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Amarillo D, Flaherty KT, Sullivan RJ. Targeted Therapy Innovations for Melanoma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2024; 38:973-995. [PMID: 38971651 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2024.05.006] [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] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Melanoma, a malignant tumor of melanocytes, poses a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and high potential for metastasis. The advent of targeted therapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape of melanoma, particularly for tumors harboring specific genetic alterations such as BRAF V600E mutations. Despite the initial success of targeted agents, resistance inevitably arises, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies. This review explores the latest advances in targeted therapy for melanoma, focusing on new molecular targets, combination therapies, and strategies to overcome resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahiana Amarillo
- Oncóloga Médica, Departamento Básico de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Keith T Flaherty
- Mass General Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ryan J Sullivan
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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2
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Ramalingam SS, Carlisle JW. Encorafenib plus binimetinib for BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic NSCLC: clinical implications of the phase 2 PHAROS study. Future Oncol 2024:1-6. [PMID: 39225598 DOI: 10.1080/14796694.2024.2391270] [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: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Drs. Ramalingam and Carlisle discuss the incidence and pathophysiology of BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and current treatment options. The podcast provides an overview of the data from the recent Pfizer-sponsored phase 2 PHAROS (NCT03915951) study, which were the basis for the recent US Food and Drug Administration approval of encorafenib plus binimetinib for BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh S Ramalingam
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jennifer W Carlisle
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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3
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Erdem ZB, Ameline B, Bovée JVMG, van Boven H, Baumhoer D, Chrisinger JSA, Fritchie KJ. The utility of DNA methylation profiling in the diagnosis of un-, de- and trans-differentiated melanoma: a series of 11 cases. Histopathology 2024. [PMID: 39223066 DOI: 10.1111/his.15309] [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: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Melanomas are recognised for their remarkable morphological plasticity. Some tumours may lose conventional features and/or acquire non-melanocytic characteristics, referred to as undifferentiated, dedifferentiated and transdifferentiated melanoma. Despite this phenotypical variability, melanomas typically maintain their cancer driver aberrations, affecting genes such as BRAF, NRAS and NF1. Currently, little is known about whether the DNA methylation profile follows the loss or change of differentiation or is retained despite extensive morphological transformation. METHODS AND RESULTS In this study we analysed 11 melanoma cases, comprising six males and five females, with a median age of 67 years, including five undifferentiated, four trans-differentiated and two de-differentiated melanomas. Undifferentiated and trans-differentiated tumours either arose in a patient with known melanoma and/or presented in the groin/axilla with molecular alterations consistent with melanoma. Cases with heterologous differentiation resembled chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, angiosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma both morphologically and immunohistochemically, while undifferentiated tumours resembled undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Methylome profiling was performed, and unsupervised clustering analysis revealed nine cases (five undifferentiated, three trans-differentiated and one de-differentiated) to cluster closely together with conventional melanomas from a reference set. Two cases clustered separately with a distinct group of conventional melanomas exhibiting H3K27me3 loss. CONCLUSIONS Despite loss of differentiation and phenotypical plasticity, methylation patterns seem to be retained in undifferentiated, de-differentiated and trans-differentiated melanomas and represent useful diagnostic tools to enhance diagnostic precision in these diagnostically challenging cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Betul Erdem
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Baptiste Ameline
- Bone Tumor Reference Center at the Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Judith V M G Bovée
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hester van Boven
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel Baumhoer
- Bone Tumor Reference Center at the Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Basel Research Centre for Child Health, Basel, Switzerland
| | - John S A Chrisinger
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Karen J Fritchie
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
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4
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Khan DA, Adhikary T, Sultana MT, Toukir IA. A comprehensive identification of potential molecular targets and small drugs candidate for melanoma cancer using bioinformatics and network-based screening approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:7349-7369. [PMID: 37534476 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2240409] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is the third most common malignant skin tumor and has increased in morbidity and mortality over the previous decade due to its rapid spread into the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This study used integrated bioinformatics and network-based methodologies to reliably identify molecular targets and small molecular medicines that may be more successful for Melanoma diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. The statistical LIMMA approach utilized for bioinformatics analysis in this study found 246 common differentially expressed genes (cDEGs) between case and control samples from two microarray gene-expression datasets (GSE130244 and GSE15605). Protein-protein interaction network study revealed 15 cDEGs (PTK2, STAT1, PNO1, CXCR4, WASL, FN1, RUNX2, SOCS3, ITGA4, GNG2, CDK6, BRAF, AGO2, GTF2H1 and AR) to be critical in the development of melanoma (KGs). According to regulatory network analysis, the most important transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators of DEGs and hub-DEGs are ten transcription factors and three miRNAs. We discovered the pathogenetic mechanisms of MC by studying DEGs' biological processes, molecular function, cellular components and KEGG pathways. We used molecular docking and dynamics modeling to select the four most expressed genes responsible for melanoma malignancy to identify therapeutic candidates. Then, utilizing the Connectivity Map (CMap) database, we analyzed the top 4-hub-DEGs-guided repurposable drugs. We validated four melanoma cancer drugs (Fisetin, Epicatechin Gallate, 1237586-97-8 and PF 431396) using molecular dynamics simulation with their target proteins. As a result, the results of this study may provide resources to researchers and medical professionals for the wet-lab validation of MC diagnosis, prognosis and treatments.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhrubo Ahmed Khan
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Tonmoy Adhikary
- Department of Mathematics, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Mst Tania Sultana
- Department of Mathematics, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Imran Ahamed Toukir
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
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5
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Afsar S, Syed RU, Khojali WMA, Masood N, Osman ME, Jyothi JS, Hadi MA, Khalifa AAS, Aboshouk NAM, Alsaikhan HA, Alafnan AS, Alrashidi BA. Non-coding RNAs in BRAF-mutant melanoma: targets, indicators, and therapeutic potential. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03366-3. [PMID: 39167168 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03366-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Melanoma, a highly aggressive skin cancer, is often driven by BRAF mutations, such as the V600E mutation, which promotes cancer growth through the MAPK pathway and contributes to treatment resistance. Understanding the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in these processes is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies. This review aims to elucidate the relationship between ncRNAs and BRAF mutations in melanoma, focusing on their regulatory roles and impact on treatment resistance. We comprehensively reviewed current literature to synthesize evidence on ncRNA-mediated regulation of BRAF-mutant melanoma and their influence on therapeutic responses. Key ncRNAs, including microRNAs and long ncRNAs, were identified as significant regulators of melanoma development and therapy resistance. MicroRNAs such as miR-15/16 and miR-200 families modulate critical pathways like Wnt signaling and melanogenesis. Long ncRNAs like ANRIL and SAMMSON play roles in cell growth, invasion, and drug susceptibility. Specific ncRNAs, such as BANCR and RMEL3, intersect with the MAPK pathway, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets or biomarkers in BRAF-mutant melanoma. Additionally, ncRNAs involved in drug resistance, such as miR-579-3p and miR-1246, target processes like autophagy and immune checkpoint regulation. This review highlights the pivotal roles of ncRNAs in regulating BRAF-mutant melanoma and their contribution to drug resistance. These findings underscore the potential of ncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets, paving the way for innovative treatments to improve outcomes for melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Afsar
- Department of Virology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh, 517502, India.
| | - Rahamat Unissa Syed
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Ha'il, 81442, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Weam M A Khojali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, 81442, Hail, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman, 14415, Sudan
| | - Najat Masood
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Ha'il, P.O. Box 2440, 81451, Ha'il,, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mhdia Elhadi Osman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - J Siva Jyothi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Hindu College of Pharmacy, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Mohd Abdul Hadi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Bhaskar Pharmacy College, Moinabad, R.R.District, Hyderabad, 500075, Telangana, India
| | - Amna Abakar Suleiman Khalifa
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, 81442, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nayla Ahmed Mohammed Aboshouk
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, 81442, Hail, Saudi Arabia
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Boleti APDA, Jacobowski AC, Monteiro-Alfredo T, Pereira APR, Oliva MLV, Maria DA, Macedo MLR. Cutaneous Melanoma: An Overview of Physiological and Therapeutic Aspects and Biotechnological Use of Serine Protease Inhibitors. Molecules 2024; 29:3891. [PMID: 39202970 PMCID: PMC11357276 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29163891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2024] [Revised: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metastatic melanoma stands out as the most lethal form of skin cancer because of its high propensity to spread and its remarkable resistance to treatment methods. METHODS In this review article, we address the incidence of melanoma worldwide and its staging phases. We thoroughly investigate the different melanomas and their associated risk factors. In addition, we underscore the principal therapeutic goals and pharmacological methods that are currently used in the treatment of melanoma. RESULTS The implementation of targeted therapies has contributed to improving the approach to patients. However, because of the emergence of resistance early in treatment, overall survival and progression-free periods continue to be limited. CONCLUSIONS We provide new insights into plant serine protease inhibitor therapeutics, supporting high-throughput drug screening soon, and seeking a complementary approach to explain crucial mechanisms associated with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula De Araújo Boleti
- Laboratory of Protein Purification and Their Biological Functions, Food Technology and Public Health Unit, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (A.P.D.A.B.); (A.C.J.); (T.M.-A.); (A.P.R.P.)
| | - Ana Cristina Jacobowski
- Laboratory of Protein Purification and Their Biological Functions, Food Technology and Public Health Unit, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (A.P.D.A.B.); (A.C.J.); (T.M.-A.); (A.P.R.P.)
| | - Tamaeh Monteiro-Alfredo
- Laboratory of Protein Purification and Their Biological Functions, Food Technology and Public Health Unit, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (A.P.D.A.B.); (A.C.J.); (T.M.-A.); (A.P.R.P.)
| | - Ana Paula Ramos Pereira
- Laboratory of Protein Purification and Their Biological Functions, Food Technology and Public Health Unit, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (A.P.D.A.B.); (A.C.J.); (T.M.-A.); (A.P.R.P.)
| | - Maria Luiza Vilela Oliva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil;
| | - Durvanei Augusto Maria
- Divisão de Ciências Fisiológicas e Químicas, Serviço de Bioquímica, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05585-000, SP, Brazil;
| | - Maria Lígia Rodrigues Macedo
- Laboratory of Protein Purification and Their Biological Functions, Food Technology and Public Health Unit, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (A.P.D.A.B.); (A.C.J.); (T.M.-A.); (A.P.R.P.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food, and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil
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7
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Huang XY, Shen JY, Huang K, Wang L, Sethi G, Ma Z. Cuproptosis in cancers: Function and implications from bench to bedside. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116874. [PMID: 38850661 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116874] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Copper, an indispensable micronutrient, is implicated in numerous vital biological processes and is essential for all physiological activities. Recently, the discovery of a novel type of copper-dependent cell death, known as cuproptosis, has shed light on its role in cancer development. Extensive research is currently underway to unravel the mechanisms underlying cuproptosis and its correlation with various cancer types. In this review, we summarize the findings regarding the roles and mechanisms of cuproptosis in various cancer types, including colorectal cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer and cutaneous melanoma. Furthermore, the effects of copper-related agents such as copper chelators and copper ionophores on cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, tumor immunity, and chemotherapy resistance have been explored in cancer preclinical and clinical trials. These insights provide promising avenues for the development of prospective anticancer drugs aimed at inducing cuproptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yi Huang
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, 1 Nanhuan Road, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, China
| | - Jia-Yang Shen
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, 1 Nanhuan Road, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, China
| | - Ke Huang
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, 1 Nanhuan Road, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, China
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore; NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore; Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore.
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore; NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore.
| | - Zhaowu Ma
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, 1 Nanhuan Road, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, China.
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8
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Baik C, Cheng ML, Dietrich M, Gray JE, Karim NA. A Practical Review of Encorafenib and Binimetinib Therapy Management in Patients with BRAF V600E-Mutant Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Adv Ther 2024; 41:2586-2605. [PMID: 38698170 PMCID: PMC11213720 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-024-02839-4] [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: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
According to current guidelines, targeted therapy with a combination of BRAF plus MEK inhibitors is the preferred first-line treatment for patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the open-label, single-arm, phase 2 PHAROS trial (NCT03915951), the combination of encorafenib, a potent BRAF inhibitor, and binimetinib, a potent MEK inhibitor, demonstrated durable antitumor activity with a manageable safety profile in this patient population. On the basis of the results of this study, the combination of encorafenib plus binimetinib was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on October 11, 2023, for patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic NSCLC. In this review, we summarize the efficacy and safety of encorafenib plus binimetinib from the PHAROS study. In addition, we discuss strategies to manage adverse reactions with this combination therapy with the intent of minimizing unnecessary treatment discontinuations in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Baik
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael L Cheng
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Martin Dietrich
- US Oncology and University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Jhanelle E Gray
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Nagla A Karim
- Inova Schar Cancer Institute, University of Virginia, 8081 Innovation Park Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22031, USA.
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9
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Tinca AC, Szoke AR, Lazar BA, Szász EA, Tomuț AN, Sabău AH, Cocuz IG, Cotoi TC, Niculescu R, Chiorean DM, Ungureanu IA, Turdean SG, Cotoi OS. H-VISTA Immunohistochemistry Score Is Associated with Advanced Stages in Cutaneous and Ocular Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4335. [PMID: 38673920 PMCID: PMC11049914 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084335] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma represents a public health issue. One of the biggest goals of current research is to develop new therapeutic options for patients affected by this aggressive tumor. We conducted a retrospective study including 105 patients diagnosed with cutaneous and ocular melanoma, with stages varying from pT1a to pT4b and pT4e, respectively, and we performed immunohistochemistry reactions with the new potential prognostic marker, VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation). We quantified the expression by applying the H-score adapted for VISTA and divided the patients, based on the median value, into groups that presented high, low, and negative expression. Therefore, we obtained 65 cases with positive expression for cutaneous melanoma and 8 cases with positive expression for ocular melanoma. Forty-one cases presented high expression in cutaneous melanoma and three cases presented high expression in ocular melanoma. In cutaneous melanoma, analytic statistics showed that VISTA expression was associated with a high Breslow index, high mitotic count, high Ki67 expression, and advanced clinicopathological stage. The majority of ocular melanoma cases demonstrating a positive reaction were classified as stage pT3, whereas earlier stages showed a negative reaction. Our findings underscore a significant correlation between VISTA expression and key prognostic factors in melanoma. Looking ahead, the prospect of future randomized studies holds promise in corroborating the clinical relevance of our findings. By further elucidating the intricate relationship between VISTA expression and melanoma progression, new treatment strategies could be found, improving patient outcomes in this challenging neoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Cătălina Tinca
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Andreea Raluca Szoke
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Bianca Andreea Lazar
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
| | - Emőke Andrea Szász
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.N.T.); (I.A.U.)
| | - Alexandru Nicușor Tomuț
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.N.T.); (I.A.U.)
| | - Adrian Horațiu Sabău
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Iuliu-Gabriel Cocuz
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Titiana-Cornelia Cotoi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania;
| | - Raluca Niculescu
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Diana Maria Chiorean
- Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.C.T.); (A.H.S.); (R.N.); (D.M.C.)
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
| | - Ioana Ancuța Ungureanu
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.N.T.); (I.A.U.)
| | - Sabin Gligore Turdean
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.N.T.); (I.A.U.)
| | - Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
- Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania; (B.A.L.); (E.A.S.); (I.-G.C.); (S.G.T.); (O.S.C.)
- Pathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
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10
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Lewis D, Dawson TP, Hyde R, Rata GA, Alalade AF, Ghosh K, Elhabal A. A rare case of multifocal craniospinal leptomeningeal melanocytoma: A case report and scoping review. BRAIN & SPINE 2024; 4:102797. [PMID: 38601773 PMCID: PMC11004071 DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2024.102797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Leptomeningeal melanocytomas are rare tumours originating from neural crest derived melanocytes. They are usually solitary and presentation with multifocal meningeal melanocytoma is very rare and indicative of potentially more aggressive behaviour. This case report and scoping review sought to evaluate the presentation, and key radiological features that can help differentiate multifocal meningeal melanocytoma from other differentials and provide a discussion of the key management and prognostic points once these tumours are diagnosed. Case presentation A 26 year old male presented with neck pain radiating to both shoulders and subjective weakness in left shoulder movement. MRI demonstrated a large enhancing C2-C3 intradural-extramedullary lesion with further lesions at the T7/T8 level, left cerebellopontine angle and midline suprachiasmatic region. Whilst the imaging appearances were initially thought be indicative of a phacomatosis such as NF2-related schwannomatosis, surgical excision of the cervical tumour confirmed a melanocytic tumour of leptomeningeal origin, consistent with multifocal meningeal melanocytoma. Patient made a good post-operative recovery and remains under half yearly radiological surveillance, with repeat MRI 6 months after surgery demonstrating subtle growth of the untreated intracranial and spinal lesions. Literature review and conclusions This is the first description, to our knowledge, of a multifocal meningeal melanocytoma associated with both cerebellopontine angle and suprasellar lesions. This case and included scoping review highlight the need to consider this rare diagnosis whenever multifocal craniospinal lesions are encountered, and the need to consider aggressive management through surgical resection and adjuvant craniospinal radiotherapy once these tumours are diagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lewis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Timothy P. Dawson
- Department of Neuropathology, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, UK
| | - Rebecca Hyde
- Department of Neuroradiology, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, UK
| | - George Adrian Rata
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK
| | - Andrew F. Alalade
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK
| | - Kaushik Ghosh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK
| | - Ahmed Elhabal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK
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11
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Capoferri D, Mignani L, Manfredi M, Presta M. Proteomic Analysis Highlights the Impact of the Sphingolipid Metabolizing Enzyme β-Galactosylceramidase on Mitochondrial Plasticity in Human Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3062. [PMID: 38474307 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25053062] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial plasticity, marked by a dynamism between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation due to adaptation to genetic and microenvironmental alterations, represents a characteristic feature of melanoma progression. Sphingolipids play a significant role in various aspects of cancer cell biology, including metabolic reprogramming. Previous observations have shown that the lysosomal sphingolipid-metabolizing enzyme β-galactosylceramidase (GALC) exerts pro-oncogenic functions in melanoma. Here, mining the cBioPortal for a Cancer Genomics data base identified the top 200 nuclear-encoded genes whose expression is negatively correlated with GALC expression in human melanoma. Their categorization indicated a significant enrichment in Gene Ontology terms and KEGG pathways related to mitochondrial proteins and function. In parallel, proteomic analysis by LC-MS/MS of two GALC overexpressing human melanoma cell lines identified 98 downregulated proteins when compared to control mock cells. Such downregulation was confirmed at a transcriptional level by a Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of the genome-wide expression profiling data obtained from the same cells. Among the GALC downregulated proteins, we identified a cluster of 42 proteins significantly associated with GO and KEGG categorizations related to mitochondrion and energetic metabolism. Overall, our data indicate that changes in GALC expression may exert a significant impact on mitochondrial plasticity in human melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Capoferri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luca Mignani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marcello Manfredi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Novara, Italy
| | - Marco Presta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie (CIB), Unit of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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12
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Hadfield MJ, Sullivan RJ. What Is the Timing and Role of Targeted Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma? Cancer J 2024; 30:84-91. [PMID: 38527261 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Melanoma is the most lethal cutaneous malignancy worldwide. The last 15 years have ushered in several regulatory approvals that have dramatically altered the landscape of treatment options for patients with melanoma. Many patients with melanoma harbor activating mutations in the BRAF proto-oncogene, a key component of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) intracellular signaling pathway. Therapies targeting BRAF have led to remarkable improvements in both response rates and survival in patients with metastatic disease. In parallel with these developments in MAPK-targeted therapy has been the clinical development of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which also have improved response rates and survival in patients with metastatic disease including randomized trials compared with MAPK-targeted therapy in patients with advanced, BRAF-mutant melanoma. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have become the preferred first-line standard-of-care treatment for patients with newly diagnosed metastatic disease in patients irrespective of BRAF mutational status. Given these developments, it is now less clear how to optimize the use of MAPK-targeted therapy regarding treatment setting and in sequence with immune checkpoint inhibitor.
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13
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Al-Sadek T, Yusuf N. Ultraviolet Radiation Biological and Medical Implications. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:1924-1942. [PMID: 38534742 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46030126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation plays a crucial role in the development of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The types of UV radiation are differentiated by wavelength: UVA (315 to 400 nm), UVB (280 to 320 nm), and UVC (100 to 280 nm). UV radiation can cause direct DNA damage in the forms of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs). In addition, UV radiation can also cause DNA damage indirectly through photosensitization reactions caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which manifest as 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanine (8-OHdG). Both direct and indirect DNA damage can lead to mutations in genes that promote the development of skin cancers. The development of melanoma is largely influenced by the signaling of the melanocortin one receptor (MC1R), which plays an essential role in the synthesis of melanin in the skin. UV-induced mutations in the BRAF and NRAS genes are also significant risk factors in melanoma development. UV radiation plays a significant role in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) development by causing mutations in the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, which dysregulates cell proliferation and survival. UV radiation can also induce the development of squamous cell carcinoma via mutations in the TP53 gene and upregulation of MMPs in the stroma layer of the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarek Al-Sadek
- Department of Dermatology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Nabiha Yusuf
- Department of Dermatology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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14
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Dobre EG, Nichita L, Popp C, Zurac S, Neagu M. Assessment of RAS-RAF-MAPK Pathway Mutation Status in Healthy Skin, Benign Nevi, and Cutaneous Melanomas: Pilot Study Using Droplet Digital PCR. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2308. [PMID: 38396984 PMCID: PMC10889428 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042308] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we employed the ddPCR and IHC techniques to assess the prevalence and roles of RAS and RAF mutations in a small batch of melanoma (n = 22), benign moles (n = 15), and normal skin samples (n = 15). Mutational screening revealed the coexistence of BRAF and NRAS mutations in melanomas and nevi and the occurrence of NRAS G12/G13 variants in healthy skin. All investigated nevi had driver mutations in the BRAF or NRAS genes and elevated p16 protein expression, indicating cell cycle arrest despite an increased mutational burden. BRAF V600 mutations were identified in 54% of melanomas, and NRAS G12/G13 mutations in 50%. The BRAF mutations were associated with the Breslow index (BI) (p = 0.029) and TIL infiltration (p = 0.027), whereas the NRAS mutations correlated with the BI (p = 0.01) and the mitotic index (p = 0.04). Here, we demonstrate that the "young" ddPCR technology is as effective as a CE-IVD marked real-time PCR method for detecting BRAF V600 hotspot mutations in tumor biopsies and recommend it for extended use in clinical settings. Moreover, ddPCR was able to detect low-frequency hotspot mutations, such as NRAS G12/G13, in our tissue specimens, which makes it a promising tool for investigating the mutational landscape of sun-damaged skin, benign nevi, and melanomas in more extensive clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena-Georgiana Dobre
- Doctoral School, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
| | - Luciana Nichita
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
- Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristiana Popp
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
- Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sabina Zurac
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
- Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Monica Neagu
- Doctoral School, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
- Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
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15
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Yin X, Hsieh CY, Wang X, Wu Z, Ye Q, Bao H, Deng Y, Chen H, Luo P, Liu H, Hou T, Yao X. Enhancing Generic Reaction Yield Prediction through Reaction Condition-Based Contrastive Learning. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2024; 7:0292. [PMID: 38213662 PMCID: PMC10777739 DOI: 10.34133/research.0292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Deep learning (DL)-driven efficient synthesis planning may profoundly transform the paradigm for designing novel pharmaceuticals and materials. However, the progress of many DL-assisted synthesis planning (DASP) algorithms has suffered from the lack of reliable automated pathway evaluation tools. As a critical metric for evaluating chemical reactions, accurate prediction of reaction yields helps improve the practicality of DASP algorithms in the real-world scenarios. Currently, accurately predicting yields of interesting reactions still faces numerous challenges, mainly including the absence of high-quality generic reaction yield datasets and robust generic yield predictors. To compensate for the limitations of high-throughput yield datasets, we curated a generic reaction yield dataset containing 12 reaction categories and rich reaction condition information. Subsequently, by utilizing 2 pretraining tasks based on chemical reaction masked language modeling and contrastive learning, we proposed a powerful bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT)-based reaction yield predictor named Egret. It achieved comparable or even superior performance to the best previous models on 4 benchmark datasets and established state-of-the-art performance on the newly curated dataset. We found that reaction-condition-based contrastive learning enhances the model's sensitivity to reaction conditions, and Egret is capable of capturing subtle differences between reactions involving identical reactants and products but different reaction conditions. Furthermore, we proposed a new scoring function that incorporated Egret into the evaluation of multistep synthesis routes. Test results showed that yield-incorporated scoring facilitated the prioritization of literature-supported high-yield reaction pathways for target molecules. In addition, through meta-learning strategy, we further improved the reliability of the model's prediction for reaction types with limited data and lower data quality. Our results suggest that Egret holds the potential to become an essential component of the next-generation DASP tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Yin
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine,
Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao 999078, China
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Chang-Yu Hsieh
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaorui Wang
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine,
Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao 999078, China
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Zhenxing Wu
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Qing Ye
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Honglei Bao
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine,
Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao 999078, China
| | - Yafeng Deng
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Hongming Chen
- Center of Chemistry and Chemical Biology,
Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Pei Luo
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine,
Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao 999078, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- Faculty of Applied Sciences,
Macao Polytechnic University, Macao 999078, China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaojun Yao
- Faculty of Applied Sciences,
Macao Polytechnic University, Macao 999078, China
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16
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Kozyra P, Pitucha M. Revisiting the Role of B-RAF Kinase as a Therapeutic Target in Melanoma. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2003-2020. [PMID: 37855341 DOI: 10.2174/0109298673258495231011065225] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the rarest but most aggressive and deadly skin cancer. Melanoma is the result of a malignant transformation of melanocytes, which leads to their uncontrolled proliferation. Mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which are crucial for the control of cellular processes, such as apoptosis, division, growth, differentiation, and migration, are one of its most common causes. BRAF kinase, as one of the known targets of this pathway, has been known for many years as a prominent molecular target in melanoma therapy, and the following mini-review outlines the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding its structure, mutations and mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Kozyra
- Independent Radiopharmacy Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, PL, 20093, Poland
| | - Monika Pitucha
- Independent Radiopharmacy Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, PL-20093, Poland
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17
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Ding X, Wang W, Tao X, Li Z, Huang Y. Construction of a novel prognostic model in skin cutaneous melanoma based on chemokines-related gene signature. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18172. [PMID: 37875556 PMCID: PMC10598024 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44598-2] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin cutaneous melanoma, SKCM, is one of the most aggressive treatment-resistant tumours. Despite the fact that the BRAF oncogene and immunological checkpoints such as PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 have enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of SKCM, the subsequent resistance mechanisms and remedies have raised concerns. Chemokines have a significant role in the immunological milieu of tumor, which may increase the efficacy of checkpoint blockade and serve as a possible therapeutic intervention route. However, there is still no chemokine-based typing and risk model to provide a prognosis and therapeutic efficacy assessment for SKCM patients. In this study, we verified the distinct differences of prognostic stratification as well as immune characteristics between two chemokine-related clusters in SKCM patients. Two clusters of DEGs were discovered to be primarily enriched in B and T cell receptor signaling pathways as well as TNF signaling via NF-kappa-B. Based on 14 prognosis-related DEGs from aforementioned two clusters (CCL8, GBP2, GBP4, SRNG, HLA-DMB, RARRES3, HLA-DQA1, PARP12, APOL3, IRF1, HLA-DRA, UBE2L6, IL2RA and CD38), a chemokine-related 14-gene prognostic model was established. At the same time, researchers explored differences between the low-risk and high-risk groups in clinical traits, the proportion of infiltration of 22 different types of immune cells, and how well medications worked. The risk score model's immunotherapy and prognostic predictions were also confirmed in testing groups. Based on the finding, we can claim that there is a clear link between chemokines and TME in SKCM. The risk score may perform as a trustworthy prediction model, giving therapeutic benefits for both chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as being beneficial for clinical decision making in SKCM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Ding
- Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Dermatology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenwen Wang
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaohua Tao
- Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Dermatology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhiming Li
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Youming Huang
- Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Dermatology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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18
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Muthusamy K, Ramasamy G, Ravikumar C, Natesan S, Muthurajan R, Uthandi S, Kalyanasundaram K, Tiwari V. Exploring bixin from Bixa orellana L. seeds: quantification and in silico insights into its anti-cancer potential. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-15. [PMID: 37837422 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2268202] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Bixin, the key pigment of Bixa orellana L., is an apo-carotenoid found in the seed arils. The present study aimed to quantitatively determine the bixin content of seeds and explore its anti-cancer activity through in silico studies. The bixin content from the seeds of the local genotype, TNMTP8, quantified by RP-HPLC was 4.58 mg per gram. The prediction of pharmacological activity suggested that bixin may serve as a BRAF, MMP9, TNF expression inhibitors, and TP53 expression enhancer. According to molecular docking analysis, bixin interacted with eight different skin cancer targets and had the lowest binding energy compared to the standard drug, 5-fluorouracil. The binding score between bixin and the targets ranged from -4.7 to -8.7 kcal/mol. The targets BRAF and SIRT3 interacted well with bixin, with binding energies as low as -8.3 and -8.7 kcal/mol, respectively. Hence, the dynamic behavior of these two docked complexes throughout a 500 ns trajectory run was investigated further. The Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD), Root Mean Square Fluctuation (RMSF) values, and total contacts as a function of time recorded during scrutiny suggest that both complexes were stable. This was validated by post-molecular dynamics analysis using Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area (MM-GBSA). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to analyze the significant differences in motion exhibited by BRAF-Bixin and SIRT3-Bixin. The results showed that bixin is a promising source for potential treatment interventions in skin cancer therapies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaviyapriya Muthusamy
- Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Gnanam Ramasamy
- Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Caroline Ravikumar
- Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Senthil Natesan
- Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Raveendran Muthurajan
- Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Sivakumar Uthandi
- Biocatalysts Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Kumaran Kalyanasundaram
- Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Vikas Tiwari
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
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19
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Castellani G, Buccarelli M, Arasi MB, Rossi S, Pisanu ME, Bellenghi M, Lintas C, Tabolacci C. BRAF Mutations in Melanoma: Biological Aspects, Therapeutic Implications, and Circulating Biomarkers. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4026. [PMID: 37627054 PMCID: PMC10452867 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer resulting from the malignant transformation of melanocytes. Recent therapeutic approaches, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy, have improved the prognosis and outcome of melanoma patients. BRAF is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes recognised in melanoma. The most frequent oncogenic BRAF mutations consist of a single point mutation at codon 600 (mostly V600E) that leads to constitutive activation of the BRAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signalling pathway. Therefore, mutated BRAF has become a useful target for molecular therapy and the use of BRAF kinase inhibitors has shown promising results. However, several resistance mechanisms invariably develop leading to therapeutic failure. The aim of this manuscript is to review the role of BRAF mutational status in the pathogenesis of melanoma and its impact on differentiation and inflammation. Moreover, this review focuses on the mechanisms responsible for resistance to targeted therapies in BRAF-mutated melanoma and provides an overview of circulating biomarkers including circulating tumour cells, circulating tumour DNA, and non-coding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Castellani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
| | - Mariachiara Buccarelli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
| | - Maria Beatrice Arasi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
| | - Stefania Rossi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
| | - Maria Elena Pisanu
- High Resolution NMR Unit, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Maria Bellenghi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Carla Lintas
- Research Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy;
- Operative Research Unit of Medical Genetics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Tabolacci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
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20
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Singh A, Sonawane P, Kumar A, Singh H, Naumovich V, Pathak P, Grishina M, Khalilullah H, Jaremko M, Emwas AH, Verma A, Kumar P. Challenges and Opportunities in the Crusade of BRAF Inhibitors: From 2002 to 2022. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:27819-27844. [PMID: 37576670 PMCID: PMC10413849 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf (BRAF; RAF = rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma) plays an important role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade. Somatic mutations in the BRAF gene were first discovered in 2002 by Davies et al., which was a major breakthrough in cancer research. Subsequently, three different classes of BRAF mutants have been discovered. This class includes class I monomeric mutants (BRAFV600), class II BRAF homodimer mutants (non-V600), and class III BRAF heterodimers (non-V600). Cancers caused by these include melanoma, thyroid cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, nonsmall cell lung cancer, and others. In this study, we have highlighted the major binding pockets in BRAF protein, their active and inactive conformations with inhibitors, and BRAF dimerization and its importance in paradoxical activation and BRAF mutation. We have discussed the first-, second-, and third-generation drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration and drugs under clinical trials with all four different binding approaches with DFG-IN/OUT and αC-IN/OUT for BRAF protein. We have investigated particular aspects and difficulties with all three generations of inhibitors. Finally, this study has also covered recent developments in synthetic BRAF inhibitors (from their discovery in 2002 to 2022), their unique properties, and importance in inhibiting BRAF mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit
Kumar Singh
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Pankaj Sonawane
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Adarsh Kumar
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Harshwardhan Singh
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Vladislav Naumovich
- Laboratory
of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological
School, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk 454008, Russia
| | - Prateek Pathak
- Laboratory
of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological
School, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk 454008, Russia
| | - Maria Grishina
- Laboratory
of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological
School, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk 454008, Russia
| | - Habibullah Khalilullah
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Unaizah College of
Pharmacy, Qassim University, Unayzah 51911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Smart-Health
Initiative and Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and
Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdul-Hamid Emwas
- Core
Laboratories, King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi
Arabia
| | - Amita Verma
- Bioorganic
and Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Sam Higginbottom University of
Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj 211007, India
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
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21
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Guo ZX, Zhao XL, Zhao ZY, Zhu QY, Wang ZY, Xu M. Malignant melanoma resection and reconstruction with the first manifestation of lumbar metastasis: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:3571-3577. [PMID: 37383908 PMCID: PMC10294206 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i15.3571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant melanoma (MM) has shown an increasing incidence worldwide, and a potential to metastasize to almost any part of the body. Clinically, MM with bone metastasis as the initial manifestation is extremely rare. Spinal metastatic MM can cause spinal cord or nerve root compression, resulting in severe pain and paralysis. Currently, the primary clinical treatments for MM are surgical resection in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.
CASE SUMMARY Here, we report the case of a 52-year-old male who presented to the clinic with progressive low back pain and limited nerve function. No primary lesion or spinal cord compression was detected from computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar vertebrae and positron emission tomography scan. A lumbar puncture biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of lumbar spine metastatic MM. Following surgical resection, the patient’s quality of life improved, symptoms were relieved, and comprehensive treatment was initiated, which prevented recurrence.
CONCLUSION Spinal metastatic MM is clinically rare, and may cause neurological symptoms, including paraplegia. Currently, the clinical treatment plan consists of surgical resection in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Xuan Guo
- Graduate School, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Xue-Lin Zhao
- Graduate School, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Zi-Yi Zhao
- Graduate School, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Qing-Yan Zhu
- Graduate School, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Zi-Ying Wang
- Graduate School, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Meng Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Forth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100037, China
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22
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Schneider L, Wies C, Krieghoff-Henning EI, Bucher TC, Utikal JS, Schadendorf D, Brinker TJ. Multimodal integration of image, epigenetic and clinical data to predict BRAF mutation status in melanoma. Eur J Cancer 2023; 183:131-138. [PMID: 36854237 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In machine learning, multimodal classifiers can provide more generalised performance than unimodal classifiers. In clinical practice, physicians usually also rely on a range of information from different examinations for diagnosis. In this study, we used BRAF mutation status prediction in melanoma as a model system to analyse the contribution of different data types in a combined classifier because BRAF status can be determined accurately by sequencing as the current gold standard, thus nearly eliminating label noise. METHODS We trained a deep learning-based classifier by combining individually trained random forests of image, clinical and methylation data to predict BRAF-V600 mutation status in primary and metastatic melanomas of The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort. RESULTS With our multimodal approach, we achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80, whereas the individual classifiers yielded areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.63 (histopathologic image data), 0.66 (clinical data) and 0.66 (methylation data) on an independent data set. CONCLUSIONS Our combined approach can predict BRAF status to some extent by identifying BRAF-V600 specific patterns at the histologic, clinical and epigenetic levels. The multimodal classifiers have improved generalisability in predicting BRAF mutation status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Schneider
- Digital Biomarkers for Oncology Group, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Wies
- Digital Biomarkers for Oncology Group, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eva I Krieghoff-Henning
- Digital Biomarkers for Oncology Group, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tabea-Clara Bucher
- Digital Biomarkers for Oncology Group, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jochen S Utikal
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; DKFZ Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Titus J Brinker
- Digital Biomarkers for Oncology Group, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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23
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Caetano AR, Oliveira RD, Celeiro SP, Freitas AS, Cardoso SM, Gonçalves MST, Baltazar F, Almeida-Aguiar C. Phenolic Compounds Contribution to Portuguese Propolis Anti-Melanoma Activity. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28073107. [PMID: 37049869 PMCID: PMC10096369 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer, with about 61,000 deaths annually worldwide. Late diagnosis increases mortality rates due to melanoma’s capacity to metastasise rapidly and patients’ resistance to the available conventional therapies. Consequently, the interest in natural products as a strategy for drug discovery has been emerging. Propolis, a natural product produced by bees, has several biological properties, including anticancer effects. Propolis from Gerês is one of the most studied Portuguese propolis. Our group has previously demonstrated that an ethanol extract of Gerês propolis collected in 2018 (G18.EE) and its fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) decrease melanoma cell viability. Out of all the fractions, G18.EE-n-BuOH showed the highest potential as a melanoma pharmacological therapy. Thus, in this work, G18.EE-n-BuOH was fractioned into 17 subfractions whose effect was evaluated in A375 BRAF-mutated melanoma cells. The subfractions with the highest cytotoxic activity were analysed by UPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn in an attempt to understand which phenolic compounds could account for the anti-melanoma activity. The compounds identified are typical of the Gerês propolis, and some of them have already been linked with antitumor effectiveness. These results reaffirm that propolis compounds can be a source of new drugs and the isolation of compounds could allow its use in traditional medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Caetano
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Rafaela Dias Oliveira
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Sónia Pires Celeiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia Freitas
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Susana M. Cardoso
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - M. Sameiro T. Gonçalves
- Centre of Chemistry (CQ/UM), Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cristina Almeida-Aguiar
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-253-601-513
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24
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Rossi E, Schinzari G, Cellini F, Balducci M, Pasqualoni M, Maiorano BA, Fionda B, Longo S, Deodato F, Di Stefani A, Peris K, Gambacorta MA, Tortora G. Dabrafenib-Trametinib and Radiotherapy for Oligoprogressive BRAF Mutant Advanced Melanoma. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020394. [PMID: 36830931 PMCID: PMC9953646 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020394] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical management of metastatic melanoma has been changed by BRAF (BRAFi) and MEK inhibitors (MEKi), which represent a standard treatment for BRAF-mutant melanoma. In oligoprogressive melanoma patients with BRAF mutations, target therapy can be combined with loco-regional radiotherapy (RT). However, the association of BRAF/MEK inhibitors and RT needs to be carefully monitored for potential increased toxicity. Despite the availability of some reports regarding the tolerability of RT + target therapy, data on simultaneous RT and BRAFi/MEKi are limited and mostly focused on the BRAFi vemurafenib. Here, we report a series of metastatic melanoma patients who received fractioned RT regimens for oligoprogressive disease in combination with the BRAFi dabrafenib and the MEKi trametinib, which have continued beyond progression. None of the cases developed relevant adverse events while receiving RT or interrupted dabrafenib and trametinib administration. These cases suggest that a long period of dabrafenib/trametinib interruption during radiotherapy for oligoprogressive disease can be avoided. Prospective trials are warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of the contemporary administration of BRAF/MEK inhibitors and radiotherapy for oligoprogressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Rossi
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: or
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cellini
- Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Dipartimento Universitario Diagnostica per Immagini, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Balducci
- Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Brigida Anna Maiorano
- Oncology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Bruno Fionda
- Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Longo
- Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Deodato
- Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Dipartimento Universitario Diagnostica per Immagini, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- UOC Radioterapia Oncologica Molise ART, Gemelli Molise Hospital, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Stefani
- Dermatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Ketty Peris
- Dermatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Dermatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Gambacorta
- Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Dipartimento Universitario Diagnostica per Immagini, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
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25
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Nguyen D, Holien J, Dekiwadia C, Thrimawithana T, Piva T, Huynh T. Momordica cochinchinensis (Gấc) Seed Extracts Induce Apoptosis and Necrosis in Melanoma Cells. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16010100. [PMID: 36678596 PMCID: PMC9864523 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Momordica cochinchinensis is a herbal medicine used throughout Asia and this study investigated the antimelanoma potentials and molecular mechanisms of M. cochinchinensis seed with emphasis on extraction to optimise bioactivity. Overall, the aqueous extract was superior, with a wider diversity and higher concentration of proteins and peptides that was more cytotoxic to the melanoma cells than other extraction solvents. The IC50 of the aqueous extract on melanoma cells were similar to treatment with current anticancer drugs, vemurafenib and cisplatin. This cytotoxicity was cancer-specific with lower cytotoxic effects on HaCaT epidermal keratinocytes. Cytotoxicity correlated with MAPK signalling pathways leading to apoptosis and necrosis induced by triggering tumour necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR1), reducing the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), and suppression of BRAF/MEK. This efficacy of M. cochinchinensis seed extracts on melanoma cells provides a platform for future clinical trials as potent adjunctive therapy for metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dao Nguyen
- School of Science, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora 3083, Australia
- Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Tay Nguyen University, 567 Le Duan Street, Buon Ma Thuot City 63000, Vietnam
- Correspondence: (D.N.); (T.H.)
| | - Jessica Holien
- School of Science, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora 3083, Australia
| | - Chaitali Dekiwadia
- RMIT Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility, GPO 2476, Melbourne 3001, Australia
| | - Thilini Thrimawithana
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora 3083, Australia
| | - Terrence Piva
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora 3083, Australia
| | - Tien Huynh
- School of Science, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora 3083, Australia
- Correspondence: (D.N.); (T.H.)
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26
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Wang X, Luo Z, Chen J, Chen Y, Ji D, Fan L, Chen L, Zhao Q, Hu P, Sun P, Jia Z, Guo J, Si L. First-in-human phase I dose-escalation and dose-expansion trial of the selective MEK inhibitor HL-085 in patients with advanced melanoma harboring NRAS mutations. BMC Med 2023; 21:2. [PMID: 36600247 PMCID: PMC9814429 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02669-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HL-085 is a selective, orally administered MEK1/2 inhibitor. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HL-085 in patients with advanced melanoma harboring NRAS mutations. METHODS This was a multicenter phase 1 study. HL-085 was administered twice daily in a standard 3 + 3 dose-escalation design (10 dose cohorts; 0.5-18 mg twice daily), followed by dose expansion at the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). The primary endpoints included tolerability, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and RP2D. RESULTS Between September 13, 2017, and January 18, 2021, 42 patients were enrolled (dose escalation phase: n = 30; dose expansion phase: n = 12). No DLT was reported during dose escalation and MTD was not reached with HL-085 doses up to 18 mg twice daily. The RP2D was 12 mg twice daily. The most common all-grade drug-related adverse events (AEs) across all dose levels were rash (61.9%), increased creatine phosphokinase (CK, 59.5%), face edema (50.0%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (47.6%), peripheral edema (40.5%), diarrhea (33.3%), alanine aminotransferase (33.3%), and paronychia (19.0%), most of which were grade 1 and 2. Most frequency of grade ≥ 3 AEs were CK (14.2%), asthenia (7.1%), peripheral edema (4.8%), and acneiform dermatitis (4.8%). In the cohort of 12 mg twice daily dose (15 patients), confirmed objective response rate was 26.7%; disease control rate was 86.7%; median duration of response was 2.9 months; median progression-free survival was 3.6 months. CONCLUSIONS The HL-085 showed acceptable tolerability and substantial clinical activity in patients with advanced melanoma harboring NRAS mutations. TRIAL REGISTRATION Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03973151.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiguo Luo
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Dongmei Ji
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Fan
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Drug, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical PK and PD Investigation for Innovative Drugs, Beijing, China
| | - Pei Hu
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Drug, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical PK and PD Investigation for Innovative Drugs, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Department of Clinical Research and Development, Shanghai Kechow Pharma, Inc., Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongwei Jia
- Department of Clinical Research and Development, Shanghai Kechow Pharma, Inc., Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Beijing, China.
| | - Lu Si
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Beijing, China.
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27
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Trinder SM, McKay C, Power P, Topp M, Chan B, Valvi S, McCowage G, Govender D, Kirby M, Ziegler DS, Manoharan N, Hassall T, Kellie S, Heath J, Alvaro F, Wood P, Laughton S, Tsui K, Dodgshun A, Eisenstat DD, Endersby R, Luen SJ, Koh ES, Sim HW, Kong B, Gottardo NG, Whittle JR, Khuong-Quang DA, Hansford JR. BRAF-mediated brain tumors in adults and children: A review and the Australian and New Zealand experience. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1154246. [PMID: 37124503 PMCID: PMC10140567 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1154246] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway signaling pathway is one of the most commonly mutated pathways in human cancers. In particular, BRAF alterations result in constitutive activation of the rapidly accelerating fibrosarcoma-extracellular signal-regulated kinase-MAPK significant pathway, leading to cellular proliferation, survival, and dedifferentiation. The role of BRAF mutations in oncogenesis and tumorigenesis has spurred the development of targeted agents, which have been successful in treating many adult cancers. Despite advances in other cancer types, the morbidity and survival outcomes of patients with glioma have remained relatively stagnant. Recently, there has been recognition that MAPK dysregulation is almost universally present in paediatric and adult gliomas. These findings, accompanying broad molecular characterization of gliomas, has aided prognostication and offered opportunities for clinical trials testing targeted agents. The use of targeted therapies in this disease represents a paradigm shift, although the biochemical complexities has resulted in unexpected challenges in the development of effective BRAF inhibitors. Despite these challenges, there are promising data to support the use of BRAF inhibitors alone and in combination with MEK inhibitors for patients with both low-grade and high-grade glioma across age groups. Safety and efficacy data demonstrate that many of the toxicities of these targeted agents are tolerable while offering objective responses. Newer clinical trials will examine the use of these therapies in the upfront setting. Appropriate duration of therapy and durability of response remains unclear in the glioma patient cohort. Longitudinal efficacy and toxicity data are needed. Furthermore, access to these medications remains challenging outside of clinical trials in Australia and New Zealand. Compassionate access is limited, and advocacy for mechanism of action-based drug approval is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Trinder
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology/Haematology, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Campbell McKay
- Children’s Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Phoebe Power
- Sydney Children’s Hospital, Children’s Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Monique Topp
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bosco Chan
- Michael Rice Cancer Centre, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Santosh Valvi
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology/Haematology, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Geoffrey McCowage
- Department of Oncology, Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australasian Children’s Cancer Trials, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Dinisha Govender
- Department of Oncology, Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maria Kirby
- Michael Rice Cancer Centre, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - David S. Ziegler
- Sydney Children’s Hospital, Children’s Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Neevika Manoharan
- Sydney Children’s Hospital, Children’s Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tim Hassall
- Queensland Children’s Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stewart Kellie
- Westmead Children’s Hospital, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - John Heath
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Frank Alvaro
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, John Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul Wood
- Monash Medical Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen Laughton
- Starship Blood and Cancer Centre, Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Karen Tsui
- Starship Blood and Cancer Centre, Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrew Dodgshun
- Children’s Haematology/Oncology Centre, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - David D. Eisenstat
- Children’s Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Raelene Endersby
- Brain Tumour Research Program, Telethon Kids Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Stephen J. Luen
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Eng-Siew Koh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Liverpool and Macarther Cancer Therapy Centres, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Hao-Wen Sim
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Benjamin Kong
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas G. Gottardo
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology/Haematology, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Brain Tumour Research Program, Telethon Kids Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - James R. Whittle
- Personalised Oncology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Jordan R. Hansford
- Michael Rice Cancer Centre, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- South Australia ImmunoGENomics Cancer Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Jordan R. Hansford,
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Yadav V, Jobe N, Satapathy SR, Mohapatra P, Andersson T. Increased MARCKS Activity in BRAF Inhibitor-Resistant Melanoma Cells Is Essential for Their Enhanced Metastatic Behavior Independent of Elevated WNT5A and IL-6 Signaling. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246077. [PMID: 36551563 PMCID: PMC9775662 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of melanoma with a BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) frequently initiates development of BRAFi resistance, leading to increased tumor progression and metastasis. Previously, we showed that combined inhibition of elevated WNT5A and IL-6 signaling reduced the invasion and migration of BRAFi-resistant (BRAFi-R) melanoma cells. However, the use of a combined approach per se and the need for high inhibitor concentrations to achieve this effect indicate a need for an alternative and single target. One such target could be myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS), a downstream target of WNT5A in BRAFi-sensitive melanoma cells. Our results revealed that MARCKS protein expression and activity are significantly elevated in PLX4032 and PLX4720 BRAFi-R A375 and HTB63 melanoma cells. Surprisingly, neither WNT5A nor IL-6 contributed to the increases in MARCKS expression and activity in BRAFi-R melanoma cells, unlike in BRAFi-sensitive melanoma cells. However, despite the above findings, our functional validation experiments revealed that MARCKS is essential for the increased metastatic behavior of BRAFi-R melanoma cells. Knockdown of MARCKS in BRAFi-R melanoma cells caused reductions in the F-actin content and the number of filopodia-like protrusions, explaining the impaired migration, invasion and metastasis of these cells observed in vitro and in an in vivo zebrafish model. In our search for an alternative explanation for the increased activity of MARCKS in BRAFi-R melanoma cells, we found elevated basal activities of PKCα, PKCε, PKCι, and RhoA. Interestingly, combined inhibition of basal PKC and RhoA effectively impaired MARCKS activity in BRAFi-R melanoma cells. Our results reveal that MARCKS is an attractive single antimetastatic target in BRAFi-R melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Yadav
- Cell and Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Clinical Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, SE 20213 Malmö, Sweden
- Correspondence: (V.Y.); (T.A.); Tel.: +46-40-391167 (V.Y. & T.A.)
| | - Njainday Jobe
- Cell and Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Clinical Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, SE 20213 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Shakti Ranjan Satapathy
- Cell and Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Clinical Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, SE 20213 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Purusottam Mohapatra
- Cell and Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Clinical Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, SE 20213 Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER), Guwahati 781101, Assam, India
| | - Tommy Andersson
- Cell and Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Clinical Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, SE 20213 Malmö, Sweden
- Correspondence: (V.Y.); (T.A.); Tel.: +46-40-391167 (V.Y. & T.A.)
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Muñoz-Barrera A, Rubio-Rodríguez LA, Díaz-de Usera A, Jáspez D, Lorenzo-Salazar JM, González-Montelongo R, García-Olivares V, Flores C. From Samples to Germline and Somatic Sequence Variation: A Focus on Next-Generation Sequencing in Melanoma Research. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:1939. [PMID: 36431075 PMCID: PMC9695713 DOI: 10.3390/life12111939] [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: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications have flourished in the last decade, permitting the identification of cancer driver genes and profoundly expanding the possibilities of genomic studies of cancer, including melanoma. Here we aimed to present a technical review across many of the methodological approaches brought by the use of NGS applications with a focus on assessing germline and somatic sequence variation. We provide cautionary notes and discuss key technical details involved in library preparation, the most common problems with the samples, and guidance to circumvent them. We also provide an overview of the sequence-based methods for cancer genomics, exposing the pros and cons of targeted sequencing vs. exome or whole-genome sequencing (WGS), the fundamentals of the most common commercial platforms, and a comparison of throughputs and key applications. Details of the steps and the main software involved in the bioinformatics processing of the sequencing results, from preprocessing to variant prioritization and filtering, are also provided in the context of the full spectrum of genetic variation (SNVs, indels, CNVs, structural variation, and gene fusions). Finally, we put the emphasis on selected bioinformatic pipelines behind (a) short-read WGS identification of small germline and somatic variants, (b) detection of gene fusions from transcriptomes, and (c) de novo assembly of genomes from long-read WGS data. Overall, we provide comprehensive guidance across the main methodological procedures involved in obtaining sequencing results for the most common short- and long-read NGS platforms, highlighting key applications in melanoma research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Muñoz-Barrera
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), 38600 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Luis A. Rubio-Rodríguez
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), 38600 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Ana Díaz-de Usera
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), 38600 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - David Jáspez
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), 38600 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - José M. Lorenzo-Salazar
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), 38600 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Rafaela González-Montelongo
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), 38600 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Víctor García-Olivares
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), 38600 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Carlos Flores
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), 38600 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Fernando de Pessoa Canarias, 35450 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Singh AK, Novak J, Kumar A, Singh H, Thareja S, Pathak P, Grishina M, Verma A, Yadav JP, Khalilullah H, Pathania V, Nandanwar H, Jaremko M, Emwas AH, Kumar P. Gaussian field-based 3D-QSAR and molecular simulation studies to design potent pyrimidine-sulfonamide hybrids as selective BRAF V600E inhibitors. RSC Adv 2022; 12:30181-30200. [PMID: 36329938 PMCID: PMC9585928 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra05751d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The "RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK" pathway is an important signaling pathway in melanoma. BRAFV600E (70-90%) is the most common mutation in this pathway. BRAF inhibitors have four types of conformers: type I (αC-IN/DFG-IN), type II (αC-IN/DFG-OUT), type I1/2 (αC-OUT/DFG-IN), and type I/II (αC-OUT/DFG-OUT). First- and second-generation BRAF inhibitors show resistance to BRAFV600E and are ineffective against malignancies induced by dimer BRAF mutants causing 'paradoxical' activation. In the present study, we performed molecular modeling of pyrimidine-sulfonamide hybrids inhibitors using 3D-QSAR, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Previous reports reveal the importance of pyrimidine and sulfonamide moieties in the development of BRAFV600E inhibitors. Analysis of 3D-QSAR models provided novel pyrimidine sulfonamide hybrid BRAFV600E inhibitors. The designed compounds share similarities with several structural moieties present in first- and second-generation BRAF inhibitors. A total library of 88 designed compounds was generated and molecular docking studies were performed with them. Four molecules (T109, T183, T160, and T126) were identified as hits and selected for detailed studies. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed at 900 ns and binding was calculated. Based on molecular docking and simulation studies, it was found that the designed compounds have better interactions with the core active site [the nucleotide (ADP or ATP) binding site, DFG motif, and the phospho-acceptor site (activation segment) of BRAFV600E protein than previous inhibitors. Similar to the FDA-approved BRAFV600E inhibitors the developed compounds have [αC-OUT/DFG-IN] conformation. Compounds T126, T160 and T183 interacted with DIF (Leu505), making them potentially useful against BRAFV600E resistance and malignancies induced by dimer BRAF mutants. The synthesis and biological evaluation of the designed molecules is in progress, which may lead to some potent BRAFV600E selective inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Kumar Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab Ghudda Bathinda 151401 India
| | - Jurica Novak
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka Rijeka 51000 Croatia
- Center for Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, University of Rijeka Rijeka 51000 Croatia
- Scientific and Educational Center 'Biomedical Technologies' School of Medical Biology, South Ural State University Chelyabinsk RU-454080 Russia
| | - Adarsh Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab Ghudda Bathinda 151401 India
| | - Harshwardhan Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab Ghudda Bathinda 151401 India
| | - Suresh Thareja
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab Ghudda Bathinda 151401 India
| | - Prateek Pathak
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University Chelyabinsk 454008 Russia
| | - Maria Grishina
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University Chelyabinsk 454008 Russia
| | - Amita Verma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences Prayagraj 211007 India
| | - Jagat Pal Yadav
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences Prayagraj 211007 India
- Department of Pharmacology, Kamla Nehru Institute of Management and Technology Faridipur Sultanpur 228118 India
| | - Habibullah Khalilullah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University Unayzah 51911 Saudi Arabia
| | - Vikas Pathania
- Clinical Microbiology & Bioactive Screening Laboratory, Council of Scientifc & Industrial Research -Institute of Microbial Technology Sector-39A Chandigarh 160036 India
| | - Hemraj Nandanwar
- Clinical Microbiology & Bioactive Screening Laboratory, Council of Scientifc & Industrial Research -Institute of Microbial Technology Sector-39A Chandigarh 160036 India
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) and Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal 23955-6900 Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdul-Hamid Emwas
- Core Labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal 23955-6900 Saudi Arabia
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab Ghudda Bathinda 151401 India
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Actualities in the Morphology and Immunohistochemistry of Cutaneous and Ocular Melanoma: What Lies Ahead? A Single-Centre Study. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102500. [PMID: 36289768 PMCID: PMC9599614 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive melanocytic tumor whose incidence is continuously increasing worldwide. METHODS We highlight the morphological, immunohistochemistry, and particularities of various melanoma types based on the cases diagnosed in our department from 2017 to 2021. RESULTS We present 100 melanoma cases and one capsular nevus case. The most common type was nodular melanoma. The immunohistochemistry markers used were SRY-box transcription factor 10 (SOX10), S100 protein, human melanoma black 45 (HMB45), and melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 (Melan-A). Uveal melanoma and conjunctival melanoma represent particular tumors with independent prognostic factors. Uveal melanoma requires assessment of macrophages, microvascularisation, and mitoses. Sentinel lymph node metastases are essential targets that provide staging tools. Conjunctival melanoma and capsular nevi are diagnostic pitfalls. CONCLUSION Melanoma can appear in various forms, and sometimes the diagnosis might be unclear. Today, immunohistochemistry remains the most important tool in confirming the diagnosis and prognosis for this type of neoplasia.
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Additive Interactions between Betulinic Acid and Two Taxanes in In Vitro Tests against Four Human Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179641. [PMID: 36077036 PMCID: PMC9456196 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of melanoma is steadily increasing worldwide. Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer, and new therapeutic methods are being sought. Our research aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of betulinic acid in vitro, used alone and in combination with taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel) in four melanoma cell lines. Isobolographic analysis allowed us to assess the interactions between these compounds. Betulinic acid had no cytotoxic effect on normal human keratinocyte HaCaT cells; the amount of LDH released by them was significantly lower compared to melanoma cell lines. The present study shows that betulinic acid significantly inhibits the growth of melanoma cell lines in vitro. The IC50 values of betulinic acid ranged from 2.21 µM to 15.94 µM against the four melanoma lines. Co-treatment of betulinic acid with paclitaxel or docetaxel generated desirable drug–drug interactions, such as an additive and additive with a tendency to synergy interactions.
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New Drug Development and Clinical Trial Design by Applying Genomic Information Management. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081539. [PMID: 35893795 PMCID: PMC9330622 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Depending on the patients’ genotype, the same drug may have different efficacies or side effects. With the cost of genomic analysis decreasing and reliability of analysis methods improving, vast amount of genomic information has been made available. Several studies in pharmacology have been based on genomic information to select the optimal drug, determine the dose, predict efficacy, and prevent side effects. This paper reviews the tissue specificity and genomic information of cancer. If the tissue specificity of cancer is low, cancer is induced in various organs based on a single gene mutation. Basket trials can be performed for carcinomas with low tissue specificity, confirming the efficacy of one drug for a single gene mutation in various carcinomas. Conversely, if the tissue specificity of cancer is high, cancer is induced in only one organ based on a single gene mutation. An umbrella trial can be performed for carcinomas with a high tissue specificity. Some drugs are effective for patients with a specific genotype. A companion diagnostic strategy that prescribes a specific drug for patients selected with a specific genotype is also reviewed. Genomic information is used in pharmacometrics to identify the relationship among pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and biomarkers of disease treatment effects. Utilizing genomic information, sophisticated clinical trials can be designed that will be better suited to the patients of specific genotypes. Genomic information also provides prospects for innovative drug development. Through proper genomic information management, factors relating to drug response and effects can be determined by selecting the appropriate data for analysis and by understanding the structure of the data. Selecting pre-processing and appropriate machine-learning libraries for use as machine-learning input features is also necessary. Professional curation of the output result is also required. Personalized medicine can be realized using a genome-based customized clinical trial design.
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Dobre EG, Constantin C, Neagu M. Skin Cancer Research Goes Digital: Looking for Biomarkers within the Droplets. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12071136. [PMID: 35887633 PMCID: PMC9323323 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12071136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin cancer, which includes the most frequent malignant non-melanoma carcinomas (basal cell carcinoma, BCC, and squamous cell carcinoma, SCC), along with the difficult to treat cutaneous melanoma (CM), pose important worldwide issues for the health care system. Despite the improved anti-cancer armamentarium and the latest scientific achievements, many skin cancer patients fail to respond to therapies, due to the remarkable heterogeneity of cutaneous tumors, calling for even more sophisticated biomarker discovery and patient monitoring approaches. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), a robust method for detecting and quantifying low-abundance nucleic acids, has recently emerged as a powerful technology for skin cancer analysis in tissue and liquid biopsies (LBs). The ddPCR method, being capable of analyzing various biological samples, has proved to be efficient in studying variations in gene sequences, including copy number variations (CNVs) and point mutations, DNA methylation, circulatory miRNome, and transcriptome dynamics. Moreover, ddPCR can be designed as a dynamic platform for individualized cancer detection and monitoring therapy efficacy. Here, we present the latest scientific studies applying ddPCR in dermato-oncology, highlighting the potential of this technology for skin cancer biomarker discovery and validation in the context of personalized medicine. The benefits and challenges associated with ddPCR implementation in the clinical setting, mainly when analyzing LBs, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena-Georgiana Dobre
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91–95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
- Correspondence:
| | - Carolina Constantin
- Immunology Department, “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania;
- Pathology Department, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Monica Neagu
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91–95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
- Immunology Department, “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania;
- Pathology Department, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
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Ren M, Wang L, Gao ZX, Deng XY, Shen KJ, Li YL, Ding YT, Wei CY, Gu JY. Overcoming chemoresistance to b-raf inhibitor in melanoma via targeted inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase1 using 3-mercaptopropionic acid. Bioengineered 2022; 13:13571-13586. [PMID: 36700470 PMCID: PMC9275918 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2080385] [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] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The resistance of melanoma to BRAF inhibitors remains a tough clinical challenge. In order to explore the underlying mechanism of drug resistance in melanoma, we established the resistant cell line to vemurafenib, and assessed the changes of drug-resistant cells on proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress and tumor stemness. Our results suggest that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase1 (PCK1) is activated and inhibits the oxidative stress caused by vemurafenib in drug-resistant cells. Long term treatment of vemurafenib increases the expression of PCK1 which reduces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by activating PI3K/Akt pathway. After the inhibition of PCK1 by 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA), the therapeutic sensitivity of vemurafenib is restored. In conclusion, this study disclosed that drug-resistant cells appeared to regulate their own proliferation, oxidative stress and tumor dryness by activating Akt/PCK1/ROS pathway, and shed new insights into acquiring drug resistance in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Ren
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zi-Xu Gao
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Yi Deng
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang-Jie Shen
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan-Lin Li
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Teng Ding
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuan-Yuan Wei
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,CONTACT Chuan-Yuan Wei
| | - Jian-Ying Gu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,Jian-Ying Gu Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai200032, China
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Kuske M, Haist M, Jung T, Grabbe S, Bros M. Immunomodulatory Properties of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-More than Boosting T-Cell Responses? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1710. [PMID: 35406483 PMCID: PMC8996886 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) that serve to enhance effector T-cell anti-tumor responses has strongly improved success rates in the treatment of metastatic melanoma and other tumor types. The currently approved ICI constitute monoclonal antibodies blocking cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein (CTLA)-4 and anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1. By this, the T-cell-inhibitory CTLA-4/CD80/86 and PD-1/PD-1L/2L signaling axes are inhibited. This leads to sustained effector T-cell activity and circumvents the immune evasion of tumor cells, which frequently upregulate PD-L1 expression and modulate immune checkpoint molecule expression on leukocytes. As a result, profound clinical responses are observed in 40-60% of metastatic melanoma patients. Despite the pivotal role of T effector cells for triggering anti-tumor immunity, mounting evidence indicates that ICI efficacy may also be attributable to other cell types than T effector cells. In particular, emerging research has shown that ICI also impacts innate immune cells, such as myeloid cells, natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cells, which may amplify tumoricidal functions beyond triggering T effector cells, and thus improves clinical efficacy. Effects of ICI on non-T cells may additionally explain, in part, the character and extent of adverse effects associated with treatment. Deeper knowledge of these effects is required to further develop ICI treatment in terms of responsiveness of patients to treatment, to overcome resistance to ICI and to alleviate adverse effects. In this review we give an overview into the currently known immunomodulatory effects of ICI treatment in immune cell types other than the T cell compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Matthias Bros
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (M.K.); (M.H.); (T.J.); (S.G.)
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Dreier MR, de la Serna IL. SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Enzymes in Melanoma. EPIGENOMES 2022; 6:epigenomes6010010. [PMID: 35323214 PMCID: PMC8947417 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes6010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive malignancy that arises from the transformation of melanocytes on the skin, mucosal membranes, and uvea of the eye. SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzymes are multi-subunit complexes that play important roles in the development of the melanocyte lineage and in the response to ultraviolet radiation, a key environmental risk factor for developing cutaneous melanoma. Exome sequencing has revealed frequent loss of function mutations in genes encoding SWI/SNF subunits in melanoma. However, some SWI/SNF subunits have also been demonstrated to have pro-tumorigenic roles in melanoma and to affect sensitivity to therapeutics. This review summarizes studies that have implicated SWI/SNF components in melanomagenesis and have evaluated how SWI/SNF subunits modulate the response to current therapeutics.
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Musheyev Y, Levada M, Ilyaev B. Ovarian Serous Cystadenoma Presents As Bladder Issues in 23-Year-Old Female: A Case Report. Cureus 2022; 14:e23033. [PMID: 35281584 PMCID: PMC8910779 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.23033] [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: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pelvic organ problem(s) should be suspected when a female patient experiences difficulty emptying her bladder (urinary retention), abdominal distention, and bloating. Clinical suspicion is increased if she also reports any sexual activity while not using barrier contraception or is inconsistent with the use of barrier contraception as this can increase the likelihood of a sexually transmitted disease which can ultimately mimic the same symptoms. Exams that aid in the diagnosis of bladder issues include bladder ultrasound, urine analysis, and cystoscopy. Ovarian serous cystadenomas are common benign epithelial neoplasms that can range in size from 1-30 cm, and can also mimic symptoms/signs associated with bladder issues. In this case study, we present a 23-year-old female patient that presented to the clinic with signs and symptoms of bladder issues including difficulty voiding and abdominal distention. Upon further workup of the patient, it was evident that the patient had a large cyst of the right ovary that was surgically removed. A pathologic exam revealed that it was a benign serous cystadenoma that measured an impressive 28 cms in diameter.
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Anorectal and Genital Mucosal Melanoma: Diagnostic Challenges, Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Opportunities of Rare Melanomas. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10010150. [PMID: 35052829 PMCID: PMC8773579 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucosal melanomas (MM) are rare tumors, being less than 2% of all diagnosed melanomas, comprising a variegated group of malignancies arising from melanocytes in virtually all mucosal epithelia, even if more frequently found in oral and sino-nasal cavities, ano-rectum and female genitalia (vulva and vagina). To date, there is no consensus about the optimal management strategy of MM. Furthermore, the clinical rationale of molecular tumor characterization regarding BRAF, KIT or NRAS, as well as the therapeutic value of immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy, has not yet been deeply explored and clearly established in MM. In this overview, focused on anorectal and genital MM as models of rare melanomas deserving of a multidisciplinary approach, we highlight the need of referring these patients to centers with experts in melanoma, anorectal and uro-genital cancers treatments. Taking into account the rarity, the poor outcomes and the lack of effective treatment options for MM, tailored research needs to be promptly promoted.
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Huang RH, Wang LX, He J, Gao W. Application and prospects of single cell sequencing in tumors. Biomark Res 2021; 9:88. [PMID: 34895349 PMCID: PMC8665603 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00336-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is an intricate disease with inherent intra-tumor heterogeneity at the cellular level because of genetic changes and environmental differences. Cellular heterogeneity exists even within the same tumor type. Small deviations in a genome or transcriptome can lead to significant differences in function. Conventional bulk population sequencing, which produces admixed populations of cells, can only provide an average expression signal for one cell population, ignoring differences between individual cells. Important advances in sequencing have been made in recent years. Single cell sequencing starts in a single cell, thereby increasing our capability to characterize intratumor heterogeneity. This technology has been used to analyze genetic variation, specific metabolic activity, and evolutionary processes in tumors, which may help us understand tumor occurrence and development and improve our understanding of the tumor microenvironment. In addition, it provides a theoretical basis for the development of clinical treatments, especially for personalized medicine. In this article, we briefly introduce Single cell sequencing technology, summarize the application of Single cell sequencing to study the tumor microenvironment, as well as its therapeutic application in different clinical procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo Han Huang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Le Xin Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Jing He
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| | - Wen Gao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
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Jung T, Haist M, Kuske M, Grabbe S, Bros M. Immunomodulatory Properties of BRAF and MEK Inhibitors Used for Melanoma Therapy-Paradoxical ERK Activation and Beyond. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189890. [PMID: 34576054 PMCID: PMC8469254 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The advent of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors that directly inhibit tumor growth and of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) that boost effector T cell responses have strongly improved the treatment of metastatic melanoma. In about half of all melanoma patients, tumor growth is driven by gain-of-function mutations of BRAF (v-rat fibrosarcoma (Raf) murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B), which results in constitutive ERK activation. Patients with a BRAF mutation are regularly treated with a combination of BRAF and MEK (MAPK/ERK kinase) inhibitors. Next to the antiproliferative effects of BRAF/MEKi, accumulating preclinical evidence suggests that BRAF/MEKi exert immunomodulatory functions such as paradoxical ERK activation as well as additional effects in non-tumor cells. In this review, we present the current knowledge on the immunomodulatory functions of BRAF/MEKi as well as the non-intended effects of ICI and discuss the potential synergistic effects of ICI and MAPK inhibitors in melanoma treatment.
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Epigenetic Regulation in Melanoma: Facts and Hopes. Cells 2021; 10:cells10082048. [PMID: 34440824 PMCID: PMC8392422 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is a lethal disease, even when diagnosed in advanced stages. Although recent progress in biology and treatment has dramatically improved survival rates, new therapeutic approaches are still needed. Deregulation of epigenetics, which mainly controls DNA methylation status and chromatin remodeling, is implied not only in cancer initiation and progression, but also in resistance to antitumor drugs. Epigenetics in melanoma has been studied recently in both melanoma preclinical models and patient samples, highlighting its potential role in different phases of melanomagenesis, as well as in resistance to approved drugs such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and MAPK inhibitors. This review summarizes what is currently known about epigenetics in melanoma and dwells on the recognized and potential new targets for testing epigenetic drugs, alone or together with other agents, in advanced melanoma patients.
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D'Aguanno S. Special Issue "Precision Oncology in Melanoma Progression". Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7723. [PMID: 34299343 PMCID: PMC8306589 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma represents the most malignant type of skin cancer, with increasing incidence worldwide [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona D'Aguanno
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
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Sawada Y, Nakamura M. Daily Lifestyle and Cutaneous Malignancies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5227. [PMID: 34069297 PMCID: PMC8156459 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Daily lifestyle is a fundamental part of human life and its influence accumulates daily in the human body. We observe that a good daily lifestyle has a beneficial impact on our health; however, the actual effects of individual daily lifestyle factors on human skin diseases, especially skin cancers, have not been summarized. In this review, we focused on the influence of daily lifestyle on the development of skin cancer and described the detailed molecular mechanisms of the development or regulation of cutaneous malignancies. Several daily lifestyle factors, such as circadian rhythm disruption, smoking, alcohol, fatty acids, dietary fiber, obesity, and ultraviolet light, are known to be associated with the risk of cutaneous malignancies, malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. Although the influence of some daily lifestyles on the risk of skin cancers is controversial, this review provides us a better understanding of the relationship between daily lifestyle factors and skin cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Sawada
- Department of Dermatology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health 1-1, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan;
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