PD-L1 Gene Polymorphisms rs822336 G>C and rs822337 T>A: Promising Prognostic Markers in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients

Germline PDCDL1 Gene Variants Are Associated with Increased Primary Melanoma Thickness

Background: The incidence of malignant melanoma (MM) continues to increase annually, and tumour invasiveness is a main prognostic factor. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become key tools in the study of cancer genetics, influencing susceptibility and prognosis. Methods: In the present study, we analysed the relationship between five SNPs on the PDCDL1 gene (rs822336, rs822337, rs822338, rs229736, rs4143815) with prognosis as well as primary tumour invasiveness characteristics in 377 whole blood samples from MM individuals. Results: Patients who presented the rs822336 CG or GG genotypes (OR = 3.01, 95% CI = 1.53-5.92; p = 0.0017), TA or TT in rs822337 (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.22-4.93; p = 0.0098), and CT or CC of rs822338 (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.05-4.73; p = 0.028) were at an increased risk of developing invasive melanomas. Cases with the AG or GG genotype in rs2297136 presented a lower risk (OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.11-0.75; p = 0.0038) of invasive MM. The genetic analysis at the haplotype level resulted in similar findings (OR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.08-8.10), p = 0.036). Furthermore, patients carrying the homozygous AA genotype in rs2297136 had thicker tumours than those harbouring the AG or GG (1.4 mm vs. 1.0 and 0.8 mm; p = 0.030). No significant association was found between the studied SNPs and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) nor progression-free survival (PFS). Conclusions: Current results suggest that SNPs rs822336, rs822337, rs822338, and rs2297136 genotypes in the PDCDL1 gene are associated with the risk of tumour invasiveness and tumour thickness in MM. Further studies on SNPs considering genetic and epigenetic factors are needed for a better understanding of malignant melanoma susceptibility and its prognosis.

PD-L1 gene variants as predictors of recurrent pregnancy loss: A case-control study among Kazakh women in Central and West Kazakhstan

Emerging evidence implicates immune dysfunction in maintaining maternal-fetal tolerance, particularly the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway. The association between PD-L1 gene variants and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) in women from Central and West Kazakhstan was investigated, and correlations between PD-L1 genotypes and demographic or clinical features were explored. This case-control study included 197 women with RPL and 198 controls of ethnically Kazakh women. Genotyping of rs2297136, rs2297137, rs4143815, rs822336, and rs822337 PD-L1 variants was performed by real-time PCR. Demographic and clinical characteristics did not differ significantly between RPL cases and controls from Central and West Kazakhstan. Significant associations were found in the West Kazakhstan cohort for rs822336 (p = 0.02) and rs822337 (p = 0.004). The G/C genotype of rs822336 (OR = 2.33, 95 % CI = 1.04-5.26) and rs822337 (OR = 308, 95 % CI = 1.34-7.04) was associated with an increased risk of RPL in West Kazakhstan cohort. Haplotype analysis revealed a significant association of the GTGAG haplotype with RPL in West Kazakhstan (p = 0.018) but not in Central Kazakhstan subjects. Correlation analysis showed that rs822336 was positively correlated with age and BMI (p < 0.05) in Central Kazakhstan, while rs822337 was negatively correlated with live births in West Kazakhstan (p < 0.05). The findings underscore population-specific genetic influences on RPL risk, with notable significant associations between RPL and PD-L1 SNPs and GTGAG haplotype in the West Kazakhstan cohort but not in the Central Kazakhstan cohort. This highlights the contribution of genetic factors to RPL pathogenesis in different populations.

Clinical relevance of glycosylation in triple negative breast cancer: a review

Glycosylation alterations in TNBC have significant implications for tumor behavior, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies. Dysregulated glycosylation affects cell adhesion, signaling, immune recognition, and response to therapy in TNBC. Different types of glycosylation, including N-linked glycosylation, O-linked glycosylation, glycosphingolipid glycosylation, mucin-type glycosylation, and sialylation, play distinct roles in TNBC. The "barcoding" method based on glycosylation sites of the membrane type mannose receptor (MR) shows promise in accurately distinguishing breast cancer subtypes, including TNBC. Alpha-L-fucosidase 1 (FUCA1) and Monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) have been identified as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers for TNBC. The glycosylation status of PD-L1 impacts the response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in TNBC. Inhibiting fucosylation of B7H3 enhances immune responses and improves anti-tumor effects. Targeting glycosylated B7H4 and modulating estrogen metabolism through glycosylation-related mechanisms are potential therapeutic strategies for TNBC. Understanding the role of glycosylation in TNBC provides insights into disease mechanisms, diagnosis, and potential therapeutic targets. Further research in this field may lead to personalized treatment approaches and improved outcomes for TNBC patients.

Genetic Impact of HOTAIR, LINC00951, POLR2E and HULC Polymorphisms in Histopathological and Laboratory Prognostic Factors in Esophageal Cancer in the West: A Case-Control Study

Long non-coding RNAs' HOTAIR rs920778, LINC00951 rs11752942, POLR2E rs3787016, and HULC rs7763881 are progressively reported having a close genetic affinity with esophageal carcinogenesis in the East. Nonetheless, their correlation with variables already endorsed as significant prognostic factors in terms of staging, guiding treatment and predicting recurrence, metastasis, and survival have yet to be explored. Herein, we investigated their prognostic value by correlating them with clinicopathological and laboratory prognostic markers in esophageal cancer in the West. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 95 consecutive patients operated on for esophageal cancer between 2014 and 2018 were compared with 121 healthy community controls. HULC was not detected differently in any of the cancer prognostic subgroups. LINC00951 was underrepresented in Ca19.9 elevated subgroup. HOTAIR was more frequent in both worse differentiation grade and positive Signet-Ring-Cell and Ca19.9 subgroups. POLR2E was identified less frequently in Adenocarcinoma, Signet-Ring-Cell, and Diffuse histologies, as well as in Perineural, Lymphovascular, and Perivascular Invasion positive, while it was overrepresented in CEA positive subgroup. These lncRNAs polymorphisms may hold great potential not only as future therapeutic agents but also as novel markers for predictive analysis of esophageal cancer risk, clinical outcome, and survival. Clinical implications of these findings need to be validated with prospective larger sample-size studies.

Advances in Cancer Therapy from Research to Clinical Practice-Surgical, Molecular or Systemic Management of Cancer

Cancer represents one of the most important general health problems of our day [...].