Genetic predisposition to bevacizumab-induced hypertension

Cardiac and Nephrological Complications Related to the Use of Antiangiogenic and Anti-Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 Receptor/Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 Ligand Therapy

The ability to undergo neoangiogenesis is a common feature with all cancers. Signaling related to vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and their receptors (VEGFR) plays a key role in the process of tumor neoangiogenesis. A close relationship has been demonstrated between excessive VEGF levels and the induction of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. The use of drugs blocking the VEGF function, apart from the anticancer effect, also result in adverse effects, in particular related to the circulatory system and kidneys. Cardiac toxicity associated with the use of such therapy manifests itself mainly in the form of hypertension, thromboembolic episodes and ischemic heart disease. In the case of renal complications, the most common symptoms include renal arterial hypertension, proteinuria and microangiopathy. Although these complications are reversible in 60-80% of cases after cessation of VSP (VEGF pathway inhibitor) therapy, in some cases they can lead to irreversible changes in renal function, whereas cardiac complications may be fatal. Also, the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors may result in kidney and heart damage. In the case of cardiac complications, the most common symptoms include myocarditis, pericarditis, arrhythmia, acute coronary syndrome and vasculitis, while kidney damage most often manifests as acute kidney injury (AKI), nephrotic syndrome, pyuria or hematuria. The decision whether to resume treatment after the occurrence of cardiovascular and renal complications remains a problem.

Established and Emerging Cancer Therapies and Cardiovascular System: Focus on Hypertension-Mechanisms and Mitigation

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are 2 of the leading causes of death worldwide. Although improvements in outcomes have been noted for both disease entities, the success of cancer therapies has come at the cost of at times very impactful adverse events such as cardiovascular events. Hypertension has been noted as both, a side effect as well as a risk factor for the cardiotoxicity of cancer therapies. Some of these dynamics are in keeping with the role of hypertension as a cardiovascular risk factor not only for heart failure, but also for the development of coronary and cerebrovascular disease, and kidney disease and its association with a higher morbidity and mortality overall. Other aspects such as the molecular mechanisms underlying the amplification of acute and long-term cardiotoxicity risk of anthracyclines and increase in blood pressure with various cancer therapeutics remain to be elucidated. In this review, we cover the latest clinical data regarding the risk of hypertension across a spectrum of novel anticancer therapies as well as the underlying known or postulated pathophysiological mechanisms. Furthermore, we review the acute and long-term implications for the amplification of the development of cardiotoxicity with drugs not commonly associated with hypertension such as anthracyclines. An outline of management strategies, including pharmacological and lifestyle interventions as well as models of care aimed to facilitate early detection and more timely management of hypertension in patients with cancer and survivors concludes this review, which overall aims to improve both cardiovascular and cancer-specific outcomes.

Comprehensive Assessment of Indian Variations in the Druggable Kinome Landscape Highlights Distinct Insights at the Sequence, Structure and Pharmacogenomic Stratum

India confines more than 17% of the world’s population and has a diverse genetic makeup with several clinically relevant rare mutations belonging to many sub-group which are undervalued in global sequencing datasets like the 1000 Genome data (1KG) containing limited samples for Indian ethnicity. Such databases are critical for the pharmaceutical and drug development industry where diversity plays a crucial role in identifying genetic disposition towards adverse drug reactions. A qualitative and comparative sequence and structural study utilizing variant information present in the recently published, largest curated Indian genome database (IndiGen) and the 1000 Genome data was performed for variants belonging to the kinase coding genes, the second most targeted group of drug targets. The sequence-level analysis identified similarities and differences among different populations based on the nsSNVs and amino acid exchange frequencies whereas a comparative structural analysis of IndiGen variants was performed with pathogenic variants reported in UniProtKB Humsavar data. The influence of these variations on structural features of the protein, such as structural stability, solvent accessibility, hydrophobicity, and the hydrogen-bond network was investigated. In-silico screening of the known drugs to these Indian variation-containing proteins reveals critical differences imparted in the strength of binding due to the variations present in the Indian population. In conclusion, this study constitutes a comprehensive investigation into the understanding of common variations present in the second largest population in the world and investigating its implications in the sequence, structural and pharmacogenomic landscape. The preliminary investigation reported in this paper, supporting the screening and detection of ADRs specific to the Indian population could aid in the development of techniques for pre-clinical and post-market screening of drug-related adverse events in the Indian population.

VEGF Receptor Inhibitor-Induced Hypertension: Emerging Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

While vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors (VEGFRis) have dramatically improved cancer survival, these drugs cause hypertension in a majority of patients. This side effect is often dose limiting and increases cardiovascular mortality in cancer survivors. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and clinical findings that impact management of VEGFRi-induced hypertension.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies define new connections between endothelial dysfunction and VEGFRi-induced hypertension, including the balance between nitric oxide, oxidative stress, endothelin signaling, and prostaglandins and the potential role of microparticles, vascular smooth muscle cells, vascular stiffness, and microvessel rarefaction. Data implicating genetic polymorphisms that might identify patients at risk for VEGFRi-induced hypertension and the growing body of literature associating VEGFRi-induced hypertension with antitumor efficacy are reviewed. These recent advances have implications for the future of cardio-oncology clinics and the management of VEGFRi-induced hypertension.

Hypertension in neonates treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if preterm neonates developed systemic hypertension after intravitreal bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity.

METHODS

Patients who received treatment between January 1, 2011 and January 31, 2019 were eligible for inclusion. Patients with pre-existing hypertension, congenital eye disease, or who were discharged within 72 h of treatment were excluded. Charts were reviewed for baseline data, co-morbidities, and the development of systemic hypertension within 4 weeks post treatment.

RESULTS

After exclusions, 64 patients were analyzed. New-onset systemic hypertension was identified in 44 (69%) infants. There were no statistical differences in the demographic characteristics or presence of co-morbidities between the hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups. Of those who developed hypertension, the majority presented within the first week post treatment (55%).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of infants who received intravitreal bevacizumab developed new-onset systemic hypertension after treatment. Further studies may explore hypertension as a potential side effect of bevacizumab in the neonatal population.

Etiology and management of hypertension in patients with cancer

The pathophysiology of hypertension and cancer are intertwined. Hypertension has been associated with an increased likelihood of developing certain cancers and with higher cancer-related mortality. Moreover, various anticancer therapies have been reported to cause new elevated blood pressure or worsening of previously well-controlled hypertension. Hypertension is a well-established risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, which is rapidly emerging as one of the leading causes of death and disability in patients with cancer. In this review, we discuss the relationship between hypertension and cancer and the role that hypertension plays in exacerbating the risk for anthracycline- and trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy. We then review the common cancer therapies that have been associated with the development of hypertension, including VEGF inhibitors, small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, alkylating agents, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressive agents. When available, we present strategies for blood pressure management for each drug class. Finally, we discuss blood pressure goals for patients with cancer and strategies for assessment and management. It is of utmost importance to maintain optimal blood pressure control in the oncologic patient to reduce the risk of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and to decrease the risk of long-term cardiovascular disease.

Clinical significance of hypertension in patients with different types of cancer treated with antiangiogenic drugs

Hypertension is a common comorbidity in patients receiving antiangiogenic therapy. Prior studies have reported worsening or new-onset hypertension as an adverse event of antiangiogenetic therapy, which can be managed by dose reduction or discontinuation of the culprit medication. By contrast, other studies have found that the occurrence of hypertension is a potential biomarker associated with greater efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy and predicts improved survival. At present, there is no consensus on the effects of hypertension in patients treated with antiangiogenic drugs. The present study reviewed the relationship between antiangiogenic drugs and hypertension in different types of cancer. It was demonstrated that the use of antiangiogenic drugs was associated with an increased risk of hypertension in most types of solid cancers. There was no significant difference in the incidence of hypertension between monoclonal antibody and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatments. Hypertension was more likely to occur in patients younger than 75 years old, female, and those with no history of bevacizumab use. Discontinuation or death caused by hypertension was rare, although previous studies have reported that hypertension was a risk factor for acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases and ischemic stroke. Of note, the early development of hypertension may serve as a potential biomarker associated with greater efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy.

Interruption of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling induces a proliferative pulmonary vasculopathy and pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe and progressive disease characterized by a pulmonary vascular remodeling process with expansion of collateral endothelial cells and total vessel occlusion. Endothelial cells are believed to be at the forefront of the disease process. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor, VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), play a central role in angiogenesis, endothelial cell protection, but also in the destabilization of endothelial barrier function. Therefore, we investigated the consequences of altered VEGF signaling in an experimental model, and looked for translational correlates of this observation in patients. We performed an endothelial cell-specific conditional deletion of the kinase insert domain protein receptor (kdr) gene, coding for VEGFR-2, in C57/BL6 mice (Kdr^∆end) and held them in an environmental chamber with 10% FiO₂ or under normoxia for 6 weeks. Kdr knockout led to a mild PH phenotype under normoxia that worsened under hypoxia. Kdr^∆end mice exhibited a significant increase in pulmonary arterial wall thickness, muscularization, and VEGFR-3⁺ endothelial cells obliterating the pulmonary artery vessel lumen. We observed the same proliferative vasculopathy in our rodent model as seen in patients receiving anti-angiogenic therapy. Serum VEGF-a levels were elevated both in the experimental model and in humans receiving bevacizumab. Interrupted VEGF signaling leads to a pulmonary proliferative arteriopathy in rodents after direct ablative gene manipulation of Kdr. Histologically, similar vascular lesions can be observed in patients receiving anti-VEGF treatment. Our findings illustrate the importance of VEGF signaling for maintenance of pulmonary vascular patency.

Hypertension and Neuroimaging Changes After Bevacizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity

Bevacizumab is a human monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor indicated in several adult diseases. Emerging literature and expert opinion support the off-label use of intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a common disease process seen in premature neonates. One of the most common side effects of systemic therapy in adults is hypertension; however, this has not been well described in infants receiving bevacizumab for ROP. In this report, we review a case of a former 25-week premature infant treated for stage 3 ROP with administration of intravitreal bevacizumab. The immediate posttreatment course was uncomplicated; however, at 10 days posttreatment, he developed new-onset systemic hypertension. In addition, neuroimaging revealed new areas of vasogenic edema, which improved over time. To the best of our knowledge and after a review of the literature, neither of these effects has been described in neonates after intravitreal bevacizumab for ROP.

Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors for countering proteinuria induced by angiogenesis inhibitors: a retrospective observational analysis

PURPOSE

Occurrence of proteinuria could result in cessation of bevacizumab and ramucirumab treatments. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors exert a renoprotective effect by countering proteinuria. However, the association between renoprotective effect of RAS inhibitors and blood pressure control is unclear. This study assessed the risk factors for proteinuria induced by bevacizumab or ramucirumab and the relationship between renoprotective effect of RAS inhibitors and blood pressure control.

METHODS

A retrospective observational analysis was conducted at Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Center East from June 2015 to May 2018. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for proteinuria induced by treatment with bevacizumab and ramucirumab. Renoprotective effect was assessed by analyzing blood pressure data in association with the use of RAS inhibitors.

RESULTS

Out of 208 patients included in this study, proteinuria was observed in 50 (24%) patients. Body mass index ≥ 24 kg/m2 (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.21-4.96, p = 0.01), colorectal cancer (OR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.00-3.80, p < 0.05), and use of RAS inhibitors (OR = 0.25 95% CI 0.07-0.92, p = 0.04) were associated with proteinuria induced by treatment with bevacizumab and ramucirumab. A change in systolic blood pressure at second visit was higher in patients with RAS inhibitors compared with those in patients without RAS inhibitors (25 mmHg vs - 5 mmHg, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Although RAS inhibitors protected patients from proteinuria induced by bevacizumab or ramucirumab, RAS inhibitors could not adequately control their blood pressures in patients with proteinuria.

Genetics of Human Primary Hypertension: Focus on Hormonal Mechanisms

Increasingly, primary hypertension is being considered a syndrome and not a disease, with the individual causes (diseases) having a common sign-an elevated blood pressure. To determine these causes, genetic tools are increasingly employed. This review identified 62 proposed genes. However, only 21 of them met our inclusion criteria: (i) primary hypertension, (ii) two or more supporting cohorts from different publications or within a single publication or one supporting cohort with a confirmatory genetically modified animal study, and (iii) 600 or more subjects in the primary cohort; when including our exclusion criteria: (i) meta-analyses or reviews, (ii) secondary and monogenic hypertension, (iii) only hypertensive complications, (iv) genes related to blood pressure but not hypertension per se, (v) nonsupporting studies more common than supporting ones, and (vi) studies that did not perform a Bonferroni or similar multiassessment correction. These 21 genes were organized in a four-tiered structure: distant phenotype (hypertension); intermediate phenotype [salt-sensitive (18) or salt-resistant (0)]; subintermediate phenotypes under salt-sensitive hypertension [normal renin (4), low renin (8), and unclassified renin (6)]; and proximate phenotypes (specific genetically driven hypertensive subgroup). Many proximate hypertensive phenotypes had a substantial endocrine component. In conclusion, primary hypertension is a syndrome; many proposed genes are likely to be false positives; and deep phenotyping will be required to determine the utility of genetics in the treatment of hypertension. However, to date, the positive genes are associated with nearly 50% of primary hypertensives, suggesting that in the near term precise, mechanistically driven treatment and prevention strategies for the specific primary hypertension subgroups are feasible.

Roles of pharmacogenomics in non-anthracycline antineoplastic-induced cardiovascular toxicities: A systematic review and meta-analysis of genotypes effect

BACKGROUND

Exploration on genetic roles in antineoplastic-related cardiovascular toxicity has increased with the advancement of genotyping technology. However, knowledge on the extent of genetic determinants in affecting the susceptibility to the cardiovascular toxicities of antineoplastic is limited. This study aims to identify potential single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in predicting non-anthracycline antineoplastic-related cardiovascular toxicity.

METHODS

We systematically searched for original research in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Studies, CINAHL Plus, EMBASE and HuGE Navigator from database inception until January 2018. Studies on association between polymorphism and antineoplastic-induced cardiovascular toxicity in patients treated for cancer of all antineoplastic agents were included except for anthracycline. Case reports, conference abstracts, reviews and non-patient studies were excluded. Data extracted by two independent reviewers were combined with random-effects model and reported according to PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines.

RESULTS

The 35 studies included examined a total of 219 SNPs in 80 genes, 11 antineoplastic and 5 types of cardiovascular toxicities. Meta-analyses showed that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) rs1136201, a risk variants (pooled OR: 2.43; 1.17-5.06, p = 0.018) is a potential predictors for trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity. Gene dose effect analysis showed number of variant allele may contribute to the risk too.

CONCLUSIONS

This review found that HER2 rs1136201 can have the potential in predicting trastuzumab-related heart failure. As such, further studies are needed to confirm the validity of these results as well as determine the economic aspect of using SNPs prior to its implementation as a clinical practice.

Host genetic profiling to increase drug safety in colorectal cancer from discovery to implementation

Adverse events affect the pharmacological treatment of approximately 90% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at any stage of the disease. Chemotherapy including fluoropyrimidines, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin is the cornerstone of the pharmacological treatment of CRC. The introduction of novel targeted agents, as anti-EGFR (i.e. cetuximab, panitumumab) and antiangiogenic (i.e. bevacizumab, ziv-aflibercept, regorafenib, and ramucirumab) molecules, into the oncologist's toolbox has led to significant improvements in the life expectancy of advanced CRC patients, but with a substantial increase in toxicity burden. In this respect, pharmacogenomics has largely been applied to the personalization of CRC chemotherapy, focusing mainly on the study of inhered polymorphisms in genes encoding phase I and II enzymes, ATP-binding cassette (ABC)/solute carrier (SLC) membrane transporters, proteins involved in DNA repair, folate pathway and immune response. These research efforts have led to the identification of some validated genetic markers of chemotherapy toxicity, for fluoropyrimidines and irinotecan. No validated genetic determinants of oxaliplatin-specific toxicity, as peripheral neuropathy, has thus far been established. The contribution of host genetic markers in predicting the toxicity associated with novel targeted agents' administration is still controversial due to the heterogeneity of published data. Pharmacogenomics guidelines have been published by some international scientific consortia such as the Clinical Pharmacogenomics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) and the Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) strongly suggesting a pre-treatment dose adjustment of irinotecan based on UGT1A1*28 genotype and of fluoropyrimidines based on some DPYD genetic variants, to increase treatment safety. However, these recommendations are still poorly applied at the patient's bedside. Several ongoing projects in the U.S. and Europe are currently evaluating how pharmacogenomics can be implemented successfully in daily clinical practice. The majority of drug-related adverse events are still unexplained, and a great deal of ongoing research is aimed at improving knowledge of the role of pharmacogenomics in increasing treatment safety. In this review, the issue of pre-treatment identification of CRC patients at risk of toxicity via the analysis of patients' genetic profiles is addressed. Available pharmacogenomics guidelines with ongoing efforts to implement them in clinical practice and new exploratory markers for clinical validation are described.