p53 codon 271 CGT to CAT mutant fraction does not increase in nasal respiratory and olfactory epithelia of rats exposed to inhaled naphthalene

ACB-PCR Quantification of Low-Frequency Hotspot Cancer-Driver Mutations

Allele-specific competitive blocker PCR (ACB-PCR) is a sensitive and quantitative approach for the selective amplification of a specific base substitution. Using the ACB-PCR technique, hotspot cancer-driver mutations (tumor-relevant mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, which confer a selective growth advantage) are being developed as quantitative biomarkers of cancer risk. ACB-PCR employs a mutant-specific primer (with a 3'-penultimate mismatch relative to the mutant DNA sequence, but a double 3'-terminal mismatch relative to the wild-type DNA sequence) to selectively amplify rare mutant DNA molecules. A blocker primer having a non-extendable 3'-end and a 3'-penultimate mismatch relative to the wild-type DNA sequence, but a double 3'-terminal mismatch relative to the mutant DNA sequence is included in ACB-PCR to selectively repress amplification from abundant wild-type molecules. Consequently, ACB-PCR can quantify the level of a single base pair substitution mutation in a DNA population when present at a mutant:wild-type ratio of 1 × 10^-5 or greater. Quantification of rare mutant alleles is achieved by parallel analysis of unknown samples and mutant fraction (MF) standards (defined mixtures of mutant and wild-type DNA sequences). The ability to quantify specific mutations with known association to cancer has several important applications in evaluating the carcinogenic potential of chemical exposures in rodent models. Further, the measurement of cancer-driver mutant subpopulations is important for precision cancer treatment (selecting the most appropriate targeted therapy and predicting the development of therapeutic resistance). This chapter provides a step-by-step description of the ACB-PCR methodology as it has been used to measure human PIK3CA codon 1047, CAT→CGT (H1047R) mutation.

Variation in organ-specific PIK3CA and KRAS mutant levels in normal human tissues correlates with mutation prevalence in corresponding carcinomas

Large-scale sequencing efforts have described the mutational complexity of individual cancers and identified mutations prevalent in different cancers. As a complementary approach, allele-specific competitive blocker PCR (ACB-PCR) is being used to quantify levels of hotspot cancer driver mutations (CDMs) with high sensitivity, to elucidate the tissue-specific properties of CDMs, their occurrence as tumor cell subpopulations, and their occurrence in normal tissues. Here we report measurements of PIK3CA H1047R mutant fraction (MF) in normal colonic mucosa, normal lung, colonic adenomas, colonic adenocarcinomas, and lung adenocarcinomas. We report PIK3CA E545K MF measurements in those tissues, as well as in normal breast, normal thyroid, mammary ductal carcinomas, and papillary thyroid carcinomas. We report KRAS G12D and G12V MF measurements in normal colon. These MF measurements were integrated with previously published ACB-PCR data on KRAS G12D, KRAS G12V, and PIK3CA H1047R. Analysis of these data revealed a correlation between the degree of interindividual variability in these mutations (as log10 MF standard deviation) in normal tissues and the frequencies with which the mutations are detected in carcinomas of the corresponding organs in the COSMIC database. This novel observation has important implications. It suggests that interindividual variability in mutation levels of normal tissues may be used as a metric to identify mutations with critical early roles in tissue-specific carcinogenesis. Additionally, it raises the possibility that personalized cancer therapeutics, developed to target specifically activated oncogenic products, might be repurposed as prophylactic therapies to reduce the accumulation of cells carrying CDMs and, thereby, reduce future cancer risk. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 58:466-476, 2017. © 2017 This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Environmental Mutagen Society.

Protective effect of diallyl trisulfide against naphthalene-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of diallyl trisulfide (DATS) against naphthalene-induced oxidative and inflammatory damage in the livers and lungs of mice. Elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels showed significant hepatic damage after the challenge with 100 mg/kg naphthalene. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) increased significantly, accompanying a decrease in the hepatic activity of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels after the naphthalene damage. In addition, the serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 8 (IL-8) increased significantly in the groups damaged with naphthalene. The main parameters related to oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the lungs, including the NO, MPO, and GSH contents, were determined, and the histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in the lung and liver tissues were also observed. In the DATS-treated groups, all of the oxidative and inflammatory damage in the serum, liver, and lung tissues were significantly prevented.

Hypothesis-based weight-of-evidence evaluation and risk assessment for naphthalene carcinogenesis

Inhalation of naphthalene causes olfactory epithelial nasal tumors in rats (but not in mice) and benign lung adenomas in mice (but not in rats). The limited available human data have not identified an association between naphthalene exposure and increased respiratory cancer risk. Assessing naphthalene's carcinogenicity in humans, therefore, depends entirely on experimental evidence from rodents. We evaluated the respiratory carcinogenicity of naphthalene in rodents, and its potential relevance to humans, using our Hypothesis-Based Weight-of-Evidence (HBWoE) approach. We systematically and comparatively reviewed data relevant to key elements in the hypothesized modes of action (MoA) to determine which is best supported by the available data, allowing all of the data from each realm of investigation to inform interpretation of one another. Our analysis supports a mechanism that involves initial metabolism of naphthalene to the epoxide, followed by GSH depletion, cytotoxicity, chronic inflammation, regenerative hyperplasia, and tumor formation, with possible weak genotoxicity from downstream metabolites occurring only at high cytotoxic doses, strongly supporting a non-mutagenic threshold MoA in the rat nose. We also conducted a dose-response analysis, based on the likely MoA, which suggests that the rat nasal MoA is not relevant in human respiratory tissues at typical environmental exposures. Our analysis illustrates how a thorough WoE evaluation can be used to support a MoA, even when a mechanism of action cannot be fully elucidated. A non-mutagenic threshold MoA for naphthalene-induced rat nasal tumors should be considered as a basis to determine human relevance and to guide regulatory and risk-management decisions.

Low-frequency KRAS mutations are prevalent in lung adenocarcinomas

AIM

This study quantified low-frequency KRAS mutations in normal lung and lung adenocarcinomas, to understand their potential significance in the development of acquired resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Allele-specific Competitive Blocker-PCR was used to quantify KRAS codon 12 GAT (G12D) and GTT (G12V) mutation in 19 normal lung and 21 lung adenocarcinoma samples.

RESULTS

Lung adenocarcinomas had KRAS codon 12 GAT and GTT geometric mean mutant fractions of 1.94 × 10-4 and 1.16 × 10-3, respectively. For 76.2% of lung adenocarcinomas, the level of KRAS mutation was greater than the upper 95% confidence interval of that in normal lung.

CONCLUSION

KRAS mutant tumor subpopulations, not detectable by DNA sequencing, may drive resistance to EGFR blockade in lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Assessment of K-Ras mutant frequency and micronucleus incidence in the mouse duodenum following 90-days of exposure to Cr(VI) in drinking water

Chronic exposure to high concentrations of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] as sodium dichromate dihydrate (SDD) in drinking water induces duodenal tumors in mice, but the mode of action (MOA) for these tumors has been a subject of scientific debate. To evaluate the tumor-site-specific genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of SDD in the mouse small intestine, tissue pathology and cytogenetic damage were evaluated in duodenal crypt and villus enterocytes from B6C3F1 mice exposed to 0.3-520mg/L SDD in drinking water for 7 and 90 days. Allele-competitive blocker PCR (ACB-PCR) was used to investigate the induction of a sensitive, tumor-relevant mutation, specifically in vivo K-Ras codon 12 GAT mutation, in scraped duodenal epithelium following 90 days of drinking water exposure. Cytotoxicity was evident in the villus as disruption of cellular arrangement, desquamation, nuclear atypia and blunting. Following 90 days of treatment, aberrant nuclei, occurring primarily at villi tips, were significantly increased at ≥60mg/L SDD. However, in the crypt compartment, there were no dose-related effects on mitotic and apoptotic indices or the formation of aberrant nuclei indicating that Cr(VI)-induced cytotoxicity was limited to the villi. Cr(VI) caused a dose-dependent proliferative response in the duodenal crypt as evidenced by an increase in crypt area and increased number of crypt enterocytes. Spontaneous K-Ras codon 12 GAT mutations in untreated mice were higher than expected, in the range of 10(-2) to 10(-3); however no treatment-related trend in the K-Ras codon 12 GAT mutation was observed. The high spontaneous background K-Ras mutant frequency and Cr(VI) dose-related increases in crypt enterocyte proliferation, without dose-related increase in K-Ras mutant frequency, micronuclei formation, or change in mitotic or apoptotic indices, are consistent with a lack of genotoxicity in the crypt compartment, and a MOA involving accumulation of mutations late in carcinogenesis as a consequence of sustained regenerative proliferation.

ACB-PCR measurement of H-ras codon 61 CAA→CTA mutation provides an early indication of aristolochic acid I carcinogenic effect in tumor target tissues

Aristolochic acid (AA) is a strong cytotoxic nephrotoxin and carcinogen, which induces forestomach and kidney tumors in mice and is associated with development of urothelial cancer in humans. This study sought to gain mechanistic insight into AAI-induced carcinogenesis through analysis of a tumor-relevant endpoint. Female Hupki mice were treated daily with 5 mg AAI/kg body weight by gavage for 3, 12, or 21 days. Histopathology and DNA adduct analysis confirmed kidney and forestomach as target tissues for AAI-induced toxicity. H-ras codon 61 CAA→CTA mutations were measured in mouse kidney and forestomach, as well as liver and glandular stomach (nontarget organs) by allele-specific competitive blocker-PCR (ACB-PCR), because A→T transversion is the predominant mutation induced by AA and this particular mutation was found previously in AA-induced rodent forestomach tumors. Treatment-related differences were observed, with the H-ras mutant fraction (MF) of mouse kidney and forestomach exposed to 5 mg AAI/kg body weight for 21 days significantly higher than that of vehicle-treated controls (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.05). Statistically significant correlations between dA-AAI adduct levels (measured previously in the same animals) and induced H-ras MFs were evident in forestomach of mice treated for 21 days (linear regression, P < 0.05). The significant increase in H-ras MF in kidney and forestomach, along with the correlation between DNA adducts, histopathology, and oncogene mutation, provide definitive evidence that AA induces tumors through a directly mutagenic mode of action. Thus, measurement of tumor-associated mutations is a useful tool for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the tissue specificity of carcinogenesis.

Preliminary evaluation of the human relevance of respiratory tumors observed in rodents exposed to naphthalene

Inhalation bioassays in mice and rats exposed to naphthalene (NA) show incidences of lung and nasal cancer, respectively. This paper describes a preliminary mode of action (MOA)/human relevance (HR) framework for NA. Species differences in both carcinogenic and cytotoxic responses between the rodent and human have been noted based on qualitative and quantitative differences in metabolism. Some occur at the initial oxidation of NA in the rat through CYP2F, versus CYP2A13 metabolism in the human respiratory system and which results in a difference in the specific naphthoquinone formed. Normally, subsequent reactive metabolites are then conjugated through glutathione, but high dose exposures, as in the rat bioassay, result in glutathione depletion, and the availability of 1,2-naphthoquinone for other conjugation. In the rat nose, it is proposed that a naphthoquinone imine is formed via a species and site-specific aryl amidase acting on an amino acid conjugate of the quinone. Such a quinone imine is believed to be the active agent in Alachlor and phenacetin, resulting in the same profile of respiratory tumors in the rat as NA. Based on the MOA and the limited epidemiological data indicating no human evidence of nasal or lung tumor risk, the carcinogenic response observed in rats does not appear relevant to the human.

Dose-response assessment of naphthalene-induced genotoxicity and glutathione detoxication in human TK6 lymphoblasts

The dose-response relationship for the induction of micronuclei (MN) and the impact of glutathione (GSH) detoxication on naphthalene-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were investigated in human TK6 cells. TK6 cells were exposed to 10 concentrations ranging from 0.0625 to 30μM naphthalene in the presence of β-naphthoflavone- and phenobarbital (βNP/PB)-induced rat liver S9 with a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-generating system. Three approaches were used to identify a no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for naphthalene-induced genotoxicity: (1) laboratory criteria of ≥ twofold increase over the concurrent solvent controls (NOEL = 10μM), (2) ANOVA with Bonferroni correction (NOEL = 2.5μM), and (3) the benchmark dose approach (BMCL(10) = 3.35μM). The NOEL and point of departure micronucleus frequency for naphthalene-induced MN are between the tested naphthalene concentrations of 2.5-10.0μM in this experimental system. Supplementation of the exposure system with physiological relevant concentrations of 5mM GSH eliminated naphthalene-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity; no increased cytotoxicity or genotoxicity was observed at concentrations of up to 500μM naphthalene in the presence of GSH compared with 2.5-10.0μM in the absence of GSH. Naphthalene bioactivation by βNP/PB-induced rat liver S9 exhibits a nonlinear dose-response for the induction of MN in TK6 cells with a NOEL of 2.5-10μM that in the presence of GSH is shifted upward greater than 50- to 200-fold. These data demonstrate a nonlinear dose-response for naphthalene-induced genotoxicity that is eliminated by GSH, and both observations should be considered when assessing human risk from naphthalene exposures.

Nasal epithelial lesions in F344 rats following a 90-day inhalation exposure to naphthalene

Naphthalene (NA) was shown to be carcinogenic, causing respiratory epithelial adenoma in the nasal cavity of male F344 rats and olfactory epithelial neuroblastoma in female F344 rats at exposure concentrations of 10-60 ppm in a 2-year inhalation study conducted by the National Toxicology Program. To explore the exposure-response relationship and threshold for nasal epithelial effects in F344 rats, a 90-day (6 h/d, 5 d/wk) inhalation study was conducted at 0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 30 ppm NA vapor. Group size for nasal cavity histopathology was 10/sex with an additional 10/sex evaluated 4 wk post-exposure. NA exposure concentrations were measured by GC/MS, and aerosol testing verified that solid NA particles were not present. There were no NA exposure-related clinical observations and mild decreases in body weight (<10%) and food/water consumption were observed primarily in the 30 ppm rats. Rat heads were cross-sectioned at six levels for microscopic examination. There were no nasal cavity lesions related to NA exposure in rats of the 0.1 ppm group. Minimal hyperplasia was observed in the transitional/respiratory epithelium of rats exposed to 1 ppm. Mild hyperplasia and minimal squamous metaplasia were observed in the respiratory epithelium of rats exposed to 10 or 30 ppm. Lesions in the olfactory epithelium were observed only in rats of the 10 or 30 ppm groups and consisted of degeneration, necrosis, areas of re-epithelialization and basal cell hyperplasia. There was remarkable recovery of effects after 4 weeks, but residual olfactory epithelial degeneration and basal cell hyperplasia were still evident.