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Isaak AJ, Clements GR, Buenaventura RGM, Merlino G, Yu Y. Development of Personalized Strategies for Precisely Battling Malignant Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5023. [PMID: 38732242 PMCID: PMC11084485 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25095023] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most severe and fatal form of skin cancer, resulting from multiple gene mutations with high intra-tumor and inter-tumor molecular heterogeneity. Treatment options for patients whose disease has progressed beyond the ability for surgical resection rely on currently accepted standard therapies, notably immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies. Acquired resistance to these therapies and treatment-associated toxicity necessitate exploring novel strategies, especially those that can be personalized for specific patients and/or populations. Here, we review the current landscape and progress of standard therapies and explore what personalized oncology techniques may entail in the scope of melanoma. Our purpose is to provide an up-to-date summary of the tools at our disposal that work to circumvent the common barriers faced when battling melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yanlin Yu
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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2
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Bai X, Attrill GH, Gide TN, Ferguson PM, Nahar KJ, Shang P, Vergara IA, Palendira U, da Silva IP, Carlino MS, Menzies AM, Long GV, Scolyer RA, Wilmott JS, Quek C. Stroma-infiltrating T cell spatiotypes define immunotherapy outcomes in adolescent and young adult patients with melanoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3014. [PMID: 38589406 PMCID: PMC11002019 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47301-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The biological underpinnings of therapeutic resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in adolescent and young adult (AYA) melanoma patients are incompletely understood. Here, we characterize the immunogenomic profile and spatial architecture of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in AYA (aged ≤ 30 years) and older adult (aged 31-84 years) patients with melanoma, to determine the AYA-specific features associated with ICI treatment outcomes. We identify two ICI-resistant spatiotypes in AYA patients with melanoma showing stroma-infiltrating lymphocytes (SILs) that are distinct from the adult TME. The SILhigh subtype was enriched in regulatory T cells in the peritumoral space and showed upregulated expression of immune checkpoint molecules, while the SILlow subtype showed a lack of immune activation. We establish a young immunosuppressive melanoma score that can predict ICI responsiveness in AYA patients and propose personalized therapeutic strategies for the ICI-resistant subgroups. These findings highlight the distinct immunogenomic profile of AYA patients, and individualized TME features in ICI-resistant AYA melanoma that require patient-specific treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Bai
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Grace H Attrill
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tuba N Gide
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter M Ferguson
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kazi J Nahar
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ping Shang
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ismael A Vergara
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Umaimainthan Palendira
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ines Pires da Silva
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matteo S Carlino
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alexander M Menzies
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Mater Hospital, North Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Georgina V Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Mater Hospital, North Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - James S Wilmott
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Camelia Quek
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Sanchez‐Pupo RE, Finch GA, Johnston DE, Craig H, Abdo R, Barr K, Kerfoot S, Dagnino L, Penuela S. Global pannexin 1 deletion increases tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the BRAF/Pten mouse melanoma model. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:969-987. [PMID: 38327091 PMCID: PMC10994229 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies for malignant melanoma seek to boost the anti-tumoral response of CD8+ T cells, but have a limited patient response rate, in part due to limited tumoral immune cell infiltration. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of the pannexin 1 (PANX1) channel-forming protein is known to decrease melanoma cell tumorigenic properties in vitro and ex vivo. Here, we crossed Panx1 knockout (Panx1-/-) mice with the inducible melanoma model BrafCA, PtenloxP, Tyr::CreERT2 (BPC). We found that deleting the Panx1 gene in mice does not reduce BRAF(V600E)/Pten-driven primary tumor formation or improve survival. However, tumors in BPC-Panx1-/- mice exhibited a significant increase in the infiltration of CD8+ T lymphocytes, with no changes in the expression of early T-cell activation marker CD69, lymphocyte activation gene 3 protein (LAG-3) checkpoint receptor, or programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in tumors when compared to the BPC-Panx1+/+ genotype. Our results suggest that, although Panx1 deletion does not overturn the aggressive BRAF/Pten-driven melanoma progression in vivo, it does increase the infiltration of effector immune T-cell populations in the tumor microenvironment. We propose that PANX1-targeted therapy could be explored as a strategy to increase tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to boost anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Garth A. Finch
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyWestern UniversityLondonCanada
| | | | - Heather Craig
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyWestern UniversityLondonCanada
| | - Rober Abdo
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyWestern UniversityLondonCanada
| | - Kevin Barr
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyWestern UniversityLondonCanada
| | - Steven Kerfoot
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyWestern UniversityLondonCanada
| | - Lina Dagnino
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyWestern UniversityLondonCanada
- Division of Experimental Oncology, Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine and DentistryWestern UniversityLondonCanada
| | - Silvia Penuela
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyWestern UniversityLondonCanada
- Division of Experimental Oncology, Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine and DentistryWestern UniversityLondonCanada
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Sanchez JC, Pierpont TM, Argueta-Zamora D, Wilson K, August A, Cerione RA. PTEN loss in glioma cell lines leads to increased extracellular vesicles biogenesis and PD-L1 cargo in a PI3K-dependent manner. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.26.550575. [PMID: 38464280 PMCID: PMC10925116 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.26.550575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Phosphatase and Tensin Homologue (PTEN) is one of the most frequently lost tumor suppressors in cancer and the predominant negative regulator of the PI3K/AKT signaling axis. A growing body of evidence has highlighted the loss of PTEN with immuno-modulatory functions including the upregulation of the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), an altered tumor derived secretome that drives an immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and resistance to certain immunotherapies. Given their roles in immunosuppression and tumor growth, we examined whether the loss of PTEN would impact the biogenesis, cargo, and function of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the context of the anti-tumor associated cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Through genetic and pharmacological approaches, we show that PD-L1 expression is regulated by JAK/STAT signaling, not PI3K signaling. Instead, we observe that PTEN loss positively upregulates cell surface levels of PD-L1 and enhances the biogenesis of EVs enriched with PD-L1 in a PI3K-dependent manner. We demonstrate that because of these changes, EVs derived from glioma cells lacking PTEN have a greater ability to suppress T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into how the loss of PTEN can contribute to an immunosuppressive TIME, facilitate immune evasion, and highlight a novel role for PI3K signaling in the regulation of EV biogenesis and the cargo they contain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio C Sanchez
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Timothy M Pierpont
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Dariana Argueta-Zamora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Kristin Wilson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Avery August
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Richard A Cerione
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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5
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Wang S, Riedstra CP, Zhang Y, Anandh S, Dudley AC. PTEN-restoration abrogates brain colonisation and perivascular niche invasion by melanoma cells. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:555-567. [PMID: 38148377 PMCID: PMC10876963 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02530-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma brain metastases (MBM) continue to be a significant clinical problem with limited treatment options. Highly invasive melanoma cells migrate along the vasculature and perivascular cells may contribute to residual disease and recurrence. PTEN loss and hyperactivation of AKT occur in MBM; however, a role for PTEN/AKT in perivascular invasion has not been described. METHODS We used in vivo intracranial injections of murine melanoma and bulk RNA sequencing of melanoma cells co-cultured with brain endothelial cells (brECs) to investigate brain colonisation and perivascular invasion. RESULTS We found that PTEN-null melanoma cells were highly efficient at colonising the perivascular niche relative to PTEN-expressing counterparts. PTEN re-expression (PTEN-RE) in melanoma cells significantly reduced brain colonisation and migration along the vasculature. We hypothesised this phenotype was mediated through vascular-induced TGFβ secretion, which drives AKT phosphorylation. Disabling TGFβ signalling in melanoma cells reduced colonisation and perivascular invasion; however, the introduction of constitutively active myristolated-AKT (myrAKT) restored overall tumour size but not perivascular invasion. CONCLUSIONS PTEN loss facilitates perivascular brain colonisation and invasion of melanoma. TGFβ-AKT signalling partially contributes to this phenotype, but further studies are needed to determine the complementary mechanisms that enable melanoma cells to both survive and spread along the brain vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Caroline P Riedstra
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Swetha Anandh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Andrew C Dudley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.
- The University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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6
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Xu X, Bok I, Jasani N, Wang K, Chadourne M, Mecozzi N, Deng O, Welsh EA, Kinose F, Rix U, Karreth FA. PTEN Lipid Phosphatase Activity Suppresses Melanoma Formation by Opposing an AKT/mTOR/FRA1 Signaling Axis. Cancer Res 2024; 84:388-404. [PMID: 38193852 PMCID: PMC10842853 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-1730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Inactivating mutations in PTEN are prevalent in melanoma and are thought to support tumor development by hyperactivating the AKT/mTOR pathway. Conversely, activating mutations in AKT are relatively rare in melanoma, and therapies targeting AKT or mTOR have shown disappointing outcomes in preclinical models and clinical trials of melanoma. This has led to the speculation that PTEN suppresses melanoma by opposing AKT-independent pathways, potentially through noncanonical functions beyond its lipid phosphatase activity. In this study, we examined the mechanisms of PTEN-mediated suppression of melanoma formation through the restoration of various PTEN functions in PTEN-deficient cells or mouse models. PTEN lipid phosphatase activity predominantly inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth, with minimal contribution from its protein phosphatase and scaffold functions. A drug screen underscored the exquisite dependence of PTEN-deficient melanoma cells on the AKT/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, activation of AKT alone was sufficient to counteract several aspects of PTEN-mediated melanoma suppression, particularly invasion and the growth of allograft tumors. Phosphoproteomics analysis of the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN validated its potent inhibition of AKT and many of its known targets, while also identifying the AP-1 transcription factor FRA1 as a downstream effector. The restoration of PTEN dampened FRA1 translation by inhibiting AKT/mTOR signaling, and FRA1 overexpression negated aspects of PTEN-mediated melanoma suppression akin to AKT. This study supports AKT as the key mediator of PTEN inactivation in melanoma and identifies an AKT/mTOR/FRA1 axis as a driver of melanomagenesis. SIGNIFICANCE PTEN suppresses melanoma predominantly through its lipid phosphatase function, which when lost, elevates FRA1 levels through AKT/mTOR signaling to promote several aspects of melanomagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Xu
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ilah Bok
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Cancer Biology PhD program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Neel Jasani
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Cancer Biology PhD program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Kaizhen Wang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Cancer Biology PhD program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Manon Chadourne
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Nicol Mecozzi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Cancer Biology PhD program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ou Deng
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Eric A. Welsh
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Fumi Kinose
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Uwe Rix
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Florian A. Karreth
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
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Lee A, Lim J, Lim JS. Emerging roles of MITF as a crucial regulator of immunity. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:311-318. [PMID: 38351314 PMCID: PMC10907664 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01175-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factor (bHLH-Zip), has been identified as a melanocyte-specific transcription factor and plays a critical role in melanocyte survival, differentiation, function, proliferation and pigmentation. Although numerous studies have explained the roles of MITF in melanocytes and in melanoma development, the function of MITF in the hematopoietic or immune system-beyond its function in melanin-producing cells-is not yet fully understood. However, there is convincing and increasing evidence suggesting that MITF may play multiple important roles in immune-related cells. Therefore, this review is focused on recent advances in elucidating novel functions of MITF in cancer progression and immune responses to cancer. In particular, we highlight the role of MITF as a central modulator in the regulation of immune responses, as elucidated in recent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aram Lee
- Department of Biological Science and the Cellular Heterogeneity Research Center, Research Institute of Women's Health, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyun Lim
- Department of Biological Science and the Cellular Heterogeneity Research Center, Research Institute of Women's Health, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Seok Lim
- Department of Biological Science and the Cellular Heterogeneity Research Center, Research Institute of Women's Health, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea.
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8
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Versluis JM, Hoefsmit EP, Shehwana H, Dimitriadis P, Sanders J, Broeks A, Blank CU. Tumor characteristics of dissociated response to immune checkpoint inhibition in advanced melanoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:28. [PMID: 38280045 PMCID: PMC10821835 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03581-6] [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: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has improved patients' outcomes in advanced melanoma, often resulting in durable response. However, not all patients have durable responses and the patients with dissociated response are a valuable subgroup to identify mechanisms of ICI resistance. METHODS Stage IV melanoma patients treated with ICI and dissociated response were retrospectively screened for available samples containing sufficient tumor at least at two time-points. Included were one patient with metachronous regressive and progressive lesions at the same site, two patients with regressive and novel lesion at different sites, and three patients with regressive and progressive lesions at different sites. In addition, four patients with acquired resistant tumor samples without a matched second sample were included. RESULTS In the majority of patients, the progressive tumor lesion contained higher CD8+ T cell counts/mm2 and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) signature level, but similar tumor PD-L1 expression. The tumor mutational burden levels were in 2 out 3 lesions higher compared to the corresponding regressive tumors lesion. In the acquired tumor lesions, high CD8+/mm2 and relatively high IFNγ signature levels were observed. In one patient in both the B2M and PTEN gene a stop gaining mutation and in another patient a pathogenic POLE mutation were found. CONCLUSION Intrapatient comparison of progressive versus regressive lesions indicates no defect in tumor T cell infiltration, and in general no tumor immune exclusion were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Versluis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E P Hoefsmit
- Division of Molecular Oncology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H Shehwana
- Division of Molecular Oncology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P Dimitriadis
- Division of Molecular Oncology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J Sanders
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Broeks
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology and Biobanking, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C U Blank
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Division of Molecular Oncology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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9
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Caraban BM, Aschie M, Deacu M, Cozaru GC, Pundiche MB, Orasanu CI, Voda RI. A Narrative Review of Current Knowledge on Cutaneous Melanoma. Clin Pract 2024; 14:214-241. [PMID: 38391404 PMCID: PMC10888040 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract14010018] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is a public health problem. Efforts to reduce its incidence have failed, as it continues to increase. In recent years, many risk factors have been identified. Numerous diagnostic systems exist that greatly assist in early clinical diagnosis. The histopathological aspect illustrates the grim nature of these cancers. Currently, pathogenic pathways and the tumor microclimate are key to the development of therapeutic methods. Revolutionary therapies like targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors are starting to replace traditional therapeutic methods. Targeted therapy aims at a specific molecule in the pathogenic chain to block it, stopping cell growth and dissemination. The main function of immune checkpoint inhibitors is to boost cellular immunity in order to combat cancer cells. Unfortunately, these therapies have different rates of effectiveness and side effects, and cannot be applied to all patients. These shortcomings are the basis of increased incidence and mortality rates. This study covers all stages of the evolutionary sequence of melanoma. With all these data in front of us, we see the need for new research efforts directed at therapies that will bring greater benefits in terms of patient survival and prognosis, with fewer adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Marian Caraban
- Clinical Department of Plastic Surgery, Microsurgery-Reconstructive, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Faculty of Medicine, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Mariana Aschie
- Faculty of Medicine, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Clinical Service of Pathology, Departments of Pathology, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Academy of Medical Sciences of Romania, 030171 Bucharest, Romania
- The Romanian Academy of Scientists, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
- Center for Research and Development of the Morphological and Genetic Studies of Malignant Pathology (CEDMOG), "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900591 Constanta, Romania
| | - Mariana Deacu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Clinical Service of Pathology, Departments of Pathology, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 900591 Constanta, Romania
| | - Georgeta Camelia Cozaru
- Center for Research and Development of the Morphological and Genetic Studies of Malignant Pathology (CEDMOG), "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Clinical Service of Pathology, Departments of Genetics, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 900591 Constanta, Romania
| | - Mihaela Butcaru Pundiche
- Faculty of Medicine, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Clinical Department of General Surgery, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 900591 Constanta, Romania
| | - Cristian Ionut Orasanu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Clinical Service of Pathology, Departments of Pathology, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Center for Research and Development of the Morphological and Genetic Studies of Malignant Pathology (CEDMOG), "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900591 Constanta, Romania
| | - Raluca Ioana Voda
- Faculty of Medicine, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Clinical Service of Pathology, Departments of Pathology, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Center for Research and Development of the Morphological and Genetic Studies of Malignant Pathology (CEDMOG), "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 900591 Constanta, Romania
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10
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Amaris MA, Kallas HE, Gonzalo DH, Orlando FA. Gastric and colonic metastases of malignant melanoma diagnosed during endoscopic evaluation of symptomatic anemia presenting as angina: a case report. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1268973. [PMID: 38020144 PMCID: PMC10652385 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1268973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A 72-year-old man visited cardiology for exertional chest pain, lightheadedness, and fatigue. Six years prior, he was surgically treated for cutaneous malignant melanoma of the lower back. After a negative cardiac work-up, primary care diagnosed severe iron deficiency anemia. Emergent upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy revealed simultaneous melanoma metastases to the stomach and colon with discrete macroscopic features. Metastatic disease, including brain, lung, and bone, was discovered on imaging. Treatment included immunotherapy with nivolumab and stereotactic radiosurgery of the brain metastases, and our patient has remained in continued remission even after 2 years. Melanoma with GI tract (GIT) metastasis has a poor prognosis and rarely presents symptomatically or with synchronous gastric and colonic lesions. This case illustrates the importance of early primary care involvement to expedite work-up for multifocal GI metastases in patients with a remote melanoma history presenting with symptoms related to iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel A. Amaris
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Henrique E. Kallas
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - David H. Gonzalo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Frank A. Orlando
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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11
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Hoeijmakers LL, Reijers ILM, Blank CU. Biomarker-Driven Personalization of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Melanoma. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:2319-2338. [PMID: 37668337 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0352] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of immunotherapy has ushered in a new era of anticancer therapy for many cancer types including melanoma. Given the increasing development of novel compounds and combinations and the investigation in earlier disease stages, the need grows for biomarker-based treatment personalization. Stage III melanoma is one of the front-runners in the neoadjuvant immunotherapy field, facilitating quick biomarker identification by its immunogenic capacity, homogeneous patient population, and reliable efficacy readout. In this review, we discuss potential biomarkers for response prediction to neoadjuvant immunotherapy, and how the neoadjuvant melanoma platform could pave the way for biomarker identification in other tumor types. SIGNIFICANCE In accordance with the increasing rate of therapy development, the need for biomarker-driven personalized treatments grows. The current landscape of neoadjuvant treatment and biomarker development in stage III melanoma can function as a poster child for these personalized treatments in other tumors, assisting in the development of new biomarker-based neoadjuvant trials. This will contribute to personalized benefit-risk predictions to identify the most beneficial treatment for each patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotte L Hoeijmakers
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Irene L M Reijers
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christian U Blank
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, the Netherlands
- Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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12
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Yuan YC, Li Y, Pan Y, Gao B. Gastric metastasis from nodular malignant melanoma of the auricle with multigene aberrations: A rare case report and literature review. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:368. [PMID: 37559590 PMCID: PMC10407719 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.13954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary malignant melanoma (MM) of the external ear accounts for a low proportion of cases of cutaneous MM, and its incidence in non-white women is very low. The stomach is a rare metastatic site for MM. Gastric metastasis of MM of the external ear is extremely rare, and the associated gene alterations and mechanisms are poorly understood. The present report describes the case of a 58-year-old Asian woman who had a mass on the left auricle for 5 years and was diagnosed with nodular MM with the BRAF V600E mutation after surgical resection. Postoperative metastases to the stomach and descending duodenum appeared 1 year after resection. After 11 months of BRAF-targeted therapy and immunotherapy, the patient developed drug resistance and died from systemic metastases to the brain, lungs, liver, left adrenal gland and peritoneum. Genetic testing revealed additional aberrations in MYB, p16, MYC and PTEN. The clinical characteristics of MM of the external ear and gastric metastatic MM were also summarized through a retrospective literature review. Immunohistochemical staining is critical in the diagnosis of gastric metastasis from MM of the external ear. This disease often requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach, including surgery, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The present study provides some genetic information about this rare disease and discusses appropriate treatment strategies. The findings of the present study suggests that the surgical margin size, tumor histological type and number of genetic aberrations may be closely associated with metastasis potential, therapeutic efficacy and patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Chen Yuan
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671000, P.R. China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Pathology, People's Hospital of Xiangyun County, Xiangyun, Yunnan 672100, P.R. China
| | - Yun Pan
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671000, P.R. China
| | - Bo Gao
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671000, P.R. China
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13
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Spain L, Coulton A, Lobon I, Rowan A, Schnidrig D, Shepherd ST, Shum B, Byrne F, Goicoechea M, Piperni E, Au L, Edmonds K, Carlyle E, Hunter N, Renn A, Messiou C, Hughes P, Nobbs J, Foijer F, van den Bos H, Wardenaar R, Spierings DC, Spencer C, Schmitt AM, Tippu Z, Lingard K, Grostate L, Peat K, Kelly K, Sarker S, Vaughan S, Mangwende M, Terry L, Kelly D, Biano J, Murra A, Korteweg J, Lewis C, O'Flaherty M, Cattin AL, Emmerich M, Gerard CL, Pallikonda HA, Lynch J, Mason R, Rogiers A, Xu H, Huebner A, McGranahan N, Al Bakir M, Murai J, Naceur-Lombardelli C, Borg E, Mitchison M, Moore DA, Falzon M, Proctor I, Stamp GW, Nye EL, Young K, Furness AJ, Pickering L, Stewart R, Mahadeva U, Green A, Larkin J, Litchfield K, Swanton C, Jamal-Hanjani M, Turajlic S. Late-Stage Metastatic Melanoma Emerges through a Diversity of Evolutionary Pathways. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:1364-1385. [PMID: 36977461 PMCID: PMC10236155 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-1427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary pathways to metastasis and resistance to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in melanoma is critical for improving outcomes. Here, we present the most comprehensive intrapatient metastatic melanoma dataset assembled to date as part of the Posthumous Evaluation of Advanced Cancer Environment (PEACE) research autopsy program, including 222 exome sequencing, 493 panel-sequenced, 161 RNA sequencing, and 22 single-cell whole-genome sequencing samples from 14 ICI-treated patients. We observed frequent whole-genome doubling and widespread loss of heterozygosity, often involving antigen-presentation machinery. We found KIT extrachromosomal DNA may have contributed to the lack of response to KIT inhibitors of a KIT-driven melanoma. At the lesion-level, MYC amplifications were enriched in ICI nonresponders. Single-cell sequencing revealed polyclonal seeding of metastases originating from clones with different ploidy in one patient. Finally, we observed that brain metastases that diverged early in molecular evolution emerge late in disease. Overall, our study illustrates the diverse evolutionary landscape of advanced melanoma. SIGNIFICANCE Despite treatment advances, melanoma remains a deadly disease at stage IV. Through research autopsy and dense sampling of metastases combined with extensive multiomic profiling, our study elucidates the many mechanisms that melanomas use to evade treatment and the immune system, whether through mutations, widespread copy-number alterations, or extrachromosomal DNA. See related commentary by Shain, p. 1294. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1275.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Spain
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexander Coulton
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance (TIGI) Lab, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Lobon
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Rowan
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Desiree Schnidrig
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Scott T.C. Shepherd
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Shum
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Byrne
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Goicoechea
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Piperni
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis Au
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kim Edmonds
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nikki Hunter
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Christina Messiou
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Kensington and Chelsea, United Kingdom
| | - Peta Hughes
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jaime Nobbs
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Floris Foijer
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hilda van den Bos
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Rene Wardenaar
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Diana C.J. Spierings
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Spencer
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Zayd Tippu
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Kema Peat
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sarah Sarker
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Lauren Terry
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Denise Kelly
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Aida Murra
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Anne-Laure Cattin
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Max Emmerich
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- St. John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Camille L. Gerard
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Precision Oncology Center, Oncology Department, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Joanna Lynch
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Mason
- Gold Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aljosja Rogiers
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hang Xu
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ariana Huebner
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas McGranahan
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maise Al Bakir
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jun Murai
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance (TIGI) Lab, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Drug Discovery Technology Laboratories, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Elaine Borg
- University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - David A. Moore
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Falzon
- University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Proctor
- University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Emma L. Nye
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Young
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J.S. Furness
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Kensington and Chelsea, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ruby Stewart
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ula Mahadeva
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Green
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Larkin
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance (TIGI) Lab, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Samra Turajlic
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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14
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Kanaya N, Kitamura Y, Vazquez ML, Franco A, Chen KS, van Schaik TA, Farzani TA, Borges P, Ichinose T, Seddiq W, Kuroda S, Boland G, Jahan N, Fisher D, Wakimoto H, Shah K. Gene-edited and -engineered stem cell platform drives immunotherapy for brain metastatic melanomas. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eade8732. [PMID: 37256936 PMCID: PMC10799631 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ade8732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Oncolytic virus therapy has shown activity against primary melanomas; however, its efficacy in brain metastases remains challenging, mainly because of the delivery and immunosuppressive nature of tumors in the brain. To address this challenge, we first established PTEN-deficient melanoma brain metastasis mouse models and characterized them to be more immunosuppressive compared with primary melanoma, mimicking the clinical settings. Next, we developed an allogeneic twin stem cell (TSC) system composed of two tumor-targeting stem cell (SC) populations. One SC was loaded with oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV), and the other SC was CRISPR-Cas9 gene-edited to knock out nectin 1 (N1) receptor (N1KO) to acquire resistance to oHSV and release immunomodulators, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Using mouse models of brain metastatic BRAFV600E/PTEN-/- and BRAFV600E/wt/PTEN-/- mutant melanomas, we show that locoregional delivery of TSCs releasing oHSV and GM-CSF (TSC-G) activated dendritic cell- and T cell-mediated immune responses. In addition, our strategy exhibited greater therapeutic efficacy when compared with the existing oncolytic viral therapeutic approaches. Moreover, the TSCs composed of SC-oHSV and SCN1KO-releasing GM-CSF and single-chain variable fragment anti-PD-1 (TSC-G/P) had therapeutic efficacy in both syngeneic and patient-derived humanized mouse models of leptomeningeal metastasis. Our findings provide a promising allogeneic SC-based immunotherapeutic strategy against melanomas in the CNS and a road map toward clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhiko Kanaya
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yohei Kitamura
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Maria Lopez Vazquez
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Arnaldo Franco
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kok-Siong Chen
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Thijs A. van Schaik
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Touraj Aligholipour Farzani
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Paulo Borges
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Toru Ichinose
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Waleed Seddiq
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shinji Kuroda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Genevieve Boland
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nusrat Jahan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Fisher
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hiroaki Wakimoto
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Khalid Shah
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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15
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Liu J, Zheng R, Zhang Y, Jia S, He Y, Liu J. The Cross Talk between Cellular Senescence and Melanoma: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Target Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092640. [PMID: 37174106 PMCID: PMC10177054 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor that originates from melanocytes. The pathogenesis of melanoma involves a complex interaction that occurs between environmental factors, ultraviolet (UV)-light damage, and genetic alterations. UV light is the primary driver of the skin aging process and development of melanoma, which can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the presence of DNA damage in the cells, and results in cell senescence. As cellular senescence plays an important role in the relationship that exists between the skin aging process and the development of melanoma, the present study provides insight into the literature concerning the topic at present and discusses the relationship between skin aging and melanoma, including the mechanisms of cellular senescence that drive melanoma progression, the microenvironment in relation to skin aging and melanoma factors, and the therapeutics concerning melanoma. This review focuses on defining the role of cellular senescence in the process of melanoma carcinogenesis and discusses the targeting of senescent cells through therapeutic approaches, highlighting the areas that require more extensive research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahua Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Runzi Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yanghuan Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Shuting Jia
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yonghan He
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
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16
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Yang TT, Yu S, Ke CLK, Cheng ST. The Genomic Landscape of Melanoma and Its Therapeutic Implications. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14051021. [PMID: 37239381 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies of the skin. The genetic composition of melanoma is complex and varies among different subtypes. With the aid of recent technologies such as next generation sequencing and single-cell sequencing, our understanding of the genomic landscape of melanoma and its tumor microenvironment has become increasingly clear. These advances may provide explanation to the heterogenic treatment outcomes of melanoma patients under current therapeutic guidelines and provide further insights to the development of potential new therapeutic targets. Here, we provide a comprehensive review on the genetics related to melanoma tumorigenesis, metastasis, and prognosis. We also review the genetics affecting the melanoma tumor microenvironment and its relation to tumor progression and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, Pingtung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Pingtung 900, Taiwan
| | - Sebastian Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Neuroscience Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Li Khale Ke
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal SiaoGang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 812, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Tsung Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
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17
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Tinca AC, Raicea A, Szőke AR, Cocuz IG, Şincu MC, Niculescu R, Sabău AH, Popelea MC, Fruntelată RF, Cotoi OS. Morphological aspects and therapeutic options in melanoma: a narrative review of the past decade. ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY = REVUE ROUMAINE DE MORPHOLOGIE ET EMBRYOLOGIE 2023; 64:135-141. [PMID: 37518869 PMCID: PMC10520381 DOI: 10.47162/rjme.64.2.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is a malignant cancer of the skin, the incidence of which has been increasing year by year. This neoplasm has high aggressivity as well as the potential for invasion and metastases. Multiple factors related to the proliferation of this type of tumor have been identified, such as exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and specific genetic backgrounds. From a histological and cytological point of view, the most common cells that are found in melanoma are epithelioid or spindle cells. To confirm the diagnosis and the melanocytic origin of the tumor, specific and sensitive markers are used. Also, observation of the behavior of this cancer, including its proliferative properties, has led to the development of multiple therapies, each of which is characteristic of the pathological stage at the time of diagnosis. While surgery is the most important therapeutic and curative option in cases of melanoma in situ, chemotherapy has been the main treatment for advanced stages of melanoma for many years. However, recently, targeted therapy and immunotherapy have changed the approach to treatment. At present, multiple studies are attempting to obtain further data about the tumor microenvironment and investigating how targeting particular molecules can change the prognosis of patients.
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18
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Yu J, Lai M, Zhou Z, Zhou J, Hu Q, Li J, Li H, Chen L, Wen L, Zhou M, Cai L. The PTEN-associated immune prognostic signature reveals the landscape of the tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma. J Neuroimmunol 2023; 376:578034. [PMID: 36791582 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a common brain tumor with a complex and diverse tumor microenvironment (TME). As PTEN mutation is the most common mutation in GBM, we aimed to investigate how PTEN mutation regulates the immune response in GBM TME and thus affects the prognosis of GBM patients. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of multiple levels of data, including whole-exome sequencing (WES), transcriptome RNA sequencing, patient survival and immune signatures, to study the relationship between PTEN mutation and TME in GBM. We developed an immune-related prognostic signature (IPS) based on the PTEN-associated immune-related genes (IRGs), and the IPS exhibited a powerful prognosis prediction capacity in different GBM cohorts. A scoring nomogram based on the IPS was also established for clinical application. In addition, the correlations of the IPS with tumor immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoints were systematically analyzed. This study illustrates the influence of PTEN mutation on the immune microenvironment of GBM. Our IPS, which is sensitive to PTEN mutation status, can enhance the prognosis prediction ability for GBM patients and provides potential targets for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayin Yu
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingyao Lai
- Department of Oncology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou 510510, China
| | - Zhaoming Zhou
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Oncology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou 510510, China.
| | - Jiangfen Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou 510510, China
| | - Qingjun Hu
- Department of Oncology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou 510510, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Oncology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou 510510, China
| | - Hainan Li
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou 510510, China
| | - Longhua Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lei Wen
- Department of Oncology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou 510510, China
| | - Meijuan Zhou
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Linbo Cai
- Department of Oncology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou 510510, China.
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19
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Zhang X, Wang A, Han L, Liang B, Allard G, Diver E, Howitt BE. PTEN Deficiency in Tubo-Ovarian High-Grade Serous Carcinoma is Associated with Poor Progression-Free Survival and is Mutually Exclusive with CCNE1 Amplification. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100106. [PMID: 36805789 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100106] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
As a critical tumor suppressor, PTEN has gained much attention in cancer research. Emerging evidence suggests an association between PTEN status and clinical outcome in certain tumors, and may be predictive of response to several therapies. However, the significance of PTEN deficiency in tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) is still poorly understood. We evaluated PTEN expression in HGSCs and determined its clinical relevance. A cohort of 76 HGSC specimens was profiled using tissue microarray. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of PTEN, ER, PR, AR, CD8, FOXP3, and PD-L1 was performed. Targeted gene panel testing by massively parallel sequencing was performed in 51 cases. PTEN deficiency (complete or subclonal loss) detected by IHC was identified in 13 of the 62 HGSCs (21%) and was significantly correlated with reduced expression of ER and worse first progression-free survival (P < .05) but not with PD-L1 expression, the density of intratumoral T lymphocytes, or overall survival. In our cohort, tumor progression within 1 year of PARP inhibitor therapy was found more frequently in PTEN-deficient cases than in PTEN-intact cases (100% vs 52%). Molecular profiling showed that intragenic mutation or deletion was not the predominant mechanism for PTEN inactivation in HGSCs. In addition, CCNE1 amplification was found to be mutually exclusive with PTEN deficiency at both protein and DNA levels. An analysis of the genomic data from 1702 HGSC samples deposited with The Cancer Genome Atlas database obtained from cBioPortal confirmed the low rate of detection of PTEN gene alterations and the mutually exclusive nature of PTEN loss and CCNE1 amplification in HGSCs. These findings indicate that PTEN deficiency defines a distinct clinically significant subgroup of HGSCs with a tendency for ER negativity, wild-type CCNE1 status, inferior clinical outcomes, and potential drug resistance. These tumors may benefit from PI3K pathway inhibitors in combination with other ovarian cancer regimens, which deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Aihui Wang
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Lucy Han
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California; Department of Pathology, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Brooke Liang
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Grace Allard
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Elisabeth Diver
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California; ImmunoGen, Inc, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | - Brooke E Howitt
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
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20
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Vajta Gomez JP, Parkash O, Jospeh R, Arangan J, Magno W, Chowdhury M, Borz-Baba C, Medrano C. The Great Mimicker: Cutaneous Metastatic Melanoma Presenting as a Non-resolving Pleural Effusion. Cureus 2022; 14:e28320. [PMID: 36158413 PMCID: PMC9499834 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although melanoma starts as a local disease, it can metastasize to other sites of the body including the lung, brain, liver, and intestines. However, pleural involvement is a rare presentation. Here, we present a case of a 57-year-old man with a history of stage IIA cutaneous melanoma, that relapsed 3 years after cutaneous resection, presenting with a non-resolving pleural effusion. Pleural fluid analysis was consistent with an exudative effusion, and pleural biopsy confirmed metastatic melanoma. The patient was treated with dual therapy of ipilimumab and nivolumab, as per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, with good response. Thus, we recommend having a high index of clinical suspicion for metastatic pleural melanoma when a patient with a history of cutaneous melanoma presents with a non-resolving pleural effusion.
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21
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Barricklow Z, DiVincenzo MJ, Angell CD, Carson WE. Ulcerated Cutaneous Melanoma: A Review of the Clinical, Histologic, and Molecular Features Associated with a Clinically Aggressive Histologic Phenotype. CLINICAL, COSMETIC AND INVESTIGATIONAL DERMATOLOGY 2022; 15:1743-1757. [PMID: 36065342 PMCID: PMC9440663 DOI: 10.2147/ccid.s372287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The presence of ulceration in melanoma is associated with poor clinical outcomes and is the third most powerful predictor of survival in the AJCC Melanoma Staging System after tumor thickness and mitotic activity. The aggressive biological behavior associated with ulceration has been hypothesized to be the result of an intrinsic biological attribute that favors dissemination and presents locally with the loss of epidermal integrity. Among the features of ulcerated melanoma, many show promise as potential prognostic tools, markers of differential immunogenicity and indicators of oncogenic drivers of invasion and metastasis. The incidence of ulcerated melanoma is greater in males, increases with age and with systemic inflammatory risk factors (diabetes, smoking, low vitamin D, elevated body mass index). Patients with ulcerated primary tumors seem to exclusively benefit from adjuvant interferon (IFN) therapy, which is likely the consequence of an altered tumor microenvironment. When ulceration is present, there is a higher density of macrophages and dendritic cells and enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6. There is also an increased expression of proteins involved in tumor antigen presentation in ulcerated melanomas. Histologically, vascular density, vasculogenic mimicry and angiotropism are all significantly correlated with ulceration in melanoma. The presence of ulceration is associated with reduced protein expression of E-cadherin and PTEN and elevated levels of N-cadherin and the matrix metalloproteinases. Differential microRNA expression also holds promise as a potential prognostic biomarker of malignancy and disease spread within the setting of ulceration. However, the molecular and cellular differences associated with the ulcerated state are complex and further study will aid in determining how these differences can be harnessed to improve care for patients with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Barricklow
- The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio, State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mallory J DiVincenzo
- The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio, State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Colin D Angell
- The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio, State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - William E Carson
- The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio, State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Correspondence: William E Carson, The Ohio State University, N924 Doan Hall, 410 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA, Tel +1 614 293-6306, Fax +2 614 293-3465, Email
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22
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Seliger B, Massa C. Modulation of Lymphocyte Functions in the Microenvironment by Tumor Oncogenic Pathways. Front Immunol 2022; 13:883639. [PMID: 35663987 PMCID: PMC9160824 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.883639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the broad application of different immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of solid as well as hematopoietic cancers, the efficacy of these therapies is still limited, with only a minority of patients having a long-term benefit resulting in an improved survival rate. In order to increase the response rates of patients to the currently available immunotherapies, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the intrinsic and/or extrinsic resistance to treatment is required. There exist increasing evidences that activation of different oncogenic pathways as well as inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) in tumor cells inhibit the immune cell recognition and influegnce the composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME), thus leading to an impaired anti-tumoral immune response. A deeper understanding of the link between the tumor milieu and genomic alterations of TSGs and oncogenes is indispensable for the optimization of immunotherapies and to predict the patients’ response to these treatments. This review summarizes the role of different cancer-related, oncogene- and TSG-controlled pathways in the context of anti-tumoral immunity and response to different immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Chiara Massa
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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23
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Switzer B, Puzanov I, Skitzki JJ, Hamad L, Ernstoff MS. Managing Metastatic Melanoma in 2022: A Clinical Review. JCO Oncol Pract 2022; 18:335-351. [PMID: 35133862 PMCID: PMC9810138 DOI: 10.1200/op.21.00686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma remains the most lethal of the primary cutaneous neoplasms, and although the incidence of primary melanoma continues to rise, the mortality from metastatic disease remains unchanged, in part through advances in treatment. Major developments in immunomodulatory and targeted therapies have provided robust improvements in response and survival trends that have transformed the clinical management of patients with metastatic melanoma. Additional advances in immunologic and cancer cell biology have contributed to further optimization in (1) risk stratification, (2) prognostication, (3) treatment, (4) toxicity management, and (5) surveillance approaches for patients with an advanced melanoma diagnosis. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the historical and future advances regarding the translational and clinical implications of advanced melanoma and share multidisciplinary recommendations to aid clinicians in the navigation of current treatment approaches for a variety of patient cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Switzer
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
| | - Igor Puzanov
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
| | - Joseph J. Skitzki
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
| | - Lamya Hamad
- Department of Pharmacy, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
| | - Marc S. Ernstoff
- ImmunoOncology Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD,Marc S. Ernstoff, MD, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20850; e-mail:
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24
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Colebatch AJ, Paver EC, Vergara IA, Thompson JF, Long GV, Wilmott JS, Scolyer RA. Elevated non-coding promoter mutations are associated with malignant transformation of melanocytic naevi to melanoma. Pathology 2022; 54:533-540. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2021.12.289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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25
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Huang C, Radi RH, Arbiser JL. Mitochondrial Metabolism in Melanoma. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113197. [PMID: 34831420 PMCID: PMC8618235 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma and its associated alterations in cellular pathways have been growing areas of interest in research, especially as specific biological pathways are being elucidated. Some of these alterations include changes in the mitochondrial metabolism in melanoma. Many mitochondrial metabolic changes lead to differences in the survivability of cancer cells and confer resistance to targeted therapies. While extensive work has gone into characterizing mechanisms of resistance, the role of mitochondrial adaptation as a mode of resistance is not completely understood. In this review, we wish to explore mitochondrial metabolism in melanoma and how it impacts modes of resistance. There are several genes that play a major role in melanoma mitochondrial metabolism which require a full understanding to optimally target melanoma. These include BRAF, CRAF, SOX2, MCL1, TRAP1, RHOA, SRF, SIRT3, PTEN, and AKT1. We will be discussing the role of these genes in melanoma in greater detail. An enhanced understanding of mitochondrial metabolism and these modes of resistance may result in novel combinatorial and sequential therapies that may lead to greater therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Huang
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (C.H.); (R.H.R.)
| | - Rakan H. Radi
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (C.H.); (R.H.R.)
| | - Jack L. Arbiser
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (C.H.); (R.H.R.)
- Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30033, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(404)-727-5063; Fax: +1-(404)-727-0923
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26
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Alkafaji HA, Raji A, Rahman HS, Zekiy AO, Adili A, Jalili M, Hojjatipour T, Cid‐Arregui A, Shomali N, Tarzi S, Tamjidifar R, Heshmati R, Marofi F, Akbari M, Hasanzadeh A, Deljavanghodrati M, Jarahian M, Sandoghchian Shotorbani S. Up-regulation of KISS1 as a novel target of Let-7i in melanoma serves as a potential suppressor of migration and proliferation in vitro. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:6864-6873. [PMID: 34096173 PMCID: PMC8278109 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer that is begun by the alteration of melanocytes. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate a variety of biological processes. KISS1, the metastasis-suppressor gene, encodes kisspeptins which inhibits migration and proliferation of cancers. This study was aimed to determine the role of Let-7i and KISS1 in melanoma cell migration and proliferation. At first, the expression of Let-7i and KISS1 was determined in patients with melanoma. In the in vitro part of the study, Let-7i mimics were transfected and the impact of its restoration on target gene expression, proliferation, migration and apoptosis of SK-MEL-3 melanoma cell line was assessed by real-time PCR and Western blotting, MTT assay, wound-healing assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Besides, KISS1 inhibitor siRNA alone and along with Let-7i was transfected to determine their probable correlation. The results revealed that either Let-7i or KISS1 were down-regulated in patients with melanoma. The results obtained from the in vitro part of the study revealed that restoration of Let-7i reduced the expression of metastasis- and proliferation-related target genes. Moreover, it was revealed that up-regulation of Let-7i attenuated migration and proliferation capability of SK-MEL-3 cells. Besides, it was demonstrated that Let-7i restoration induced apoptosis in melanoma cells. More importantly, the KISS1 inhibitor caused a prominent cell migration and proliferation, attenuated by Let-7i re-expression. To sum up, the present study revealed the impressive role of Let-7i restoration along with its correlation with KISS1 on melanoma carcinogenicity which may be applicable in future in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmed Raji
- College of medicineUniversity of BabylonBabylonIraq
| | - Heshu S. Rahman
- Department of PhysiologyCollege of MedicineUniversity of SuleimanyahSuleimanyahIraq
| | - Angelina O. Zekiy
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical UniversityMoscowRussian Federation
| | - Ali Adili
- Department of OncologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | | | - Tahereh Hojjatipour
- Department of Hematology and Blood TransfusionStudents Research CentreSchool of Allied MedicineTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Angel Cid‐Arregui
- Targeted Tumor Vaccines UnitGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - Navid Shomali
- Immunology Research CenterTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
- Department of ImmunologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | - Saeed Tarzi
- Immunology Research CenterTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | - Rozita Tamjidifar
- Immunology Research CenterTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | - Ramin Heshmati
- Immunology Research CenterTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | - Faroogh Marofi
- Department of ImmunologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | - Morteza Akbari
- Immunology Research CenterTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | - Ali Hasanzadeh
- Department of ImmunologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | | | - Mostafa Jarahian
- Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit (G401)German Cancer Research CenterHeidelbergGermany
| | - Siamak Sandoghchian Shotorbani
- Immunology Research CenterTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
- Department of ImmunologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
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27
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MAGI1, a Scaffold Protein with Tumor Suppressive and Vascular Functions. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061494. [PMID: 34198584 PMCID: PMC8231924 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MAGI1 is a cytoplasmic scaffolding protein initially identified as a component of cell-to-cell contacts stabilizing cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesion in epithelial and endothelial cells. Clinical-pathological and experimental evidence indicates that MAGI1 expression is decreased in some inflammatory diseases, and also in several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal, cervical, breast, brain, and gastric cancers and appears to act as a tumor suppressor, modulating the activity of oncogenic pathways such as the PI3K/AKT and the Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Genomic mutations and other mechanisms such as mechanical stress or inflammation have been described to regulate MAGI1 expression. Intriguingly, in breast and colorectal cancers, MAGI1 expression is induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), suggesting a role in mediating the tumor suppressive activity of NSAIDs. More recently, MAGI1 was found to localize at mature focal adhesion and to regulate integrin-mediated adhesion and signaling in endothelial cells. Here, we review MAGI1′s role as scaffolding protein, recent developments in the understanding of MAGI1 function as tumor suppressor gene, its role in endothelial cells and its implication in cancer and vascular biology. We also discuss outstanding questions about its regulation and potential translational implications in oncology.
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28
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Scatena C, Murtas D, Tomei S. Cutaneous Melanoma Classification: The Importance of High-Throughput Genomic Technologies. Front Oncol 2021; 11:635488. [PMID: 34123788 PMCID: PMC8193952 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.635488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is an aggressive tumor responsible for 90% of mortality related to skin cancer. In the recent years, the discovery of driving mutations in melanoma has led to better treatment approaches. The last decade has seen a genomic revolution in the field of cancer. Such genomic revolution has led to the production of an unprecedented mole of data. High-throughput genomic technologies have facilitated the genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling of several cancers, including melanoma. Nevertheless, there are a number of newer genomic technologies that have not yet been employed in large studies. In this article we describe the current classification of cutaneous melanoma, we review the current knowledge of the main genetic alterations of cutaneous melanoma and their related impact on targeted therapies, and we describe the most recent high-throughput genomic technologies, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. We hope that the current review will also help scientists to identify the most suitable technology to address melanoma-related relevant questions. The translation of this knowledge and all actual advancements into the clinical practice will be helpful in better defining the different molecular subsets of melanoma patients and provide new tools to address relevant questions on disease management. Genomic technologies might indeed allow to better predict the biological - and, subsequently, clinical - behavior for each subset of melanoma patients as well as to even identify all molecular changes in tumor cell populations during disease evolution toward a real achievement of a personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Scatena
- Division of Pathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniela Murtas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Cytomorphology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sara Tomei
- Omics Core, Integrated Genomics Services, Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
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29
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Brouwer NJ, Verdijk RM, Heegaard S, Marinkovic M, Esmaeli B, Jager MJ. Conjunctival melanoma: New insights in tumour genetics and immunology, leading to new therapeutic options. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 86:100971. [PMID: 34015548 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent developments in oncology have led to a better molecular and cellular understanding of cancer, and the introduction of novel therapies. Conjunctival melanoma (CoM) is a rare but potentially devastating disease. A better understanding of CoM, leading to the development of novel therapies, is urgently needed. CoM is characterized by mutations that have also been identified in cutaneous melanoma, e.g. in BRAF, NRAS and TERT. These mutations are distinct from the mutations found in uveal melanoma (UM), affecting genes such as GNAQ, GNA11, and BAP1. Targeted therapies that are successful in cutaneous melanoma may therefore be useful in CoM. A recent breakthrough in the treatment of patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma was the development of immunotherapy. While immunotherapy is currently sparsely effective in intraocular tumours such as UM, the similarities between CoM and cutaneous melanoma (including in their immunological tumour micro environment) provide hope for the application of immunotherapy in CoM, and preliminary clinical data are indeed emerging to support this use. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge regarding CoM, with a focus on the genetic and immunologic understanding. We elaborate on the distinct position of CoM in contrast to other types of melanoma, and explain how new insights in the pathophysiology of this disease guide the development of new, personalized, treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels J Brouwer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Robert M Verdijk
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medica Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Steffen Heegaard
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology, Eye Pathology Section, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Marina Marinkovic
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Bita Esmaeli
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Orbital Oncology and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Martine J Jager
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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30
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Ramadan A, Hashim M, Abouzid A, Swellam M. Clinical impact of PTEN methylation status as a prognostic marker for breast cancer. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2021; 19:66. [PMID: 33970384 PMCID: PMC8110663 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-021-00169-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Aberrant DNA methylation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene has been found in many cancers. The object of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of PTEN methylation as a prognostic marker in breast cancer. The study includes 153 newly diagnosed females, and they were divided according to their clinical diagnosis into breast cancer patients (n = 112) and females with benign breast lesion (n = 41). A group of healthy individuals (n = 25) were recruited as control individuals. Breast cancer patients were categorized into early stage (0–I, n = 48) and late stage (II–III, n = 64), and graded into low grade (I–II, n = 42) and high grade (III, n = 70). Their pathological types were invasive duct carcinoma (IDC) (n = 66) and duct carcinoma in situ (DCI) (n = 46). Tumor markers (CEA and CA15.3) were detected using ELISA. DNA was taken away from the blood, and the PTEN promoter methylation level was evaluated using the EpiTect Methyl II PCR method. Results The findings revealed the superiority of PTEN methylation status as a good discriminator of the cancer group from the other two groups (benign and control) with its highest AUC and increased sensitivity (96.4%) and specificity (100%) over tumor markers (50% and 84% for CEA and 49.1% and 86.4% for CA15.3), respectively. The frequency of PTEN methylation was 96.4% of breast cancer patients and none of the benign and controls showed PTEN methylation and the means of PTEN methylation (87 ± 0.6) were significantly increased in blood samples of breast cancer group as compared to both benign and control groups (25 ± 0.7 and 12.6 ± 0.3), respectively. Methylation levels of PTEN were higher in the blood of patients with ER-positive than in patients with ER-negative cancers (P = 0.007) and in HER2 positive vs. HER2 negative tumors (P = 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier analysis recognizes PTEN methylation status as a significant forecaster of bad progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), after 40 months follow-up. Conclusions PETN methylation could be supposed as one of the epigenetic aspects influencing the breast cancer prognosis that might foretell more aggressive actions and worse results in breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Ramadan
- Biochemistry Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Division, National Research Centre, El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt. .,High Throughput Molecular and Genetic Laboratory, Center for Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Maha Hashim
- Biochemistry Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Division, National Research Centre, El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt.,High Throughput Molecular and Genetic Laboratory, Center for Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Amr Abouzid
- Surgical Oncology Department, Mansoura Oncology Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Menha Swellam
- Biochemistry Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Division, National Research Centre, El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt.,High Throughput Molecular and Genetic Laboratory, Center for Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
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31
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Targeting p53 for Melanoma Treatment: Counteracting Tumour Proliferation, Dissemination and Therapeutic Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071648. [PMID: 33916029 PMCID: PMC8037490 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Melanoma is a highly metastatic and therapy-resistant cancer and is therefore associated with low survival rates of patients. In melanoma, the inactivation of the wild-type form of the p53 tumour suppressor protein is a frequent event, mainly through interactions with MDM2 and MDMX. In this work, our recently disclosed p53-activating agent, SLMP53-2, displayed promising in vitro and in vivo antitumour activity, with particular impacts on melanoma migration and invasion. Moreover, SLMP53-2 (re)sensitized melanoma cells to clinically used chemotherapeutic agents, potentially overcoming the therapeutic resistance issue. As a whole, the p53 activator SLMP53-2 may represent a new therapeutic opportunity for melanoma, particularly in combination with MAPK pathway-targeting drugs. Abstract Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, primarily due to its high metastatic propensity and therapeutic resistance in advanced stages. The frequent inactivation of the p53 tumour suppressor protein in melanomagenesis may predict promising outcomes for p53 activators in melanoma therapy. Herein, we aimed to investigate the antitumor potential of the p53-activating agent SLMP53-2 against melanoma. Two- and three-dimensional cell cultures and xenograft mouse models were used to unveil the antitumor activity and the underlying molecular mechanism of SLMP53-2 in melanoma. SLMP53-2 inhibited the growth of human melanoma cells in a p53-dependent manner through induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Notably, SLMP53-2 induced p53 stabilization by disrupting the p53–MDM2 interaction, enhancing p53 transcriptional activity. It also promoted the expression of p53-regulated microRNAs (miRNAs), including miR-145 and miR-23a. Moreover, it displayed anti-invasive and antimigratory properties in melanoma cells by inhibiting the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis and extracellular lactate production. Importantly, SLMP53-2 did not induce resistance in melanoma cells. Additionally, it synergized with vemurafenib, dacarbazine and cisplatin, and resensitized vemurafenib-resistant cells. SLMP53-2 also exhibited antitumor activity in human melanoma xenograft mouse models by repressing cell proliferation and EMT while stimulating apoptosis. This work discloses the p53-activating agent SLMP53-2 which has promising therapeutic potential in advanced melanoma, either as a single agent or in combination therapy. By targeting p53, SLMP53-2 may counteract major features of melanoma aggressiveness.
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Ottaviano M, Giunta EF, Tortora M, Curvietto M, Attademo L, Bosso D, Cardalesi C, Rosanova M, De Placido P, Pietroluongo E, Riccio V, Mucci B, Parola S, Vitale MG, Palmieri G, Daniele B, Simeone E. BRAF Gene and Melanoma: Back to the Future. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073474. [PMID: 33801689 PMCID: PMC8037827 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As widely acknowledged, 40-50% of all melanoma patients harbour an activating BRAF mutation (mostly BRAF V600E). The identification of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK (MAP kinase) signalling pathway and its targeting has represented a valuable milestone for the advanced and, more recently, for the completely resected stage III and IV melanoma therapy management. However, despite progress in BRAF-mutant melanoma treatment, the two different approaches approved so far for metastatic disease, immunotherapy and BRAF+MEK inhibitors, allow a 5-year survival of no more than 60%, and most patients relapse during treatment due to acquired mechanisms of resistance. Deep insight into BRAF gene biology is fundamental to describe the acquired resistance mechanisms (primary and secondary) and to understand the molecular pathways that are now being investigated in preclinical and clinical studies with the aim of improving outcomes in BRAF-mutant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Ottaviano
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
- CRCTR Coordinating Rare Tumors Reference Center of Campania Region, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.T.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Emilio Francesco Giunta
- Department of Precision Medicine, Università Degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Marianna Tortora
- CRCTR Coordinating Rare Tumors Reference Center of Campania Region, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.T.); (G.P.)
| | - Marcello Curvietto
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.C.); (M.G.V.); (E.S.)
| | - Laura Attademo
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Davide Bosso
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Cinzia Cardalesi
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Mario Rosanova
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Pietro De Placido
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Erica Pietroluongo
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Vittorio Riccio
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Brigitta Mucci
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Sara Parola
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.P.); (E.P.); (V.R.); (B.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Maria Grazia Vitale
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.C.); (M.G.V.); (E.S.)
| | - Giovannella Palmieri
- CRCTR Coordinating Rare Tumors Reference Center of Campania Region, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.T.); (G.P.)
| | - Bruno Daniele
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Naples, Italy; (L.A.); (D.B.); (C.C.); (M.R.); (B.D.)
| | - Ester Simeone
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.C.); (M.G.V.); (E.S.)
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Zhang N, Wei L, Ye M, Kang C, You H. Treatment Progress of Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy for Glioblastoma. Front Immunol 2020; 11:592612. [PMID: 33329578 PMCID: PMC7734213 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.592612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly malignant and aggressive primary brain tumor mostly prevalent in adults and is associated with a very poor prognosis. Moreover, only a few effective treatment regimens are available due to their rapid invasion of the brain parenchyma and resistance to conventional therapy. However, the fast development of cancer immunotherapy and the remarkable survival benefit from immunotherapy in several extracranial tumor types have recently paved the way for numerous interventional studies involving GBM patients. The recent success of checkpoint blockade therapy, targeting immunoinhibitory proteins such as programmed cell death protein-1 and/or cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4, has initiated a paradigm shift in clinical and preclinical investigations, and the use of immunotherapy for solid tumors, which would be a potential breakthrough in the field of drug therapy for the GBM treatment. However clinical trial showed limited benefits for GBM patients. The main reason is drug resistance. This review summarizes the clinical research progress of immune checkpoint molecules and inhibitors, introduces the current research status of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the field of GBM, analyzes the molecular resistance mechanism of checkpoint blockade therapy, proposes corresponding re-sensitive strategies, and describes a reference for the design and development of subsequent clinical studies on immunotherapy for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhang
- Medical Oncology Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Wei
- Medical Oncology Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Ye
- Medical Oncology Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Chunsheng Kang
- Medical Oncology Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Laboartory of Neuro-oncology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Key Laboratory of Post-Neuroinjury Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hua You
- Medical Oncology Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Biomarkers for immune checkpoint therapy targeting programmed death 1 and programmed death ligand 1. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 130:110621. [PMID: 34321165 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapidly increasing usages of immune checkpoint therapy for cancer treatment, particularly monoclonal antibodies that target programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1, have been achieved due to startling durable therapeutic efficacy with limited toxicity. The therapeutics significantly prolonged the overall survival and progression free survival of patients across multiple cancer types. However, the objective response rate of patients receiving this kind of treatment is substantially low. Therefore, it is of great importance to exploit reliable biomarkers that can robustly predict the therapeutic effects. Several biomarkers have been characterized for the selection of patients, which is mainly based on immunological and genetic criteria. Herein, we focus on the current progress regarding the biomarkers for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.
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