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Voutsadakis IA. Molecular alterations in claudin 18 suppressed and non-suppressed gastric adenocarcinomas to guide targeted therapies. Tissue Barriers 2024:2348852. [PMID: 38713052 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2024.2348852] [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: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric adenocarcinoma represents an aggressive type of cancer and an important cause of cancer mortality. Progress in gastric cancer therapeutics has resulted from a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of the disease and introduction of targeted therapies, but most gastric cancer patients still rely on non-targeted chemotherapy as the mainstay of treatment for advanced disease. METHODS An analysis of publicly available series from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) gastric cancer cohort was undertaken to delineate the clinical and genomic landscape of gastric cancers with suppressed expression of claudin 18 compared with cancers with non-suppressed claudin 18. Claudin 18 suppressed cancers were defined as having an mRNA expression z-score relative to normal samples (log RNA Seq V2) of less than -1. Claudin 18 non-suppressed cancers were defined as having an mRNA expression z-score relative to normal samples (log RNA Seq V2) above 0.5. RESULTS Gastric cancers with claudin 18 mRNA suppression represented 7.7% of the gastric adenocarcinomas of TCGA cohort, while non-suppressed cancers represented 46.6% of the cases. The two groups did not differ in clinical and genomic characteristics, such as mean age, histology, grade, and stage. The mutation landscape of claudin 18 suppressed cases included high mutation rates of TP53, of genes of the WNT/β-catenin pathway and of ubiquitin ligase FBXW7. Moreover, a subset of both claudin 18 suppressed and non-suppressed cancers displayed mutations in Mismatch Repair (MMR) associated genes or a high tumor mutation burden (TMB). At the mRNA expression level, claudin 18 suppressed gastric cancers showed up-regulation of EMT core transcription factor Snail 2 and down-regulation of genes of HLA cluster. The survival of gastric cancer patients with claudin 18 mRNA suppression was not significantly different compared with patients with non-suppressed claudin 18. CONCLUSION Sub-sets of gastric cancers with claudin 18 mRNA suppression displayed characteristics of potential therapeutic interest, such as mutations in WNT and PI3K pathways and MMR defects. These may guide the development of alternative targeted therapies, in this sub-set of gastric cancers which are not candidates for claudin 18 targeting therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis A Voutsadakis
- Algoma District Cancer Program, Sault Area Hospital, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Clinical Sciences, Section of Internal Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada
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2
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Zhang T, He Z, Liu Y, Jin L, Wang T. High Expression of CLDN 18.2 is Associated with Poor Disease-Free Survival of HER-2 Positive Gastric Cancer. Int J Gen Med 2024; 17:1695-1705. [PMID: 38706745 PMCID: PMC11068041 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s453883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Anti-claudin (CLDN) 18.2 therapy has been proven to be effective in treating advanced gastric cancer with negative human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2). This study purposed to investigate the relationship of CLDN 18.2 expression with prognosis of HER-2-positive gastric cancer patients. Objective To investigate the expression of claudin (CLDN) 18.2 in Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) positive gastric cancer patients after radical resection and its relationship with gastric cancer prognosis. Methods A total of 55 postoperative HER-2-positive gastric cancer patients were included in this study. CLDN 18.2 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry, and detailed clinical and pathological information was collected. Factors considered potentially important in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis, which involved COX regression to find the independent prognostic factors affecting disease-free survival (DFS). Results Immunohistochemistry showed that different levels of CLDN 18.2 protein were expressed in HER-2 positive gastric cancer tissues, and the Chi-square analysis showed that the expression level of CLDN 18.2 was significantly correlated with the lymph node stage. Higher expression levels of CLDN 18.2 were found in patients with lymph node positivity and were associated with poor prognosis in HER-2-positive gastric cancer patients. Gastric cancer patients with low and high expressions of CLDN 18.2 had postoperative median DFS of 38.5 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 28.8-48.2 months) and 12.1 months (95% CI, 11.7-41.0 months), respectively. Conclusion High expression of CLDN 18.2 in HER-2 positive gastric cancer is associated with poor prognosis, and the optimal treatment mode for this population is worth exploring after the approval of anti-CLDN 18.2 drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongxin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People’s Republic of China
- Wuxi Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zilong He
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People’s Republic of China
- Wuxi Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yankui Liu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linfang Jin
- Department of Pathology, Wuxi No. 9 People’s Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214062, People’s Republic of China
| | - Teng Wang
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People’s Republic of China
- Wuxi Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People’s Republic of China
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Hana C, Thaw Dar NN, Galo Venegas M, Vulfovich M. Claudins in Cancer: A Current and Future Therapeutic Target. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4634. [PMID: 38731853 PMCID: PMC11083183 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Claudins are a family of 27 proteins that have an important role in the formation of tight junctions. They also have an important function in ion exchange, cell mobility, and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, the latter being very important in cancer invasion and metastasis. Therapeutic targeting of claudins has been investigated to improve cancer outcomes. Recent evidence shows improved outcomes when combining monoclonal antibodies against claudin 18.2 with chemotherapy for patients with gastroesophageal junction cancer. Currently, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells targeting claudin 18 are under investigation. In this review, we will discuss the major functions of claudins, their distribution in the normal as well as cancerous tissues, and their effect in cancer metastasis, with a special focus on the therapeutic targeting of claudins to improve cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Hana
- Hematology/Oncology Department, Memorial Healthcare System, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028, USA; (N.N.T.D.); (M.G.V.)
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Colarusso G, Mechahougui H, Koessler T, Friedlaender A. Metastatic gastric cancer: synergizing and sequencing targeted therapy with first-line immunotherapy. Immunotherapy 2024; 16:427-430. [PMID: 38469713 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2024-0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gina Colarusso
- Oncology Department, Geneva University Hospital, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hiba Mechahougui
- Oncology Department, Geneva University Hospital, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thibaud Koessler
- Oncology Department, Geneva University Hospital, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alex Friedlaender
- Oncology Department, Geneva University Hospital, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Clinique Générale Beaulieu, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
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Qi C, Chong X, Zhou T, Ma M, Gong J, Zhang M, Li J, Xiao J, Peng X, Liu Z, Li Z, Shen L, Zhang X. Clinicopathological significance and immunotherapeutic outcome of claudin 18.2 expression in advanced gastric cancer: A retrospective study. Chin J Cancer Res 2024; 36:78-89. [PMID: 38455365 PMCID: PMC10915633 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2024.01.08] [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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Immunotherapeutic outcomes and clinical characteristics of claudin 18 isoform 2 positive (CLDN18.2-positive) gastric cancer (GC) vary in different clinical studies, making it difficult to optimize anti-CLDN18.2 therapy. We conducted a retrospective analysis to explore the association of CLDN18.2 expression with clinicopathological characteristics and immunotherapeutic outcomes in GC. Methods A total of 536 advanced GC patients from 2019 to 2021 in the CT041-CG4006 and CT041-ST-01 clinical trials were included in the analysis. CLDN18.2 expression on ≥40% of tumor cells (2+, 40%) and CLDN18.2 expression on ≥70% of tumor cells (2+, 70%) were considered the two levels of positively expressed GC. The clinicopathological characteristics and immunotherapy outcomes of GC patients were analyzed according to CLDN18.2 expression status. Results CLDN18.2 was expressed in 57.6% (cut-off: 2+, 40%) and 48.9% (cut-off: 2+, 70%) of patients. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and CLDN18.2 were co-expressed in 19.8% [combined positive score (CPS)≥1, CLDN18.2 (cut-off: 2+, 40%)] and 17.2% [CPS≥5, CLDN18.2 (cut-off: 2+, 70%)] of patients. CLDN18.2 expression positively correlated with younger age, female sex, non-gastroesophageal junction (non-GEJ), and diffuse phenotype (P<0.001). HER2 and PD-L1 expression were significantly lower in CLDN18.2-positive GC (both P<0.05). Uterine adnexa metastasis (P<0.001) was more frequent and liver metastasis (P<0.001) was less common in CLDN18.2-positive GC. Overall survival and immunotherapy-related progression-free survival (irPFS) were inferior in the CLDN18.2-positive group. Conclusions CLDN18.2-positive GC is associated with poor prognosis and worse immunotherapeutic outcomes. The combination of anti-CLDN18.2 therapy, anti-PD-L1/PD-1 therapy, and chemotherapy for GC requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changsong Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Xiaoyi Chong
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Ting Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Mingyang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jifang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- CARsgen Therapeutics Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200231, China
| | - Xiaohui Peng
- CARsgen Therapeutics Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200231, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- CARsgen Life Sciences Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Zonghai Li
- CARsgen Therapeutics Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200231, China
| | - Lin Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
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Vonniessen B, Tabariès S, Siegel PM. Antibody-mediated targeting of Claudins in cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1320766. [PMID: 38371623 PMCID: PMC10869466 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1320766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Tight junctions (TJs) are large intercellular adhesion complexes that maintain cell polarity in normal epithelia and endothelia. Claudins are critical components of TJs, forming homo- and heteromeric interaction between adjacent cells, which have emerged as key functional modulators of carcinogenesis and metastasis. Numerous epithelial-derived cancers display altered claudin expression patterns, and these aberrantly expressed claudins have been shown to regulate cancer cell proliferation/growth, metabolism, metastasis and cell stemness. Certain claudins can now be used as biomarkers to predict patient prognosis in a variety of solid cancers. Our understanding of the distinct roles played by claudins during the cancer progression has progressed significantly over the last decade and claudins are now being investigated as possible diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. In this review, we will summarize recent progress in the use of antibody-based or related strategies for targeting claudins in cancer treatment. We first describe pre-clinical studies that have facilitated the development of neutralizing antibodies and antibody-drug-conjugates targeting Claudins (Claudins-1, -3, -4, -6 and 18.2). Next, we summarize clinical trials assessing the efficacy of antibodies targeting Claudin-6 or Claudin-18.2. Finally, emerging strategies for targeting Claudins, including Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy and Bi-specific T cell engagers (BiTEs), are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Vonniessen
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sébastien Tabariès
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Peter M. Siegel
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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7
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Inamoto R, Takahashi N, Yamada Y. Claudin18.2 in Advanced Gastric Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5742. [PMID: 38136288 PMCID: PMC10741608 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245742] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, the fifth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality is gastric cancer (GC). Recent clinical trials on solid tumors enrolled patients who possess druggable genetic alterations, protein expression, and immune characteristics. In gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers, trastuzumab combined with first-line chemotherapy in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive patients and ramucirumab combined with second-line paclitaxel remarkably prolonged overall survival (OS) compared with chemotherapy alone, according to phase 3 trial results. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy was approved as third- or later-line treatment. Chemotherapy plus ICIs as first-line treatment exhibited improved survival compared with chemotherapy alone in HER2-negative patients according to Checkmate 649 trial results. Conversely, systemic chemotherapy prognosis remains poor. although some patients may achieve durable response to treatment and prolonged survival in advanced GC. Recently, a first-in-class, chimeric immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody (zolbetuximab) that targets and binds to claudin 18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2) has emerged as a new target therapy in GC treatment. Global phase Ⅲ trials revealed that the addition of zolbetuximab to first-line chemotherapy prolonged OS in CLDN18.2-positive and HER2-negative GC patients. This review summarizes recent clinical trials of CLDN18.2-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rin Inamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saitama Cancer Center, 780 Komuro, Ina-machi, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
| | - Naoki Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saitama Cancer Center, 780 Komuro, Ina-machi, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
| | - Yasuhide Yamada
- Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan;
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Derks S, van Laarhoven HWM. SPOTlight on GLOW. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101233. [PMID: 37852180 PMCID: PMC10591046 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The GLOW randomized double-blind phase 3 trial1 shows that Claudin-18.2 targeting antibody zolbetuximab combined with capecitabine and oxaliplatin improves outcome compared to placebo and chemotherapy as first-line treatment in Claudin-18.2-positive, HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Derks
- Amsterdam UMC location Free University, Medical Oncology, De Boelelaan 1118, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Hanneke W M van Laarhoven
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Oncology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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