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Carsote M, Turturea IF, Turturea MR, Valea A, Nistor C, Gheorghisan-Galateanu AA. Pathogenic Insights into DNA Mismatch Repair (MMR) Genes-Proteins and Microsatellite Instability: Focus on Adrenocortical Carcinoma and Beyond. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13111867. [PMID: 37296718 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13111867] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA damage repair pathways, including mismatch repair (MMR) genes, are prone to carcinoma development in certain patients. The assessment of the MMR system is widely recognized as part of strategies concerning solid tumors (defective MMR cancers), especially MMR proteins (through immunohistochemistry), and molecular assays for microsatellite instability (MSI). We aim to highlight the status of MMR genes-proteins (including MSI) in the relationship with ACC (adrenocortical carcinoma) according to current knowledge. This is a narrative review. We included PubMed-accessed, full-length English papers published between January 2012 and March 2023. We searched studies on ACC patients for whom MMR status was assessed, respectively subjects harboring MMR germline mutations, namely Lynch syndrome (LS), who were diagnosed with ACC. MMR system assessments in ACCs involve a low level of statistical evidence. Generally, there are two main types of endocrine insights: 1. the role of MMR status as a prognostic marker in different endocrine malignancies (including ACC)-which is the topic of the present work, and 2. establishing the indication of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) in selective, mostly highly aggressive, non-responsive to standard care forms upon MMR evaluation (which belongs to the larger chapter of immunotherapy in ACCs). Our one-decade, sample-case study (which, to our knowledge, it is the most comprehensive of its kind) identified 11 original articles (from 1 patient to 634 subjects per study diagnosed with either ACC or LS). We identified four studies published in 2013 and 2020 and two in 2021, three cohorts and two retrospective studies (the publication from 2013 includes a retrospective and a cohort distinct section). Among these four studies, patients already confirmed to have LS (N = 643, respective 135) were found to be associated with ACC (N = 3, respective 2), resulting in a prevalence of 0.0046%, with a respective of 1.4% being confirmed (despite not having a large amount of similar data outside these two studies). Studies on ACC patients (N = 364, respective 36 pediatric individuals, and 94 subjects with ACC) showed that 13.7% had different MMR gene anomalies, with a respective of 8.57% (non-germline mutations), while 3.2% had MMR germline mutations (N = 3/94 cases). Two case series included one family, with a respective four persons with LS, and each article introduced one case with LS-ACC. Another five case reports (between 2018 and 2021) revealed an additional five subjects (one case per paper) diagnosed with LS and ACC (female to male ratio of 4 to 1; aged between 44 and 68). Interesting genetic testing involved children with TP53-positive ACC and further MMR anomalies or an MSH2 gene-positive subject with LS with a concurrent germline RET mutation. The first report of LS-ACC referred for PD-1 blockade was published in 2018. Nevertheless, the use of ICPI in ACCs (as similarly seen in metastatic pheochromocytoma) is still limited. Pan-cancer and multi-omics analysis in adults with ACC, in order to classify the candidates for immunotherapy, had heterogeneous results, and integrating an MMR system in this larger and challenging picture is still an open issue. Whether individuals diagnosed with LS should undergo surveillance for ACC has not yet been proven. An assessment of tumor-related MMR/MSI status in ACC might be helpful. Further algorithms for diagnostics and therapy, also taking into consideration innovative biomarkers as MMR-MSI, are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Carsote
- Department of Endocrinology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ionut Florin Turturea
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Cluj Emergency County Hospital, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Ana Valea
- Department of Endocrinology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy & Clinical County Hospital, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Claudiu Nistor
- Department 4-Cardio-Thoracic Pathology, Thoracic Surgery II Discipline, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & Thoracic Surgery Department, Dr. Carol Davila Central Emergency University Military Hospital, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ancuta-Augustina Gheorghisan-Galateanu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & Department of Endocrinology, C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
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Therkildsen C, Jensen LH, Rasmussen M, Bernstein I. An Update on Immune Checkpoint Therapy for the Treatment of Lynch Syndrome. Clin Exp Gastroenterol 2021; 14:181-197. [PMID: 34079322 PMCID: PMC8163581 DOI: 10.2147/ceg.s278054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During the recent years, immune checkpoint-based therapy has proven highly effective in microsatellite instable (MSI) solid tumors irrespective of organ site. MSI tumors are associated with a defective mismatch repair (MMR) system and a highly immune-infiltrative tumor microenvironment—both characteristics of Lynch syndrome. Lynch syndrome is a multi-tumor syndrome that not only confers a high risk of colorectal and endometrial cancer but also cancer in, eg the upper urinary tract, ovaries, and small bowel. Since the genetic predisposition for Lynch syndrome are pathogenic variants in one of the four MMR genes, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 or PMS2, most of the Lynch syndrome cancers show MMR deficiency, MSI, and activation of the immune response system. Hence, Lynch syndrome cancer patients may be optimal candidates for immune checkpoint-based therapies. However, molecular differences have been described between sporadic MSI tumors (developed due to MLH1 promoter hypermethylation) and Lynch syndrome tumors, which may result in different treatment responses. Furthermore, the response profile of the rare Lynch syndrome cases may be masked by the more frequent cases of sporadic MSI tumors in large clinical trials. With this review, we systematically collected response data on Lynch syndrome patients treated with FDA- and EMA-approved immune checkpoint-based drugs (pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, avelumab, ipilimumab, and nivolumab) to elucidate the objective response rate and progression-free survival of cancer in Lynch syndrome patients. Herein, we report Lynch syndrome-related objective response rates between 46 and 71% for colorectal cancer and 14–100% for noncolorectal cancer in unselected cohorts as well as an overview of the Lynch syndrome case reports. To date, no difference in the response rates has been reported between Lynch syndrome and sporadic MSI cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Therkildsen
- Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,The Danish HNPCC Register, Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Henrik Jensen
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark
| | - Maria Rasmussen
- The Danish HNPCC Register, Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Inge Bernstein
- Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.,Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy. For stage I and II tumors, surgery is a curative option, but even in these cases recurrence is frequent. Practical guidelines advocate a combination of mitotane with etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin as first-line therapy for metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma. However, this scheme presents limited efficacy and high toxicity. The use of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) and multi-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (mTKI) has modified the approach of multiple malignancies. The expectation of their applicability on advanced adrenocortical carcinoma is high but the role of these new therapies persists unclear. This article provides a short summary of last years' findings targeting outcomes, limitations, and adverse effects of these new therapeutic approaches. The results of recent trials and case series pointed pembrolizumab as the most promising drug among these new therapies. It is the most often used ICI and the one presenting the best results with less related adverse effects when in comparison to the standard treatment with mitotane. Hereafter, the identification of specific molecular biomarkers or immune profiles associated with ICI or mTKI good response will facilitate the selection of candidates for these therapies. So far, microsatellite instability and Lynch Syndrome related germline mutations are suggested as predictive biomarkers of good response. Contrarywise, cortisol secretion has been associated with more aggressive ACC tumors and potentially poor responses to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Novais Araújo
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria João Bugalho
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Lisbon University, Lisbon, Portugal
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Klein O, Senko C, Carlino MS, Markman B, Jackett L, Gao B, Lum C, Kee D, Behren A, Palmer J, Cebon J. Combination immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab in patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma: a subgroup analysis of CA209-538. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1908771. [PMID: 33889439 PMCID: PMC8043165 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1908771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy, with poor prognosis and limited treatment options for patients with advanced disease. Chemotherapy is the current standard first-line treatment, providing only a modest survival benefit. There is only limited treatment experience with immunotherapy using single-agent anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. To date no clinical trials have been reported using combination immunotherapy with anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 blockade in this patient population. Methods: CA209-538 is a prospective multicentre clinical trial in patients with advanced rare cancers. Participants received the anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab (3 mg/kg IV) and the anti-CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab (1 mg/kg IV) every three weeks for four doses, followed by nivolumab (3 mg/kg IV) every two weeks and continued for up to 96 weeks, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Response was assessed every 12 weeks by RECIST version 1.1. Primary endpoint was clinical benefit rate (complete response, partial response, stable disease at 12 weeks). Results: Six patients with adrenocortical carcinoma were enrolled and received treatment. Two patients (33%) have an ongoing partial response (10 and 25 months +) and two patients (33%) stable disease leading to a disease control rate of 66%. Both responders had tumors with a microsatellite instable phenotype. One patient rapidly progressed shortly after enrollment into the trial and did not undergo restaging. Immunotherapy-related toxicity was reported in all patients, with four patients (67%) experiencing grade 3/4 hepatitis leading to discontinuation of treatment. Conclusions: This is the first treatment experience using ipilimumab and nivolumab combination immunotherapy in patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma. Durable responses have been observed in a subset of patients suggesting that this treatment regimen should be further investigated in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Klein
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Clare Senko
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Matteo S Carlino
- Blacktown Hospital and the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ben Markman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Alfred Health, Melbourne Australia.,School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louise Jackett
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Austin Health, Melbourne Australia
| | - Bo Gao
- Blacktown Hospital and the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Caroline Lum
- Department of Medical Oncology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Damien Kee
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andreas Behren
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Australia
| | - Jodie Palmer
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Australia
| | - Jonathan Cebon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Australia
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