Chromosome 14q imbalances and pathways associated with resistance to antiangiogenic therapy in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

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Background: Antiangiogenic agents are used to treat metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Currently there are no biomarkers of therapeutic efficacy for these agents. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) alpha ratios have been linked to phenotypically distinct ccRCC subpopulations. The HIF1 alpha gene is located on chromosome 14q. In this study, the goal was to determine whether chromosomal imbalances identified with SNP arrays are linked to HIF ratios, and to clinical outcome.

Methods: We obtained archival FFPE tumor specimens from 56 patients with mRCC treated with sorafenib or bevacizumab. DNA from the FFPE blocks was analyzed with Affymetrix 250K Nsp SNP microarrays. We identified the presence of genomic imbalances and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) to obtain virtual karyotypes. We then evaluated candidate genes in gain/lost chromosomal regions by qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the bevacizumab treated specimens.

Results: In the bevacizumab cohort, HIF1-alpha containing14q loss showed a significant association with worse response to treatment (CR/ PR vs. SD/PD, Fisher exact test, p = 0.0473). In addition, HIF1A mRNA expression was significantly reduced in all samples with 14q loss and was associated with PFS (HR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.01-5.16, p = 0.045). HIF-1alpha protein expression was also reduced in samples with 14q loss.

Conclusions: Chromosomal imbalances are associated with outcomes in ccRCC patients treated with antiangiogenic agents, and can lead to changes in gene expression. Low HIF1A expression was strongly correlated with shorter PFS. We hypothesize that loss of 14q could lead to an imbalance in HIF-1alpha/HIF-2alpha activity, leading to increased HIF-2alpha and enhanced c-Myc expression, which improves tumor cell viability and engenders resistance to cellular stress induced by antiangiogenic therapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Extended work hours and risk of acute occupational injury: A case-crossover study of workers in manufacturing

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to determine whether injury risk among manufacturing workers was related to hours worked during the previous week.

METHODS

A case-crossover design was utilized to contrast hours worked prior to an injury shift with those worked prior to a non-injury shift for hourly workers. Paired t-tests were used to determine significance of the difference. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess dose-response.

RESULTS

Hours worked prior to injury significantly exceeded hours during the control week. Workers who worked more than 64 hr in the week before the shift had an 88% excess risk compared to those who worked 40 hr or fewer, P < 0.05.

CONCLUSION

The study provides evidence that injury risk is related to time worked during the previous week. Control of overtime in manufacturing may reduce risk of worker injury.

Androgen receptor CAG repeat length contraction in diseased and non-diseased prostatic tissues

To investigate contraction of CAG repeats within the androgen receptor gene (AR) as shorter CAG repeats have been implicated as a possible risk factor in prostate cancer (PCa). AR CAG repeat lengths were analyzed in DNA from microdissected diseased prostates, leukocytes from matched peripheral blood, and control non-diseased prostates. Consistently, all prostatic tissues, whether from benign or cancerous areas of diseased prostates, or from control prostates, showed multiple AR CAG repeat contractions. Germline DNA from blood leukocytes had single CAG repeat lengths in the normal range. AR CAG repeat length contraction may be involved in prostate carcinogenesis and may precede the pathological process.

Development of interstitial cells of Cajal in a full-term infant without an enteric nervous system

The relationship between the development of the enteric nervous system and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the human small intestine was investigated in a full-term infant who presented with intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Immunohistochemistry revealed absence of enteric nerves and ganglia but abundant c-Kit immunoreactivity associated with Auerbach's plexus (ICC-AP). However, c-Kit immunoreactivity associated with the deep muscular plexus (ICC-DMP) and intermuscular ICC was absent. Electron microscopy showed ICC-AP with a normal ultrastructure; ICC-DMP were seen but were severely injured, suggesting degeneration. In vitro recording of intestinal muscle showed slow wave activity as well as response to cholinergic stimulation. Fluoroscopic examination of the small bowel showed a variety of motor patterns, including rhythmic, propagating contractions. In conclusion, total absence of enteric nerves was associated with absence of normal ICC-DMP. However, a normal musculature, including a network of ICC-AP, allowed for generation of rhythmic, propagating contractile activity, suggesting the presence of functional motor activity.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors may originate from a subset of CD34-positive interstitial cells of Cajal

Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), a subgroup of mesenchymal neoplasms of the gut wall, express both Kit (CD117) and CD34 proteins. It has been suggested that GISTs originate from or differentiate into interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), after several reports indicated that ICC are likely the only cells in the gut which express both Kit and CD34. ICC are among the few cell types resident in the gut which express Kit, together with mast cells. However, the question whether or not ICC express CD34 is currently disputed. Using single-cell reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on cultured murine intestinal cells, single ICC were selected by morphology and tested for the expression of c-kit and CD34 mRNA. Most ICC were only c-kit-positive, however a subset (7 out of 43) were double positive for both c-kit and CD34. In the human small intestine, sequential immunohistochemical staining for Kit and CD34 proteins on the same 3-microm sections showed that some of the ICC surrounding Auerbach's plexus and ICC within the circular muscle layer of the small intestine were positive for both Kit and CD34. In addition, CD34(+)Kit(-) cells were seen adjacent to ICC. These data from two different techniques indicate that ICC can be double positive for Kit and CD34. Thus, GISTs with the Kit(+)CD34(+) phenotype may arise from a subpopulation of CD34(+) Kit(+) ICC.

Interstitial cells of Cajal as precursors of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are implicated in the regulation of gut peristalsis and are immunostained by antibodies against Kit (CD117), a tyrosine kinase receptor. Most gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors (GIMTs) are of uncertain histogenesis, although many are CD34-positive. CD34 was found to colocalize with vimentin (Vim) and the Kit-positive networks of cells within and around neural plexi, indicating that ICC can be Vim- and CD34-positive. ICCs appear to be the only Kit+CD34+Vim+ cell in the gut. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 43 GIMTs were immunostained for Kit, CD34, Vim, PGP 9.5 (PGP, a neural marker), muscle-specific actin (MSA), and other markers including desmin (Des). Eight tumors were myoid (MSA+Des+Vim-Kit-CD34-), and one was a schwannoma (PGP+S100+Vim+Kit-CD34-), but 34 tumors were of uncertain histogenesis (gastrointestinal stromal tumors, GIST), exhibiting neither a complete myoid nor a schwannian immunophenotype. All 34 were Vim+, and 33/34 were either Kit (n = 30) or CD34 (n = 23) immunoreactive. Of these 34 GIST, 24 were negative for all myoid and neural markers, 6 were PGP+S100-, and 4 were MSA+Des-. The Kit+CD34+Vim+ immunophenotype of GIST suggests that they originate from, or have differentiated into, ICC-like cells; the term ICC tumor (ICCT) is suggested. Kit is a more sensitive marker than CD34 for ICCT, but both are required in tumor identification. All clinically malignant GISTs were pathologically malignant (size, mitoses) but also showed loss of either CD34 or Kit. "Blind" examination of electron micrographs in 10 tumors showed them to be heterogeneous. Some had features seen in normal ICC, but cells could not be positively identified as being adult ICC. GIMT may therefore be classifiable into those with pure myoid, schwannian (or neural) differentiation, but the majority are of ICC origin or show ICC differentiation immunophenotypically (ICCT).