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Paschidis K, Zougros A, Chatziandreou I, Tsikalakis S, Korkolopoulou P, Kavantzas N, Saetta AA. Methylation analysis of APC, AXIN2, DACT1, RASSF1A and MGMT gene promoters in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 234:153899. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Zougros A, Michelli M, Chatziandreou I, Nonni A, Gakiopoulou H, Michalopoulos NV, Lazaris AC, Saetta AA. mRNA coexpression patterns of Wnt pathway components and their clinicopathological associations in breast and colorectal cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 227:153649. [PMID: 34656913 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant Wnt signaling is implicated in carcinogenesis triggering efforts for the development of new therapeutic agents, many of which have entered clinical trials. We extend our previous analysis of WNT3, FZD7, LEF1 expression levels in breast and colorectal cancer including WNT2, FZD4 and β-catenin expression, in an effort to delineate their relative expression levels along with concurrent expression patterns and possible prognostic value. We analyzed 82 breast and 102 colorectal carcinomas for relative mRNA expression levels of the investigated genes by RT-PCR relative quantification with the ΔΔCt method. Statistical analysis was performed in order to determine associations of relative mRNA expression and linear correlations. β-catenin expression was determined by immunochemistry. Regarding breast carcinomas, decreased relative mRNA expression levels of WNT2, FZD4 were found frequently and WNT2 expression was correlated with ER/ PR status (p = 0.045/p = 0.028), whereas β-catenin with grade (p = 0.026). In colorectal carcinomas, increased relative mRNA expression levels of WNT2 and FZD4 were found in 59% and 32% of cases respectively, whereas β-catenin showed decreased mRNA expression levels in 57% of cases and a correlation with pN-category (p = 0.037). Linear correlations were observed between WNT2/FZD4 (R=0.542, p < 0.001), WNT2/β-catenin (R=0.254, p = 0.010), FZD4/β-catenin (R=0.406, p < 0.001) expression and a correlation between mRNA expression and membranous/cytoplasmic β-catenin emerged (p = 0.039/0.046). Our results suggest a possible clinical significance for Wnt pathway gene expression levels in both tumour types. The concurrent expression of the investigated genes as well as the different expression profiles, underlines the complexity of this pathway and the necessity of patient selection in order to maximize the efficacy of drugs targeting Wnt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Zougros
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Michelli
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Ilenia Chatziandreou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Afroditi Nonni
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Harikleia Gakiopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos V Michalopoulos
- Fourth Department of Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Rimini 1, Haidari, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas C Lazaris
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
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Chatziandreou I, Psaraki A, Paschidis K, Lazaris AC, Saetta AA. Evidence for frequent concurrent DCUN1D1, FGFR1, BCL9 gene copy number amplification in squamous cell lung cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 221:153412. [PMID: 33862557 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) targeted therapies are mostly based on activating mutations and rearrangements which are rare events in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinomas (LUSC). Recently advances in immunotherapy have improved the therapeutic repository for LUSC, but there is still an urgent need for novel targets and biomarkers. We examined 73 cases of LUSC for relative copy number amplification of DCUN1D1, BCL9, FGFR1 and ERBB2 genes and searched for correlations with molecular alterations and clinicopathological characteristics. In our cohort BCL9 gene was amplified in 57.5 % of the cases, followed by DCUN1D1 in 37 %, FGFR1 in 19 % whereas none of the cases were amplified in ERBB2 gene. The majority of the samples exhibited amplification in at least one gene while half of them displayed concurrent amplification of two/three genes. Interestingly, 93 % of the FGFR1 amplified cases were also found co amplified with DCUN1D1 and/or BCL9 genes. Linear correlations were found between BCL9 and DCUN1D1 as well as BCL9 and FGFR1 gene amplification. BCL9 and DCUN1D1 genes' amplification was correlated with poorly differentiated tumors (p = 0.035 and p = 0.056 respectively), implying their possible role in tumor aggressiveness. This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge that examines the correlation of DCUN1D1 and BCL9 genes relative copy number amplification with molecular alterations and clinicopathologic characteristics of squamous cell lung cancer tissue samples. Our findings show concurrent amplification of genes in different chromosomes, with possible involvement in tumor aggressiveness. These results support the complexity of LUSC tumorigenesis and imply the necessity of multiple biomarkers / targets for a more effective therapeutic result in LUSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Chatziandreou
- 1(st) Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias str., 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
| | - Adriana Psaraki
- 1(st) Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias str., 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
| | - Konstantinos Paschidis
- 1(st) Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias str., 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
| | - Andreas C Lazaris
- 1(st) Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias str., 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- 1(st) Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias str., 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
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Feretis T, Katselis C, Papanikolaou IG, Apostolou K, Tsikalakis S, Toutouzas KG, Theodoropoulos G, Trigka EA, Saetta AA, Alexakis N, Konstandoulakis M, Tsarea K, Karamperi M, Kletsas D, Patsouris E, Manouras A, Zografos GC, Papalois A. ATSC transplantation contributes to liver regeneration following paracetamol-induced acute liver injury through differentiation into hepatic-like cells. Am J Stem Cells 2020; 9:36-56. [PMID: 32699656 PMCID: PMC7364386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a leading cause of acute liver injury (ALI). Acetaminophen (also termed paracetamol), can often be found in drugs that may be abused (i.e., prescription for pain relief). Animal experiments have shown that mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can ameliorate or even reverse hepatic injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS ALI was induced in Wistar rats using paracetamol. ATSCs were transplanted via the intravenous, portal vein, or intrahepatic route directly onto the liver parenchyma. Histological evaluation was conducted to assess drug-induced injury following transplantation. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to verify the location of stem cells on the liver parenchyma. The effect of those cells on liver regeneration was tested by immunohistochemistry for hepatic growth factor (HGF). In addition, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to assess hepatic growth factor (HGF), hepatic nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α), cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA expression. RESULTS Immunohistochemical staining for HGF was stronger in the transplanted groups than that in the control group (P<0.001). HNF4α and HGF mRNA levels were increased on day 7 following transplantation (P<0.001 and P=0.009, respectively). CYP1A2 mRNA levels were also increased (P=0.013) in the intravenous groups, while AFP levels were higher in the intrahepatic groups (P=0.006). ATSC transplantation attenuates ALI injury and promotes liver regeneration. Furthermore, expression of specific hepatic enzymes points to ATSC hepatic differentiation. CONCLUSION The study showed the positive effects of transplanted adipose tissue stem cells (ATSCs) on liver regeneration (LG) through hepatotrophic factors. Furthermore, increased expression of hepatic specific proteins was recorded in ATSC transplanted groups that indicate stem cells differentiation into hepatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Themistoklis Feretis
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
- Experimental, Educational Research Center, ELPEN Pharmaceuticals190 09 Pikermi, Greece
| | - Charalampos Katselis
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
- Experimental, Educational Research Center, ELPEN Pharmaceuticals190 09 Pikermi, Greece
| | - Ioannis G Papanikolaou
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
- Experimental, Educational Research Center, ELPEN Pharmaceuticals190 09 Pikermi, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Apostolou
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
- Experimental, Educational Research Center, ELPEN Pharmaceuticals190 09 Pikermi, Greece
| | - Spyridon Tsikalakis
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - Konstantinos G Toutouzas
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - George Theodoropoulos
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - Eleni Andrianna Trigka
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - Nicholas Alexakis
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - Manousos Konstandoulakis
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Tsarea
- Experimental, Educational Research Center, ELPEN Pharmaceuticals190 09 Pikermi, Greece
| | - Maria Karamperi
- Experimental, Educational Research Center, ELPEN Pharmaceuticals190 09 Pikermi, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kletsas
- Laboratory of Cell Proliferation & Ageing, Institute of Biology NCSR ‘Demokritos’Athens 15310, Greece
| | - Efstratios Patsouris
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - Andreas Manouras
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - Georgios C Zografos
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
| | - Apostolos Papalois
- 1 Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio HospitalAthens 11527, Greece
- Experimental, Educational Research Center, ELPEN Pharmaceuticals190 09 Pikermi, Greece
- European University Cyprus, Medical SchoolNicosia 2404, Cyprus
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Michelli M, Zougros A, Chatziandreou I, Michalopoulos NV, Lazaris AC, Saetta AA. Concurrent Wnt pathway component expression in breast and colorectal cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2020; 216:153005. [PMID: 32534708 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2020.153005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Wnt signaling pathway regulates important cell functions such as proliferation and migration and is frequently deregulated in colorectal and breast cancer. Thus, it constitutes an attractive therapeutic target with many drugs being investigated in clinical trials. Eighty-two breast and 102 colorectal carcinomas were analyzed for: relative mRNA expression levels of Wnt pathway components namely Wnt3 ligand, Frizzled 7 receptor and LEF1 transcriptional factor, their concurrent expression patterns and their correlation with clinicopathological features. Regarding breast carcinomas, increased relative mRNA expression levels of WNT3 were found in 54 % of cases whereas decreased relative mRNA expression levels were observed in FZD7 and LEF1 in 82 % and 43 % of cases, respectively. Expression levels of WNT3 were significantly correlated with tumour grade (p = 0.021) in breast cancer. As far as colorectal carcinomas are concerned, increased relative mRNA expression levels of WNT3, FZD7 and LEF1 were found in 60 %, 37 % and 48 % of cases respectively. A statistically significant correlation emerged between LEF1expression levels and pT-category (p = 0.027), suggesting a possible association with tumour aggressiveness in colorectal carcinomas. Statistically significant linear correlations were observed between the expression of WNT3/LEF1 (R = 0.233, p = 0.035) and FZD7/LEF1 (R = 0.359, p = 0.001) in breast carcinomas as well as in colorectal carcinomas (R = 0.536, p < 0.01 and R = 0.210, p = 0.034) respectively. Our results demonstrate a possible clinical significance of Wnt pathway gene expression levels in both tumour types. The distinct expression patterns and simultaneous expression of the investigated genes underscore the complexity of this pathway in breast and colorectal carcinogenesis and highlights the necessity of patient selection with regard to the effectiveness of Wnt pathway inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Michelli
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Alexandros Zougros
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Ilenia Chatziandreou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos V Michalopoulos
- Fourth Department of Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Rimini 1, Haidari, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas C Lazaris
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
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Karatrasoglou EA, Chatziandreou I, Sakellariou S, Stamopoulos K, Kavantzas N, Lazaris AC, Korkolopoulou P, Saetta AA. Association between PD-L1 expression and driver gene mutations in non-small cell lung cancer patients: correlation with clinical data. Virchows Arch 2020; 477:207-217. [PMID: 31989260 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-020-02756-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Recently, promising therapies have emerged based on PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have been approved even as frontline treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We examined the association between PD-L1 expression and clinicopathological parameters as well as overall survival in 220 NSCLC patients. PD-L1 expression was estimated by immunohistochemistry using 22C3 PharmDx Dako assay and was defined as high, if TPS was ≥ 50%, low, if TPS was 1%-49%, and absent, if TPS was < 1%. EGFR mutations were detected by COBAS while KRAS and BRAF mutations by pyrosequencing. ROS1 and ALK rearrangements were estimated by immunohistochemistry with positive cases being confirmed by CISH and FISH, respectively. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v25.0. PD-L1 expression was positively correlated with KRAS mutations. Anti-PD-1 therapy (pembrolizumab) prolonged overall survival compared to any other treatment. This effect was more pronounced in KRAS-mutated cases compared to KRAS wild-type ones. Patients with positive PD-L1 expression - high or low - who had been treated with pembrolizumab, showed significant survival benefit compared to positive or negative PD-L1 expressors who did not receive immunotherapy. In multivariate analysis, PD-L1 status, stage and pembrolizumab treatment were independent variables for overall survival. PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥ 1%) by itself emerged as a poor prognostic factor, while treatment with pembrolizumab prolonged overall survival. KRAS mutations may affect tumour microenvironment and patient's response to immunotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors could represent an alternative therapeutic option particularly for KRAS-mutated NSCLC patients. Further investigation into this notion is warranted in order to validate this observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni A Karatrasoglou
- First Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Ilenia Chatziandreou
- First Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Stratigoula Sakellariou
- First Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Nikolaos Kavantzas
- First Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas C Lazaris
- First Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Penelope Korkolopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- First Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Katafygiotis P, Sakellariou S, Chatziandreou I, Giannopoulou I, Thymara I, Saetta AA, Korkolopoulou P. Microsatellite Instability in Greek Colorectal Carcinoma Patients: Clinicopathological and Molecular Correlations. Anticancer Res 2019; 39:6379-6387. [PMID: 31704871 DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.13851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM In the present retrospective study, we assessed the molecular profile and clinicopathological correlations of Greek colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from 157 CRC patients were collected. High Resolution Melting Analysis and Pyrosequencing/Sanger sequencing were applied to identify KRAS, BRAF, NRAS mutations and microsatellite instability (MSI) status. Immunohistochemistry was performed to characterize the associated Mismatch Repair Protein loss. Statistical calculations were performed using the statistical package SPSS v21.0. RESULTS KRAS mutations were detected in 39.3% of cases, BRAF in 10.9% and NRAS in 4.9%. MSI status was recognized in 11.5% of CRC patients and was associated with right colon tumors. MSI phenotype was inversely correlated with stage, N status and KRAS mutations and positively correlated with BRAF mutations. CONCLUSION MSI positive CRCs in the Greek population are more often right-sided, free of metastasis, KRAS wild type and BRAF mutated. Providing more detailed clinicopathological and molecular data for specific populations will enable better clinical management and individualized therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patroklos Katafygiotis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Stratigoula Sakellariou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ilenia Chatziandreou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Giannopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Irene Thymara
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Penelope Korkolopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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8
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Saetta AA, Lazaris AC, Miaouli M, Voutsinas GE, Patsouris E, Tseleni-Balafouta S. Resistance to Fas-Mediated Apoptosis Does Not Correlate to Structural Alterations or Expression Changes of the Death Receptor in Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas. Pathobiology 2018; 85:304-310. [PMID: 30278467 DOI: 10.1159/000492358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant cells exhibit significant resistance to FAS-mediated cell death, through different processes, including FAS mutations, soluble FAS expression, or FAS transcriptional dysregulation by P53, eventually escaping from immune surveillance. Since thyroid carcinomas were shown to be resistant to FAS-mediated apoptosis, we investigated the above mechanisms in thyroid carcinoma samples. METHODS Thirty-seven thyroid carcinoma samples were analyzed for mutations in FAS exon 9 and TP53 exons 5-8 and protein expression by means of immunohistochemistry. Moreover, thyroid carcinoma mRNA samples were subjected to reverse transcription - PCR, to evaluate the relative expression of transmembrane FAS versus its soluble form. RESULTS Analysis revealed indications for TP53 mutations in the anaplastic carcinomas, but not in the other thyroid specimens examined for TP53 or FAS exon 9 mutations. FAS receptor expression was observed in almost all thyroid specimens (97%) with significant up-regulation in papillary carcinomas. P53 nuclear staining was observed only in anaplastic carcinomas. Full-length FAS mRNA was detected in all specimens examined, with soluble FAS mRNA being either absent or present in very low amounts. CONCLUSIONS Our results denote that FAS death domain or TP53 DNA-binding domain mutations, down-regulation of FAS receptor expression, or expression of FAS soluble isoform are not responsible for the seeming inhibition of FAS-mediated apoptosis in papillary thyroid carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
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- First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas C Lazaris
- First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Miaouli
- First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gerassimos E Voutsinas
- Laboratory of Environmental Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research (NCSR) "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Efstratios Patsouris
- First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Tseleni-Balafouta
- First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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9
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Fragkioudaki S, Nezos A, Souliotis VL, Chatziandreou I, Saetta AA, Drakoulis N, Tzioufas AG, Voulgarelis M, Sfikakis PP, Koutsilieris M, Crow MK, Moutsopoulos HM, Mavragani CP. MTHFR gene variants and non-MALT lymphoma development in primary Sjogren's syndrome. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7354. [PMID: 28779180 PMCID: PMC5544668 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07347-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS) confers increased risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) development. Two common polymorphisms, the c. 677C > T and c. 1298A > C, of the methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, an enzyme essential in DNA synthesis and methylation, have been associated with susceptibility to NHL. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that MTHFR variants contribute to pSS-related lymphomagenesis. 356 pSS patients, of whom 75 had MALT and 19 non-MALT NHL and 600 healthy controls were genotyped for the detection of MTHFR polymorphisms. DNA methylation levels were assessed by pyrosequencing of the LINE-1 retroelement promoter in DNA from 55 salivary gland tissues from pSS patients. DNA double-strand breaks were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 13 pSS patients, using comet assay. Αnalysis according to lymphoma subtype revealed increased frequency of c. 677C > T TT genotype and T allele, as well as reduced prevalence of the c. 1298A > C C allele in the pSS non-MALT group compared to controls and patients without NHL. MTHFR c. 677C > T TT genotype was associated with reduced DNA methylation levels, while MTHFR c. 1298A > C AC genotype with reduced DNA double-strand breaks levels. MTHFR variants may be involved in SS non-MALT NHL development, through contribution to defective DNA methylation and genomic instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Fragkioudaki
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Adrianos Nezos
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilis L Souliotis
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Ilenia Chatziandreou
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Drakoulis
- Research Group of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios G Tzioufas
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Voulgarelis
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P Sfikakis
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.,First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Koutsilieris
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Mary K Crow
- Mary Kirkland Center for Lupus Research, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Haralampos M Moutsopoulos
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Clio P Mavragani
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
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Karadima ML, Saetta AA, Chatziandreou I, Lazaris AC, Patsouris E, Tsavaris N. The Prognostic Influence of BRAF Mutation and other Molecular, Clinical and Laboratory Parameters in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer. Pathol Oncol Res 2016; 22:707-14. [DOI: 10.1007/s12253-016-0056-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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11
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Lakiotaki E, Levidou G, Angelopoulou MK, Adamopoulos C, Pangalis G, Rassidakis G, Vassilakopoulos T, Gainaru G, Flevari P, Sachanas S, Saetta AA, Sepsa A, Moschogiannis M, Kalpadakis C, Tsesmetzis N, Milionis V, Chatziandreou I, Thymara I, Panayiotidis P, Dimopoulou M, Plata E, Konstantopoulos K, Patsouris E, Piperi C, Korkolopoulou P. Potential role of AKT/mTOR signalling proteins in hairy cell leukaemia: association with BRAF/ERK activation and clinical outcome. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21252. [PMID: 26893254 PMCID: PMC4759548 DOI: 10.1038/srep21252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential role of AKT/mTOR signalling proteins and its association with the Raf-MEK-ERK pathway was investigated in hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). BRAFV600E expression and activated forms of AKT, mTOR, ERK1/2, p70S6k and 4E-BP1 were immunohistochemically assessed in 77 BM biopsies of HCL patients and correlated with clinicopathological and BM microvascular characteristics, as well as with c-Caspase-3 levels in hairy cells. Additionally, we tested rapamycin treatment response of BONNA-12 wild-type cells or transfected with BRAFV600E. Most HCL cases expressed p-p70S6K and p-4E-BP1 but not p-mTOR, being accompanied by p-ERK1/2 and p-AKT. AKT/mTOR activation was evident in BONNA-12 cells irrespective of the presence of BRAFV600E mutation and was implicated in cell proliferation enhancement. In multivariate analysis p-AKT/p-mTOR/p-4E-BP1 overexpression was an adverse prognostic factor for time to next treatment conferring earlier relapse. When p-AKT, p-mTOR and p-4E-BP1 were examined separately only p-4E-BP1 remained significant. Our findings indicate that in HCL, critical proteins up- and downstream of mTOR are activated. Moreover, the strong associations with Raf-MEK-ERK signalling imply a possible biologic interaction between these pathways. Most importantly, expression of p-4E-BP1 alone or combined with p-AKT and p-mTOR is of prognostic value in patients with HCL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Georgia Levidou
- Department of Pathology, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | - Maria K Angelopoulou
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | - Christos Adamopoulos
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | | | - George Rassidakis
- Department of Pathology, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece.,Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Centrum Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Theodoros Vassilakopoulos
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | - Gabriella Gainaru
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | - Pagona Flevari
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | - Sotirios Sachanas
- Department of Haematology, Athens Medical Centre, Psychikon Branch, Greece
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | - Athanasia Sepsa
- Department of Pathology, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | | | | | - Nikolaos Tsesmetzis
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Centrum Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Irene Thymara
- Department of Pathology, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | - Panayiotis Panayiotidis
- 1st Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | - Maria Dimopoulou
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | - Eleni Plata
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
| | | | | | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
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12
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Papadavid E, Korkolopoulou P, Levidou G, Saetta AA, Papadaki T, Siakantaris M, Nikolaou V, Oikonomidi A, Chatziandreou I, Marinos L, Kolialexi A, Stratigos A, Rigopoulos D, Psyrri A, Patsouris E, Antoniou C. In situ assessment of PI3K and PTEN alterations in mycosis fungoides: correlation with clinicopathological features. Exp Dermatol 2015; 23:931-3. [PMID: 25267489 DOI: 10.1111/exd.12547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Deregulated signalling through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a critical role in tumour initiation and progression. We have already shown that AKT is activated in skin lesions in Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and we herein further investigate the frequency and clinical significance of PTEN and PI3K at the protein and at the DNA level as well as the presence of AKT1 mutations in skin lesions from 50 patients with MF clinical stages I-IV in relation to clinicopathological features. Increased p-AKT expression correlated with poor prognosis in plaques (P = 0.0198), whereas p-AKT was an independent predictor of poor survival in the entire cohort (P = 0.017, HR = 1.012). PTEN cytoplasmic expression was found low or absent in all 77.3% of cases and inversely correlated with advanced clinical stages (P = 0.0744). Molecular analysis showed no AKT1 mutation, no PI3KCA copy number gain, only 1 case with PI3KCA mutation in exon 9 and 3 cases with PTEN mutations (7%) in exons 7, 8 and 5. The latter correlated with disease (P = 0.0253) and progression (P < 0.0001) free survival in tumour stage. Although activation of PI3K/AKT signalling pathway due to PTEN alterations is rarely attributed to abnormalities in PTEN, PI3K, and AKT1 genes, PTEN mutations exert a negative effect on patients' prognosis with tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelia Papadavid
- 1st Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous lymphoma Clinic, A Syngros Hospital, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece; 2d Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Lymphoma Clinic, ATTIKON University General Hospital, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
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13
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Chatziandreou I, Tsioli P, Sakellariou S, Mourkioti I, Giannopoulou I, Levidou G, Korkolopoulou P, Patsouris E, Saetta AA. Comprehensive Molecular Analysis of NSCLC; Clinicopathological Associations. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26208325 PMCID: PMC4514742 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Selection of NSCLC patients for targeted therapy is currently based upon the presence of sensitizing mutations in EGFR and EML4/ALK translocations. The heterogeneity of molecular alterations in lung cancer has led to the ongoing discovery of potential biomarkers and targets in order to improve survival. Aim This study aimed to detect alterations in EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, MET-gene copy number and ALK rearrangements in a large cohort of 956 NSCLC patients of Hellenic origin using highly sensitive techniques and correlations with clinicopathological characteristics. Results Mutations were detected in EGFR 10.6% (101 out of 956 samples), KRAS 26.5% (191 out of 720 samples), BRAF 2.5% (12 out of 471 samples), PIK3CA 3.8% (7 out of 184 samples), MET gene amplification was detected in 18% (31 out of 170) and ALK rearrangements in 3.7% (4 out of 107 samples). EGFR mutations were detected in exon 19 (61.4% of mutant cases), exon 21 p.Leu858Arg (19.8%), exon 20 (15.8%), exon 18 (2.9%) and were correlated with gender histology, smoking status and TTF1 staining. p.Thr790Met mutant cases (3.9%) displayed concurrent mutations in exons 19 or 21. Negative TTF-1 staining showed strong negative predictive value for the presence of EGFR mutations. KRAS mutations were associated with histology, the most common mutation being p.Gly12Cys (38%). Discussion In conclusion, only 89 patients were eligible for EGFR -TKIs and ALK inhibitors therapy, whereas 257 patients showed other alterations, highlighting the necessity for a detailed molecular profiling potentially leading to more efficient individualized therapies for NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Chatziandreou
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
- * E-mail:
| | - Panagiota Tsioli
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Stratigoula Sakellariou
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Mourkioti
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Giannopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Levidou
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Penelope Korkolopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstratios Patsouris
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelica A. Saetta
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
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14
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Tasioudi KE, Sakellariou S, Levidou G, Theodorou D, Michalopoulos NV, Patsouris E, Korkolopoulou P, Saetta AA. Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in esophageal carcinoma. APMIS 2015; 123:639-47. [PMID: 25912437 DOI: 10.1111/apm.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Among the numerous signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis, PI3K-AKT-mTOR is a key one that regulates diverse cellular functions. However, its prognostic value in esophageal carcinoma remains unclear. In our study, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of phosphorylated (p-) AKT, mTOR, p70S6K and 4E-BP1 along with the mutational status of PIK3CA and AKT1 genes by High Resolution Melting Analysis and Pyrosequencing in 44 esophageal carcinomas. The results were correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients in an effort to define their possible prognostic significance. Total p-mTOR cytoplasmic expression, assessed in 10 random areas, was positively correlated with tumor stage (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, I/II vs III/IV, p = 0.0500). Μoreover, maximum p-mTOR cytoplasmic immunoexpression, estimated in hot spot areas, was positively associated with tumor grade (Mann-Whitney U test, I/II vs III, p = 0.0565). Interestingly, p-4E-BP1 immunoreactivity was negatively correlated with tumor histological grade (Mann-Whitney U test, I/II vs III, p = 0.0427). No mutation was observed in exons 9 and 20 of PIK3CA gene and in exon 4 of AKT1 gene. In conclusion, our findings depict the presence of activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in esophageal cancer bringing forward p-mTOR and p-4E-BP1 for their potential role in esophageal carcinogenesis. Additional studies are warranted to validate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantia E Tasioudi
- 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Stratigoula Sakellariou
- 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Levidou
- 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Theodorou
- 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokratio Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos V Michalopoulos
- 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokratio Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstratios Patsouris
- 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Penelope Korkolopoulou
- 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece
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El-Habr EA, Levidou G, Trigka EA, Sakalidou J, Piperi C, Chatziandreou I, Spyropoulou A, Soldatos R, Tomara G, Petraki K, Samaras V, Zisakis A, Varsos V, Vrettakos G, Boviatsis E, Patsouris E, Saetta AA, Korkolopoulou P. Complex interactions between the components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and with components of MAPK, JAK/STAT and Notch-1 pathways, indicate their involvement in meningioma development. Virchows Arch 2014; 465:473-85. [PMID: 25146167 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-014-1641-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Revised: 08/02/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the significance of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its interactions with MAPK, JAK/STAT and Notch pathways in meningioma progression. Paraffin-embedded tissue from 108 meningioma patients was analysed for the presence of mutations in PIK3CA and AKT1. These were correlated with the expression status of components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, including p85α and p110γ subunits of PI3K, phosphorylated (p)-AKT, p-mTOR, p-p70S6K and p-4E-BP1, as well as of p-ERK1/2, p-STAT3 and Notch-1, clinicopathological data and patient survival. A mutation in PIK3CA or AKT1 was found in around 9 % of the cases. Higher grade meningiomas displayed higher nuclear expression of p-p70S6K; higher nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of p-4E-BP1 and of Notch-1; lower cytoplasmic expression of p85αPI3K, p-p70S6K and p-ERK1/2; and lower PTEN Histo-scores (H-scores). PTEN H-score was inversely correlated with recurrence probability. In univariate survival analysis, nuclear expression of p-4E-BP1 and absence of p-ERK1/2 expression portended adverse prognosis, whereas in multivariate survival analysis, p-ERK1/2 expression emerged as an independent favourable prognostic factor. Treatment of the human meningioma cell line HBL-52 with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 resulted in reduction of p-AKT, p-p70S6K and p-ERK1/2 protein levels. The complex interactions established between components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, or with components of the MAPK, JAK/STAT and Notch-1 pathways, appear to be essential for facilitating and fuelling meningioma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias A El-Habr
- First Department of Pathology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 115 27, Athens, Greece,
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16
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Stamatelli A, Vlachou C, Aroni K, Papassideri I, Patsouris E, Saetta AA. Epigenetic alterations in sporadic basal cell carcinomas. Arch Dermatol Res 2014; 306:561-9. [PMID: 24573469 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-014-1454-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Revised: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant human neoplasm characterized by slow growth and virtual absence of metastases. Recently, it has become evident that along with genetic mutations epigenetic alterations play a key role in the pathogenesis of human cancer. We searched for promoter methylation of hMLH1, RASSF1A, DAPK, APC, DCR1 and DCR2 genes and BRAF mutations in BCCs in association with the clinicopathological parameters and the histological subtypes of the tumours. Fifty-two BCCs, 17 FFPE along with 35 fresh tissue samples with matching normal tissues for 26 cases were analyzed by methylation-specific PCR to assess the methylation status of hMLH1, RASSF1A, DAPK, APC, DCR1 and DCR2 genes after sodium bisulfite treatment of the tumour and normal DNA. hMLH1 and DCR1 gene expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry. BRAF mutations were studied by high resolution melting analysis. Methylation was detected at a variable frequency of 44, 33, 32.5, 32 and 14 % of DCR2, APC, DCR1, RASSF1 and DAPK promoters, respectively, whereas methylation of hMLH1 promoter was absent. No BRAF mutations were found. There was no correlation between the frequency of the promoter methylation of the above-mentioned genes and the clinicopathological features or the histological subtypes of the tumours. The relatively high frequency of RASSF1A, DCR1, DCR2 and APC promoter methylation may imply that methylation constitutes an important pathway in the tumourigenesis of BCC that could provide new opportunities in developing epigenetic therapies for BCC patients. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to establish the above-mentioned hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki Stamatelli
- 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece,
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Korkolopoulou P, Levidou G, Trigka EA, Prekete N, Karlou M, Thymara I, Sakellariou S, Fragkou P, Isaiadis D, Pavlopoulos P, Patsouris E, Saetta AA. A comprehensive immunohistochemical and molecular approach to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene/mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway in bladder urothelial carcinoma. BJU Int 2012; 110:E1237-48. [PMID: 23107319 DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2012.11569.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? A few published studies investigating single or various PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling components have produced inconsistent results. Moreover, PI3K regulatory subunit p85a and activated p70S6K expression levels have not been previously examined in urothelial carcinoma (UC). The present study addresses simultaneously all key members of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling cascade supporting a differential implication of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway components in urothelial tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we propose p-4E-BP1 as a potential prognostic marker in UC, which might assist the selection of patients more likely to benefit from chemotherapy regimens based on PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition. Finally, the present study indicates PIK3CA/AKT1 mutational status as a potential predictive marker for time-to-recurrence. OBJECTIVE • To perform a comprehensive simultaneous assessment of all key members of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway along with AKT homolog 1 (AKT1) and PIK3 catalytic alpha polypeptide (PIK3CA) mutations in bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC). • Published information is limited to a few studies looking into single or various combinations of members of this pathway with inconsistent results. In particular the expression status of phosphorylated (p-)p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) and p85a subunit of PI3K has not been tested in UC. PATIENTS AND METHODS • Paraffin-embedded transurethral resection tissue from 113 patients with UC was investigated for the association of p85aPI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-p70S6K and p-4E-BP1 (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1) expression status, as well as PIK3CA and AKT1 mutations with p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), pathological features, recurrence and cancer-specific survival. RESULTS • With the exception of p-p70S6K, all others components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were upregulated in UCs as compared with normal urothelium. • p-mTOR expression strongly correlated with its upstream p-AKT and marginally with its downstream p-p70S6K. p85aPI3K and p-ERK1/2 levels were also marginally correlated. • PIK3CA and AKT1 mutations were distinctly uncommon and mutually exclusive, without any association with pathological features. However, the presence of AKT1 mutations was associated with increased FGFR3 levels and was restricted to p85aPI3K immunonegative cases, whereas PIK3CA mutant cases had marginally lower p85aPI3K levels. • The presence of PIK3CA single or combined with AKT1 mutations was associated with shorter recurrence-free survival in univariate survival analysis. An inverse relationship was established between p-4E-BP1 immunopositivity and histological grade or T category, as well as between p-p70S6K levels and T category, the latter relationship being of marginal significance. • p-4E-BP1 nuclear expression was marginally associated with the presence of lymphovascular invasion and adversely affected survival in multivariate, but not in univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS • PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling components appear to be differentially implicated in urothelial tumorigenesis and, with the exception of p85aPI3K, are unrelated to the PIK3CA or AKT1 mutational status. • Our findings propose p-4E-BP1 as a potential prognostic marker in UC independent of its association with pathological features, which might assist the selection of patients more likely to benefit from PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis inhibition. • PIK3CA/AKT1 mutational status may have a place in the prediction of time-to-recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Korkolopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
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Korkolopoulou P, Levidou G, El-Habr EA, Piperi C, Adamopoulos C, Samaras V, Boviatsis E, Thymara I, Trigka EA, Sakellariou S, Kavantzas N, Patsouris E, Saetta AA. Phosphorylated 4E-binding protein 1 (p-4E-BP1): a novel prognostic marker in human astrocytomas. Histopathology 2012; 61:293-305. [PMID: 22690797 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2012.04236.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To investigate the significance of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in astrocytic tumours, published information in this context being limited, especially regarding phosphorylated 4E-binding protein (p-4E-BP) 1. METHODS AND RESULTS Paraffin-embedded tissue from 111 patients with astroglial tumours (grades II-IV) was investigated for the association of phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR) signalling components with phosphorylated extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) expression, clinicopathological features, angiogenesis, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1)-R132H, and survival. Expression was also quantified by western blot analysis in 12 cases and in three primary glioma cell cultures following rapamycin treatment. p-mTOR expression correlated with p-4E-BP1 expression and marginally with p-p70S6K expression. p-4E-BP1 expression increased with tumour grade. Rapamycin induced a decline in phosphorylation levels of all three proteins. Nuclear p-AKT and cytoplasmic p-ERK1/2 immunoexpression correlated with p-4E-BP1 expression, whereas cytoplasmic p-AKT expression correlated with p-p70S6K expression. All three proteins were associated with increased angiogenesis but not with IDH1-R132H expression status. p-mTOR adversely affected overall and disease-free survival in univariate analysis. In multivariate survival analysis, the presence of p-4E-BP1 predicted shortened overall survival in the entire cohort and glioblastomas. CONCLUSIONS mTOR signalling components are differentially involved in the acquisition of a more aggressive and angiogenic phenotype in astrocytic tumours. Moreover, p-4E-BP1 emerges as a novel prognostic marker, which might aid in the selection of patients who are more likely to benefit from therapy with mTOR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Korkolopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Laiko Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
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Tasioudi KE, Saetta AA, Sakellariou S, Levidou G, Michalopoulos NV, Theodorou D, Patsouris E, Korkolopoulou P. pERK activation in esophageal carcinomas: clinicopathological associations. Pathol Res Pract 2012; 208:398-404. [PMID: 22658382 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2012.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2012] [Revised: 03/28/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway is considered a control regulator in various malignant tumors but its role in esophageal carcinomas remains elusive. In our study, we examined the possible prognostic significance of MAPK pathway in human esophageal cancer. We searched for mutations in exons 18-21 of EGFR gene, codons 12 and 13 of K-RAS gene and exon 15 of B-RAF gene by high resolution melting analysis (HRMA) and pyrosequencing in 44 esophageal carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry was performed in 29 cases in order to evaluate expression levels of pERK (extracellular-signal regulated kinase). In one laser microdissected squamous cell carcinoma, a somatic K-RAS mutation at codon 12 was detected, whereas none of the cases displayed mutations in EGFR and B-RAF genes. Elevated nuclear as well as cytoplasmic pERK expression (100% and 62% of cases respectively) was observed independently of EGFR and B-RAF mutational status. Increasing pERK nuclear and cytoplasmic expression as well as the intensity of nuclear staining was found to be significantly correlated with tumor grade in univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Our findings depict the presence of activated ERK despite the low frequency of upstream alterations, implicating ERK activation in the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype in esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Tasioudi
- 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Assias, Goudi 11527, Greece.
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Levidou G, Saetta AA, Gigelou F, Karlou M, Papanastasiou P, Stamatelli A, Kavantzas N, Michalopoulos NV, Agrogiannis G, Patsouris E, Korkolopoulou P. ERK/pERK expression and B-raf mutations in colon adenocarcinomas: correlation with clinicopathological characteristics. World J Surg Oncol 2012; 10:47. [PMID: 22376079 PMCID: PMC3320554 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7819-10-47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2011] [Accepted: 02/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal (CRC) carcinogenesis through various morphological stages has been linked to several genetic and epigenetic changes. The Raf/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signal transduction cascade is an important mediator of a number of cellular fates. METHODS In this study, we investigated the presence of B-raf and K-ras mutations in 94 consecutive cases of primary colon adenocarcinoma in correlation with the immunohistochemical expression of total and activated ERK and the expression of mismatch repair proteins (MMR) hMLH1 and hMSH2 as well as their correlations with standard clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS The immunostaining pattern for total and activated ERK was nuclear and cytoplasmic. hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins were preserved in 45/63 (71.43%) cases and 35/53 (66.04%) cases respectively. Total ERK nuclear expression, was positively correlated with tumor stage (p = 0.049), whereas nuclear pERK expression was positively correlated with histological grade (p = 0.0113) and tumor stage (p = 0.0952), although the latter relationship was of marginal significance. DNA sequencing showed that 12 samples (12.7%) had a mutation in B-RAF Exon 15 and none in Exon 11, whereas 22 (23.4%) had a K-ras mutation. Disruption of the MAP kinase pathway-either through K-ras or B-raf mutation-was detected in 37% of all the examined cases, although the overexpression of total and activated ERK1/2 was not correlated with the mutational status of K-ras or B-raf genes. Finally, the preservation of hMLH1 or hMSH2 immunoexpression was not correlated with the presence of B-raf and/or K-ras mutations. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we present evidence that ERK activation occurs in a K-ras or B-raf -independent manner in the majority of primary colon cancer cases. Moreover, B-raf mutations are not associated with mismatch-repair deficiency through loss of hMLH1 or hMSH2 expression. Activated ERK could possibly be implicated in tumor invasiveness as well as in the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Levidou
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - Fanie Gigelou
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - Maria Karlou
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - Polyanthi Papanastasiou
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - Angeliki Stamatelli
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - Nikolaos Kavantzas
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - Nikolaos V Michalopoulos
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - George Agrogiannis
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - Efstratios Patsouris
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
| | - Penelope Korkolopoulou
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias street, Greece 11527
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Tserga A, Michalopoulos NV, Levidou G, Korkolopoulou P, Zografos G, Patsouris E, Saetta AA. Association of aberrant DNA methylation with clinicopathological features in breast cancer. Oncol Rep 2011; 27:1630-8. [PMID: 22159596 DOI: 10.3892/or.2011.1576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2011] [Accepted: 10/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant DNA methylation is responsible for the epigenetic silencing of genes associated with tumourigenesis and progression of cancer. In this study, we assessed the methylation status of eight genes in 49 snap-frozen primary breast tumours. Epigenetic alterations of 8 genes were analysed with methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) (DCR1, DAPK1, RASSF1A and DCR2) or methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis (MS-HRM) (APC, MGMT, GSTP1 and PTEN). MS-HRM performance was validated by bisulfite pyrosequencing regarding the methylation levels of MGMT. Promoter methylation was observed in APC 54.34%, 40.4% DCR1, 37.5% DAPK1, 33.3% RASSF1A, 22.44% MGMT, 16.6% GSTP1, 6% PTEN and 0% DCR2 promoters, respectively. Interestingly, 37 out of 49 cases (75.5%) displayed aberrant promoter methylation in at least one gene. An association of MGMT promoter methylation with age and tumour grade was recorded. Moreover, a correlation with advanced T-category was elicited for GSTP1, RASSF1 and DAPK1 promoter methylation. Finally, concurrent methylation of several genes showed a marginal statistical relationship with N-category. We conclude that APC, DCR1, DAPK1 and RASSF1A promoter methylation represents a common event in breast cancer tumourigenesis. Our results suggest that GSTP1, RASSF1, DAPK1 and MGMT may be implicated in the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aggeliki Tserga
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and First Propaedeutic Department of Surgery, Hippocration University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
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Stamatelli A, Saetta AA, Bei T, Kavantzas N, Michalopoulos NV, Patsouris E, Aroni K. B-Raf mutations, microsatellite instability and p53 protein expression in sporadic basal cell carcinomas. Pathol Oncol Res 2011; 17:633-7. [PMID: 21274671 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-011-9363-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2009] [Accepted: 01/06/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin malignancy. Genes related to the Ras/Raf signalling pathway have been implicated in the pathogenesis of skin cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of B-Raf mutations in sporadic BCCs as well as its correlation with the phenotype of microsatellite instability (MSI), the clinicopathological parameters of the tumours and p53 protein expression. 83 BCC specimens were screened for B-Raf mutations, applying polymerase chain reaction, single-stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing. MSI status was examined using mononucleotide microsatellite markers and p53 protein expression was demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining. A C to T transition at 1790 nucleotide leading to a silent mutation L597L; and a T to A transversion causing an amino acid change (F610I) have been found. MSI was detected in 5% of the cases and p53 accumulation was present in 37/83 samples studied. Although rare B-Raf alterations have been observed in BCC, none of them harboured the hot-spot mutation T1799A commonly present in melanomas and colon carcinomas. Consequently, no correlation could be determined between B-Raf alterations, MSI status, the clinicopathological features and p53 protein expression. Our results are in favour of a secondary importance for Ras signalling cascade genes in BCC pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki Stamatelli
- 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Levidou G, Gakiopoulou H, Kavantzas N, Saetta AA, Karlou M, Pavlopoulos P, Thymara I, Diamantopoulou K, Patsouris E, Korkolopoulou P. Prognostic significance of replication protein A (RPA) expression levels in bladder urothelial carcinoma. BJU Int 2010; 108:E59-65. [PMID: 21062395 DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2010.09828.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To elucidate the role of replication protein A (RPA) in both superficial (Ta-T1) and muscle-invasive (T2-T4) urothelial carcinomas (UCs), investigating its potential prognostic usefulness. PATIENTS AND METHODS Paraffin-embedded tissue from 156 patients with bladder UC was immunostained for RPA1 and RPA2. RESULTS RPA1 and RPA2 labelling indexes (LIs) decreased with increasing histological grade (both P < 0.001) and T-category in the entire cohort (P = 0.008 and P < 0.001, respectively) and in muscle-invasive carcinomas (P = 0.014 and P = 0.012, respectively). RPA1 expression was positively correlated with RPA2 (Spearman's correlation coefficient ρ = 0.309, P < 0.001). Both RPA1 and RPA2 LIs were positively correlated with cyclin D1 expression (ρ = 0.354, P < 0.001 and ρ = 0.934, P < 0.001). In survival analysis of the entire cohort decreased RPA2 and RPA1 correlated with a lesser probability of survival (P < 0.001 and P = 0.018). In non-muscle-invasive tumours (Ta-T1) only lower RPA2 (P < 0.001) was correlated with shortened survival, whereas in muscle-invasive tumours (T2-T4) decreased RPA2 and RPA1 expression levels were associated with adverse prognosis (P = 0.035 and P = 0.042, respectively). In multivariate survival analysis of the entire cohort and in non-muscle-invasive cases RPA2 expression remained significant, even when adjustment for cyclin D1 expression was applied. CONCLUSIONS RPA1 and RPA2 overexpression seems to be more important during early T-categories of bladder carcinogenesis. Showing similar kinetics with cyclin D1. RPA2 expression emerges as a valuable marker of favourable prognosis in the entire cohort and in non-muscle-invasive tumours, supplementing the information obtained by standard clinicopathological prognosticators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Levidou
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko Hospital, First Department of Pathology, Athens, Greece.
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Levidou G, El-Habr E, Saetta AA, Bamias C, Katsougiannis K, Patsouris E, Korkolopoulou P. P53 immunoexpression as a prognostic marker for human astrocytomas: a meta-analysis and review of the literature. J Neurooncol 2010; 100:363-71. [DOI: 10.1007/s11060-010-0204-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2009] [Accepted: 04/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Karlou M, Saetta AA, Korkolopoulou P, Levidou G, Papanastasiou P, Boltetsou E, Isaiadis D, Pavlopoulos P, Thymara I, Thomas-Tsagli E, Patsouris E. Activation of extracellular regulated kinases (ERK1/2) predicts poor prognosis in urothelial bladder carcinoma and is not associated with B-Raf gene mutations. Pathology 2009; 41:327-34. [PMID: 19404844 DOI: 10.1080/00313020902885011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AIM The analysis of the presence of B-Raf gene mutations in relation to ERK1/2 activation in bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC), in order to determine their potential role in tumour aggressiveness and patients' survival. METHODS Polymerase chain reaction-single strand confirmation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing analysis were used for B-Raf gene mutation detection. pERK1/2 and FGFR3 expression were examined by immunohistochemistry in 152 and 116 primary UCs, respectively. RESULTS None of the cases displayed mutations in exon 15 of B-Raf gene. Nuclear or cytoplasmic pERK immunoreactivity was displayed in 99.3% and 96.7% of cases, respectively. pERK nuclear expression increased with histological grade and with T-category. Nuclear and cytoplasmic pERK expression was unrelated to FGFR3 expression. In univariate survival analysis of muscle-invasive carcinomas, advanced T-category and higher pERK nuclear expression (p = 0.018) adversely affected survival. However, multivariate analysis in non-invasive as well as in muscle-invasive carcinomas selected only T-category as a significant prognosticator. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that elevated pERK expression occurs in UCs in the absence of B-Raf mutations and is not correlated with FGFR3 over-expression. Moreover, it implicates ERK activation in the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype. However, the assessment of pERK1/2 expression does not seem to add to the prognostic information provided by classical prognosticators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Karlou
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece
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26
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Levidou G, Saetta AA, Korkolopoulou P, Papanastasiou P, Gioti K, Pavlopoulos P, Diamantopoulou K, Thomas-Tsagli E, Xiromeritis K, Patsouris E. Clinical significance of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB levels in urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Virchows Arch 2008; 452:295-304. [PMID: 18188593 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-007-0560-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2007] [Revised: 11/13/2007] [Accepted: 12/06/2007] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB has been reported to be constitutively activated in various human neoplasms. However, its clinical significance in bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains an unresolved issue. We conducted this study trying to elucidate the role of NFkappaB in bladder UC and its potential prognostic significance, by quantifying immunohistochemically the levels of p65/RelA expression in paraffin-embedded tissue from 116 patients. Some of the cases had previously been stained for cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) and bcl-2. Seventy-four cases displayed concurrent cytoplasmic and nuclear immunoreactivity, whereas 18 only nuclear immunoexpression and 21 only cytoplasmic immunoexpression, and the remaining three cases were negative for p65/RelA. Nuclear p65/RelA expression was positively associated with tumour grade and T-category (p=0.0001 in both cases). In addition, cytoplasmic p65/RelA expression was lower in advanced T-category (p=0.0030). Moreover, p65/RelA nuclear expression was positively correlated with c-FLIP (p=0.0109) and bcl-2 (p=0.0452). p65/RelA nuclear expression adversely affected survival in both univariate and multivariate analysis in superficial (Ta-T1; p=0.0010 and p=0.0008) as well as in muscle-invasive carcinomas (T2-T4; p=0.0004 and p=0.0003). Our results demonstrate that NF-kappaB nuclear expression is correlated with histologic grade and T category in bladder UC. Moreover, NF-kappaB nuclear expression emerges as an independent prognosticator of adverse significance, conveying information beyond that obtained by standard clinicopathological prognosticators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Levidou
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens 11527, Greece.
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27
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Korkolopoulou P, Levidou G, Saetta AA, El-Habr E, Eftichiadis C, Demenagas P, Thymara I, Xiromeritis K, Boviatsis E, Thomas-Tsagli E, Panayotidis I, Patsouris E. Expression of nuclear factor-kappaB in human astrocytomas: relation to pI kappa Ba, vascular endothelial growth factor, Cox-2, microvascular characteristics, and survival. Hum Pathol 2008; 39:1143-52. [PMID: 18495209 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2008.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2007] [Revised: 01/03/2008] [Accepted: 01/22/2008] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Although NF-kappaB has been reported to be constitutively activated in various neoplasms, little information is available about its clinical significance in astrocytomas. In this study, we investigated the association of NF kappa B1/p50 and pI kappa Ba immunohistochemical expression with clinicopathologic features, vascular endothelial growth factor, Cox-2, and microvascular parameters in paraffin-embedded tissue from 82 patients with astrocytomas. pI kappa Ba expression was positively correlated with nuclear (P = .0010) and negatively with cytoplasmic (P = .0008) NF kappa B1/p50 expression. Nuclear NF kappa B1/p50 and pI kappa Ba expression increased with tumor grade (P = .0001 and P < .0001). Nuclear NF kappa B1/p50 was associated with vascular endothelial growth factor (P = .0079), Cox-2 (P = .0500), and total vascular surface area (P = .0430), although the latter was significant only in grades II and III. pI kappa Ba was also positively correlated with microvessel caliber (pI kappa Ba/area; P = .0087). Multivariate analysis selected NF kappa B/p50 expression as an independent prognosticator not only for the entire cohort (P = .0220), but also for grades II and III (P = .0029) and grade IV cases (P = .0310). Our results suggest that nuclear NF kappa B1/p50 expression is dictated by its interaction with I kappa Ba in astrocytomas and is associated with tumor grade and angiogenic factors, denoting the importance of nuclear NF kappa B/p50 expression in patients' prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Korkolopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, Laiko Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Price AL, Butler J, Patterson N, Capelli C, Pascali VL, Scarnicci F, Ruiz-Linares A, Groop L, Saetta AA, Korkolopoulou P, Seligsohn U, Waliszewska A, Schirmer C, Ardlie K, Ramos A, Nemesh J, Arbeitman L, Goldstein DB, Reich D, Hirschhorn JN. Discerning the ancestry of European Americans in genetic association studies. PLoS Genet 2007; 4:e236. [PMID: 18208327 PMCID: PMC2211542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0030236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2007] [Accepted: 11/16/2007] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
European Americans are often treated as a homogeneous group, but in fact form a structured population due to historical immigration of diverse source populations. Discerning the ancestry of European Americans genotyped in association studies is important in order to prevent false-positive or false-negative associations due to population stratification and to identify genetic variants whose contribution to disease risk differs across European ancestries. Here, we investigate empirical patterns of population structure in European Americans, analyzing 4,198 samples from four genome-wide association studies to show that components roughly corresponding to northwest European, southeast European, and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry are the main sources of European American population structure. Building on this insight, we constructed a panel of 300 validated markers that are highly informative for distinguishing these ancestries. We demonstrate that this panel of markers can be used to correct for stratification in association studies that do not generate dense genotype data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alkes L Price
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: (ALP), (DR), (JNH)
| | - Johannah Butler
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Genomics and Divisions of Genetics and Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nick Patterson
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Cristian Capelli
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vincenzo L Pascali
- Forensic Genetics Laboratory, Istituto di Medicina Legale, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Scarnicci
- Forensic Genetics Laboratory, Istituto di Medicina Legale, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Andres Ruiz-Linares
- Department of Biology, Galton Laboratory, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Leif Groop
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Lund University, University Hospital Malmo, Malmo, Sweden
| | - Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Penelope Korkolopoulou
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Uri Seligsohn
- Amalia Biron Research Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Alicja Waliszewska
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Christine Schirmer
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kristin Ardlie
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alexis Ramos
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Genomics and Divisions of Genetics and Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James Nemesh
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Genomics and Divisions of Genetics and Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lori Arbeitman
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Genomics and Divisions of Genetics and Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David B Goldstein
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Center for Population Genomics and Pharmacogenetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - David Reich
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: (ALP), (DR), (JNH)
| | - Joel N Hirschhorn
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Genomics and Divisions of Genetics and Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: (ALP), (DR), (JNH)
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Levidou G, Korkolopoulou P, Thymara I, Vassilopoulos I, Saetta AA, Gakiopoulou H, Konstantinidou A, Kairi-Vassilatou E, Pavlakis K, Patsouris E. Expression and prognostic significance of cyclin D3 in ovarian adenocarcinomas. Int J Gynecol Pathol 2007; 26:410-7. [PMID: 17885491 DOI: 10.1097/pgp.0b013e31804630a7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal expression of cell cycle regulators may contribute to malignant transformation. However, the clinical significance of the expression of cyclin D3 in ovarian cancer remains undefined. We therefore conducted a retrospective investigation to address the role of this cell-cycle protein in this tumor. In our study, paraffin-embedded tissue from 109 nonbenign epithelial ovarian tumors, including 17 tumors of low malignant potential and 92 primary adenocarcinomas, was stained immunohistochemically for cyclin D3. Most of the cases had previously been stained for pRb, p21Cip1, p27Kip1, p53, and Ki-67 antigen. Expression of cyclin D3 was correlated with clinicopathologic features, the expression of other cell cycle regulators, and postoperative survival of patients. Cyclin D3 levels were significantly higher in tumors of low malignant potential than in adenocarcinomas (P = 0.0002). In the latter group, cyclin D3 expression decreased with increasing grade (P = 0.0004) and advancing stage (P = 0.0315). Cyclin D3 expression positively correlated with pRb, p21Cip1, and p27Kip1 levels (P = 0.0021; P = 0.0036; P < 0.0001, respectively) and negatively with p53 and Ki-67 (P = 0.0003; P < 0.0001). Absent cyclin D3 expression was an important indicator of poor survival in univariate analysis in the entire cohort (P > 0.00010) and in the platinum-treated patients (P = 0.001) and in multivariate analysis (P = 0.044). Our results demonstrate that absent or decreased cyclin D3 expression is adversely related to several clinicopathologic indicators of aggressiveness in ovarian adenocarcinomas and is combined with a better prognosis, suggesting that cyclin D3 may have a biological role distinct from that of other G1 cyclins which is possibly regulated through interaction with other cell cycle genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Levidou
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Saetta AA, Korkolopoulou P, Karlou M, Levidou G, Goudopoulou A, Thymara I, Stamatelli A, Tzivras M, Michalopoulos NV, Thomas-Tsagli E, Patsouris E. TGF-betaRII, BAX, IGFIIR, caspase-5, hMSH3 and hMSH6 alterations are not associated with microsatellite instability or p53 mutations in invasive urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Pathology 2007; 39:425-32. [PMID: 17676485 DOI: 10.1080/00313020701444457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this study was to determine the potential synchronous contribution of alterations in TGF-betaRII, BAX, IGFIIR, caspase-5, hMSH3 and hMSH6 genes to the development and clinical outcome of bladder cancer, in relation to p53 mutations, microsatellite status and hMLH1/hMSH2 expression. METHODS Molecular biology techniques as well as immunohistochemistry were applied in 69 samples from patients with urothelial carcinoma. RESULTS Microsatellite alterations were observed in TGF-betaRII(A)(10 )(16%) and BAX(G)(8 )(3%), irrespective of the presence of p53 mutations, but not in IGFIIR(G)(8), caspase-5(A)(10, ) hMSH3(A)(8) and hMSH6(C)(8). A statistically significant correlation could be found only between hMLH1 expression and the presence of microsatellite instability (Fisher's exact test, p = 0,013). Survival analysis indicated that apart from grade and T-category, hMLH1 expression was the only parameter significantly affecting overall survival (p = 0.021 in univariate and p = 0.015 in multivariate analysis) and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.0463 in univariate and p = 0.022 in multivariate analysis). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that alterations of the examined target genes of MSI are rare in urinary bladder carcinoma and they are not associated with microsatellite instability or the presence of p53 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
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Korkolopoulou P, Saetta AA, Levidou G, Gigelou F, Lazaris A, Thymara I, Scliri M, Bousboukea K, Michalopoulos NV, Apostolikas N, Konstantinidou A, Tzivras M, Patsouris E. c-FLIP expression in colorectal carcinomas: association with Fas/FasL expression and prognostic implications. Histopathology 2007; 51:150-6. [PMID: 17559541 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2007.02723.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Disruption of apoptotic cell death has been implicated in tumour aggressiveness in colonic carcinogenesis. The Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) system is involved in the execution of apoptosis induced by the immune system. c-FLIP protein constitutes an inhibitor of Fas and other (TRAIL) death receptor-mediated apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the simultaneous expression of Fas, FasL and c-FLIP in relation to standard clinicopathological parameters and patients' outcome in colorectal cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS Levels of Fas, FasL and c-FLIP protein expression were quantified immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded tissues from 90 patients. Immunopositivity was detected for Fas, FasL and c-FLIP in 71%, 35.5% and 68.8% of cases, respectively. Concurrent expression of Fas/FasL was seen in 28 samples (31%), of which 24 (85.7%) also displayed c-FLIP positivity (P = 0.04). c-FLIP overexpression (> 10%) tended to prevail marginally in higher stage tumours (P = 0.09). Additionally, FasL and c-FLIP adversely affected survival on both univariate (P = 0.001 and P = 0.0024, respectively) and multivariate analysis [hazard ratio (HR) 3.491, P = 0.005 and HR 2.960, P = 0.036, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS The frequent expression and coexpression of Fas, FasL and c-FLIP in colorectal carcinoma implicates c-FLIP as an inhibitor of the Fas-FasL-induced death pathway in these tumours. Moreover, c-FLIP conveys independent prognostic information in the presence of classical prognosticators.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Korkolopoulou
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Saetta AA, Michalopoulos NV, Malamis G, Papanastasiou PI, Mazmanian N, Karlou M, Kouzoupis A, Korkolopoulou P, Patsouris E. Analysis of PRNP gene codon 129 polymorphism in the Greek population. Eur J Epidemiol 2007; 21:211-5. [PMID: 16547836 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-006-0012-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a fatal transmissible neurodegenerative prion disease with a rapid progression comprising familial, sporadic, iatrogenic and variant forms. A polymorphism at codon 129 of PRNP gene has been implicated in the development of variant CJD. We examined Met/Val allele frequencies and the genotype distribution, with respect to the polymorphic codon 129 of PRNP gene in 348 healthy individuals from the region of Athens, Greece. The following genotype frequencies were observed in the Greek population: Met/Met 50%, Met/Val 39% and Val/Val 11%. The presence of the Methionine allele frequencies in various European populations, according to the published data, increases gradually from northwestern to southeastern countries, implying the presence of a cline. The distribution of genotypes of Met homozygotes displays random declination across the 10 compared populations. The observed higher frequency of Met homozygotes at codon 129 does not necessarily suggest that these populations are at increased risk of developing CJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., GR-115 27, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
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Levidou G, Korkolopoulou P, Nikiteas N, Tzanakis N, Thymara I, Saetta AA, Tsigris C, Rallis G, Vlasis K, Patsouris E. Expression of nuclear factor kappaB in human gastric carcinoma: relationship with I kappaB a and prognostic significance. Virchows Arch 2007; 450:519-27. [PMID: 17429689 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-007-0396-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2006] [Revised: 02/13/2007] [Accepted: 03/01/2007] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB is a transcription factor constitutively activated in various neoplasms, including gastric carcinoma. However, its clinical significance in the latter remains an unresolved issue, as published information is limited and controversial. Furthermore, no data is available about the interaction of NF kappaB with its inhibitory protein I kappaB a in gastric carcinoma cases. In this study, the expression of NF kappaB 1/p50 and p I kappaB a protein was evaluated immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded tissues from 93 patients. The effect of NF kappaB 1/p50 and p I kappaB a on clinical outcome was assessed. Positive immunostaining was detected for nuclear NF kappaB 1/p50, cytoplasmic NF kappa B1/p50 and p I kappaB a in 91, 68 and 85.7% of cases, respectively. A positive correlation emerged between nuclear NF kappa B 1/p50 and p I kappaB a (p < 0.0001) and a negative one between cytoplasmic NF kappaB 1/p50 and p I kappaB a (p = 0.0033). Nuclear NF kappaB 1/p50 was associated with stage (p = 0.0388), the depth of invasion (p = 0.0382), World Health Organization (WHO; p = 0.0326) and Lauren's histological classification (p = 0.0046). NF kappaB 1/p50 nuclear expression adversely affected survival in both univariate and multivariate analysis (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.02, respectively). Our results suggest that NF kappaB 1/p50 nuclear expression and therefore activation is regulated by its interaction with I kappaB a and that the former may serve as a useful independent molecular marker for stratifying patients with gastric carcinoma in terms of prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Levidou
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 11517, Greece.
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Abstract
Despite the considerable progress in understanding the molecular pathology of carcinogenesis, the genetic mechanisms underlying the development and progression of gallbladder cancer (GC) are poorly understood. The survival of GC patients is generally poor. Therefore, it is very useful to define valuable prognostic factors. The most extensively studied oncogenes in gallbladder carcinogenesis are ras, commonly mutated in neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. K-ras oncogene is altered in a subset of gallbladder patients and mainly in those having anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary tract. Most of the studies of genetic abnormalities in GC have focused on p53 gene. p53 mutation/overexpression and/or LOH is present in more than 50% of gallbladder carcinomas, suggesting an important role in their pathogenesis. However, these results have not any predictive value yet. Moreover, the involvement of an alternative molecular pathway, that of microsatellite instability (MSI), is found in a limited group of GC patients. Additional research is necessary to establish its possible relation to defects of the mismatch repair (MMR) system and its proposed prognostic significance. Further elucidation of the molecular events specific to GC will help to identify novel molecular targets for the diagnosis and clinical management of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
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Saetta AA, Aroni K, Stamatelli A, Lazaris AC, Patsouris E. Expression of mismatch repair enzymes, hMLH1 and hMSH2 is not associated with microsatellite instability and P53 protein accumulation in basal cell carcinoma. Arch Dermatol Res 2005; 297:99-107. [PMID: 16012876 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-005-0580-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2004] [Revised: 02/28/2005] [Accepted: 06/01/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Microsatellite instability (MSI) constitutes an alternative-to the chromosomal instability-pathway of carcinogenesis for certain tumour types with prognostic and therapeutic significance for the respective patients. MSI is caused by mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, mainly hMLH1, hMSH2, leading to a defective MMR system. The role of MSI in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has not been clearly delineated yet. p53 gene as a target for ultraviolet radiation-induced mutations may enhance genomic instability in BCC, with loss of its function. Our aim was to investigate the involvement of MSI and expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 in parallel with P53 protein accumulation in the pathogenesis of BCC and its possible correlation to the clinicopathological features of the patients. The presence of MSI was investigated in 76 BCCs using mononucleotide microsatellite markers, BAT-25, BAT-26 and TGF-beta receptor type II (TGF-beta-RII). Additionally, 3 dinucleotide markers were analysed in 20 cases in which matched normal tissue was available. The expression of hMLH1, hMSH2 and P53 proteins was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. Alterations of the BAT-26 marker were observed in one fibroepithelioma of Pincus, one nodular and one multifocal superficial BCC. A keratotic BCC showed an altered BAT-25 locus. Two samples, a multifocal superficial and a nodular BCC, displayed MSI at two markers (BAT-25 and BAT-26; and BAT-25 and TGF-beta-RII, respectively). Three more cases, a metatypical, a multifocal superficial and a signet ring BCC exhibited frameshift mutations in the TGF-beta-RII. No sample showed length alterations at the dinucleotide markers examined. hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein immunohistochemical expression was scored positive in 46 and 49 out of 52 cases respectively. P53 accumulation was observed in 27 out of 56 samples. Correlation of the molecular and immunohistochemical findings with the clinicopathological parameters produced no statistically significant results. No correlation between MSI and hMLH1, hMSH2 or P53 protein expression was determined. MSI appears to play a minor role in the pathogenesis of BCCs being present only in a small subset of such tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, 115 27 Athens, Greece.
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Michalopoulos NV, Saetta AA, Lazaris AC, Gigelou F, Koilakou S, Patsouris E. Microsatellite instability in sporadic and inherited colon adenocarcinomas from Greek patients: correlation with several clinicopathological characteristics. Acta Gastroenterol Belg 2005; 68:294-301. [PMID: 16268414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Microsatellite instability seems to play a significant role in colorectal carcinogenesis, as it is reported to occur in HNPCC patients as well as in a proportion of sporadic cases. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of microsatellite instability in relation to other commonly observed genetic abnormalities and clinicopathological characteristics of sporadic and inherited colorectal cancers. METHODOLOGY One hundred and three sporadic colorectal adenocarcinomas and 9 adenocarcinomas from HNPCC patients were histologically evaluated. The presence of microsatellite instability was investigated at six loci. K-ras and p53 mutations, p53 LOH, hMLH1 expression and methylation status were examined as well. Statistical analysis was performed to define possible correlations of the observed genetic alterations with the clinicopathological characteristics of the analysed tumors. RESULTS High-grade microsatellite instability was found in 14% of sporadic adenocarcinomas and in 78% of adenocarcinomas from HNPCC patients. K-ras and p53 mutations were found in 29% and 28% of sporadic adenocarcinomas respectively and in 0% and 22% of the 9 HNPCC cases. A statistically significant correlation was noticed in sporadic tumors between the presence of MSI-H and tumor location at the proximal colon, as well as with the female gender. CONCLUSIONS Sporadic MSI+ colon adenocarcinomas seem to represent a distinct entity with a unique profile of genetic changes, different from those observed in HNPCC or MSI negative sporadic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- N V Michalopoulos
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece
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Saetta AA, Gigelou F, Papanastasiou PI, Koilakou SV, Kalekou-Greca H, Miliaras D, Michalopoulos NV, Patsouris E. High-level microsatellite instability is not involved in gallbladder carcinogenesis. Exp Mol Pathol 2005; 80:67-71. [PMID: 15963980 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2005.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2005] [Accepted: 04/15/2005] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The molecular alterations involved in the pathogenesis of gallbladder cancer are not yet well defined. Our aim was to determine the microsatellite status of gallbladder carcinomas and its possible correlation with alterations in K-ras and p53 genes as well as the clinicopathological characteristics of these tumors. A group of 37 gallbladder carcinomas was analyzed for alterations in a proposed panel of mononucleotide and dinucleotide markers of microsatellite instability. Somatic frameshift mutations at repeated sequences in the coding regions of TGF-betaRII, Bax, hMSH3, hMSH6 were also examined. The findings were correlated with the presence of K-ras and p53 alterations, and tumors' clinicopathological features. Microsatellite instability and/or LOH was observed in 9 gallbladder carcinomas. Cases showing microsatellite instability displayed alterations only in dinucleotide markers and were classified as MSI-L carcinomas. A subset of gallbladder carcinomas is characterized by low-level instability, based on the analysis of the above mentioned panel of markers. The pathway of microsatellite instability seems to play a minor role in the pathogenesis of gallbladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, GR-115 27 Athens, Greece.
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Esteban E, Via M, González-Pérez E, Santamaría J, Dugoujon JM, Vona G, Harich N, Luna F, Saetta AA, Bissar N, Moral P. An unexpected wide population variation of the G1733A polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene: Data on the Mediterranean region. Am J Hum Biol 2005; 17:690-5. [PMID: 16254899 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) has been proposed as a candidate gene for several cancers (breast, prostate, uterine endometrium, colon, and esophagus). Ethnicity is considered an associated risk factor for some of these cancers. Several case-control genetic studies have been focused in samples of the main ethnic groups, but little is known about the distribution of risk polymorphisms in current populations with accurate ethnic and/or geographic origins. The A allele of the G1733A polymorphism of the AR gene has been associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. We provide data from this marker in 12 samples from 7 Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Italy (Sardinia), Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt. A sample from Ivory Coast has also been analyzed. The A allele distribution shows a frequency in the Ivory Coast population (65.17%) that contrasts with the low values found in Northern Mediterraneans (mean average value of 13.98%). North African populations present two-times higher frequencies (average value of 27.19%) than Europeans. The wide population variation range found for the A allele strengthens the potential interest of further screening as a baseline to the design of future preventive and population health programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Esteban
- Department of Animal Biology-Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Korkolopoulou P, Goudopoulou A, Voutsinas G, Thomas-Tsagli E, Kapralos P, Patsouris E, Saetta AA. c-FLIP expression in bladder urothelial carcinomas: its role in resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis and clinicopathologic correlations. Urology 2004; 63:1198-204. [PMID: 15183989 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2004.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2003] [Accepted: 01/07/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the incidence of Fas (exon 9) mutations and the expression of Fas, Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) system, and cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) in relation to standard clinicopathologic parameters and patient outcome in bladder carcinoma. Disruption of apoptotic cell death has been implicated in tumor aggressiveness in bladder urothelial carcinomas. The FasL system is involved in the execution of apoptosis induced by the immune system. c-FLIP protein constitutes an important endogenous inhibitor of Fas and other death receptor-mediated apoptosis. METHODS The expression of Fas, FasL, and c-FLIP was quantified immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded tissues from 53 patients for whom clinical information was available. DNA extracted from the same samples was screened for mutations in Fas exon 9 by single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing. The effect of Fas, FasL, and c-FLIP on clinical outcome was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Positive immunostaining was detected for Fas, FasL, and c-FLIP in 72%, 66%, and 81% of cases, respectively. Concurrent expression of Fas and FasL was seen in 27 samples (51%), of which 22 (81.5%) also displayed c-FLIP positivity. FasL and c-FLIP expression increased with advancing stage but was absent from normal urothelium. None of the 53 urothelial carcinoma samples analyzed showed evidence of mutations by polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing. Survival analysis demonstrated that although both FasL and c-FLIP expression adversely affected survival, only c-FLIP remained statistically significant on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS The frequent expression and coexpression of Fas, FasL, and c-FLIP in urothelial carcinomas implicates c-FLIP as an inhibitor of the Fas-FasL-induced death pathway in these tumors. Moreover, c-FLIP conveys independent prognostic information in the presence of classical prognosticators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Korkolopoulou
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
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Saetta AA, Goudopoulou A, Korkolopoulou P, Voutsinas G, Thomas-Tsagli E, Michalopoulos NV, Patsouris E. Mononucleotide markers of microsatellite instability in carcinomas of the urinary bladder. European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO) 2004; 30:796-803. [PMID: 15296997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2004.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To determine the presence of microsatellite instability (MSI) and to assess the expression of the human mismatch repair (MMR) gene products hMLH1 and hMSH2 in primary transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) of the urinary bladder in relation to clinico-pathological parameters. METHODS Seventy-two cases of primary TCC were screened for the presence of alterations in MSI markers by molecular techniques and evaluated immunohistochemically for the expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins. Clinical data were available in 70 cases. The percentage of MSI rose to 16.6%. RESULTS Reduced (<20%) hMLH1 expression was closely related to the presence of MSI (p=0.0004). Neither MMR proteins nor MSI was associated with grade, stage, papillary status. Clinical outcome analysed as a function of MSI did not show significant differences in terms of both disease-free and overall survival. Reduced hMLH1 expression was a significant predictor of shorter disease-free survival in univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS The presence of MSI is not related to classical clinico-pathological parameters in TCCs, nor does it appear to be of prognostic significance. hMLH1 was an important indicator for recurrence.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/genetics
- Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/mortality
- Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/pathology
- Carrier Proteins
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Disease-Free Survival
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Greece/epidemiology
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Male
- Medical Records
- Microsatellite Repeats/genetics
- Middle Aged
- MutL Protein Homolog 1
- MutS Homolog 2 Protein
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/mortality
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology
- Neoplasm Staging
- Nuclear Proteins
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics
- Retrospective Studies
- Survival Analysis
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/genetics
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/mortality
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece.
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Saetta AA, Papanastasiou P, Michalopoulos NV, Gigelou F, Korkolopoulou P, Bei T, Patsouris E. Mutational analysis of BRAF in gallbladder carcinomas in association with K-ras and p53 mutations and microsatellite instability. Virchows Arch 2004; 445:179-82. [PMID: 15221372 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-004-1046-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2004] [Accepted: 04/01/2004] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the genetic changes involved in the pathogenesis of gallbladder cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of mutations in exon 15 of the B-raf gene to investigate its role in gallbladder carcinogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined the mutational status in exon 15 of B-raf gene in 21 gallbladder carcinoma specimens and investigated its association with the presence of K-ras and p53 alterations, microsatellite instability and the clinicopathological features of tumors. RESULTS B-raf mutations were observed in 7 of 21 (33%) gallbladder carcinomas examined, and all were located at the hot spot codon 599 of exon 15. K-ras and B-raf mutations were never in the same specimens. CONCLUSIONS B-raf gene mutations seem to be a quite common event in gallbladder carcinomas, implying that B-raf may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica A Saetta
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str, 11527 Goudi Athens, Greece.
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