Environmental risk assessment for plant pests: a procedure to evaluate their impacts on ecosystem services

The current methods to assess the environmental impacts of plant pests differ in their approaches and there is a lack of the standardized procedures necessary to provide accurate and consistent results, demonstrating the complexity of developing a commonly accepted scheme for this purpose. By including both the structural and functional components of the environment threatened by invasive alien species (IAS), in particular plant pests, we propose an environmental risk assessment scheme that addresses this complexity. Structural components are investigated by evaluating the impacts of the plant pest on genetic, species and landscape diversity. Functional components are evaluated by estimating how plant pests modify ecosystem services in order to determine the extent to which an IAS changes the functional traits that influence ecosystem services. A scenario study at a defined spatial and temporal resolution is then used to explore how an IAS, as an exogenous driving force, may trigger modifications in the target environment. The method presented here provides a standardized approach to generate comparable and reproducible results for environmental risk assessment as a component of Pest Risk Analysis. The method enables the assessment of overall environmental risk which integrates the impacts on different components of the environment and their probabilities of occurrence. The application of the proposed scheme is illustrated by evaluating the environmental impacts of the invasive citrus long-horn beetle, Anoplophora chinensis.

Abstract P1-08-23: Potential biomarkers of long-term benefit from single-agent trastuzumab or lapatinib in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

Purpose: In 2009 we started a prospective, randomized Phase II trial to evaluate HER2-targeting without chemotherapy (CT) in HER2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients (pts). Although the study was prematurely closed because of slow accrual, we decided to analyze the primary tumors in order to identify possible biomarkers that could identify, among the enrolled pts, those deriving the longest lasting benefit from HER2-targeting without CT.

Experimental Design: In the HERLAP study (NCT00842998), pts with HER2+ MBC were randomized to trastuzumab or lapatinib as first-line therapy. Patients showing radiological signs of tumor regression after 8 weeks of treatment were allowed to continue on single agent anti-HER2 therapy until disease progression. CT was added to anti-HER-2 therapy in pts failing to achieve tumor regression at the 8-week evaluation and in those progressing at any time. Expression analysis of 105 selected genes was performed from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary tumor samples. The research-based PAM50 intrinsic subtypes (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched and Basal-like) and the normal breast-like group were also identified. Additionally, quantitative HER2 (H2T) and p95HER2 (p95) protein expression were evaluated using the HERmark® assay and the p95 VeraTag® assay, respectively. Potential predictors of persistence on protocol (PP, time from randomization to addition of chemotherapy to anti HER2-therapy or death from any cause) were studied by univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: Nineteen patients were enrolled. Median overall survival was 43 months and median PP was 3.8 months (0.8-38.8+) with 4 pts (21.1%) persisting on single agent T or L for longer than 12 months (14.9-38.8+ months). Seventeen pts were evaluable for PP. Gene expression analysis revealed that high expression of the 17q12-21 amplicon genes HER2 and GRB7, and the PAM50 HER2-enriched intrinsic profile, were significantly associated with longer PP. Conversely, high expression of luminal-related genes such as PGR, MDM2 and PIK3CA, or the PAM50 luminal intrinsic profile, were found associated with reduced PP. Quantitative H2T and p95 expression revealed that, increasing H2T/p95 ratio significantly associated with longer PP (HR 0.969, p = 0.010).

When analyzed as a multivariable model, PAM50 intrinsic subtype and H2T/p95 ratio dichotomized around the median value independently predicted for longer PP (PAM50 non-luminal vs. Luminal A+B, HR 0.164, p = 0.078 and H2T/p95 ratio higher vs. lower/equal, HR 0.294, p = 0.062 respectively).

Conclusions: Our data suggest that tumors belonging to the PAM50 “HER2-enriched” subtype tumors and/or with high H2T/p95 protein expression ratio are exquisitely sensitive to anti HER2-agents. MBC pts with these tumors may be candidates for studies aimed at establishing chemotherapy-free approaches.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P1-08-23.

Effect of Environmental Factors on Mycelial Growth and Conidial Germination of Fusicladium eriobotryae, and the Infection of Loquat Leaves

In Spain, loquat scab, caused by Fusicladium eriobotryae, is usually controlled by fungicides when there are favorable conditions for infection. Lacking specific data on the effect of weather conditions on infection by F. eriobotryae, infection periods are predicted based on the Mills table for apple scab. Experiments were conducted to determine the influence of temperature, wetness duration, relative humidity (RH), and dry periods on mycelial growth, conidial germination, and infection of loquat leaves by F. eriobotryae. F. eriobotryae was able to grow and the conidia to germinate in a wide range of temperatures, whereas no germination occurred at RH < 100%. Maximum conidial germination occurred with 24 h of wetness and germination was strongly reduced by >10 h of dryness interrupting the wetness period. Loquat infection occurred between 10 and 20°C, and disease incidence and severity increased as the duration of wetness period increased. The combined effect of temperature and wetness duration on conidial germination of F. eriobotryae and infection of leaves was described by combining β and Gompertz equations, while the effect of dry periods on reducing the conidial germination was described by a logarithmic equation. The equations developed in this work provided a reasonable fit of the biological processes investigated and could be used for better disease control; they could be further integrated in a disease prediction system for scheduling fungicide sprays against loquat scab.

Cryptorchidism: medium- and long-term follow-up

AIM

Cryptorchidism represents the most frequent male genital anomaly in paediatric population and may potentially interfere with fertility and determine neoplastic testicular diseases. We wanted to evaluate the correlation between age at orchiopexy and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels in adulthood, determining the long-term complications of surgical treatment.

METHODS

Fifty-seven patients (mean age 19 years, range 18-27) surgically treated for cryptorchidism in pediatric age were included in a medium and long-term follow-up (10-19 years). We divided this population into four groups: A) monolateral cryptorchidism operated on before 36 months of age (15); B) monolateral cryptorchidism operated on over 36 months (32); C) bilateral cryptorchidism operated on before 36 months (5); and D) bilateral cryptorchidism operated on over 36 months (5). All patients underwent andrological examination, testosterone, FSH and LH dosage, measurement of testicular volume and spermiogram.

RESULTS

Significant different FSH levels were found between group A and C and between A and D (P<0.01), while groups A and D presented also different mean testicular volume (P<0.01). In addition group D showed an abnormal morphology of spermiogram. The main complications found in follow-up were hydrocele (17,5%), varicocele (8,7%) and epididymal cysts (3.6%).

CONCLUSION

Monolateral cryptorchidism is associated with normal fertility when treated early (group A). Subjects in Group D, on the contrary, have a rise of FSH, a reduction of testicular volume and semen abnormalities. The long-term follow-up of these patients can also detect associated.

Side effects associated with ultrarapid cytochrome P450 2D6 genotype among women with early stage breast cancer treated with tamoxifen

BACKGROUND

The side effects of tamoxifen, a drug widely used for the treatment and the prevention of recurrence in patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancers (ER+), have been reported in clinical trials, but to date no information is available on their possible association with an increased enzymatic activity of CYP2D6 (ultra-metabolizers, UMs). The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the association between the presence of multiple functional CYP2D6 alleles and the occurrence of side effects.

METHODS

61 women with ER+ breast cancer receiving tamoxifen monotherapy were investigated in order to assess the relationships between CYP2D6 UM phenotype and side effects. Genotyping of 16 CYP2D6 polymorphisms was performed using a new DNA microarray technology.

RESULTS

A highly significant difference was detected (41.2% of difference, 95% CI 6 - 61%, Fisher's exact test, p = 0.030) between the numbers of Ultrarapid Metabolizer patients (UM; high activity) with two or more adverse drug reactions to tamoxifen (7/9; 77.8%), compared to the number of Extensive Metabolizers (EM; normal activity), Intermediate Metabolizers (IM; reduced activity), and Poor Metabolizers (PM; no activity) with at least two side effects (19/52, 36.5%). A similar difference was also observed comparing the two groups (UM vs EM-IM-PM) for the number of side effects (median and inter quartile range, IQR: AM/EM/IM 1, IQR 0-2 vs. ULTRA 2, IQR 2-4; Mann-Whitney p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest a new association between CYP2D6 gene duplication and side effects to tamoxifen, indicating a possible role of CYP2D6 in their occurrence.

P3-07-04: Does Omission of Axillary Dissection after a Positive Sentinel Node Biopsy Influence Indication to Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Operable Breast Cancer Patients?

Introduction: Based on the recently published ACSOG Z0011 study (JAMA 2011;305:569), axillary dissection (AD) may be avoided in breast cancer (BC) patients with a clinically negative axilla and a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy receiving breast conserving surgery (BCS). Because the number of positive axillary lymph nodes (ALN) is a widely accepted prognostic marker, we evaluated the potential impact of omission of AD on indication to adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT).

Patients and methods: Among 1497 patients operated at our Institution over 10 years, we identified 321 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria of the ACSOG Z0011 study (BCS plus SLNB, cT1-2, cN0 breast cancer and 1 to 2 positive SLN). All patients underwent AD. Each case, which was anonymized, was reviewed by our breast team in two rounds. In the first round, patient age, histopathology, linfovascular invasion, tumor grade, hormone receptor, HER2, and ki67 status and number of positive SN nodes (micro and/or macrometastatic) were available. In the second round, the information on ALN was added. At each round, the panel chose between three indications: 1) Recommend ACT; 2) Discuss ACT; 3) No ACT. Results: SN was micrometastatic in 145 (45%) and macrometastatic in 176 patients (55%). ALD revealed non-SNs metastases in 96 patients (30%). Forty-four of these patients had &gt;3 positive ALN (range 4–24). Indications at round 1 and 2 are summarized below.

P2-12-31: Moderate Immunohistochemical Expression of HER2 (2+) without HER2 Gene-Amplification Is a Negative Prognostic Factor in Early Breast Cancer

Purpose: We sought to evaluate whether moderate HER2 immunohistochemical (IHC) expression (2+ and no HER2/amplification) identifies early breast cancer (EBC) with a distinct prognostic profile.

Methods: A total of 1295 women (median age 58, range 22–94) undergoing surgery for EBC from Jan 1995 to Sept 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had undergone HER2 testing by the HercepTest and, when needed, by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). All tests were carried on at our Institutional Surgical Pathology laboratory. The impact of HER2 status on disease-free survival (DFS) was corrected for other clinical and pathological potential covariates by Cox Proportional Regression Analysis.

Results: A total of 494 (38%), 486 (38%), 119 (9%) and 196 (15%) of the patients had HER2 0+, 1+ 2+ and positive (3+ or FISH+) tumors, respectively. Sixty-one of 196 patients with HER2−positive EBC received adjuvant trastuzumab. A total of 298 DFS events occurred at median follow-up of 59 months (4-137 months). By using HER2 0+ status as reference, multivariate analysis revealed that HER2 2+ expression was associated with a significant increase in the risk of a DFS event (HR 2.303, 95% C.I. 1.501−3.533, p&lt;0.001), whereas HER2 1+ was not (HR 0.976, 95% C.I. 0.698−1.365, p=0.889). We performed exploratory two-group comparisons by further classifying tumors according to hormone-receptor status (cutoff for ER and PgR positivity ≥10% of stained cells). Results are summarized in the table. HER2 2+ expression was associated with worse prognosis in both ER and/or PgR positive and ER/PgR negative tumors. In the latter group, HER2 2+ expression was associated with a particularly high rate of DFS events, with a 60-month projected DFS of 20%. Furthermore, while DFS curves plateaued at 60 months for HER2−positive tumors (with and without adjuvant trastuzumab) and for ER/PgR negative tumors with HER2 0/1+ expression, hormone receptor positive/HER2 2+ tumors displayed a particularly high rate of late relapses (beyond 60 months). Results did not change using a 1% cutoff to define ER and PgR positivity.

Conclusion: Moderate HER2 positivity (IHC 2+/FISH negative) identifies EBC patients at increased risk of a DFS event, regardless of hormone receptor status. Due to suggestions from large randomized trials that the benefits of trastuzumab may not be limited to HER2−positive tumors, patients with HER2 2+ EBC are ideal candidates for studies testing this hypothesis.

Multivariate Hazard Ratios, corrected by age, lymph-node status, tumor diameter, tumor grade, proliferation (Ki 67 index) and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy

Alternative splicing of the human gene SYBL1 modulates protein domain architecture of Longin VAMP7/TI-VAMP, showing both non-SNARE and synaptobrevin-like isoforms

Background

The control of intracellular vesicle trafficking is an ideal target to weigh the role of alternative splicing in shaping genomes to make cells. Alternative splicing has been reported for several Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor Attachment protein REceptors of the vesicle (v-SNAREs) or of the target membrane (t-SNARES), which are crucial to intracellular membrane fusion and protein and lipid traffic in Eukaryotes. However, splicing has not yet been investigated in Longins, i.e. the most widespread v-SNAREs. Longins are essential in Eukaryotes and prototyped by VAMP7, Sec22b and Ykt6, sharing a conserved N-terminal Longin domain which regulates membrane fusion and subcellular targeting. Human VAMP7/TI-VAMP, encoded by gene SYBL1, is involved in multiple cell pathways, including control of neurite outgrowth.

Results

Alternative splicing of SYBL1 by exon skipping events results in the production of a number of VAMP7 isoforms. In-frame or frameshift coding sequence modifications modulate domain architecture of VAMP7 isoforms, which can lack whole domains or domain fragments and show variant or extra domains. Intriguingly, two main types of VAMP7 isoforms either share the inhibitory Longin domain and lack the fusion-promoting SNARE motif, or vice versa. Expression analysis in different tissues and cell lines, quantitative real time RT-PCR and confocal microscopy analysis of fluorescent protein-tagged isoforms demonstrate that VAMP7 variants have different tissue specificities and subcellular localizations. Moreover, design and use of isoform-specific antibodies provided preliminary evidence for the existence of splice variants at the protein level.

Conclusions

Previous evidence on VAMP7 suggests inhibitory functions for the Longin domain and fusion/growth promoting activity for the Δ-longin molecule. Thus, non-SNARE isoforms with Longin domain and non-longin SNARE isoforms might have somehow opposite regulatory functions. When considering splice variants as "natural mutants", evidence on modulation of subcellular localization by variation in domain combination can shed further light on targeting determinants. Although further work will be needed to characterize identified variants, our data might open the route to unravel novel molecular partners and mechanisms, accounting for the multiplicity of functions carried out by the different members of the Longin proteins family.

Raloxifene induces cell death and inhibits proliferation through multiple signaling pathways in prostate cancer cells expressing different levels of estrogen receptor α and β

Raloxifene (RAL), a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator (SERM) seems to induce apoptosis in both androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cell (PC) lines via activation of ERβ and an antagonistic effect on ERα. In this study, we evaluated the effects of RAL on epithelial PC growth using the two following in vitro models: the androgen-dependent cell line EPN which expressed both ERs; and a stabilized epithelial cell line derived from a prostate cancer specimen (CPEC), which expressed low levels of ERβ and lacked ERα. In EPN cells, there was an increase in the pre-G1 apoptotic peak and a reduction in the S phase of the cell cycle with G0/G1 arrest after E2 or RAL treatment; bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2 protein levels were significantly reduced, while activated caspase-3 and Par-4 levels increased significantly after either E2 or RAL treatment; in addition, c-myc transcript was inhibited after 10(-6)  M RAL treatment. A dose-dependent increase of metallothionein II gene RNA level was also induced by RAL in EPN. In CPEC, there was only a weak apoptotic peak associated with caspase-3 activation and Par-4 increase after either E2 or RAL treatment; while c-myc transcript level increased. RAL induced a rapid but transient phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 in EPN cells but generated a sustained effect in CPEC. These findings suggest that RAL effects on PC growth control in vitro are cell-specific, depending on ERβ or ERβ/ERα relative expression levels. Moreover, this study demonstrated that RAL affected both transcriptional regulation and non-genomic signals, which resulted in the modulation of multiple signaling pathways of apoptosis and of cell cycle progression.