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Sekar P, Ravitchandirane R, Khanam S, Muniraj N, Cassinadane AV. Novel molecules as the emerging trends in cancer treatment: an update. Med Oncol 2022; 39:20. [PMID: 34982273 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-021-01615-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
As per World Health Organization cancer remains as a leading killer disease causing nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Since the burden of cancer increases worldwide, warranting an urgent search for anti-cancer compounds from natural sources. Secondary metabolites from plants, marine organisms exhibit a novel chemical and structural diversity holding a great promise as therapeutics in cancer treatment. These natural metabolites target only the cancer cells and the normal healthy cells are left unharmed. In the emerging trends of cancer treatment, the natural bioactive compounds have long become a part of cancer chemotherapy. In this review, we have tried to compile about eight bioactive compounds from plant origin viz. combretastatin, ginsenoside, lycopene, quercetin, resveratrol, silymarin, sulforaphane and withaferin A, four marine-derived compounds viz. bryostatins, dolastatins, eribulin, plitidepsin and three microorganisms viz. Clostridium, Mycobacterium bovis and Streptococcus pyogenes with their well-established anticancer potential, mechanism of action and clinical establishments are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Sekar
- Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Pondicherry, 605102, India
| | | | - Sofia Khanam
- Calcutta Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and Allied Health Sciences, Howrah, WB, 711316, India
| | - Nethaji Muniraj
- Centre for Cancer Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Children's National Research Institute, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, D.C, 20010, USA.
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Abstract
The glycoprotein hormones (GPH) are heterodimers composed of a common α subunit and a specific β subunit. They act by activating specific leucine-rich repeat G protein-coupled receptors. However, individual subunits have been shown to elicit responses in cells devoid of the receptor for the dimeric hormones. The α subunit is involved in prolactin production from different tissues. The human chorionic gonadotropin β subunit (βhCG) plays determinant roles in placentation and in cancer development and metastasis. A truncated form of the thyrotropin (TSH) β subunit is also reported to have biological effects. The GPH α- and β subunits are derived from precursor genes (gpa and gpb, respectively), which are expressed in most invertebrate species and are still represented in vertebrates as GPH subunit paralogs (gpa2 and gpb5, respectively). No specific receptor has been found for the vertebrate GPA2 and GPB5 even if their heterodimeric form is able to activate the TSH receptor in mammals. Interestingly, GPA and GPB are phylogenetically and structurally related to cysteine-knot growth factors (CKGF) and particularly to a group of antagonists that act independently on any receptor. This review article summarizes the observed actions of individual GPH subunits and presents the current hypotheses of how these actions might be induced. New approaches are also proposed in light of the evolutionary relatedness with antagonists of the CKGF family of proteins.
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Noguera-Ortega E, Guallar-Garrido S, Julián E. Mycobacteria-Based Vaccines as Immunotherapy for Non-urological Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1802. [PMID: 32635668 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The arsenal against different types of cancers has increased impressively in the last decade. The detailed knowledge of the tumor microenvironment enables it to be manipulated in order to help the immune system fight against tumor cells by using specific checkpoint inhibitors, cell-based treatments, targeted antibodies, and immune stimulants. In fact, it is widely known that the first immunotherapeutic tools as immune stimulants for cancer treatment were bacteria and still are; specifically, the use of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) continues to be the treatment of choice for preventing cancer recurrence and progression in non-invasive bladder cancer. BCG and also other mycobacteria or their components are currently under study for the immunotherapeutic treatment of different malignancies. This review focuses on the preclinical and clinical assays using mycobacteria to treat non-urological cancers, providing a wide knowledge of the beneficial applications of these microorganisms to manipulate the tumor microenvironment aiming at tumor clearance.
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Abstract
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a peptide hormone which plays an important role during pregnancy. But its impact is not limited to pregnancy; it also influences tumor formation and metastatic outgrowth, especially in endometrial adenocarcinoma and breast cancer. This review summarizes what has been written in the literature about the role of hCG as a tumor marker in these 2 gynecological malignancies and also about the signal transduction pathways in which hCG is involved. HCG can, on the one hand, be a marker for the progression of a malignant disease, and on the other hand, it may be a point for therapeutical intervention, so further research into this molecule would be very much worthwhile.
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Schüler-Toprak S, Treeck O, Ortmann O. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18071587. [PMID: 28754015 PMCID: PMC5536074 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is well known as a malignancy being strongly influenced by female steroids. Pregnancy is a protective factor against breast cancer. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a candidate hormone which could mediate this antitumoral effect of pregnancy. For this review article, all original research articles on the role of HCG in breast cancer were considered, which are listed in PubMed database and were written in English. The role of HCG in breast cancer seems to be a paradox. Placental heterodimeric HCG acts as a protective agent by imprinting a permanent genomic signature of the mammary gland determining a refractory condition to malignant transformation which is characterized by cellular differentiation, apoptosis and growth inhibition. On the other hand, ectopic expression of β-HCG in various cancer entities is associated with poor prognosis due to its tumor-promoting function. Placental HCG and ectopically expressed β-HCG exert opposite effects on breast tumorigenesis. Therefore, mimicking pregnancy by treatment with HCG is suggested as a strategy for breast cancer prevention, whereas targeting β-HCG expressing tumor cells seems to be an option for breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Schüler-Toprak
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Regensburg, Caritas-Hospital St. Josef, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Oliver Treeck
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Regensburg, Caritas-Hospital St. Josef, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Olaf Ortmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Regensburg, Caritas-Hospital St. Josef, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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Lai PY, Hsu CT, Wang SH, Lee JC, Tseng MJ, Hwang J, Ji WT, Chen HR. Production of a neutralizing antibody against envelope protein of dengue virus type 2 using the linear array epitope technique. J Gen Virol 2014; 95:2155-2165. [PMID: 24948392 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.062562-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV; genus Flavivirus) contains a positive-stranded RNA genome. Binding of DENV to host cells is mediated through domain III of the viral envelope protein. Many therapeutic mAbs against domain III have been generated and characterized because of its high antigenicity. We have previously established a novel PCR method named the linear array epitope (LAE) technique for producing monoclone-like polyclonal antibodies. To prove this method could be utilized to produce antibody against epitopes with low antigenicity, a region of 10 aa (V365NIEAEPPFG374) from domain III of the envelope protein in DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) was selected to design the primers for the LAE technique. A DNA fragment encoding 10 directed repeats of these 10 aa for producing the tandem-repeated peptides was obtained and fused with glutathione S-transferase (GST)-containing vector. This fusion protein (GST-Den EIII10-His6) was purified from Escherichia coli and used as antigen for immunizing rabbits to obtain the polyclonal antibody. Furthermore, the EIII antibody could recognize envelope proteins either ectopically overexpressed or synthesized by DENV2 infection using Western blot and immunofluorescence assays. Most importantly, this antibody was also able to detect DENV2 virions by ELISA, and could block viral entry into BHK-21 cells as shown by immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time PCR assays. Taken together, the LAE technique could be applied successfully for the production of antibodies against antigens with low antigenicity, and shows high potential to produce antibodies with good quality for academic research, diagnosis and even therapeutic applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Yeh Lai
- Department of Life Science, Institute of Molecular Biology and Institute of Biomedical Science, College of Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 62102, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Tse Hsu
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and Institute of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Kao Yuan University, Luzhu District, Kaohsiung City 82151, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Hung Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biopharmaceuticals, National Chiayi University, Chiayi City 60004, Taiwan
| | - Jin-Ching Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 80708, Taiwan
| | - Min-Jen Tseng
- Department of Life Science, Institute of Molecular Biology and Institute of Biomedical Science, College of Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 62102, Taiwan
| | - Jaulang Hwang
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 11031, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, Institute of Molecular Biology and Institute of Biomedical Science, College of Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 62102, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Tsai Ji
- Department of Life Science, Institute of Molecular Biology and Institute of Biomedical Science, College of Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 62102, Taiwan
| | - Hau-Ren Chen
- Department of Life Science, Institute of Molecular Biology and Institute of Biomedical Science, College of Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 62102, Taiwan
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Zhang L, Wang Y, Xiao Y, Wang Y, Dong J, Gao K, Gao Y, Wang X, Zhang W, Xu Y, Yan J, Yu J. Enhancement of antitumor immunity using a DNA-based replicon vaccine derived from Semliki Forest virus. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90551. [PMID: 24608380 PMCID: PMC3946523 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A DNA-based replicon vaccine derived from Semliki Forest virus, PSVK-shFcG-GM/B7.1 (Fig. 1a) was designed for tumor immunotherapy as previously constructed. The expression of the fusion tumor antigen (survivin and hCGβ-CTP37) and adjuvant molecular protein (Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/ GM-CSF/B7.1) genes was confirmed by Immunofluorescence assay in vitro, and immunohistochemistry assay in vivo. In this paper, the immunological effect of this vaccine was determined using immunological assays as well as animal models. The results showed that this DNA vaccine induced both humoral and cellular immune responses in C57BL/6 mice after immunization, as evaluated by the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells and the release of IFN-γ. Furthermore, the vaccination of C57BL/6 mice with PSVK-shFcG-GM/B7.1 significantly delayed the in vivo growth of tumors in animal models (survivin+ and hCGβ+ murine melanoma, B16) when compared to vaccination with the empty vector or the other control constructs (Fig. 1b). These data indicate that this type of replicative DNA vaccine could be developed as a promising approach for tumor immunotherapy. Meanwhile, these results provide a basis for further study in vaccine pharmacodynamics and pharmacology, and lay a solid foundation for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, China-CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Xiao
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of General Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
| | - JinKai Dong
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Gao
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
| | - YuanJi Xu
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
| | - JinQi Yan
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
| | - JiYun Yu
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Haidian district, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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Wang XJ, Zhou LJ, Zhu XJ, Gu K, Wu J, Li TM, Yuan L, Cao RY. Detection of antibodies against customized epitope: use of a coating antigen employing VEGF as fusion partner. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:6659-66. [PMID: 24595426 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5618-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Revised: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Diagnosis of many infectious, autoimmune diseases and cancers depends on the detection of specific antibodies against peptide epitope by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, small peptides are difficult to be coated on the plate surfaces. In this study, we selected GnRH as a model hapten to evaluate whether VEGF121 would be suitable as an irrelevant hapten-carrier to develop a universal platform for specific antibodies detection. Firstly, GnRH was fused to the C terminus of VEGF121 and the resultant fusion protein VEGF-GnRH expressed effectively as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. Thereafter, VEGF-GnRH was easily purified to near homogeneity with a yield of about 235 mg from 2.1 L induced culture. At last, VEGF-GnRH was used to perform ELISA and western blot, and our results suggested that VEGF-GnRH was capable of detecting anti-GnRH antibodies in sera both qualitatively and quantitatively. Indeed, previous studies of our laboratory had demonstrated that other fusion proteins such as VEGF-Aβ10, VEGF-GRP, VEGF-CETPC, and VEGF-βhCGCTP37 were able to detect their corresponding antibodies specifically. Therefore, VEGF121 may be a suitable irrelevant fusion partner of important diagnostic peptide markers. Our works would shed some light on the development of a universal platform for detection of specific antibodies.
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Yang J, Zhang Y, Wang H, Gao Z, Wang Z, Liu B, Zhang X, Du M, Huang X, Xu M, Wu J, Li T, Liu J, Cao R. Vaccination with the repeat β-hCG C-terminal peptide carried by heat shock protein-65 (HSP65) for inducing antitumor effects. Tumour Biol 2012; 33:1777-84. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-012-0437-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Long J, Lin J, Yang X, Yuan D, Wu J, Li T, Cao R, Liu J. Nasal immunization with different forms of heat shock protein-65 reduced high-cholesterol-diet-driven rabbit atherosclerosis. Int Immunopharmacol 2012; 13:82-7. [PMID: 22465386 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2012.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2011] [Revised: 02/12/2012] [Accepted: 03/15/2012] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Heat shock protein-65 (Hsp65) is an important pro-atherogenic factor, but nasal immunization of Hsp65 can induce immune tolerance and reduce atherosclerotic inflammation. Here, we describe the effects of different forms of Hsp65 antigen inoculated, i.e. Hsp65 DNA, Hsp65 protein, Hsp65 DNA prime combined with Hsp65 protein boost, on high-cholesterol-diet-driven rabbit atherosclerosis lesions. The results showed that sera anti-Hsp65 IgG antibodies were lower induced and protective anti-Hsp65 IgA in nasal cavity and lung were induced after rabbits were immunized with different forms of Hsp65. However, the avidity between Hsp65 IgG antibody and antigen is different. Hsp65 DNA prime-protein boost could further improve the avidity compared with Hsp65 DNA immunization alone, but only immunization with Hsp65 protein alone obtain the best avidity. In addition, more protective IL-10 and less adverse IFN-γ were produced and sera TC and LDL-C were decreased obviously at different extents in immunized groups. As a result, atherosclerosis lesions were significantly attenuated, but only nasal immunization with Hsp65 protein alone may be the best effective form of Hsp65 antigen to control atherosclerotic lesions. The results demonstrated that different forms of Hsp65 antigen could produce different effects in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Immunization mucosally with Hsp65 protein could be a promising therapeutic method for atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Long
- Department of Clinic Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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Jun L, Jie L, Dongping Y, Xin Y, Taiming L, Rongyue C, Jie W, Jingjing L. Effects of nasal immunization of multi-target preventive vaccines on atherosclerosis. Vaccine 2011; 30:1029-37. [PMID: 22192848 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2011] [Revised: 12/04/2011] [Accepted: 12/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Previous investigations have demonstrated that anti-inflammatory or lipid-lowering treatments could be useful for alleviating morbidity and mortality of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. However, whether a vaccine designed to target inflammation and lipid simultaneously is more powerful to control the process of atherosclerosis remain to be unknown. Here, a vaccine was designed to target heat shock protein-65(Hsp65) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) simultaneously and the effects of nasal immunization of multi-target vaccine on high-cholesterol-diet-driven rabbit atherosclerosis lesions were evaluated. Sera, nasal lavages and lung washes were used to ELISA assay for the analysis of IgG and IgA against Hsp65 and CETP. Sera were also used to the analysis of the avidity of combination of anti-Hsp65 and anti-CETP IgG antibodies with corresponding antigen, cytokines IL-10 and IFN-γ, and lipoproteins. In addition, aortas were harvested for analysis of atherosclerotic lesions. The results showed that lower and lasting specific anti-Hsp65 IgG and high anti-CETP IgG in sera and protective anti-Hsp65 and anti-CETP IgA in nasal cavity and lung were induced, the avidity of combination of anti-Hsp65 and anti-CETP IgG with antigen were higher, and more protective IL-10 and less adverse IFN-γ were produced. In addition, sera TC, and LDL-C were decreased. As a result, the size of aorta atherosclerotic plaques was significantly reduced. We conclude that multifaceted vaccine combining lipid-regulating with anti-inflammation was a potential remedy, especially for atherosclerosis with complicated etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Jun
- Department of Clinic Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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Kim D, Hung CF, Wu TC, Park YM. DNA vaccine with α-galactosylceramide at prime phase enhances anti-tumor immunity after boosting with antigen-expressing dendritic cells. Vaccine 2010; 28:7297-305. [PMID: 20817010 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.08.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2010] [Revised: 07/22/2010] [Accepted: 08/19/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
DNA vaccines contribute to a promising new approach for the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). DNA vaccines do have several disadvantages, including poor immunogenicity and oncogene expression. We used the natural killer T-cell (NKT) ligand α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) as an adjuvant to prime initial DNA vaccination; and used the potent immune-stimulatory tumor antigen-expressing dendritic cells (DCs) as a booster vaccination. A DNA vaccine expressing human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E7 (pcDNA3-CRT/E7) was combined with α-GalCer at the prime phase, and generated a higher number of E7-specific CD8(+) T-cells in vaccinated mice than vaccine used at boost phase. Therefore, priming with a DNA vaccine in the presence of α-GalCer and boosting with E7-pulsed DC-1 led to a significant enhancement of E7-specific CD8(+) effector and memory T-cells as well as significantly improved therapeutic and preventive effects against an E7-expressing tumor model (TC-1) in vaccinated mice. Our findings suggested that the potency of a DNA vaccine combined with α-GalCer could be further enhanced by boosting with an antigen-expressing DC-based vaccine to generate anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daejin Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Chung-Ang University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Abstract
Breast cancer is a major cause of death in Western women, with a 10% lifetime risk of the disease. Most breast cancers are estrogen-dependent. Molecular therapies for breast cancer have developed rapidly in the past few decades and future treatment strategies are being investigated. The selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator tamoxifen, which until now has served as a standard therapy, functions not only as an estrogen antagonist but also as an estrogen agonist in terms of bone maintenance. Aromatase inhibitors have performed well in international trials and have become a new standard therapy for estrogen-dependent breast cancer. The systematic study of estrogen activation pathways suggests that the enzymes steroid sulfatase and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, which both have pivotal roles in estrogen biosynthesis, are promising targets; the results of a phase I trial of steroid sulfatase inhibitors are encouraging. The activity of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) pathway correlates negatively with that of the ER. HER2 is overexpressed in 22% of all breast cancers. In the decade since HER2 began being targeted, the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab has been used as well as pertuzumab and HER2 vaccines. Among the estrogen-independent breast cancers, the basal-like subtype has low survival, and therapeutic improvement is a priority. Crosstalk between ER and HER2 signaling pathways means that combinatory therapies may hold the key to enhancement of treatment responses. Other molecular therapies involving functional genomics and RNA interference studies also hold promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Xiang Lin
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology, CHUL (CHUQ) Research Center and Laval University, 2705 Boulevard Laurier, QC G1V 4G2, Canada.
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Liang J, Aihua Z, Yu W, Yong L, Jingjing L. HSP65 serves as an immunogenic carrier for a diabetogenic peptide P277 inducing anti-inflammatory immune response in NOD mice by nasal administration. Vaccine 2010; 28:3312-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.02.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2009] [Revised: 02/22/2010] [Accepted: 02/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Lu Y, Ouyang K, Fang J, Zhang H, Wu G, Ma Y, Zhang Y, Hu X, Jin L, Cao R, Fan H, Li T, Liu J. Improved efficacy of DNA vaccination against prostate carcinoma by boosting with recombinant protein vaccine and by introduction of a novel adjuvant epitope. Vaccine 2009; 27:5411-8. [PMID: 19616501 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.06.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2009] [Revised: 06/01/2009] [Accepted: 06/09/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
DNA vaccine represents an attractive approach for cancer treatment by inducing active immune-deprivation of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) from tumor cells, the growth of which is dependent on the stimulation of GRP. In this study, we developed a DNA vaccine using a plasmid vector to deliver the immunogen of six copies of the B cell epitope GRP(18-27) (GRP6). In order to increase the potency of this DNA vaccine, multiple strategies have been applied including DNA-prime protein-boost immunization and introduction of a foreign T-helper epitope into DNA vaccine. Mice vaccinated DNA vaccine boosting with HSP65-GRP6 protein induced high titer and relatively high avidity of anti-GRP antibodies as well as inhibition effect on the growth of murine prostate carcinoma, superior to the treatment using DNA alone or BCG priming HSP65-GRP6 protein boosting. Furthermore, the introduction of a novel foreign T-helper epitope into the GRP DNA vaccine showed a markedly stronger humoral immune response against GRP and tumor rejection even than the DNA-prime protein-boost strategy. No further stronger immunogenicity of this foreign T-helper epitope modified DNA vaccine was observed even using the strategy of modified DNA vaccine-priming and HSP65-GRP6 boosting method. The data presented demonstrate that improvement of potency of anti-GRP DNA vaccine with the above two feasible approaches should offer useful methods in the development of new DNA vaccine against growth factors for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Lu
- Minigene Pharmacy Laboratory, Biopharmaceutical College, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, China
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Fang J, Lu Y, Ouyang K, Wu G, Zhang H, Liu Y, Chen Y, Lin M, Wang H, Jin L, Cao R, Roque RS, Zong L, Liu J, Li T. Specific antibodies elicited by a novel DNA vaccine targeting gastrin-releasing peptide inhibit murine melanoma growth in vivo. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2009; 16:1033-9. [PMID: 19458203 DOI: 10.1128/CVI.00046-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The elevated expression and receptor binding of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) in various types of cancer, especially in malignant melanoma of the skin, suggest that GRP might be a putative target for immunotherapy in neoplastic diseases. We have therefore constructed a novel DNA vaccine coding for six tandem repeats of a fragment of GRP from amino acids 18 to 27 (GRP6) flanked by helper T-cell epitopes for increased immunogenicity, including HSP65, a tetanus toxoid fragment from amino acids 830 to 844 (T), pan-HLA-DR-binding epitope (PADRE) (P), and two repeats of a mycobacterial HSP70 fragment from amino acids 407 to 426 (M). The anti-GRP DNA vaccine (pCR3.1-VS-HSP65-TP-GRP6-M2) was constructed on a backbone of a pCR3.1 plasmid vector with eight 5'-GACGTT-3' CpG motifs and the VEGF183 signal peptide (VS). Intramuscular (IM) injections of anti-GRP vaccine in mice stimulated the production of high titers of specific antibodies against GRP and suppressed the growth of subcutaneous tumors of B16-F10 melanoma cells. Parallel results were obtained in vitro, showing inhibition of B16-F10 cell proliferation by GRP antisera. IM injections of the DNA vaccine also significantly attenuated tumor-induced angiogenesis associated with intradermal tumors of B16-F10 cells. In addition, lung invasion of intravenously injected cells was highly diminished, suggesting potent antimetastatic activity of the DNA vaccine. These findings support the highly immunogenic and potent antitumorigenic activity of specific anti-GRP antibodies elicited by the anti-GRP DNA vaccine.
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Abstract
When considering human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and hCG tests, it is important to realize that it is not a single biological molecule. The regular form of hCG produced by differentiated syncytotrophoblast cells (regular hCG) is a hormone made with the primary function of maintaining the myometrial and decidual spiral arteries and the vascular supply of the placenta during the full course of pregnancy. Hyperglycosylated hCG (hCG with double-size O-linked oligosaccharides) is made by undifferentiated cytotrophoblast cells. This is an autocrine hormone with separate functions, it maintains invasion as in implantation of pregnancy and malignancy in gestational trophoblastic diseases. A hyperglycosylated free beta-subunit is produced by a high proportion of all malignancies. This functions as an autocrine hormone to promote the growth and invasion of the malignancy. It is important to realize when ordering an hCG test what you are measuring and whether the test ordered will detect appropriately these three variant of hCG as well as their degradation products. Most automated commercial laboratory tests, point-of-care test and over-the-counter tests are limited in what is detected, focusing only on regular hCG. This is in part due to the US FDA, who only consider hCG as a pregnancy test, and to whom only detection of regular hCG is critical. This may be a cause of test errors since primarily hyperglycosylated hCG is produced in early pregnancy, choriocarcinoma and germ cell testicular malignancies, and only free beta-subunit may be produced in other germ cell malignancies (all applications for hCG test). The exceptions are the older style hCGbeta radioimmunoassay and the Siemen's Immulite platform hCG test which detect all variant and their degradation product appropriately. Regardless of test specificity limitations, assays for hCG variants are widely used clinically in pregnancy detection, early pregnancy detection, prediction of spontaneously aborting and ectopic pregnancies and prediction of trisomy pregnancies. hCG tests are essential in managing gestational trophoblastic diseases, whether hydatidiform mole, invasive mole or choriocarcinoma, and are very useful in management of testicular malignancies and other germ cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence A Cole
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM 87131, USA.
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19
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Mozaffari F, Lindemalm C, Choudhury A, Granstam-Björneklett H, Lekander M, Nilsson B, Ojutkangas ML, Österborg A, Bergkvist L, Mellstedt H. Systemic immune effects of adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide and/or radiotherapy in breast cancer: a longitudinal study. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2009; 58:111-20. [PMID: 18488220 PMCID: PMC11030212 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-008-0530-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2007] [Accepted: 04/25/2008] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is being increasingly utilized for adjuvant treatment for breast cancer (BC). We have previously described immune functions during primary therapy for BC. The present study describes immune recovery patterns during long-term, unmaintained follow-up after completion of adjuvant therapy.A group of patients with primary BC had been treated with adjuvant radio-chemotherapy (RT + CT) 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) (n = 21) and another group with radiotherapy (RT) (n = 20) alone. Immunological testing of NK and T-cell functions was performed initially at the end of adjuvant treatment and repeated after 2, 6 and 12 months. NK cell cytotoxicity was significantly higher (P < 0.05) at all time-points in patients than in age-matched controls and did not differ between the two treatments groups during one year observation. In contrast, lower numbers of CD4 T-cells and lower expression of CD28 on T-cells was observed particularly in RT + CT patients and did not normalize during the observation period. The numbers of T(reg) cells (CD4(+)CD25(high)) were low in the RT + CT group during follow-up, as well as expression of TCRxi, Zap70, p56(lck), P59(fyn) and PI3 k in CD4(+) cells. In contrast, expression of intracellular cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4) in CD4 and CD8 T cells were significantly higher in RT + CT patients than in the RT group and the difference increased during follow-up. In conclusion, NK-cell cytotoxicity increased during unmaintained long-term follow-up whereas CD4 and regulatory T cells as well as signal transduction molecules remained low following adjuvant radio-chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fariba Mozaffari
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christina Lindemalm
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aniruddha Choudhury
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Mats Lekander
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and Section of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bo Nilsson
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Anders Österborg
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Departments of Hematology and Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leif Bergkvist
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Central Hospital, Västerås, Sweden
- Department of Surgery, Central Hospital, Västerås, Sweden
| | - Håkan Mellstedt
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Departments of Hematology and Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology (Radiumhemmet), Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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Michaluart P, Abdallah KA, Lima FD, Smith R, Moysés RA, Coelho V, Victora GD, Socorro-Silva A, Volsi EC, Zárate-Bladés CR, Ferraz AR, Barreto AK, Chammas MC, Gomes R, Gebrim E, Arakawa-Sugueno L, Fernandes KP, Lotufo PA, Cardoso MR, Kalil J, Silva CL. Phase I trial of DNA-hsp65 immunotherapy for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer Gene Ther 2008; 15:676-84. [PMID: 18535616 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2008.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Considering that mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65 (hsp65) gene transfer can elicit a profound antitumoral effect, this study aimed to establish the safety, maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and preliminary efficacy of DNA-hsp65 immunotherapy in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). For this purpose, 21 patients with unresectable and recurrent HNSCC were studied. Each patient received three ultrasound-guided injections at 21-day intervals of: 150, 600 or 400 microg of DNA-hsp65. Toxicity was graded according to CTCAE directions. Tumor volume was measured before and after treatment using computed tomography scan. The evaluation included tumor mass variation, delayed-type hypersensitivity response and spontaneous peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation before and after treatment. The MTD was 400 microg per dose. DNA-hsp65 immunotherapy was well tolerated with moderate pain, edema and infections as the most frequent adverse effects. None of the patients showed clinical or laboratory alterations compatible with autoimmune reactions. Partial response was observed in 4 out of 14 patients who completed treatment, 2 of which are still alive more than 3 years after the completion of the trial. Therefore, DNA-hsp65 immunotherapy is a feasible and safe approach at the dose of 400 microg per injection in patients with HNSCC refractory to standard treatment. Further studies in a larger number of patients are needed to confirm the efficacy of this novel strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Michaluart
- HSP65 Clinical Trial Group, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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21
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Huo Y, Li B, Zhang Y, Wang S, Bao M, Gao X, Li D, Wang L, Yu Y, Wang J. Pre-clinical safety evaluation of heat shock protein 65–MUC1 peptide fusion protein. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2007; 49:63-74. [PMID: 17600604 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2007.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2007] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
With a goal of developing a medication for the treatment of MUC1 expressing human cancers, a recombinant heat shock protein 65-MUC1 fusion protein (HSP65-MUC1) between BCG derived heat shock protein 65 (HSP65) and MUC1 derived peptide (MUC1) was developed. To move the HSP65-MUC1 into a phase I clinical trial, a comprehensive non-clinical safety evaluation was conducted. The evaluation comprised of single-dose toxicity and repeat-dose toxicity studies both in mice and rhesus monkeys. The data from the study indicates that the treatment with HSP65-MUC1 is not associated with obvious toxicity in the tested animals. The changes in clinical chemistry and hematology in both the mice and monkeys were considered to be mild because there were no indications of overt toxicity after administering HSP65-MUC1. The data provided here contributed to the approval of initiating a phase I clinical trial with HSP65-MUC1 for the treatment of patients with MUC1-positive breast cancer in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Huo
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fouth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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22
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Mozaffari F, Lindemalm C, Choudhury A, Granstam-Björneklett H, Helander I, Lekander M, Mikaelsson E, Nilsson B, Ojutkangas ML, Österborg A, Bergkvist L, Mellstedt H. NK-cell and T-cell functions in patients with breast cancer: effects of surgery and adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy. Br J Cancer 2007; 97:105-11. [PMID: 17551492 PMCID: PMC2359666 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is globally the most common malignancy in women. Her2-targeted monoclonal antibodies are established treatment modalities, and vaccines are in late-stage clinical testing in patients with breast cancer and known to promote tumour-killing through mechanisms like antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. It is therefore increasingly important to study immunological consequences of conventional treatment strategies. In this study, functional tests and four-colour flow cytometry were used to detect natural killer (NK)-cell functions and receptors as well as T-cell signal transduction molecules and intracellular cytokines in preoperative breast cancer patients, and patients who had received adjuvant radiotherapy or adjuvant combined chemo-radiotherapy as well as in age-matched healthy controls. The absolute number of NK cells, the density of NK receptors as well as in vitro quantitation of functional NK cytotoxicity were significantly higher in preoperative patients than the post-treatments group and controls. A similar pattern was seen with regard to T-cell signalling molecules, and preoperative patients produced significantly higher amounts of cytokines in NK and T cells compared to other groups. The results indicate that functions of NK and T cells are well preserved before surgery but decrease following adjuvant therapy, which may speak in favour of early rather than late use of immunotherapeutic agents such as trastuzumab that may depend on intact immune effector functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Mozaffari
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - C Lindemalm
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Choudhury
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - I Helander
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Lekander
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and Section of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - E Mikaelsson
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B Nilsson
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M-L Ojutkangas
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Central Hospital, SE-72189 Västerås, Sweden
| | - A Österborg
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Departments of Hematology and Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - L Bergkvist
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Central Hospital, SE-72189 Västerås, Sweden
- Department of Surgery and Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Central Hospital, SE-72189 Västerås, Sweden
| | - H Mellstedt
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Departments of Hematology and Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology (Radiumhemmet), Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm SE-17176, Sweden. E-mail:
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23
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Hotakainen K, Lintula S, Ljungberg B, Finne P, Paju A, Stenman UH, Stenman J. Expression of human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit type I genes predicts adverse outcome in renal cell carcinoma. J Mol Diagn 2007; 8:598-603. [PMID: 17065429 PMCID: PMC1876172 DOI: 10.2353/jmoldx.2006.060076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of the free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGbeta) in malignant tumors is frequently associated with aggressive disease. The pretreatment serum concentration of hCGbeta is an independent prognostic variable in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The three so-called type II genes (hCGbeta 3/9, 5, and 8) have been shown to be up-regulated in relation to type I genes (hCGbeta 6/7) in some malignant tumors. We developed a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method for quantification of relative levels of the mRNAs for the two types of hCGbeta genes and studied the association between the expression in RCC tissue (n = 104) and clinical outcome. hCGbeta mRNA expression was detected in 40% (42 of 104) of the tumors, and in 40 of these (93%), this consisted of hCGbeta type I mRNA only, whereas type II hCGbeta mRNA was detected in two samples. hCGbeta mRNA expression was significantly associated with a shorter disease-specific (log-rank P = 0.023; median survival 1.4 versus 7.9 years) and overall survival (log-rank P = 0.011). In a Cox regression model, stage (P < 0.0001) and hCGbeta mRNA expression (P < 0.0001) were independent prognostic variables. We conclude that expression of type I hCGbeta genes indicates adverse prognosis in RCC.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/diagnosis
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/metabolism
- Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human/genetics
- Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human/metabolism
- Female
- Humans
- Kidney Neoplasms/diagnosis
- Kidney Neoplasms/metabolism
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Staging
- Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
- Prognosis
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Neoplasm/metabolism
- Reproducibility of Results
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Hotakainen
- Helsinki University Central Hospital/Biomedicum Helsinki, Room A418a, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O.B. 700, FIN-00029.
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