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Kimura M, Nishikawa K, Imamura J, Kimura K. Stem Cell Growth Factor-β as a Predictive Biomarker of Response to Chemotherapy and Prognosis in Patients with Advanced-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:320. [PMID: 38254812 PMCID: PMC10813939 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In this retrospective study, we investigated the potential application of serum stem cell growth factor beta (SCGF-β) as a biomarker for predicting the therapeutic response and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atz/Bev) combination therapy. Pre- and post-treatment serum SCGF-β levels were measured and analyzed in relation to treatment outcomes and overall survival (OS). Pretreatment SCGF-β levels were associated with treatment response. Patients with SCGF-β levels exceeding the 163,295 pg/mL cutoff experienced significantly reduced OS, with a median OS of 12.03 months, compared to 28.87 months in those with SCGF-β levels at or below this threshold. These findings suggest that SCGF-β can serve as a predictive marker for clinical outcomes in HCC treatment, highlighting the need for prospective studies to further validate these results and clarify the mechanisms underlying SCGF-β-related therapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamichi Kimura
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan; (K.N.); (J.I.); (K.K.)
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2
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Urbini M, Bleve S, Schepisi G, Menna C, Gurioli G, Gianni C, De Giorgi U. Biomarkers for Salvage Therapy in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16872. [PMID: 38069192 PMCID: PMC10706346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The outcome of metastatic testicular germ cell tumor patients has been dramatically improved by cisplatin-based chemotherapy combinations. However, up to 30% of patients with advanced disease relapse after first-line therapy and require salvage regimens, which include treatments with conventional-dose chemotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation. For these patients, prognosis estimation represents an essential step in the choice of medical treatment but still remains a complex challenge. The available histological, clinical, and biochemical parameters attempt to define the prognosis, but they do not reflect the tumor's molecular and pathological features and do not predict who will exhibit resistance to the several treatments. Molecular selection of patients and validated biomarkers are highly needed in order to improve current risk stratification and identify novel therapeutic approaches for patients with recurrent disease. Biomolecular biomarkers, including microRNAs, gene expression profiles, and immune-related biomarkers are currently under investigation in testicular germ cell tumors and could potentially hold a prominent place in the future treatment selection and prognostication of these tumors. The aim of this review is to summarize current scientific data regarding prognostic and predictive biomarkers for salvage therapy in testicular germ cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Urbini
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy;
| | - Sara Bleve
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.B.); (G.S.); (C.M.); (C.G.); (U.D.G.)
| | - Giuseppe Schepisi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.B.); (G.S.); (C.M.); (C.G.); (U.D.G.)
| | - Cecilia Menna
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.B.); (G.S.); (C.M.); (C.G.); (U.D.G.)
| | - Giorgia Gurioli
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy;
| | - Caterina Gianni
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.B.); (G.S.); (C.M.); (C.G.); (U.D.G.)
| | - Ugo De Giorgi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.B.); (G.S.); (C.M.); (C.G.); (U.D.G.)
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3
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Prognostic Significance of Systemic Inflammation Markers in Testicular and Penile Cancer: A Narrative Review of Current Literature. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030600. [PMID: 36983756 PMCID: PMC10054741 DOI: 10.3390/life13030600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In contemporary clinical practice, biomarkers are indispensable in the assessment and management of oncological patients. Although established serum tumor markers (beta human chorionic gonadotropin (bHCG), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) have an indisputably important role in the management of patients with testicular cancer (TC), the application of these tumor markers may be accompanied with certain limitations, implying the need for additional biomarkers. Contrary to TC, there is a lack of established serological biomarkers for penile cancer (PC) and the management of this urological malignancy is based on multiple clinicopathological parameters. Therefore, the identification and rigorous analytical and clinical validation of reliable biomarkers are considered pivotal for improving PC management. Inflammation may be associated with all stages of oncogenesis, from initial neoplastic transformation to angiogenesis, tissue invasion, and metastasis. Accordingly, an array of inflammation-related indices have gained increasing attention as emerging predictors of oncological outcomes. The clinical usefulness of systemic inflammation markers was reported in many urological and non-urological malignancies. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize current scientific data regarding the prognostic and predictive significance of systemic inflammation markers in TC and PC patients.
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Schepisi G, Gianni C, Cursano MC, Gallà V, Menna C, Casadei C, Bleve S, Lolli C, Martinelli G, Rosti G, De Giorgi U. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy: Potential treatment options against Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1118610. [PMID: 36860862 PMCID: PMC9968831 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1118610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent a heterogeneous neoplasm family affecting gonads and rarely occurring in extragonadal areas. Most of patients have a good prognosis, often even in the presence of metastatic disease; however, in almost 15% of cases, tumor relapse and platinum resistance are the main challenges. Thus, novel treatment strategies with both improved antineoplastic activity and minor treatment-related adverse events compared with platinum are really expected. In this context, the development and the high activity demonstrated by immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors and, subsequently, the interesting results obtained from the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-) T cell therapy in hematological tumors, have stimulated research in this direction also in GCTs. In this article, we will analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying the immune action in the development of GCTs, and we will report the data from the studies that tested the new immunotherapeutic approaches in these neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Schepisi
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy,*Correspondence: Giuseppe Schepisi,
| | - Caterina Gianni
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Cursano
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Valentina Gallà
- 2Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Cecilia Menna
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Chiara Casadei
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Sara Bleve
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Cristian Lolli
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rosti
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Ugo De Giorgi
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
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Abstract
Testicular cancer is a curable cancer. The success of physicians in curing the disease is underpinned by multidisciplinary advances. Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy and the refinement of post-chemotherapy surgical procedures and diagnostic strategies have greatly improved long term survival in most patients. Despite such excellent outcomes, several controversial dilemmas exist in the approaches to clinical stage I disease, salvage chemotherapy, post-chemotherapy surgical procedures, and implementing innovative imaging studies. Relapse after salvage chemotherapy has a poor prognosis and the optimal treatment is not apparent. Recent research has provided insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying cisplatin resistance. Phase 2 studies with targeted agents have failed to show adequate efficacy; however, our understanding of cisplatin resistant disease is rapidly expanding. This review summarizes recent advances and discusses relevant issues in the biology and management of testicular cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Chovanec
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Liang Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Lifespan Academic Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA
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Hapakova N, Chovanec M, Rejlekova K, Kalavska K, Obertova J, Palacka P, De Angelis V, Svetlovska D, Sycova‑Mila Z, Mardiak J, Mego M. Effects of primary granulocyte‑colony stimulating factor prophylaxis on the incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients with germ cell tumors. Oncol Lett 2022; 24:308. [PMID: 35949605 PMCID: PMC9353223 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) are the most common solid malignancy in males aged 15–35 years. Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious complication of chemotherapy that frequently occurs in patients with GCTs. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effect of primary granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis on the incidence of FN in patients with GCTs. The present study included a review of the medical records of patients diagnosed with GCTs treated with first-line/adjuvant chemotherapy between January 2000 and December 2017 at the National Cancer Institute (Bratislava, Slovakia). In January 2006, a decision was made to administer G-CSF prophylaxis (filgrastim or pegfilgrastim) to patients after every cycle of chemotherapy. The present study included 385 patients, and out of these, 264 patients received primary G-CSF prophylaxis, while 121 patients did not. A total of 71 patients (18.4%) suffered from FN events. In the subgroup that did not receive primary prophylaxis, 42 patients exhibited FN, while only 29 patients with primary prophylaxis suffered from FN (34.7 vs. 11.0%; P=0.00000003). According to the subgroup analysis, FN incidence was decreased in all groups that received primary prophylaxis, except for patients with stage I GCT receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, without affecting overall survival. Primary G-CSF prophylaxis was associated with markedly reduced FN incidence in patients treated with first-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Therefore, the results of the present study suggested that primary G-CSF prophylaxis should be considered in patients with GCT receiving first-line chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Hapakova
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal Chovanec
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Katarina Rejlekova
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Katarina Kalavska
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Jana Obertova
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Patrik Palacka
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Valentina De Angelis
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Daniela Svetlovska
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Zuzana Sycova‑Mila
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Jozef Mardiak
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal Mego
- Second Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Bleve S, Cursano MC, Casadei C, Schepisi G, Menna C, Urbini M, Gianni C, De Padova S, Filograna A, Gallà V, Rosti G, Barone D, Chovanec M, Mego M, De Giorgi U. Inflammatory Biomarkers for Outcome Prediction in Patients With Metastatic Testicular Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:910087. [PMID: 35756636 PMCID: PMC9226315 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.910087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ cell tumors are the most common malignant tumors in male young adults. Platinum-based chemotherapy has dramatically improved the outcome of metastatic germ cell tumor patients and overall cure rates now exceed 80%. The choice of medical treatment can be guided by the prognosis estimation which is an important step during the decision-making process. IGCCCG classification plays a pivotal role in the management of advanced disease. However, histological and clinical parameters are the available factors that condition the prognosis, but they do not reflect the tumor's molecular and pathological features and do not predict who will respond to chemotherapy. After first-line chemotherapy 20%-30% of patients relapse and for these patients, the issue of prognostic factors is far more complex. Validated biomarkers and a molecular selection of patients that reflect the pathogenesis are highly needed. The association between cancer-related systemic inflammation, tumorigenesis, and cancer progression has been demonstrated. In the last years, several studies have shown the prognostic utility of immune-inflammation indexes in different tumor types. This review analyzed the prognostic impact of inflammatory markers retrieved from routine blood draws in GCT patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bleve
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Cursano
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Chiara Casadei
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Schepisi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Cecilia Menna
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Milena Urbini
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Caterina Gianni
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Silvia De Padova
- Psycho-Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Alessia Filograna
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Valentina Gallà
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rosti
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Domenico Barone
- Radiology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Michal Chovanec
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Mego
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ugo De Giorgi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
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Decreased levels of circulating cytokines VEGF, TNF-β and IL-15 indicate PD-L1 overexpression in tumours of primary breast cancer patients. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1294. [PMID: 33446741 PMCID: PMC7809365 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80351-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) overexpression has been associated with poor clinical outcomes in several human cancers whose increased malignant behaviour might be related to PD-L1 mediated systemic immunological tolerance. This study aims to verify if circulating cytokines may serve as a proxy for non-invasive identification of sensitive prognostic biomarkers reflecting tumour and its microenvironment. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure PD-L1 expression in tumour tissue sections of 148 chemonaïve breast cancer (BC) patients. The panel of 51 cytokines was analysed using multiplex bead arrays. High PD-L1 expression in tumours was associated with shorter progression-free survival (HR 3.25; 95% CI 1.39–7.61; P = 0.006) and low circulating levels of three multifunctional molecules; VEGF, TNF-β and IL-15 (P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, patients with low VEGF had 4.6-fold increased risk of PD-L1 overexpression (P = 0.008), present in 76.5% of patients with all these three cytokines below the median (vs. 35.6% among the others; P = 0.002). The area under the curve value of 0.722 (95% CI 0.59–0.85; P = 0.004) shows that this combination of cytokines has a moderate ability to discriminate between PD-L1 high vs. PD-L1 low patients. Plasma cytokines, therefore, could serve as potential non-invasive biomarkers for the identification of high-risk BC cases.
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Kalavska K, Kucerova L, Schmidtova S, Chovanec M, Mego M. Cancer Stem Cell Niche and Immune-Active Tumor Microenvironment in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1226:111-121. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-36214-0_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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10
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Cimadamore A, Scarpelli M, Santoni M, Massari F, Tartari F, Cerqueti R, Lopez-Beltran A, Cheng L, Montironi R. Genitourinary Tumors: Update on Molecular Biomarkers for Diagnosis, Prognosis and Prediction of Response to Therapy. Curr Drug Metab 2019; 20:305-312. [PMID: 30799789 DOI: 10.2174/1389200220666190225124352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research of biomarkers in genitourinary tumors goes along with the development of complex emerging techniques ranging from next generation sequencing platforms, applied to archival pathology specimens, cytological samples, liquid biopsies, and to patient-derived tumor models. METHODS This contribution is an update on molecular biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of response to therapy in genitourinary tumors. The following major topics are dealt with: Immunological biomarkers, including the microbiome, and their potential role and caveats in renal cell carcinoma, bladder and prostate cancers and testicular germ cell tumors; Tissue biomarkers for imaging and therapy, with emphasis on Prostate-specific membrane antigen in prostate cancer; Liquid biomarkers in prostate cancer, including circulating tumor cell isolation and characterization in renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer with emphasis on biomarkers detectable in the urine and testicular germ cell tumors; and Biomarkers and economic sustainability. CONCLUSION The identification of effective biomarkers has become a major focus in cancer research, mainly due to the necessity of selecting potentially responsive patients in order to improve their outcomes, as well as to reduce the toxicity and costs related to ineffective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Cimadamore
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marina Scarpelli
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Tartari
- Department of Economics and Law, University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy
| | - Roy Cerqueti
- Department of Economics and Law, University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy
| | | | - Liang Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Rodolfo Montironi
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy
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11
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Chovanec M, Mardiak J, Mego M. Immune mechanisms and possible immune therapy in testicular germ cell tumours. Andrology 2019; 7:479-486. [PMID: 31169364 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Testicular germ cell tumours (GCTs) are the only universally curable solid malignancy. The long-term cure rate of >95% is attributed to the extraordinary sensitivity to cisplatin-based treatment but a proportion of patients die due to a progression of the chemotherapy-refractory disease. While treatment of a variety of solid cancers was significantly improved with recent immune therapies, the immunology and immunotherapy remained underinvestigated in GCTs. OBJECTIVES In this narrative review, we summarize evidence about immune-related mechanisms and possible immune therapies in GCTs and provide insights and implications for future research and clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE to identify original and review articles reporting on immune mechanisms and immunotherapy in GCTs. Review articles were further searched for additional original articles. RESULTS Clear link of immune surveillance and the presence of GCT have been identified with several novel immune-related prognostic biomarkers published recently. Several case reports, case series, and preliminary results from phase I-II studies are emerging to report on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. DISCUSSION Newly discovered immune biomarkers provide an evidence supporting the role of immune environment in the GCT biology. While these discoveries provide only an initial insight into the immunobiology, strong correlation with prognosis is evident. This provided a premise to investigate the treatment efficacy of novel immunotherapy. Some efficacy of these treatments has been reported in clinical setting; however, the results of published studies with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy seem to be disappointing. CONCLUSION Immune-related mechanisms and efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in GCTs should be further investigated in preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Chovanec
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - J Mardiak
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - M Mego
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Translational Research Unit at 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In the present review, we summarize the recent developments in the management of germ cell tumors (GCTs). RECENT FINDINGS Treatment-related acute and late-onset toxicity remains a key challenge in the management of GCTs, with recent evidence showing that the adverse health outcomes of etoposide and cisplatin for four cycles in comparison to bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin for three cycles appear to be similar. Recent data showed that multidisciplinary clinic approach and management in experienced academic centers were associated with improved overall survival in GCT patients. There are currently multiple conventional-dose chemotherapy options for salvage therapy in patients with refractory or recurrent disease. In addition, more efficacious high-dose chemotherapy regimens continue to be developed. The role of salvage conventional-dose chemotherapy versus high-dose chemotherapy is currently being investigated prospectively. Recent reports suggested that brentuximab vedotin could be a potential salvage option for cluster of differentiation 30 positive refractory GCTs. On the other hand the results of the first phase II clinical trial investigating pembrolizumab in refractory GCTs were disappointing showing no clinical activity.Finally, deep exploration of the immune profile of GCTs using immunohistochemistry and gene expression profiling has identified that advanced GCT stage was associated with decreased T-cell and Natural killer-cell signatures, whereas T regulatory, neutrophil, mast cell, and macrophage signatures increased with advanced stage. Even though these results indicated that activated T-cell infiltration correlated with seminoma histology and good prognosis, and could be used in the future as a biomarker, this approach needs to be validated in a large cohort. SUMMARY Remaining challenges to be addressed include minimizing therapeutic toxicity, and improving outcomes in patients with refractory/recurrent GCTs.
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c-Src Recruitment is Involved in c-MET-Mediated Malignant Behaviour of NT2D1 Non-Seminoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20020320. [PMID: 30646583 PMCID: PMC6358843 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
c-MET pathway over-activation is the signature of malignancy acquisition or chemotherapy resistance of many cancers. We recently demonstrated that type II Testicular Germ Cell Tumours (TGCTs) express c-MET receptor. In particular, we elucidated that the non-seminoma lesions express c-MET protein at higher level, compared with the seminoma ones. In line with this observation, NTERA-2 clone D1 (NT2D1) non-seminoma cells increase their proliferation, migration and invasion in response to Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF). One of the well-known adaptor-proteins belonging to c-MET signaling cascade is c-Src. Activation of c-Src is related to the increase of aggressiveness of many cancers. For this reason, we focused on the role of c-Src in c-MET-triggered and HGF-dependent NT2D1 cell activities. In the present paper, we have elucidated that this adaptor-protein is involved in HGF-dependent NT2D1 cell proliferation, migration and invasion, since Src inhibitor-1 administration abrogates these responses. Despite these biological evidences western blot analyses have not revealed the increase of c-Src activation because of HGF administration. However, notably, immunofluorescence analyses revealed that cytoplasmic and membrane-associated localization of c-Src shifted to the nuclear compartment after HGF stimulation. These results shed new light in the modality of HGF-dependent c-Src recruitment, and put the basis for novel investigations on the relationship between c-Src, and TGCT aggressiveness.
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Chovanec M, Albany C, Mego M, Montironi R, Cimadamore A, Cheng L. Emerging Prognostic Biomarkers in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: Looking Beyond Established Practice. Front Oncol 2018; 8:571. [PMID: 30547014 PMCID: PMC6280583 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors are unique among solid cancers. Historically, this disease was deadly if progressed beyond the stage I. The implementation of cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens has drastically changed the clinical outcome of metastatic testicular cancer. Several biomarkers were established to refine the prognosis by International Germ Cell Collaborative Group in 1997. Among these, the most significant were primary tumor site; metastatic sites, such as non-pulmonary visceral metastases; and the amplitude of serum tumor markers α-fetoprotein, β-chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase. Since then, oncology has experienced discoveries of various molecular biomarkers to further refine the prognosis and treatment of malignancies. However, the ability to predict the prognosis and treatment response in germ cell tumors did not improve for many years. Clinical trials with novel targeting agents that were conducted in refractory germ cell tumor patients have proven to have negative outcomes. With the recent advances and developments, novel biomarkers emerge in the field of germ cell tumor oncology. This review article aims to summarize the current knowledge in the research of novel prognostic biomarkers in testicular germ cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Chovanec
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Costantine Albany
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Michal Mego
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Rodolfo Montironi
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alessia Cimadamore
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy
| | - Liang Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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15
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Chovanec M, Cierna Z, Miskovska V, Machalekova K, Kalavska K, Rejlekova K, Svetlovska D, Macak D, Spanik S, Kajo K, Babal P, Mego M, Mardiak J. βcatenin is a marker of poor clinical characteristics and suppressed immune infiltration in testicular germ cell tumors. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:1062. [PMID: 30390643 PMCID: PMC6215644 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4929-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND WNT/βcatenin (WNTβ) pathway is activated in early stages of embryonic development. We aimed to evaluate the significance of βcatenin in germ cell tumors (GCTs) and explore associations with the inflamed environment. METHODS Surgical specimens from 247 patients were analyzed. Βcatenin expression was detected in the tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinical characteristics, outcome, PD-L1 expression and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to investigate the immune-cell related effects of βcatenin and PD-L1 encoding genes. RESULTS βcatenin was expressed in 86.2% of GCTs. The expression in seminomas was significantly lower compared to all subtypes of non-seminoma (all P < 0.0001). A high expression (weighted histoscore > 150) was associated with primary mediastinal non-seminoma (P = 0.035), intermediate/poor risk disease (P = 0.033) and high tumor markers (P = 0.035). We observed a positive correlation with the PD-L1 in tumor and an inverse correlation with the SII. IPA uncovered relationships of CTNNB (βcatenin) and CD274 (PD-L1) genes and their effects on differentiation, proliferation and activation of lymphocyte subtypes. CONCLUSION Herein, we showed that βcatenin is associated with male adult GCT characteristics as well as supressed immune environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Chovanec
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. .,National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia. .,Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Zuzana Cierna
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Viera Miskovska
- 1st Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Kollarska 12, 812 50, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Katarina Kalavska
- National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Cancer Research Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Rejlekova
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Svetlovska
- National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Dusan Macak
- National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Stanislav Spanik
- 1st Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Kollarska 12, 812 50, Bratislava, Slovakia.,St. Elisabeth Cancer Institute, Heydukova 10, 812 50, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Karol Kajo
- St. Elisabeth Cancer Institute, Heydukova 10, 812 50, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavel Babal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Faculty Hospital with Policlinics Skalica, a.s, Koreszkova 936/7, 909 01, Skalica, Slovakia
| | - Michal Mego
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jozef Mardiak
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Serum Stem Cell Growth Factor Beta for the Prediction of Therapy Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:6435482. [PMID: 30246025 PMCID: PMC6136561 DOI: 10.1155/2018/6435482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Chronic inflammatory response is one of major contributors in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Inflammatory molecules, such as cytokines and growth factors in the circulation, can be useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of the patients. The stem cell growth factor beta (SCGFβ), a newly found protein, is a secreted sulfated glycoprotein and it functions as a growth factor for primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. The level of SCGFβ had been reported to be elevated in several cancer types. However, there is very few or even no information on this protein in the study of HCC, even more in clinical studies. Methods A multiplex immunoassay panel of 48 cytokines and growth factors were utilized to screen 68 sera from 29 HCC patients at pretreatment (T0), 1 month (T1), and 6 months (T6) after treatment by either radiofrequency ablation (RF) or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Treatment response was evaluated according to mRECIST criteria. Results Immunoassay screening showed that the levels of IL-17, CTACK, TNFα, IL-2Rα, IL-8, and SCGFβ were different in Complete Responders (CR) and Nonresponders (NR) groups. At T0 and T1, the SCGFβ level was significantly the highest in NR (23.8 and 40.7 ng/mL, respectively), followed by early recurrence (25.4 and 25.0 ng/mL), and CR (6.7 and 5.3 ng/mL), independently from HCV, stages, and treatment type. Low basal SCGFβ level was associated with longer disease-free survival compared to high SCGFβ. Conclusion In this study, for the first time, we demonstrate that the high level of serum SCGFβ at pre- and posttreatment is associated with HCC nonresponsiveness.
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Scheri KC, Leonetti E, Laino L, Gigantino V, Gesualdi L, Grammatico P, Bizzari M, Franco R, Oosterhuis JW, Stoop H, Looijenga LHJ, Ricci G, Catizone A. c-MET receptor as potential biomarker and target molecule for malignant testicular germ cell tumors. Oncotarget 2018; 9:31842-31860. [PMID: 30159127 PMCID: PMC6112764 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Type II testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) represent the most frequent malignancy in Caucasian males (20–40 years). Even if diagnosed with disseminated disease, >80% of patients are cured; however, a small percentage of cases progress and result in death. It is commonly accepted that these cancers arise from a disturbed testicular embryonic niche that leads to the block of gonocyte differentiation. The subsequent development of the invasive seminomas and non-seminomas is due to a combination of genetic, epigenetic and microenvironment-based alterations (genvironment). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is present in the testicular microenvironment, together with its receptor c-MET, from early embryonic development to an adult stage. In addition, c-MET is a well-known proto-oncogene involved in the onset and progression of various human cancers. Herein, we have investigated the expression and availability of HGF and c-MET in TCam-2, NCCIT and NT2D1 cells, which are type II (T)GCT representative cell lines, and the effect of c-MET activation/repression on the regulation of cancerous biological processes. We found that NT2D1 cells increase their proliferation, polarized migration, and invasion in response to HGF administration. NCCIT cells respond to HGF stimulation only partially, whereas TCam-2 cells do not respond to HGF, at least according to the investigated parameters. Interestingly, the immunohistochemical study of c-MET distribution in TGCTs confirm its presence in both seminoma and non-seminoma lesions with different patterns. Notably, we found the highest c-MET immunoreactivity in the epithelial elements of the various components of TGCTs: teratoma, yolk sac tumor and choriocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia Corano Scheri
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic-Medicine and Orthopaedics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Erica Leonetti
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic-Medicine and Orthopaedics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Laino
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Gigantino
- Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori I.R.C.C.S. "Fondazione Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Luisa Gesualdi
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic-Medicine and Orthopaedics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Grammatico
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Bizzari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Systems Biology Group Lab, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Renato Franco
- Pathological Anatomy Unit, Department of Psychic and Physic health and preventive medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - J Wolter Oosterhuis
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory for Experimental Patho-Oncology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Stoop
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory for Experimental Patho-Oncology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leendert H J Looijenga
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory for Experimental Patho-Oncology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Giulia Ricci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Catizone
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic-Medicine and Orthopaedics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
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Immune-Related Concepts in Biology and Treatment of Germ-Cell Tumors. Adv Urol 2018; 2018:3718165. [PMID: 29725351 PMCID: PMC5872660 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3718165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ-cell tumors (GCTs) are highly curable with chemotherapy. Salvage chemotherapy or surgery can cure a proportion of patients, but the ones failing these treatments will die of their disease in the young age. Immune checkpoint pathways are emerging as powerful targetable biomarkers, and a significant preclinical and clinical research is underway to widen our knowledge and expand the treatment possibilities with immune therapy. The concept of immune modulation that was currently adopted in many solid tumors is understudied in GCTs. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge of published literature discussing the immune mechanisms and immune therapy in GCTs.
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Chovanec M, Cierna Z, Miskovska V, Machalekova K, Kalavska K, Rejlekova K, Svetlovska D, Macak D, Spanik S, Kajo K, Babal P, De Giorgi U, Mego M, Mardiak J. Systemic immune-inflammation index in germ-cell tumours. Br J Cancer 2018; 118:831-838. [PMID: 29485980 PMCID: PMC5877428 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: We evaluated systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and its association with patient outcome in germ-cell tumours (GCTs). Methods: Two independent cohorts of patients were analysed; the discovery set (n=171) from a single institution and the validation set (n=181) previously included in a study evaluating PD-L1 in GCTs. The SII was calculated using platelet (P), neutrophil (N) and lymphocyte (L) counts before chemotherapy and correlated with survival using regression analyses and Kaplan–Meier method. Results: In the discovery cohort, the SII was associated with poor risk clinical features. Patients with low SII had significantly longer progression-free survival (HR=0.22, 95% CI 0.12–0.41, P<0.001) and overall survival (OS) (HR=0.16, 95% CI 0.08–0.32, P<0.001) compared to high SII. This index was independent of International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group criteria in multivariable Cox regression analysis for OS and was validated in an independent cohort. When combining PD-L1 expression on tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and SII, we identified three distinctive prognostic groups. Conclusions: High SII was associated with poor outcome in GCTs. Combination of PD-L1 positive TILs and SII could further refine prognosis in GCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Chovanec
- Second Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia.,Department of Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia.,Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Cierna
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, Bratislava 811 08, Slovakia
| | - Viera Miskovska
- First Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Kollarska 12, Bratislava 812 50, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Machalekova
- Department of Pathology, St Elisabeth Cancer Institute, Heydukova 10, Bratislava 812 50, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Kalavska
- Department of Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia.,Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia.,Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Rejlekova
- Second Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia.,Department of Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Svetlovska
- Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia.,Department of Clinical Trials, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia
| | - Dusan Macak
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia
| | - Stanislav Spanik
- First Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Kollarska 12, Bratislava 812 50, Slovakia.,Department of Oncology, St Elisabeth Cancer Institute, Heydukova 10, Bratislava 812 50, Slovakia
| | - Karol Kajo
- Department of Pathology, St Elisabeth Cancer Institute, Heydukova 10, Bratislava 812 50, Slovakia
| | - Pavel Babal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, Bratislava 811 08, Slovakia.,Faculty Hospital with Policlinics Skalica, a.s., Koreszkova 936/7, Skalica 909 01, Slovakia
| | - Ugo De Giorgi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Q1 Romagnolo Q2 per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via Piero Maroncelli 40, Meldola 470 14, Italy
| | - Michal Mego
- Second Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia.,Department of Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia.,Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia
| | - Jozef Mardiak
- Second Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia.,Department of Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, Bratislava 833 10, Slovakia
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