques IS, Assis J, Pereira D, Medeiros R. Cancer-associated thrombosis: What about microRNAs targeting the tissue factor coagulation pathway? Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189053. [PMID: 38092078 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Cancer patients are often diagnosed with venous thromboembolism (VTE), a cardiovascular disease that substantially decreases their quality of life and survival rate. Haemostasis in these patients is deregulated, which is reflected in the common presentation of a blood hypercoagulation state. Despite the inconsistent results, existing evidence suggests that the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is deregulated in the context of venous thrombogenesis in the general population. However, few miRNAs are known to be linked to cancer-associated VTE due to the lack of studies with oncological patients. Parallelly, coagulation factor III, also known as tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor 1 (TFPI1) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2) have been proposed to have a central role in cancer-associated VTE and tumour progression. Yet, contrary to what was expected, the role of miRNAs targeting the TF coagulation pathway (or extrinsic coagulation pathway) is poorly explored in cancer-induced thrombogenesis. In this review, in addition to miRNAs implicated in VTE, TF and TFPI1/2-targeting miRNAs were revised. Future studies should clarify the implications of these non-coding RNAs in tumour coagulome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéria Tavares
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/ Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dep., Clinical Pathology SV/ RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Abel Salazar Institute for the Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Beatriz Vieira Neto
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/ Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dep., Clinical Pathology SV/ RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Research Department, Portuguese League Against Cancer (NRNorte), 4200-172 Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Soares Marques
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/ Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dep., Clinical Pathology SV/ RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Assis
- Clinical Research Unit, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Deolinda Pereira
- Oncology Department, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Medeiros
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/ Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dep., Clinical Pathology SV/ RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Abel Salazar Institute for the Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Research Department, Portuguese League Against Cancer (NRNorte), 4200-172 Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal.
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Marques IS, Tavares V, Savva-Bordalo J, Rei M, Liz-Pimenta J, de Melo IG, Assis J, Pereira D, Medeiros R. Long Non-Coding RNAs: Bridging Cancer-Associated Thrombosis and Clinical Outcome of Ovarian Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:140. [PMID: 38203310 PMCID: PMC10778953 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010140] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) have a close relationship, in which tumour cells surpass the haemostatic system to drive cancer progression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in VTE pathogenesis, yet their roles in cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) and their prognostic value are unexplored. Understanding how these lncRNAs influence venous thrombogenesis and ovarian tumorigenesis may lead to the identification of valuable biomarkers for VTE and OC management. Thus, this study evaluated the impact of five lncRNAs, namely MALAT1, TUG1, NEAT1, XIST and MEG8, on a cohort of 40 OC patients. Patients who developed VTE after OC diagnosis had worse overall survival compared to their counterparts (log-rank test, p = 0.028). Elevated pre-chemotherapy MEG8 levels in peripheral blood cells (PBCs) predicted VTE after OC diagnosis (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.037; Χ2 test, p = 0.033). In opposition, its low levels were linked to a higher risk of OC progression (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 3.00; p = 0.039). Furthermore, low pre-chemotherapy NEAT1 levels in PBCs were associated with a higher risk of death (aHR = 6.25; p = 0.008). As for the remaining lncRNAs, no significant association with VTE incidence, OC progression or related mortality was observed. Future investigation with external validation in larger cohorts is needed to dissect the implications of the evaluated lncRNAs in OC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Soares Marques
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Clinical Pathology SV/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (I.S.M.); (V.T.); (I.G.d.M.)
- Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Valéria Tavares
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Clinical Pathology SV/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (I.S.M.); (V.T.); (I.G.d.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Abel Salazar Institute for the Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Savva-Bordalo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (J.S.-B.); (D.P.)
| | - Mariana Rei
- Department of Gynaecology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Joana Liz-Pimenta
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (CHTMAD), 5000-508 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Inês Guerra de Melo
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Clinical Pathology SV/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (I.S.M.); (V.T.); (I.G.d.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Joana Assis
- Clinical Research Unit, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Deolinda Pereira
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (J.S.-B.); (D.P.)
| | - Rui Medeiros
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Clinical Pathology SV/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (I.S.M.); (V.T.); (I.G.d.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Abel Salazar Institute for the Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
- Research Department, Portuguese League Against Cancer (NRNorte), 4200-172 Porto, Portugal
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