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Balogun O, Nejak-Bowen K. Understanding Hepatic Porphyrias: Symptoms, Treatments, and Unmet Needs. Semin Liver Dis 2024. [PMID: 38772406 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic porphyrias are a group of metabolic disorders that are characterized by overproduction and accumulation of porphyrin precursors in the liver. These porphyrins cause neurologic symptoms as well as cutaneous photosensitivity, and in some cases patients can experience life-threatening acute neurovisceral attacks. This review describes the acute hepatic porphyrias in detail, including acute intermittent porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria, and variegate porphyria, as well as the hepatic porphyrias with cutaneous manifestations such as porphyria cutanea tarda and hepatoerythropoietic porphyria. Each section will cover disease prevalence, clinical manifestations, and current therapies, including strategies to manage symptoms. Finally, we review new and emerging treatment modalities, including gene therapy through use of adeno-associated vectors and chaperone therapies such as lipid nanoparticle and small interfering RNA-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwashanu Balogun
- Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Liver Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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2
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Lissing M, Wang B, Wahlin S. Liver transplantation and primary liver cancer in porphyria. Liver Int 2024. [PMID: 38456621 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The porphyrias are a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders that result from defects in heme synthesis. The metabolic defects are present in all cells, but symptoms are mainly cutaneous or related to neuropathy. The porphyrias are highly relevant to hepatologists since patients can present with symptoms and complications that require liver transplantation (LT), and some porphyrias are associated with a high risk for primary liver cancer (PLC). Among the cutaneous porphyrias, erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) can lead to cholestatic liver failure where LT cures the liver disease but not the porphyria. In acute porphyria (AP), neurotoxic porphyrin precursors are produced in the liver and LT is a curative treatment option in patients with recurrent severe neuropathic attacks. Patients with AP, mainly acute intermittent porphyria, have a significantly increased risk for PLC that warrants surveillance and adequate follow-up of high-risk groups. LT is well established in both EPP with liver failure and AP with recurrent attacks, but most transplant centres have little porphyria experience and cooperation between transplant hepatologists, and porphyria experts is important in the often-difficult decisions on timing and management of comorbid conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Lissing
- Hepatology Division, Department of Upper GI Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bruce Wang
- Department of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Staffan Wahlin
- Hepatology Division, Department of Upper GI Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Balogun O, Nejak-Bowen K. The Hepatic Porphyrias: Revealing the Complexities of a Rare Disease. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:446-459. [PMID: 37973028 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The porphyrias are a group of metabolic disorders that are caused by defects in heme biosynthesis pathway enzymes. The result is accumulation of heme precursors, which can cause neurovisceral and/or cutaneous photosensitivity. Liver is commonly either a source or target of excess porphyrins, and porphyria-associated hepatic dysfunction ranges from minor abnormalities to liver failure. In this review, the first of a three-part series, we describe the defects commonly found in each of the eight enzymes involved in heme biosynthesis. We also discuss the pathophysiology of the hepatic porphyrias in detail, covering epidemiology, histopathology, diagnosis, and complications. Cellular consequences of porphyrin accumulation are discussed, with an emphasis on oxidative stress, protein aggregation, hepatocellular cancer, and endothelial dysfunction. Finally, we review current therapies to treat and manage symptoms of hepatic porphyria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwashanu Balogun
- Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Liver Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Lissing M, Wester A, Vassiliou D, Floderus Y, Harper P, Sardh E, Wahlin S. Porphyrin precursors and risk of primary liver cancer in acute intermittent porphyria: A case-control study of 188 patients. J Inherit Metab Dis 2023; 46:1186-1194. [PMID: 37650859 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare hereditary metabolic disease characterized by acute attacks and accumulation of the porphyrin precursors 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG). Patients with AIP have a high risk of primary liver cancer (PLC). We aimed to assess the association between porphyrin precursor excretion and the risk for PLC in patients with AIP. We studied 48 patients with AIP who developed PLC between 1987 and 2015 and 140 age and sex matched controls with AIP but no PLC. Data on all available urinary PBG and ALA samples collected from 1975 until 1 year before PLC diagnosis were analyzed and compared between cases and controls using logistic regression. Porphyrin precursor excretion was higher in patients with PLC (PBG median 7.9 [IQR 4.4-21.9] mmol/mol creatinine) than in controls (3.8 [1.2-9.8]) (adjusted odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.12). None of the 28 patients with all registered samples below the upper limit of normal (ULN) developed PLC, and only one of the 45 patients with all samples <2× ULN developed PLC. Among non-PLC controls, ALA and PBG levels decreased after age 50-60 while an increasing trend was observed after age 65 among those who developed PLC. Increased urinary porphyrin precursors are associated with a high risk of developing PLC. Patients with normal levels appear to have a low risk while high or increasing ALA and PBG after age 65 indicates high risk, which should be considered in surveillance decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Lissing
- Hepatology Division, Department of Upper GI Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Axel Wester
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daphne Vassiliou
- Department of Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (CMMS), Porphyria Centre Sweden, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ylva Floderus
- Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (CMMS), Porphyria Centre Sweden, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pauline Harper
- Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (CMMS), Porphyria Centre Sweden, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eliane Sardh
- Department of Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (CMMS), Porphyria Centre Sweden, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Staffan Wahlin
- Hepatology Division, Department of Upper GI Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Lissing M, Vassiliou D, Floderus Y, Harper P, Bottai M, Kotopouli M, Hagström H, Sardh E, Wahlin S. Risk of primary liver cancer in acute hepatic porphyria patients: A matched cohort study of 1244 individuals. J Intern Med 2022; 291:824-836. [PMID: 35112415 PMCID: PMC9311710 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The acute hepatic porphyrias (AHP) are associated with a risk of primary liver cancer (PLC), but risk estimates are unclear, and what AHP characteristics that predict PLC risk are unknown. In this register-based, matched cohort study, we assessed the PLC risk in relation to biochemical and clinical porphyria severity, genotype, age, and sex. METHODS All patients in the Swedish porphyria register with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), variegate porphyria (VP), or hereditary coproporphyria (HCP) during 1987-2015 were included. This AHP cohort was compared with age-, sex-, and county-matched reference individuals from the general population. National register-based hospital admissions for AHP were used to indicate the clinical severity. For AIP, the most common AHP type, patients were stratified by genotype and urinary porphobilinogen (U-PBG). Incident PLC data were collected from national health registers. RESULTS We identified 1244 individuals with AHP (1063 [85%] AIP). During a median follow-up of 19.5 years, we identified 108 incident PLC cases, including 83 AHP patients (6.7%) and 25 of 12,333 reference individuals (0.2%). The adjusted hazard ratio for AHP-PLC was 38.0 (95% confidence interval: 24.3-59.3). Previously elevated U-PBG and hospitalizations for porphyria, but not AIP genotype or sex, were associated with increased PLC risk. Patients aged >50 years with previously elevated U-PBG (n = 157) had an annual PLC incidence of 1.8%. CONCLUSION This study confirmed a high PLC risk and identified a strong association with clinical and biochemical AIP activity. Regular PLC surveillance is motivated in patients older than 50 years with a history of active AIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Lissing
- Hepatology Division, Department of Upper GI Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daphne Vassiliou
- Department of Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (CMMS), Porphyria Centre Sweden, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ylva Floderus
- Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (CMMS), Porphyria Centre Sweden, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pauline Harper
- Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (CMMS), Porphyria Centre Sweden, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matteo Bottai
- Division of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marianna Kotopouli
- Division of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannes Hagström
- Hepatology Division, Department of Upper GI Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Unit for Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eliane Sardh
- Department of Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (CMMS), Porphyria Centre Sweden, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Staffan Wahlin
- Hepatology Division, Department of Upper GI Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Chidambaranathan-Reghupaty S, Fisher PB, Sarkar D. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Epidemiology, etiology and molecular classification. Adv Cancer Res 2020; 149:1-61. [PMID: 33579421 PMCID: PMC8796122 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 79.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the primary malignancy of hepatocytes, is a diagnosis with bleak outcome. According to National Cancer Institute's SEER database, the average five-year survival rate of HCC patients in the US is 19.6% but can be as low as 2.5% for advanced, metastatic disease. When diagnosed at early stages, it is treatable with locoregional treatments including surgical resection, Radio-Frequency Ablation, Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization or liver transplantation. However, HCC is usually diagnosed at advanced stages when the tumor is unresectable, making these treatments ineffective. In such instances, systemic therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) becomes the only viable option, even though it benefits only 30% of patients, provides only a modest (~3months) increase in overall survival and causes drug resistance within 6months. HCC, like many other cancers, is highly heterogeneous making a one-size fits all option problematic. The selection of liver transplantation, locoregional treatment, TKIs or immune checkpoint inhibitors as a treatment strategy depends on the disease stage and underlying condition(s). Additionally, patients with similar disease phenotype can have different molecular etiology making treatment responses different. Stratification of patients at the molecular level would facilitate development of the most effective treatment option. With the increase in efficiency and affordability of "omics"-level analysis, considerable effort has been expended in classifying HCC at the molecular, metabolic and immunologic levels. This review examines the results of these efforts and the ways they can be leveraged to develop targeted treatment options for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Chidambaranathan-Reghupaty
- C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
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7
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Ma Y, Teng Q, Zhang Y, Zhang S. Acute intermittent porphyria: focus on possible mechanisms of acute and chronic manifestations. Intractable Rare Dis Res 2020; 9:187-195. [PMID: 33139977 PMCID: PMC7586881 DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2020.03054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Porphyrias are a group of inherited metabolic diseases that include eight types, each of which is caused by a mutation that affects an enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. When an enzyme defect has physiological significance, it leads to overproduction of pathway precursors prior to the defective step. The partial absence of the third enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway, porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) also known as hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS), results in acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), which affects mainly women. Subjects who had AIP symptoms were deemed to have manifest AIP (MAIP). Clinical manifestations are usually diverse and non-specific. Acute AIP episodes may present with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and repeated episodes may result in a series of chronic injuries. Therefore, studying the mechanisms of acute and chronic manifestations of AIP is of great significance. This review aims to summarize the possible mechanisms of acute and chronic manifestations in patients with AIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuelin Ma
- Department of Endocrinology, The second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Qing Teng
- Department of Endocrinology, The second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yiran Zhang
- School of First Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Songyun Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, The second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
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Peoc'h K, Manceau H, Karim Z, Wahlin S, Gouya L, Puy H, Deybach JC. Hepatocellular carcinoma in acute hepatic porphyrias: A Damocles Sword. Mol Genet Metab 2019; 128:236-241. [PMID: 30413387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Porphyrias are inherited diseases with low penetrance affecting the heme biosynthesis pathway. Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), variegate porphyria (VP) and hereditary coproporphyria (HCP) together constitute the acute hepatic porphyrias (AHP). These diseases have been identified as risk factors for primary liver cancers (PLC), mainly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC: range 87-100%) but also cholangiocarcinoma, alone or combination with HCC. In AHP, HCC annual incidence rates range from 0.16 to 0.35% according to the populations studied. Annual incidence rates are higher in Swedish and Norwegian patients, due to a founder effect. It increases above age 50. The pathophysiology could include both direct toxic effects of heme precursors, particularly δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), compound heterozygosity for genes implied in heme biosynthesis pathway or the loss of oxidative stress homeostasis due to a relative lack of heme. The high HCC incidence justifies radiological surveillance in AHP patients above age 50. Efforts are made to find new biological non-invasive markers. In this respect, we describe here the first report of PIVKA-II clinical utility in the follow-up of an AIP patient that develop an HCC. In this manuscript we reviewed the epidemiology, the physiopathology, and the screening strategy of HCC in AHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katell Peoc'h
- UMRs 1149, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-75018 Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, HUPNVS, Biochimie Clinique, Hôpital Beaujon, F-92110 Clichy, France; Laboratory of Excellence Gr-Ex, France; Université Paris Diderot, UFR de Médecine Xavier Bichat, F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Hana Manceau
- UMRs 1149, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-75018 Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, HUPNVS, Biochimie Clinique, Hôpital Beaujon, F-92110 Clichy, France; Laboratory of Excellence Gr-Ex, France; Université Paris Diderot, UFR de Médecine Xavier Bichat, F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Zoubida Karim
- UMRs 1149, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-75018 Paris, France; Laboratory of Excellence Gr-Ex, France; Université Paris Diderot, UFR de Médecine Xavier Bichat, F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Staffan Wahlin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Hepatology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laurent Gouya
- UMRs 1149, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-75018 Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, HUPNVS Centre Français des Porphyries, Hôpital Louis Mourier, 178 Rue des Renouillers, F-92701 Colombes, France; Laboratory of Excellence Gr-Ex, France; Université Paris Diderot, UFR de Médecine Xavier Bichat, F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Hervé Puy
- UMRs 1149, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-75018 Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, HUPNVS Centre Français des Porphyries, Hôpital Louis Mourier, 178 Rue des Renouillers, F-92701 Colombes, France; Laboratory of Excellence Gr-Ex, France; Université Paris Diderot, UFR de Médecine Xavier Bichat, F-75018 Paris, France.
| | - Jean-Charles Deybach
- UMRs 1149, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, F-75018 Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, HUPNVS Centre Français des Porphyries, Hôpital Louis Mourier, 178 Rue des Renouillers, F-92701 Colombes, France; Laboratory of Excellence Gr-Ex, France; Université Paris Diderot, UFR de Médecine Xavier Bichat, F-75018 Paris, France
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10
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Smith AG, Foster JR. The association between chemical-induced porphyria and hepatic cancer. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2018; 7:647-663. [PMID: 30090612 PMCID: PMC6060669 DOI: 10.1039/c8tx00019k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The haem biosynthetic pathway is of fundamental importance for cellular metabolism both for the erythroid and nonerythroid tissues. There are several genetic variants of the pathway in the human population that cause dysfunction of one or other of the enzymes resulting in porphyrias of varying severity. Serious chronic hepatic and systemic diseases may result. Some of these can be precipitated by exposure to drugs including hormones, barbiturates and antibiotics, as well as alcohol and particular chlorinated aromatic chemicals. In experimental animals some of the steps of this pathway can also be severely disrupted by a variety of environmental chemicals, potential drugs and pesticides, especially in the liver, leading to the accumulation of uroporphyrins derived from the intermediate uroporphyrinogens or protoporphyrin IX, the immediate precursor of haem. With some of these chemicals this also leads to cholestasis and liver cell injury and eventually hepatic tumours. The review evaluates the available evidence linking hepatic porphyria with carcinogenesis in naturally occurring human genetic conditions and in chemically-induced porphyrias in laboratory animals. The existing data showing gender, strain, and species differences in sensitivity to the chemical-induced porphyrias, liver injury and liver tumours are discussed and the role that transgenically altered mouse models have played in defining the varying mechanisms. Finally, the review proposes a novel, unifying hypothesis linking the hepatotoxicity induced by the accumulation of various porphyrins, with the increased risk of developing hepatic cancer as a long term consequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Smith
- MRC Toxicology Unit , Hodgkin Building , University of Leicester , Lancaster Road , Leicester LE2 4UA , UK .
| | - John R Foster
- ToxPath Sciences Ltd , 1 Troutbeck Avenue , Congleton , Cheshire , CW12 4JA , UK
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11
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Susa S, Sato-Monma F, Ishii K, Hada Y, Takase K, Tada K, Wada K, Kameda W, Watanabe K, Oizumi T, Suzuki T, Daimon M, Kato T. Transient Worsening of Photosensitivity due to Cholelithiasis in a Variegate Porphyria Patient. Intern Med 2016; 55:2965-2969. [PMID: 27746433 PMCID: PMC5109563 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.55.7108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Variegate porphyria (VP) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations of the protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX) gene. This porphyria has unique characteristics which can induce acute neurovisceral attacks and cutaneous lesions that may occur separately or together. We herin report a 58-years-old VP patient complicated with cholelithiasis. A sequencing analysis indicated a novel c.40G>C mutation (p.G14R) in the PPOX gene. His cutaneous photosensitivity had been worsening for 3 years before the emergence of cholecystitis and it then gradually improved after cholecystectomy and ursodeoxycholic acid treatment with a slight decline in the porphyrin levels in his blood, urine and stool. In VP patients, a worsening of photosensitivity can thus be induced due to complications associated with some other disease, thereby affecting their porphyrin-heme biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Susa
- Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Japan
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12
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Schneider-Yin X, van Tuyll van Serooskerken AM, Siegesmund M, Went P, Barman-Aksözen J, Bladergroen RS, Komminoth P, Cloots RHE, Winnepenninckx VJ, zur Hausen A, Weber M, Driessen A, Poblete-Gutiérrez P, Bauer P, Schroeder C, van Geel M, Minder EI, Frank J. Biallelic inactivation of protoporphyrinogen oxidase and hydroxymethylbilane synthase is associated with liver cancer in acute porphyrias. J Hepatol 2015; 62:734-8. [PMID: 25445397 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2014.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Revised: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Variegate porphyria (VP) and acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), the two most common types of acute porphyrias (AHPs), result from a partial deficiency of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX) and hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS), respectively. A rare but serious complication in the AHPs is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying pathomechanisms are yet unknown. We performed DNA sequence analysis in cancerous and non-cancerous liver tissue of a VP and an AIP patient, both with HCC. In samples of both cancerous and non-cancerous liver tissues from the patients, we identified the underlying PPOX and HMBS germline mutations, c.1082dupC and p.G111R, respectively. Additionally, we detected a second somatic mutation, only in the cancer tissue i.e., p.L416X in the PPOX gene of the VP patient and p.L220X in the HMBS gene of the AIP patient, both located in trans to the respective germline mutations. Both somatic mutations were not detected in 10 non-porphyria-associated HCCs. Our data demonstrate that in the hepatic cancer tissue of AHP patients, somatic second-hit mutations result in nearly complete inactivation of the enzymes catalyzing major steps in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Both PPOX and HMBS, which might act as tumor suppressors, play a crucial role in the development of HCC in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoye Schneider-Yin
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Swiss Porphyrin Reference Laboratory, Stadtspital Triemli, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Moon van Tuyll van Serooskerken
- Department of Dermatology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands; GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands
| | - Marko Siegesmund
- Department of Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center and European Porphyria Specialist Center, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philip Went
- Institute of Pathology Enge, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jasmin Barman-Aksözen
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Swiss Porphyrin Reference Laboratory, Stadtspital Triemli, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Reno S Bladergroen
- Department of Dermatology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands; GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands
| | - Paul Komminoth
- Institute of Pathology, Stadtspital Triemli, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Roy H E Cloots
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands
| | | | - Axel zur Hausen
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands
| | - Markus Weber
- Department of Surgery, Stadtspital Triemli, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ann Driessen
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands
| | - Pamela Poblete-Gutiérrez
- Department of Dermatology, Annadal Medical Center Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Dermatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL) Genk, Belgium
| | - Peter Bauer
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Michel van Geel
- Department of Dermatology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands; GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth I Minder
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Swiss Porphyrin Reference Laboratory, Stadtspital Triemli, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jorge Frank
- Department of Dermatology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands; GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), The Netherlands; Department of Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center and European Porphyria Specialist Center, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Abstract
The porphyrias comprise a set of diseases, each representing an individual defect in one of the eight enzymes mediating the pathway of heme synthesis. The diseases are genetically distinct but have in common the overproduction of heme precursors. In the case of the acute (neurologic) porphyrias, the cause of symptoms appears to be overproduction of a neurotoxic precursor. For the cutaneous porphyrias, it is photosensitizing porphyrins. Some types have both acute and cutaneous manifestations. The clinical presentation of acute porphyria consists of abdominal pain, nausea, and occasionally seizures. Only a small minority of those who carry a mutation for acute porphyria have pain attacks. The triggers for an acute attack encompass certain medications and severely decreased caloric intake. The propensity of females to acute attacks has been linked to internal changes in ovarian physiology. Symptoms are accompanied by large increases in delta-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen in plasma and urine. Treatment of an acute attack centers initially on pain relief and elimination of inducing factors such as medications; glucose is administered to reverse the fasting state. The only specific treatment is administration of intravenous hemin. An important goal of treatment is preventing progression of the symptoms to a neurological crisis. Patients who progress despite hemin administration have undergone liver transplantation with complete resolution of symptoms. A current issue is the unavailability of a rapid test for urine porphobilinogen in the urgent-care setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Montgomery Bissell
- Correspondence to: D. Montgomery Bissell, University of California, Box 0538, 513, Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-0538, USA. Tel: +1-415-476-8405, Fax: +1-415-476-0659. E-mail:
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Luvai A, Mbagaya W, Narayanan D, Degg T, Toogood G, Wyatt JI, Swinson D, Hall CJ, Barth JH. Hepatocellular carcinoma in variegate porphyria: a case report and literature review. Ann Clin Biochem 2014; 52:407-12. [PMID: 25301776 DOI: 10.1177/0004563214557568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Variegate porphyria is an autosomal dominant acute hepatic porphyria characterized by photosensitivity and acute neurovisceral attacks. Hepatocellular carcinoma has been described as a potential complication of variegate porphyria in case reports. We report a case of a 48-year-old woman who was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma following a brief history of right upper quadrant pain which was preceded by a few months of blistering lesions in sun-exposed areas. She was biochemically diagnosed with variegate porphyria, and mutational analysis confirmed the presence of a heterozygous mutation in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase gene. Despite two hepatic resections, she developed pulmonary metastases. She responded remarkably well to Sorafenib and remains in remission 16 months after treatment. A review of the literature revealed that hepatocellular carcinoma in variegate porphyria has been described in at least eight cases. Retrospective and prospective cohort studies have suggested a plausible association between hepatocellular carcinoma and acute hepatic porphyrias. Hepatic porphyrias should be considered in the differential diagnoses of hepatocellular carcinoma of uncertain aetiology. Patients with known hepatic porphyrias may benefit from periodic monitoring for this complication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahai Luvai
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Wycliffe Mbagaya
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Deepa Narayanan
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Tim Degg
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Giles Toogood
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Judith I Wyatt
- Department of Histopathology, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Daniel Swinson
- Department of Oncology, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Claire J Hall
- Haematology Department, Harrogate District Hospital, Harrogate, UK
| | - Julian H Barth
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK
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16
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Sardh E, Wahlin S, Björnstedt M, Harper P, Andersson DEH. High risk of primary liver cancer in a cohort of 179 patients with Acute Hepatic Porphyria. J Inherit Metab Dis 2013; 36:1063-71. [PMID: 23344888 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-012-9576-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2012] [Revised: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Previous studies have indicated a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in acute hepatic porphyrias. In this retrospective study we present the incidence of primary liver cancer and clinical characteristics in a cohort of 179 acute porphyria patients above the age of 50 years. METHODS Twenty-three cases with primary liver cancer were found either by a surveillance program or due to clinical suspicion. Standardized rate ratio was used to estimate the relative risk of primary liver cancer after indirect standardization. Survival data were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS The mean age at diagnosis was 69 years. Hepatocellular carcinoma was found in 19 patients while four patients had cholangiocarcinoma or a combination of the two. Four patients had underlying cirrhosis. Mean tumour size was 4.3 cm in the surveillance group and 10.3 cm in the non-surveillance group (p = 0.01). The overall relative risk of primary liver cancer was 86 above the age of 50: 150 for women and 37 for men. Mean survival time was 5.7 years. CONCLUSION Acute hepatic porphyria carries a high risk of primary liver cancer above the age of 50 which warrants ultrasound surveillance. Sex distribution and frequency of cirrhosis differs from more common aetiologies of primary liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliane Sardh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm South Hospital, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden,
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Barbaro M, Kotajärvi M, Harper P, Floderus Y. Partial protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX) gene deletions, due to different Alu-mediated mechanisms, identified by MLPA analysis in patients with variegate porphyria. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2013; 8:13. [PMID: 23324528 PMCID: PMC3554555 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1172-8-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 01/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Variegate porphyria (VP) is an autosomal dominantly inherited hepatic porphyria. The genetic defect in the PPOX gene leads to a partial defect of protoporphyrinogen oxidase, the penultimate enzyme of heme biosynthesis. Affected individuals can develop cutaneous symptoms in sun-exposed areas of the skin and/or neuropsychiatric acute attacks. The identification of the genetic defect in VP families is of crucial importance to detect the carrier status which allows counseling to prevent potentially life threatening neurovisceral attacks, usually triggered by factors such as certain drugs, alcohol or fasting.In a total of 31 Swedish VP families sequence analysis had identified a genetic defect in 26. In the remaining five families an extended genetic investigation was necessary. After the development of a synthetic probe set, MLPA analysis to screen for single exon deletions/duplications was performed.We describe here, for the first time, two partial deletions within the PPOX gene detected by MLPA analysis. One deletion affects exon 5 and 6 (c.339-197_616+320del1099) and has been identified in four families, most probably after a founder effect. The other extends from exon 5 to exon 9 (c.339-350_987+229del2609) and was found in one family. We show that both deletions are mediated by Alu repeats.Our findings emphasize the usefulness of MLPA analysis as a complement to PPOX gene sequencing analysis for comprehensive genetic diagnostics in patients with VP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Barbaro
- Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Stewart MF. Review of hepatocellular cancer, hypertension and renal impairment as late complications of acute porphyria and recommendations for patient follow-up. J Clin Pathol 2012; 65:976-80. [PMID: 22851509 DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2012-200791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This review critically appraises the data emerging from small retrospective and prospective cohort studies suggesting that patients with the autosomal dominant acute porphyrias may be at increased risk of hepatocellular cancer (HCC), hypertension (HT) and renal impairment. The most striking finding is a marked excess risk of HCC in Swedish patients with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). As Sweden has a relatively high prevalence of AIP due to a founder effect, it is uncertain to what extent the finding is generalisable to other populations or other acute porphyrias and whether early intervention through screening can improve outcomes. As yet there is no evidence for the cost-effectiveness of systematic surveillance for HCC in acute porphyria outside Sweden. Data from several populations also suggest a high prevalence of chronic sustained HT and renal impairment in AIP, but it is uncertain if this represents a true excess risk, in particular for asymptomatic patients. As these long-term complications are important and potentially treatable, a pragmatic recommendation is that symptomatic patients with acute porphyria should be offered specialist long-term follow-up and, for those aged >50 years, annual liver ultrasound may be considered following discussion of the likely risks and benefits. Opportunistic cardiovascular risk assessment can readily be incorporated into a structured annual review so that appropriate drugs safe for use in acute porphyria are prescribed promptly. As these diseases are rare, collaborative international epidemiological studies such as those being coordinated through the European Porphyria Network are essential to inform best clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Felicity Stewart
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Manchester, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Stott Lane, Salford M6 8HD, UK. British and Irish Porphyria Network
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Innala E, Andersson C. Screening for hepatocellular carcinoma in acute intermittent porphyria: a 15-year follow-up in northern Sweden. J Intern Med 2011; 269:538-45. [PMID: 21198994 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02335.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the benefit of screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in gene carriers of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) and estimate the annual incidence of HCC in this group. SUBJECTS All AIP gene carriers aged ≥55 years from the northernmost county in Sweden, Norrbotten, were invited for screening in this prospective study every 1-1.5 years during the period 1994-2009. We registered all HCC cases amongst AIP gene carriers in the northern region of Sweden (four counties). We compared gene carriers with repeated screening intervals of <2 years (Group A) with controls (Group B; i.e. gene carriers who had never been screened, those screened for the first time or screened at intervals of >2 years, or dropouts). The screening included radiological examination of the liver and relevant laboratory tests. RESULTS A total of 62 AIP subjects participated in the study, comprising 33% of the total AIP population aged >55 years in the northern region of Sweden. HCC was diagnosed in 22 AIP subjects (12 men and 10 women), mean age 69 (59-82) years. Amongst these subjects, 73% had experienced prior AIP attacks. The incidence rate ratio for HCC was 64 (52 in men and 93 in women). There were no cases of hepatitis B/C or alcohol abuse. Liver cirrhosis was rare. Liver resection could be performed in most subjects in Group A. Fourteen patients died of HCC, one in Group A and 13 in Group B. Compared with those who were not screened regularly, screening was associated with improved 3-year and 5-year survival (P = 0.005 and 0.038). CONCLUSIONS Screening for HCC in carriers of AIP enables early diagnosis and a choice of potentially curative treatments with improved prognosis. We recommend annual screening using liver imaging for AIP gene carriers >50 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Innala
- Department of Clinical Science, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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