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Carbone A, Verrienti A, Cito DS, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Bruno R. Effective TRIAC treatment of a THRβ-mutated patient with thyroid hormone resistance. Endocrine 2024:10.1007/s12020-024-03795-3. [PMID: 38558372 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03795-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by an alteration of thyroid hormone negative feedback, usually as a consequence of a mutation in the thyroid hormone receptor-b gene (THRβ). It is characterized by high variability of clinical manifestations, ranging from isolated abnormal thyroid function tests without symptoms to severe and impaired clinical conditions. Here we report the case of a woman who was diagnosed with RTHβ when she was 35 years old and was treated with 3,5,3-triiodiothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) because of the onset of clinical symptoms of hyperthyroidism. This therapy has been effective in controlling thyrotoxicosis for 5 years. After this time the patient developed an autoimmune hyperthyroidism, with TSH receptor autoantibodies appearance, which caused a loss of efficacy of the drug in controlling the disease. The development of different pathophysiological mechanisms of thyrotoxicosis, as in this case, could be the reason for both variability of disease manifestations and of loss of response to drug therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Carbone
- Endocrine Unit- Asm Matera, Rome, Italy
| | - A Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - D S Cito
- Endocrine Unit- Asm Matera, Rome, Italy
| | - M Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - V Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - R Bruno
- Endocrine Unit- Asm Matera, Rome, Italy.
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2
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Besharat ZM, Trocchianesi S, Verrienti A, Ciampi R, Cantara S, Romei C, Sabato C, Noviello TMR, Po A, Citarella A, Caruso FP, Panariello I, Gianno F, Carpino G, Gaudio E, Chiacchiarini M, Masuelli L, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Ramone T, Maino F, Dotta F, Ceccarelli M, Pezzullo L, Durante C, Castagna MG, Elisei R, Ferretti E. Correction: Circulating miR‑26b‑5p and miR‑451a as diagnostic biomarkers in medullary thyroid carcinoma patients. J Endocrinol Invest 2024; 47:485. [PMID: 37563447 PMCID: PMC10859328 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02172-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Z M Besharat
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - S Trocchianesi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - R Ciampi
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Cantara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - C Romei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - C Sabato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - T M R Noviello
- Biogem Scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "Gaetano Salvatore", 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - A Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Citarella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - F P Caruso
- Biogem Scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "Gaetano Salvatore", 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - I Panariello
- Thyroid Surgical Unit, IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - F Gianno
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - G Carpino
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - E Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - M Chiacchiarini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - L Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - V Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - T Ramone
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Maino
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - F Dotta
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
- Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - M Ceccarelli
- Biogem Scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "Gaetano Salvatore", 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - L Pezzullo
- Thyroid Surgical Unit, IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - C Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - M G Castagna
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - R Elisei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - E Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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3
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Besharat ZM, Trocchianesi S, Verrienti A, Ciampi R, Cantara S, Romei C, Sabato C, Noviello TMR, Po A, Citarella A, Caruso FP, Panariello I, Gianno F, Carpino G, Gaudio E, Chiacchiarini M, Masuelli L, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Ramone T, Maino F, Dotta F, Ceccarelli M, Pezzullo L, Durante C, Castagna MG, Elisei R, Ferretti E. Circulating miR-26b-5p and miR-451a as diagnostic biomarkers in medullary thyroid carcinoma patients. J Endocrinol Invest 2023; 46:2583-2599. [PMID: 37286863 PMCID: PMC10632281 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02115-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE/METHODS The determination of tumour biomarkers is paramount to advancing personalized medicine, more so in rare tumours like medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), whose diagnosis is still challenging. The aim of this study was to identify non-invasive circulating biomarkers in MTC. To achieve this goal, paired MTC tissue and plasma extracellular vesicle samples were collected from multiple centres and microRNA (miRNA) expression levels were evaluated. RESULTS The samples from a discovery cohort of 23 MTC patients were analysed using miRNA arrays. Lasso logistic regression analysis resulted in the identification of a set of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers. Among them, miR-26b-5p and miR-451a, were highly expressed and their expression decreased during follow-up in disease-free patients in the discovery cohort. Circulating miR-26b-5p and miR-451a were validated using droplet digital PCR in a second independent cohort of 12 MTC patients. CONCLUSION This study allowed the identification and validation of a signature of two circulating miRNAs, miR-26b-5p and miR-451a, in two independent cohorts reporting a significant diagnostic performance for MTC. The results of this study offer advancements in molecular diagnosis of MTC proposing a novel non-invasive tool to use in precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z M Besharat
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - S Trocchianesi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - R Ciampi
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Cantara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - C Romei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - C Sabato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - T M R Noviello
- Biogem Scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "Gaetano Salvatore", 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - A Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Citarella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - F P Caruso
- Biogem Scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "Gaetano Salvatore", 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - I Panariello
- Thyroid Surgical Unit, IRCCS Fondazione G.Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - F Gianno
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - G Carpino
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - E Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - M Chiacchiarini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - L Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - V Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - T Ramone
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Maino
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - F Dotta
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
- Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - M Ceccarelli
- Biogem Scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "Gaetano Salvatore", 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - L Pezzullo
- Thyroid Surgical Unit, IRCCS Fondazione G.Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - C Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - M G Castagna
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - R Elisei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - E Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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4
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Pecce V, Sponziello M, Verrienti A, Grani G, Abballe L, Bini S, Annunziata S, Perotti G, Salvatori M, Zagaria L, Maggisano V, Russo D, Filetti S, Durante C. The role of miR-139-5p in radioiodine-resistant thyroid cancer. J Endocrinol Invest 2023; 46:2079-2093. [PMID: 36933170 PMCID: PMC10514163 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02059-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Radioiodine I-131 (RAI) is the therapy of choice for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Between 5% and 15% of DTC patients become RAI refractory, due to the loss of expression/function of iodide metabolism components, especially the Na/I symporter (NIS). We searched for a miRNA profile associated with RAI-refractory DTC to identify novel biomarkers that could be potential targets for redifferentiation therapy. METHODS We analyzed the expression of 754 miRNAs in 26 DTC tissues: 12 responsive (R) and 14 non-responsive (NR) to RAI therapy. We identified 15 dysregulated miRNAs: 14 were upregulated, while only one (miR-139-5p) was downregulated in NR vs. R tumors. We investigated the role of miR-139-5p in iodine uptake metabolism. We overexpressed miR-139-5p in two primary and five immortalized thyroid cancer cell lines, and we analyzed the transcript and protein levels of NIS and its activation through iodine uptake assay and subcellular protein localization. RESULTS The finding of higher intracellular iodine levels and increased cell membrane protein localization in miR-139-5p overexpressing cells supports the role of this miRNA in the regulation of NIS function. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence of miR-139-5p involvement in iodine uptake metabolism and suggests its possible role as a therapeutic target in restoring iodine uptake in RAI-refractory DTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - M Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - A Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - G Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - L Abballe
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - S Bini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - S Annunziata
- Unità di Medicina Nucleare, TracerGLab, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - G Perotti
- Unità di Medicina Nucleare, TracerGLab, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - M Salvatori
- Unità di Medicina Nucleare, TracerGLab, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - L Zagaria
- Unità di Medicina Nucleare, TracerGLab, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - V Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Di Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
| | - D Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Di Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
| | - S Filetti
- Unitelma, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - C Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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5
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Citarella A, Besharat ZM, Trocchianesi S, Autilio TM, Verrienti A, Catanzaro G, Splendiani E, Spinello Z, Cantara S, Zavattari P, Loi E, Romei C, Ciampi R, Pezzullo L, Castagna MG, Angeloni A, Elisei R, Durante C, Po A, Ferretti E. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma is characterized by specific fragmentation and methylation changes with diagnostic value. Biomark Res 2023; 11:82. [PMID: 37726827 PMCID: PMC10510276 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00522-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumour whose diagnosis includes evaluating calcitonin serum levels, which can present fluctuations unrelated to MTC. Here, we investigated circulating DNA fragmentation and methylation changes as potential biomarkers using ddPCR on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) isolated from the plasma of MTC patients. For cfDNA fragmentation analysis, we investigated the fragment size distribution of a gene family and calculated short fragment fraction (SFF). Methylation analyses evaluated the methylation levels of CG_16698623, a CG dinucleotide in the MGMT gene that we found hypermethylated in MTC tissues by analyzing public databases. The SFF ratio and methylation of CG_16698623 were significantly increased in plasma from MTC patients at diagnosis, and patients with clinical remission or stable disease at follow-up showed no significant SFF difference compared with healthy subjects. Our data support the diagnostic value of cfDNA traits that could enable better management of MTC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Citarella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Zein Mersini Besharat
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Sofia Trocchianesi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Tanja Milena Autilio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Catanzaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Elena Splendiani
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Foro Italico, 00135, Rome, Italy
| | - Zaira Spinello
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Silvia Cantara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zavattari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, 09042, Italy
| | - Eleonora Loi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, 09042, Italy
| | - Cristina Romei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Raffaele Ciampi
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Luciano Pezzullo
- Thyroid Surgical Unit, IRCCS Fondazione G.Pascale, Naples, 80131, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Castagna
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Antonio Angeloni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Rosella Elisei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
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Trocchianesi S, Po A, Citarella A, Spinello Z, Rughetti A, Besharat ZM, Autilio TM, Pecce V, Verrienti A, Elisei R, Durante C, Catanzaro G, Ferretti E. Molecular mechanisms of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor pralsetinib activity in in-vitro models of medullary thyroid carcinoma: Aberrant activation of the HH-Gli signaling pathway in acquired resistance. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 164:114995. [PMID: 37301138 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a malignant tumor with challenging management. Multi-targeted kinase inhibitors (MKI) and tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI) with high specificity for RET protein are approved for advanced MTC treatment. However, their efficacy is hindered by evasion mechanisms of tumor cells. Thus, the aim of this study was the identification of an escape mechanism in MTC cells exposed to a highly selective RET TKI. TT cells were treated with TKI, MKI, and/or the HH-Gli inhibitors, GANT61 and Arsenic Trioxide (ATO), in the presence or absence of hypoxia. RET modifications, oncogenic signaling activation, proliferation and apoptosis were assessed. Additionally, cell modifications and HH-Gli activation were also evaluated in pralsetinib-resistant TT cells. Pralsetinib inhibited RET autophosphorylation and RET downstream pathways activation in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Additionally, pralsetinib impaired proliferation, induced the activation of apoptosis and, in hypoxic cells, downregulated HIF-1α. Focusing on escape molecular mechanisms associated with therapy, we observed increased Gli1 levels in a subset of cells. Indeed, pralsetinib stimulated the re-localization of Gli1 into the cell nuclei. Treatment of TT cells with both pralsetinib and ATO resulted in Gli1 down-regulation and impaired cell viability. Moreover, pralsetinib-resistant cells confirmed Gli1 activation and up-regulation of its transcriptionally regulated target genes. Altogether, we showed that pralsetinib impairs MTC cell growth and induces cell death, also in hypoxic conditions. The HH-Gli pathway is a new molecular mechanism of escape to pralsetinib therapy that can be overcome through combined therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Trocchianesi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Citarella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Zaira Spinello
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Rughetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Tanja Milena Autilio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Elisei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Catanzaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Maggisano V, Capriglione F, Verrienti A, Celano M, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Russo D, Durante C, Bulotta S. Expression of miR-31-5p affects growth, migration and invasiveness of papillary thyroid cancer cells. Endocrine 2023; 79:517-526. [PMID: 36474133 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-022-03267-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In this study, we evaluated the biological role of miRNA-31-5p in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS By using the real-time PCR, we measured miRNA-31-5p expression levels in 25 PTC tissues and in two human PTC cell lines (K1 and TPC-1). Then, K1 cells were transiently transfected with mirVana inhibitor or mirVana mimic to miRNA-31-5-p. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT and colony formation assays. The in vitro metastatic ability of thyroid cancer cells was evaluated by adhesion, migration and invasion assays. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Hippo pathway related gene and protein levels were evaluated by using the TaqMan™ Gene Expression Assays and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS We found a significant increase of miR-31-5-p expression in tumor tissue and in K1 cells harboring the BRAF p.V600E mutation. Knockdown of miR-31-5p determined a reduction of cell proliferation, associated with a significant decrease in cell adhesion, migration and invasion properties. A downregulation of EMT markers and YAP/β-catenin axis was also observed. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that miRNA-31-5p acts as oncogenic miRNA in human thyrocytes and its overexpression may be involved in the BRAF-related tumorigenesis in PTCs, providing new understanding into its pathological role in PTC progression and invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesca Capriglione
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marilena Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
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Grani G, Ciotti L, Del Gatto V, Montesano T, Biffoni M, Giacomelli L, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Verrienti A, Filetti S, Durante C. The legacy of the COVID-19 pandemics for thyroid cancer patients: towards the application of clinical practice recommendations. Endocrine 2023; 79:45-48. [PMID: 35857273 PMCID: PMC9298162 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-022-03132-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Ciotti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Del Gatto
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Teresa Montesano
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Biffoni
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Giacomelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- School of Health, UNITELMA Sapienza University of Rome, Piazza Sassari, 4, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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9
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Grani G, Ciotti L, Del Gatto V, Montesano T, Biffoni M, Giacomelli L, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Lucia P, Verrienti A, Filetti S, Durante C. The COVID-19 outbreak and de-escalation of thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment. Endocrine 2022; 78:387-391. [PMID: 35802229 PMCID: PMC9264748 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-022-03131-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Ciotti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Del Gatto
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Teresa Montesano
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Biffoni
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Giacomelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Piernatale Lucia
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- School of Health, UNITELMA Sapienza University of Rome, Piazza Sassari, 4, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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10
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Verrienti A, Grani G, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Damante G, Durante C, Russo D, Filetti S. Precision oncology for RET-related tumors. Front Oncol 2022; 12:992636. [PMID: 36091144 PMCID: PMC9449844 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.992636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the RET proto-oncogene is implicated in a plethora of cancers. RET gain-of-function point mutations are driver events in multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 (MEN2) syndrome and in sporadic medullary thyroid cancer, while RET rearrangements are driver events in several non-medullary thyroid cancers. Drugs able to inhibit RET have been used to treat RET-mutated cancers. Multikinase inhibitors were initially used, though they showed modest efficacy and significant toxicity. However, new RET selective inhibitors, such as selpercatinib and pralsetinib, have recently been tested and have shown good efficacy and tolerability, even if no direct comparison is yet available between multikinase and selective inhibitors. The advent of high-throughput technology has identified cancers with rare RET alterations beyond point mutations and fusions, including RET deletions, raising questions about whether these alterations have a functional effect and can be targeted by RET inhibitors. In this mini review, we focus on tumors with RET deletions, including deletions/insertions (indels), and their response to RET inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giorgio Grani,
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
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Abstract
Here, we describe a protocol to generate organoids from human thyroid cancer cells. Starting from the same patient-derived cells, we establish both organoids and primary lines. The organoid medium is supplemented with conditioned medium obtained from the primary cell line. This modification enables culture of the organoid lines for up to 10 months. Even after long-term culture, the organoids retain the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of their tissue of origin. Generate organoids from human thyroid cancer cells Use the conditioned medium obtained from the primary cell line for the growth Generate models that maintain genetic and phenotypic characteristics of their tissue of origin Use the models for translational research approaches
Publisher's note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Simone Bini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
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12
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Verrienti A, Carbone A, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Cito DS, Bruno R. Papillary thyroid carcinoma as first and isolated neoplastic disease in a Lynch syndrome family member with a germline MLH1 mutation. Endocrine 2022; 77:199-202. [PMID: 35415788 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-022-03048-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - A Carbone
- Endocrine Unit, Tinchi Hospital, 75015, Matera, Italy
| | - M Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - V Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - D S Cito
- Endocrine Unit, Tinchi Hospital, 75015, Matera, Italy
| | - R Bruno
- Endocrine Unit, Tinchi Hospital, 75015, Matera, Italy.
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13
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Maggisano V, Capriglione F, Verrienti A, Celano M, Gagliardi A, Bulotta S, Sponziello M, Mio C, Pecce V, Durante C, Damante G, Russo D. Identification of Exosomal microRNAs and Their Targets in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Cells. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10050961. [PMID: 35625697 PMCID: PMC9138952 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10050961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The release of molecules in exosomal cargoes is involved in tumor development and progression. We compared the profiles of exosomal microRNAs released by two thyroid cancer cell lines (TPC-1 and K1) with that of non-tumorigenic thyroid cells (Nthy-ori-3-1), and we explored the network of miRNA–target interaction. After extraction and characterization of exosomes, expression levels of microRNAs were investigated using custom TaqMan Advanced array cards, and compared with those expressed in the total cell extracts. The functional enrichment and network-based analysis of the miRNAs’ targets was also performed. Five microRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-222-3p, and let-7i-3p) were significantly deregulated in the exosomes of tumor cells vs. non-tumorigenic cells, and three of them (miR-31-5p, miR-222-3p, and let-7i-3p) in the more aggressive K1 compared to TPC-1 cells. The network analysis of the five miRNAs identified some genes as targets of more than one miRNAs. These findings permitted the identification of exosomal microRNAs secreted by aggressive PTC cells, and indicated that their main targets are regulators of the tumor microenvironment. A deeper analysis of the functional role of the targets of exosomal miRNAs will provide further information on novel targets of molecular treatments for these neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.M.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (S.B.)
| | - Francesca Capriglione
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.M.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (S.B.)
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.V.); (M.S.); (V.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Marilena Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.M.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (S.B.)
| | - Agnese Gagliardi
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.M.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (S.B.)
| | - Stefania Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.M.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (S.B.)
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.V.); (M.S.); (V.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Catia Mio
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Academic Hospital of Udine, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (C.M.); (G.D.)
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.V.); (M.S.); (V.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.V.); (M.S.); (V.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Academic Hospital of Udine, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (C.M.); (G.D.)
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.M.); (F.C.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (S.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-096-136-94-124
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14
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Capriglione F, Verrienti A, Celano M, Maggisano V, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Gagliardi A, Giacomelli L, Aceti V, Durante C, Bulotta S, Russo D. Analysis of serum microRNA in exosomal vehicles of papillary thyroid cancer. Endocrine 2022; 75:185-193. [PMID: 34378123 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-021-02847-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In this study, we investigated the profile of microRNAs (miRNAs) contained in exosomes secreted in the serum of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS Exosome were isolated by adding ExoQuick Exosome Precipitation Solution. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and western blotting analysis were used to ensure the quality of exosomes. The expression levels of miRNAs were investigated using custom-designed TaqMan Advanced miRNA Array Cards in the screening cohort and using specific TaqMan Advanced MicroRNA Assays in the validation cohort. RESULTS We identified miR24-3p, miR146a-5p, miR181a-5p and miR382-5p with different expression levels in two different series of 56 and 58 PTC patients as compared with healthy controls. Significant differences in the expression of three PTC exosomal miRNAs, depending on the presence of lymph node metastasis, were detected in only one PTC series. When comparing the expression levels of some PTC-specific exosomal miRNAs with those of the same miRNAs circulating free of any encapsulation, we found a significant correlation for only miR24-3p, suggesting that only select miRNAs are secreted in exosomes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that four miRNAs are differently secreted in the exosomes of PTC patients, whereas no conclusive results were found to characterize PTCs with lymph node metastasis, suggesting caution in the use of circulating exosomal miRNA expression levels as lymph node metastasis biomarkers. Further investigation into the mechanisms governing miRNA secretion in tumor cells are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Capriglione
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of translational and precision medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marilena Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valentina Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of translational and precision medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of translational and precision medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Gagliardi
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Laura Giacomelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Aceti
- Department of translational and precision medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of translational and precision medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
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15
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Grani G, Sponziello M, Verrienti A, Durante C. Therapy of non-iodine uptaking metastasis in thyroid cancer. Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-822960-6.00201-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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16
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Mio C, Verrienti A, Pecce V, Sponziello M, Damante G. Rare germline variants in DNA repair-related genes are accountable for papillary thyroid cancer susceptibility. Endocrine 2021; 73:648-657. [PMID: 33821390 PMCID: PMC8325654 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-021-02705-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) proved to be vital not only for diagnostic purposes but also for tailored treatments. Despite the strong evidence of heritability, only a small subset of alterations has been implicated in PTC pathogenesis. To this reason, we used targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify candidate variants implicated in PTC pathogenesis, progression, and invasiveness. METHODS A total of 42 primary PTC tissues were investigated using a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel enlisting 47 genes involved in DNA repair and tumor progression. RESULTS We identified 57 point mutations in 78.5% of samples (n = 32). Thirty-two somatic mutations were identified exclusively in known thyroid cancer genes (BRAF, KRAS, NRAS, and TERT). Unpredictably, 45% of the all identified mutations (n = 25) resulted to be germline, most affecting DNA repair genes. Interestingly, none of the latter variants was in the main population databases. Following ACMG classification, 20% of pathogenic/likely pathogenic and 68% of variant of unknown significance were identified. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our results support the hypothesis that rare germline variants in DNA repair genes are accountable for PTC susceptibility. More data, including the segregation analysis in affected families, should be collected before definitely annotate these alterations and to establish their potential prognostic and treatment implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catia Mio
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
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17
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Sibilio P, Bini S, Fiscon G, Sponziello M, Conte F, Pecce V, Durante C, Paci P, Falcone R, Norata GD, Farina L, Verrienti A. In silico drug repurposing in COVID-19: A network-based analysis. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 142:111954. [PMID: 34358753 PMCID: PMC8316014 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a worldwide public health emergency. Despite the beginning of a vaccination campaign, the search for new drugs to appropriately treat COVID-19 patients remains a priority. Drug repurposing represents a faster and cheaper method than de novo drug discovery. In this study, we examined three different network-based approaches to identify potentially repurposable drugs to treat COVID-19. We analyzed transcriptomic data from whole blood cells of patients with COVID-19 and 21 other related conditions, as compared with those of healthy subjects. In addition to conventionally used drugs (e.g., anticoagulants, antihistaminics, anti-TNFα antibodies, corticosteroids), unconventional candidate compounds, such as SCN5A inhibitors and drugs active in the central nervous system, were identified. Clinical judgment and validation through clinical trials are always mandatory before use of the identified drugs in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Sibilio
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Bini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Fiscon
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy; Fondazione per la Medicina Personalizzata, Via Goffredo Mameli, 3/1, Genova, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Conte
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Paci
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy; Department of Computer, Control, and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Rosa Falcone
- Phase 1 Unit-Clinical Trial Center Gemelli University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Danilo Norata
- Department of Excellence in Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan and Center for the Study of Atherosclerosis, SISA Bassini Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Farina
- Department of Computer, Control, and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Petti M, Verrienti A, Paci P, Farina L. SEaCorAl: Identifying and contrasting the regulation-correlation bias in RNA-Seq paired expression data of patient groups. Comput Biol Med 2021; 135:104567. [PMID: 34174761 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.104567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The Cancer Genome Atlas database offers the possibility of analyzing genome-wide expression RNA-Seq cancer data using paired counts, that is, studies where expression data are collected in pairs of normal and cancer cells, by taking samples from the same individual. Correlation of gene expression profiles is the most common analysis to study co-expression groups, which is used to find biological interpretation of -omics big data. The aim of the paper is threefold: firstly we show for the first time, the presence of a "regulation-correlation bias" in RNA-Seq paired expression data, that is an artifactual link between the expression status (up- or down-regulation) of a gene pair and the sign of the corresponding correlation coefficient. Secondly, we provide a statistical model able to theoretically explain the reasons for the presence of such a bias. Thirdly, we present a bias-removal algorithm, called SEaCorAl, able to effectively reduce bias effects and improve the biological significance of correlation analysis. Validation of the SEaCorAl algorithm is performed by showing a significant increase in the ability to detect biologically meaningful associations of positive correlations and a significant increase of the modularity of the resulting unbiased correlation network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Petti
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Paci
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Farina
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
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19
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Verrienti A, Carbone A, Cito DS, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Bruno R. Long-term disease recurrence in the adipose tissue and striated muscles of a minimally invasive papillary thyroid carcinoma. Endocrine 2021; 72:937-939. [PMID: 33275186 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-020-02558-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Bruno
- Endocrine Unit, Tinchi Hospital, 75015, Matera, Italy.
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Sarno F, Benincasa G, List M, Barabasi AL, Baumbach J, Ciardiello F, Filetti S, Glass K, Loscalzo J, Marchese C, Maron BA, Paci P, Parini P, Petrillo E, Silverman EK, Verrienti A, Altucci L, Napoli C. Clinical epigenetics settings for cancer and cardiovascular diseases: real-life applications of network medicine at the bedside. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:66. [PMID: 33785068 PMCID: PMC8010949 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01047-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite impressive efforts invested in epigenetic research in the last 50 years, clinical applications are still lacking. Only a few university hospital centers currently use epigenetic biomarkers at the bedside. Moreover, the overall concept of precision medicine is not widely recognized in routine medical practice and the reductionist approach remains predominant in treating patients affected by major diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. By its' very nature, epigenetics is integrative of genetic networks. The study of epigenetic biomarkers has led to the identification of numerous drugs with an increasingly significant role in clinical therapy especially of cancer patients. Here, we provide an overview of clinical epigenetics within the context of network analysis. We illustrate achievements to date and discuss how we can move from traditional medicine into the era of network medicine (NM), where pathway-informed molecular diagnostics will allow treatment selection following the paradigm of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Sarno
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Napoli, Italy
| | - Giuditta Benincasa
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (DAMSS), University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Markus List
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Albert-Lazlo Barabasi
- Network Science Institute and Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Network and Data Science, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jan Baumbach
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Chair of Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fortunato Ciardiello
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Kimberly Glass
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Loscalzo
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cinzia Marchese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Bradley A Maron
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paola Paci
- Department of Computer, Control, and Management Engineering, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Parini
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Enrico Petrillo
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Edwin K Silverman
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Altucci
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Napoli, Italy.
| | - Claudio Napoli
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (DAMSS), University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
- Clinical Department of Internal Medicine and Specialistic Units, AOU, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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21
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Petti M, Bizzarri D, Verrienti A, Falcone R, Farina L. Connectivity Significance for Disease Gene Prioritization in an Expanding Universe. IEEE/ACM Trans Comput Biol Bioinform 2020; 17:2155-2161. [PMID: 31484130 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2019.2938512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental topic in network medicine is disease genes prioritization. The underlying hypothesis is that disease genes are organized as modules confined within the interactome. Here, we propose a novel algorithm called DiaBLE (DIAMOnD Background Local Expansion) which is a modified version of DIAMOnD, a successful algorithm based on the concept of connectivity significance. Instead of taking the whole interactome as the background model, DiaBLE considers as gene universe the smallest local expansion of the current seeds set at each iteration step. We show that DiaBLE significantly increases the overall DIAMOnD ranking quality of genes prioritization both in terms of cross-validation and biological consistency. Here, we focus on the two algorithms only since a comparative analysis among gene prioritization methods is beyond the scope of this study. Finally, we briefly discuss the improvement of biological insight provided by DiaBLE for two cancers (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma).
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Verrienti A, Pecce V, Abballe L, Ramundo V, Falcone R, Inanloo Nigi Jak F, Brunelli C, Fadda G, Bosco D, Ascoli V, Carletti R, Di Gioia C, Grani G, Sponziello M. Analytical validation of a novel targeted next-generation sequencing assay for mutation detection in thyroid nodule aspirates and tissue. Endocrine 2020; 69:451-455. [PMID: 32506194 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-020-02372-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The identification of somatic mutations in cancer specimens enables detection of molecular markers for personalized treatment. We recently developed a novel molecular assay and evaluated its clinical performance as an ancillary molecular method for indeterminate thyroid nodule cytology. Herein we describe the analytical validation of the novel targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay in thyroid samples from different sources. METHODS We present validation data of a novel NGS-based panel on 463 thyroid samples, including 310 fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens from different sources (FNA collected in preservative solution, liquid-based, and stained smears), 10 fresh frozen, and 143 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) thyroid tissue specimens. Sequencing performance in the different samples was evaluated along with reproducibility, repeatability, minimum nucleic acid input to detect variants, and analytical sensitivity of the assay. RESULTS All thyroid samples achieved high sequencing performance, with a mean base coverage depth ranging from 2228 × (in liquid-based FNA) to 3661 × (in FNA stained smears), and coverage uniformity ranging from 86% (in FFPE) to 95% (in FNA collected in preservative solution), with all target regions covered above the minimum depth required to call a variant (500×). The minimum nucleic acid input was 1 ng. Analytic sensitivity for mutation detection was 2-5% mutant allele frequency. CONCLUSIONS This validation study of a novel NGS-based assay for thyroid nodules demonstrated that the assay can be reliably used on multiple thyroid sample types, including FNA from different sources and FF and FFPE thyroid samples, thus providing a robust and reliable assay to genotype thyroid nodules, which may improve thyroid cancer diagnosis and care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Valeria Ramundo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Falcone
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Brunelli
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Fadda
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Bosco
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Ascoli
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Carletti
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cira Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Pecce V, Verrienti A, Abballe L, Carletti R, Grani G, Falcone R, Ramundo V, Durante C, Di Gioia C, Russo D, Filetti S, Sponziello M. Loss of Function SETD2 Mutations in Poorly Differentiated Metastases from Two Hürthle Cell Carcinomas of the Thyroid. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071892. [PMID: 32674319 PMCID: PMC7409075 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hürthle cell carcinomas (HCC) are rare differentiated thyroid cancers that display low avidity for radioactive iodine and respond poorly to kinase inhibitors. Here, using next-generation sequencing, we analyzed the mutational status of primary tissue and poorly differentiated metastatic tissue from two HCC patients. In both cases, metastatic tissues harbored a mutation of SETD2, each resulting in loss of the SRI and WW domains of SETD2, a methyltransferase that trimethylates H3K36 (H3K36me3) and also interacts with p53 to promote its stability. Functional studies of the novel p.D1890fs6* mutation (case 1) revealed significantly reduced H3K36me3 levels in SETD2-mutated tissue and primary cell cultures and decreased levels of the active form of p53. Restoration of SETD2-wildtype expression in the SETD2-mutant cells significantly reduced the expression of four well-known stemness markers (OCT-4, SOX2, IPF1, Goosecoid). These findings suggest potential roles for SETD2 loss-of-function mutations in HCC progression, possibly involving p53 destabilization and promotion of stemness. Their prevalence and potential treatment implications in thyroid cancer, especially HCC, require further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (A.V.); (L.A.); (G.G.); (R.F.); (V.R.); (C.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (A.V.); (L.A.); (G.G.); (R.F.); (V.R.); (C.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (A.V.); (L.A.); (G.G.); (R.F.); (V.R.); (C.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Raffaella Carletti
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.C.); (C.D.G.)
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (A.V.); (L.A.); (G.G.); (R.F.); (V.R.); (C.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Rosa Falcone
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (A.V.); (L.A.); (G.G.); (R.F.); (V.R.); (C.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Valeria Ramundo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (A.V.); (L.A.); (G.G.); (R.F.); (V.R.); (C.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (A.V.); (L.A.); (G.G.); (R.F.); (V.R.); (C.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Cira Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.C.); (C.D.G.)
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (A.V.); (L.A.); (G.G.); (R.F.); (V.R.); (C.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (A.V.); (L.A.); (G.G.); (R.F.); (V.R.); (C.D.); (S.F.)
- Correspondence:
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24
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Sponziello M, Brunelli C, Verrienti A, Grani G, Pecce V, Abballe L, Ramundo V, Damante G, Russo D, Lombardi CP, Durante C, Rossi ED, Straccia P, Fadda G, Filetti S. Performance of a dual-component molecular assay in cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules. Endocrine 2020; 68:458-465. [PMID: 32232767 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-020-02271-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Deciding whether patients with a cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodule should be referred for surgery or for active surveillance is an important challenge for clinicians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a novel dual-component molecular assay as an ancillary molecular method for resolving indeterminate thyroid nodule cytology. METHODS We selected 156 thyroid nodules from those that had undergone fine-needle aspiration processed by liquid-based cytology and surgical resection between June 2016 and December 2017. The sample set included 63 nodules cytologically classified as indeterminate, and 93 other nodules randomly selected from those with non-diagnostic, benign, suspicious, or malignant cytology. Nucleic acids from each nodule were subjected to next-generation sequencing analysis for mutation detection in 23 genes and to digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) evaluation for miR-146b-5p expression levels. RESULTS Used alone, mutation analysis in the indeterminate subset (cancer prevalence: 22.5%) displayed high sensitivity (89%) and NPV (96%). In contrast, the miR-146b-5p assay offered high specificity (93%) and PPV (93%). Combined use of both analyses improved panel performance by eliminating false-negative results. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary data suggest that a dual-component molecular test can increase the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid cytology alone by reducing the number of nodules that will be classified as indeterminate and increasing those that can be reliably classified as benign. If these findings are confirmed, this test can be considered for use in clinical practice and is expected to reduce diagnostic surgery and health care costs, and to improve patient quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Brunelli
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Ramundo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Celestino Pio Lombardi
- Division of Endocrine Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Esther Diana Rossi
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Straccia
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Fadda
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
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25
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Verrienti A, Sponziello M, Durante C, Filetti S, Grani G. Comment on: BRAF mutation analysis by ARMS-PCR refines thyroid nodule management. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2020; 92:482-483. [PMID: 31578731 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Falcone R, Sponziello M, Carletti R, Di Gioia C, Nardi F, Mio C, Pecce V, Abballe L, Grani G, Ramundo V, Damante G, Durante C, Filetti M, Roberto M, Marchetti P, Verrienti A. Exploring the molecular insights of concurrent composite mucoepidermoid carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma. Endocrine 2020; 68:230-232. [PMID: 32048208 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-020-02221-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Falcone
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Raffella Carletti
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cira Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Nardi
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Catia Mio
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Ramundo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Filetti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Roberto
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
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27
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Falcone R, Sponziello M, Carletti R, Di Gioia C, Nardi F, Mio C, Pecce V, Abballe L, Grani G, Ramundo V, Damante G, Durante C, Filetti M, Roberto M, Marchetti P, Verrienti A. Correction to: Exploring the molecular insights of concurrent composite mucoepidermoid carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma. Endocrine 2020; 68:248. [PMID: 32207037 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-020-02262-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Falcone
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Raffella Carletti
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cira Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Nardi
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Catia Mio
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Ramundo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Filetti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Roberto
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
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Ramundo V, Sponziello M, Falcone R, Verrienti A, Filetti S, Durante C, Grani G. Low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: Optimal management toward a more conservative approach. J Surg Oncol 2020; 121:958-963. [PMID: 32189352 DOI: 10.1002/jso.25848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (microPTC) has dramatically increased in the last decades. Most of these tumors remain small and clinically "silent", only small number progress. Although thyroid surgery used to be the only therapeutic approach, recent guidelines now consider active surveillance for low-risk microPTC. For this reason, more accurate risk stratification of microPTC is needed. The optimal management of low-risk microPTC through accurate risk stratification represents a major clinical issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Ramundo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Falcone
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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29
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Grani G, Ramundo V, Falcone R, Lamartina L, Montesano T, Biffoni M, Giacomelli L, Sponziello M, Verrienti A, Schlumberger M, Filetti S, Durante C. Thyroid Cancer Patients With No Evidence of Disease: The Need for Repeat Neck Ultrasound. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019; 104:4981-4989. [PMID: 31206157 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2019-00962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Ultrasonography (US) is considered the most sensitive tool for imaging persistent or recurrent papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in the neck. OBJECTIVE To clarify the usefulness of routine neck US in low- and intermediate-risk patients with PTC with no evidence of disease 1 year after thyroidectomy. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of prospectively recorded data. SETTING Academic center. PATIENTS Two hundred twenty-six patients with PTC with sonographically normal neck lymph nodes and unstimulated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels that were either undetectable (<0.20 ng/mL) or low (0.21 to 0.99 ng/mL) at the 1-year evaluation. INTERVENTIONS Yearly assessment: unstimulated serum Tg level, anti-Tg-antibody (TgAb) titer, TSH levels, and ultrasound examination of neck lymph nodes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rates of ultrasonographic lymph node abnormalities at the 3-year and last follow-up visits. RESULTS In patients with an undetectable Tg level at the 1-year evaluation, sonographically suspicious neck lymph nodes were found in 1.2% of patients at 3 years and in 1.8% at the last visit [negative predictive values (NPVs) of 1-year Tg < 0.2 ng/mL: 98.8% (95% CI 95.8% to 99.9%) and 98.2% (95% to 99.6%), respectively]. Similar NPVs emerged for low detectable 1-year Tg levels [98.2% (90.3% to 99.9%) and 94.5% (84.9% to 98.9%) at the 3-year and last visits, respectively]. Seventy-five percent of the nodal lesions were likely false positive; none required treatment. CONCLUSIONS Low- and intermediate-risk patients with PTC with negative ultrasound findings and unstimulated Tg levels <1 ng/mL at the 1-year evaluation can be safely followed with clinical assessments and unstimulated serum Tg determinations. Neck US might be repeated if TgAb titers rise, or unstimulated Tg levels exceed 1 ng/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Ramundo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Falcone
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Lamartina
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Teresa Montesano
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Biffoni
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Giacomelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Martin Schlumberger
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Gustave Roussy and University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
Surgery-with or without postoperative radioiodine-is the standard of care for most patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is the mainstay of long-term medical management. Patients treated with total thyroidectomy and some who undergo lobectomy alone require thyroid hormone therapy to restore euthyroidism with normal serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Because TSH acts as a growth factor for thyroid follicular cells (including those that are neoplastic), it can potentially affect the onset and/or progression of follicular-cell derived thyroid cancer. For this reason, some patients are placed on thyroid hormone therapy at doses that suppress secretion of TSH (suppression therapy). This mini-review looks at the potential benefits and risks of this practice in patients diagnosed with DTC. Aggressive TSH-suppressive therapy is of little or no benefit to the vast majority of patients with DTC. Practice guidelines, therefore, recommend a graded algorithm in which the potential benefits of suppression are weighed against the associated cardiovascular and skeletal risks. Large randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm the presumed oncological benefits of TSH-suppression and its causal role in adverse cardiac, skeletal, and quality of life effects and to assess the efficacy of TSH normalization in reversing or reducing these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Grani
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Ramundo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Falcone R, Conte F, Fiscon G, Pecce V, Sponziello M, Durante C, Farina L, Filetti S, Paci P, Verrienti A. BRAF V600E-mutant cancers display a variety of networks by SWIM analysis: prediction of vemurafenib clinical response. Endocrine 2019; 64:406-413. [PMID: 30850937 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-019-01890-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Several studies have shown that different tumour types sharing a driver gene mutation do not respond uniformly to the same targeted agent. Our aim was to use an unbiased network-based approach to investigate this fundamental issue using BRAFV600E mutant tumours and the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib. METHODS We applied SWIM, a software able to identify putative regulatory (switch) genes involved in drastic changes to the cell phenotype, to gene expression profiles of different BRAFV600E mutant cancers and their normal counterparts in order to identify the switch genes that could potentially explain the heterogeneity of these tumours' responses to vemurafenib. RESULTS We identified lung adenocarcinoma as the tumour with the highest number of switch genes (298) compared to its normal counterpart. By looking for switch genes encoding for kinases with homology sequences similar to known vemurafenib targets, we found that thyroid cancer and lung adenocarcinoma have a similar number of putative targetable switch gene kinases (5 and 6, respectively) whereas colorectal cancer has just one. CONCLUSIONS We are persuaded that our network analysis may aid in the comprehension of molecular mechanisms underlying the different responses to vemurafenib in BRAFV600E mutant tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Falcone
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Conte
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- ACT Operations Research, Research & Development, Roma, Italy
| | - Giulia Fiscon
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- ACT Operations Research, Research & Development, Roma, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Farina
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Paci
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Maggisano V, Celano M, Lepore SM, Sponziello M, Rosignolo F, Pecce V, Verrienti A, Baldan F, Mio C, Allegri L, Maranghi M, Falcone R, Damante G, Russo D, Bulotta S. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase in papillary thyroid cancer: gene expression, effects of silencing and regulation by BET inhibitors in thyroid cancer cells. Endocrine 2019; 63:545-553. [PMID: 30661164 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-018-01836-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mutations in TERT promoter have been detected in the more aggressive papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs). To elucidate the role of TERT as an eligible molecular target in these tumors, the expression of hTERT was analyzed in a series of PTCs and the effects of both pharmacological and RNA-interference-induced hTERT silencing were investigated in two human PTC cell lines (K1 and BCPAP). METHODS The expression levels of hTERT mRNA and protein were evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot assays, respectively. Effects of hTERT silencing on PTC cell lines were analyzed by MTT, migration and western blot assays. Pharmacological inhibition of hTERT was performed using two bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) inhibitors, JQ1 and I-BET762. RESULTS hTERT expression results increased in 20 out of 48 PTCs, including tumors either positive or negative for the presence of hTERT promoter and/or BRAF mutations. In K1 and BCPAP cells, hTERT silencing determined a reduction in cell viability (~50% for K1 and ~70%, for BCPAP, vs control) and migration properties that were associated with a decrease of AKT phosphorylation and β-Catenin expression. Moreover, hTERT mRNA levels were down-regulated by two BET inhibitors, JQ1 and I-BET762, which at the same dosage (0.5 and 5 µM) reduced the growth of these thyroid cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that hTERT may represent an excellent therapeutic target in subgroups of aggressive PTCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marilena Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Saverio Massimo Lepore
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Baldan
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Catia Mio
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Allegri
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Marianna Maranghi
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Falcone
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Stefania Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
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Celano M, Maggisano V, Lepore SM, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Verrienti A, Durante C, Maranghi M, Lucia P, Bulotta S, Damante G, Russo D. Expression of Leptin Receptor and Effects of Leptin on Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cells. Int J Endocrinol 2019; 2019:5031696. [PMID: 30906321 PMCID: PMC6393892 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5031696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity has been hypothesized to contribute to the aggressiveness of thyroid cancer through the production of abnormal levels of serum adipokines. Leptin receptor (OB-R) expression has also been documented in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). AIM In this translational study, we analyzed in vitro the effects of leptin on the growth and migration of thyroid cancer cells (TPC-1 and K1), the molecular mechanisms underlying leptin's action, and the influence of prolonged leptin exposure on cell response to a protein kinase inhibitor lenvatinib. The expression levels of OB-R mRNA and protein were also investigated in vivo in a series of aggressive PTCs divided into two groups based on the presence of the BRAF mutation. RESULTS In TPC-1 and K1 cells, prolonged treatment with leptin (500 ng/ml for 96 h) resulted in a mild increase in the proliferation (about 20% over control only in K1 cells, p < 0.05) and in the migration of both cancer cell lines. Immunoblot analysis revealed a slight increase in the phosphorylation of AKT, but no effect on β-catenin and phospho-ERK expressions. The inhibitory effects of lenvatinib on the viability of both cell lines were not influenced by the leptin treatment. OB-R transcript (in fresh tissues) and proteins (in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens) were expressed in all PTC tissues examined, with no significant differences between BRAF-mutated and BRAF-wild-type tumors. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate leptin's role in mildly increasing the aggressive phenotype of PTC cells but without influencing the action of lenvatinib. Further studies will clarify whether it is possible to target OB-R, expressed in all aggressive PTCs, as an adjuvant treatment approach for these malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilena Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valentina Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Saverio Massimo Lepore
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Maranghi
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Piernatale Lucia
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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Maranghi M, Truglio G, Gallo A, Grieco E, Verrienti A, Montali A, Gallo P, Alesini F, Arca M, Lucarelli M. A novel splicing mutation in the ABCA1 gene, causing Tangier disease and familial HDL deficiency in a large family. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 508:487-493. [PMID: 30503498 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.11.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Tangier disease is a rare disorder of lipoprotein metabolism that presents with extremely low levels of HDL cholesterol and apoprotein A-I. It is caused by mutations in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene. Clinical heterogeneity and mutational pattern of Tangier disease are poorly characterized. Moreover, also familial HDL deficiency may be caused by mutations in ABCA1 gene. ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene mutations in a patient with Tangier disease, who presented an uncommon clinical history, and in his family were found and characterized. He was found to be compound heterozygous for two intronic mutations of ABCA1 gene, causing abnormal pre-mRNAs splicing. The novel c.1510-1G > A mutation was located in intron 12 and caused the activation of a cryptic splice site in exon 13, which determined the loss of 22 amino acids of exon 13 with the introduction of a premature stop codon. Five heterozygous carriers of this mutation were also found in proband's family, all presenting reduced HDL cholesterol and ApoAI (0.86 ± 0.16 mmol/L and 92.2 ± 10.9 mg/dL respectively), but not the typical features of Tangier disease, a phenotype compatible with the diagnosis of familial HDL deficiency. The other known mutation c.1195-27G > A was confirmed to cause aberrant retention of 25 nucleotides of intron 10 leading to the insertion of a stop codon after 20 amino acids of exon 11. Heterozygous carriers of this mutation also showed the clinical phenotype of familial HDL deficiency. Our study extends the catalog of pathogenic intronic mutations affecting ABCA1 pre-mRNA splicing. In a large family, a clear demonstration that the same mutations may cause Tangier disease (if in compound heterozygosis) or familial HDL deficiency (if in heterozygosis) is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Maranghi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Atherosclerosis Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Gessica Truglio
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Atherosclerosis Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gallo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Atherosclerosis Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Elvira Grieco
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Atherosclerosis Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Atherosclerosis Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Montali
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Atherosclerosis Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Gallo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Alesini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Arca
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Atherosclerosis Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Lucarelli
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Pasteur Institute Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
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Sponziello M, Silvestri G, Verrienti A, Perna A, Rosignolo F, Brunelli C, Pecce V, Rossi ED, Lombardi CP, Durante C, Filetti S, Fadda G. A novel nonsense EIF1AX mutation identified in a thyroid nodule histologically diagnosed as oncocytic carcinoma. Endocrine 2018; 62:492-495. [PMID: 29700698 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-018-1611-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Silvestri
- Institute of Neurology, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessia Perna
- Institute of Neurology, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Brunelli
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Esther Diana Rossi
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Celestino Pio Lombardi
- Division of Endocrine Surgery, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Fadda
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Foundation "Agostino Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy
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Falcone R, Paci P, Verrienti A, Fiscon G, Sponziello M, Conte F, Pecce V, Rosignolo F, Grani G, Lamartina L, Ramundo V, Durante C, Farina L, Filetti S. Prediction of response to vemurafenib in BRAF V600E mutant cancers based on a network approach. Ann Oncol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy303.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Pecce V, Sponziello M, Damante G, Rosignolo F, Durante C, Lamartina L, Grani G, Russo D, di Gioia CR, Filetti S, Verrienti A. A synonymous RET substitution enhances the oncogenic effect of an in-cis missense mutation by increasing constitutive splicing efficiency. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007678. [PMID: 30321177 PMCID: PMC6201961 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Synonymous mutations continue to be filtered out from most large-scale cancer genome studies, but several lines of evidence suggest they can play driver roles in neoplastic disease. We investigated a case of an aggressive, apparently sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) harboring a somatic RET p.Cys634Arg mutation (a known MTC driver). A germ-line RET substitution (p.Cys630=) had also been found but was considered clinically irrelevant because of its synonymous nature. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the tumor tissues revealed that the RET mutations were in cis. There was no evidence of gene amplification. Expression analysis found an increase of RET transcript in p.Cys630=;p.Cys634Arg patient compared with that found in 7 MTCs harboring p.Cys634 mutations. Minigene expression assays demonstrated that the presence of the synonymous RET mutation was sufficient to explain the increased RET mRNA level. In silico analyses and RNA immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the p.Cys630 = variant created new exonic splicing enhancer motifs that enhanced SRp55 recruitment to the mutant allele, leading to more efficient maturation of its pre-mRNA and an increased abundance of mature mRNA encoding a constitutively active RET receptor. These findings document a novel mechanism by which synonymous mutations can contribute to cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pecce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Lamartina
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Cira Rosaria di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Celano M, Mio C, Sponziello M, Verrienti A, Bulotta S, Durante C, Damante G, Russo D. Targeting post-translational histone modifications for the treatment of non-medullary thyroid cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 469:38-47. [PMID: 28579118 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genomic and epigenetic alterations are now being exploited as molecular targets in cancer treatment. Abnormalities involving the post-translational modification of histones have been demonstrated in thyroid cancer, and they are regarded as promising molecular targets for novel drug treatment of tumors that are resistant to conventional therapies. After a brief overview of the histone modifications most commonly associated with human malignancies, we will review recently published preclinical and clinical findings regarding the use of histone-activity modulators in thyroid cancers. Particular attention will be focused on their use as re-differentiating or anti-proliferating agents, the differential effects observed when they are used alone and in combination with other targeted drugs, and current prospects for their use in the treatment of thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilena Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Catia Mio
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
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Celano M, Mignogna C, Rosignolo F, Sponziello M, Iannone M, Lepore SM, Lombardo GE, Maggisano V, Verrienti A, Bulotta S, Durante C, Di Loreto C, Damante G, Russo D. Expression of YAP1 in aggressive thyroid cancer. Endocrine 2018; 59:209-212. [PMID: 28120182 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-017-1240-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marilena Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy
| | - Chiara Mignogna
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Michelangelo Iannone
- CNR, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Roccelletta di Borgia, Borgia, 88021, Italy
| | - Saverio Massimo Lepore
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy
| | - Giovanni Enrico Lombardo
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy
| | - Valentina Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Stefania Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Carla Di Loreto
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, 33100, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, 33100, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy.
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40
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Sponziello M, Benvenuti S, Gentile A, Pecce V, Rosignolo F, Virzì AR, Milan M, Comoglio PM, Londin E, Fortina P, Barnabei A, Appetecchia M, Marandino F, Russo D, Filetti S, Durante C, Verrienti A. Whole exome sequencing identifies a germline MET mutation in two siblings with hereditary wild-type RET medullary thyroid cancer. Hum Mutat 2017; 39:371-377. [PMID: 29219214 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Whole exome sequencing (WES) was used to investigate two Italian siblings with wild-type RET genotype, who developed medullary thyroid cancers (MTCs) and, later, primary prostate and breast cancers, respectively. The proband's MTC harbored a p.Met918Thr RET mutation; his sister's MTC was RET/RAS wild-type. Both siblings had a germline mutation (p.Arg417Gln) in the extracellular Sema domain of the proto-oncogene MET. Experiments involving ectopic expression of MET p.Arg417Gln in MET-negative T47D breast cancer cells documented the mutant receptor's functionality and its ability to enhance cell migration and invasion. Our findings highlight a possible link between MET germline mutations and MTCs and suggest that MET p. Arg417Gln may promote an invasive malignant phenotype. The possibility that MTC can be driven/co-driven by a MET mutation has potential management implications, since the tyrosine-kinase inhibitor cabozantinib-approved for treating advanced MTCs-is a specific MET inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Benvenuti
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gentile
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Virzì
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy.,Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Melissa Milan
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy.,Department of Medical Oncology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo M Comoglio
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Eric Londin
- Computational Medicine Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Paolo Fortina
- Cancer Genomics Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Barnabei
- Unit of Endocrinology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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41
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Maggisano V, Celano M, Lombardo GE, Lepore SM, Sponziello M, Rosignolo F, Verrienti A, Baldan F, Puxeddu E, Durante C, Filetti S, Damante G, Russo D, Bulotta S. Silencing of hTERT blocks growth and migration of anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017; 448:34-40. [PMID: 28288903 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the hTERT promoter responsible for constitutive telomerase activity are the most frequent genetic alteration detected in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), and proposed as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in these tumours. In this study we analyzed hTERT expression in a series of human ATCs and investigated the effects of small-interfering RNA-mediated silencing of hTERT on viability and migration and invasive properties of three human ATC cell lines. Expression of hTERT mRNA resulted increased in 8/10 ATCs compared to normal thyroid tissues. Silencing of hTERT in CAL-62, 8505C and SW1736 cells did not modify telomere length but determined a significant decrease (about 50%) of cell proliferation in all cell lines and a great reduction (about 50%) of migration and invasion capacity. These finding demonstrate that hTERT may be considered as a molecular target for ATC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marilena Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Saverio Massimo Lepore
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Baldan
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Efisio Puxeddu
- Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Stefania Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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42
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Rosignolo F, Memeo L, Monzani F, Colarossi C, Pecce V, Verrienti A, Durante C, Grani G, Lamartina L, Forte S, Martinetti D, Giuffrida D, Russo D, Basolo F, Filetti S, Sponziello M. MicroRNA-based molecular classification of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Int J Oncol 2017; 50:1767-1777. [PMID: 28393181 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2017.3960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) expression is dysregulated in many human malignancies, and a growing number of studies are focused on their potential use as tumor biomarkers. To identify a miRNA signature for papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC), we investigated miRNA expression profiles in two independent cohorts of PTCs, which included major histological subtypes [classical-type (PTC‑CT), follicular-variant (PTC‑FV), and tall-cell variant (PTC‑TCV)] and cases with low or intermediate risk of recurrence. Using TaqMan® Array Human MicroRNA A+B Cards v3.0, we first performed microRNA profiling of normal and neoplastic thyroid tissues from 29 PTC patients. Promising candidates were then investigated in a second, independent cohort of 76 PTCs using Custom TaqMan® Array MicroRNA Cards. We identified a molecular signature of 11 miRNAs that were significantly upregulated (miR‑146b-5p, miR‑146b-3p, miR‑221-3p, miR‑222‑5p, miR‑222‑3p) or downregulated (miR‑1179, miR‑486‑5p, miR‑204-5p, miR‑7-2-3p, miR‑144-5p, miR‑140-3p) in PTC tissues vs. normal thyroid tissue. Upregulation of miR‑146b-5p and miR‑222‑3p was also significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence. Higher than normal expression of miR‑146b-5p and miR‑146b-3p characterized PTC‑CT and PTC‑TCV but not PTC‑FV, whereas miR‑21-5p was significantly upregulated only in PTC‑TCV. When PTC‑FV were subclassified as encapsulated (PTC‑EFV) or infiltrative (PTC‑IFV), miR‑204-5p was downregulated in all histological subtypes except PTC‑EFV, which displayed expression levels similar to those of normal thyroid tissues. These findings provide new insights into the molecular classification of PTC, showing that different miRNA expression profiles are associated with different histological types of PTC and different risks of recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Memeo
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, Viagrande, Italy
| | - Fabio Monzani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Cristina Colarossi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, Viagrande, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Lamartina
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Dario Giuffrida
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, Viagrande, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia', Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Fulvio Basolo
- Department of Histopathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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43
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Giannetta E, Isidori AM, Durante C, Di Gioia C, Longo F, Tombolini V, Bulzonetti N, Graziadio C, Pofi R, Gianfrilli D, Verrienti A, Carletti R, Filetti S, Lenzi A, Baroli A. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and foscarnet use in a multitarget treatment documented by 18F-FDG PET/CT: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2017; 96:e5621. [PMID: 28178124 PMCID: PMC5312981 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000005621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE The case reported the rapid remission of disease recurrence achieved adding foscarnet, a DNA polymerase inhibitor that interacts with fibroblast growth factor 2, to low molecular weight heparin and sunitinib for the first time in a patient with an anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). PATIENT CONCERNS A 65-year-old woman with a multinodular goiter referred for a rapid enlargement of a nodule. Histological examination revealed an ATC with a little area of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The patient was resistant to selective single-target treatment. DIAGNOSES Immunophenotyping and gene analyses found a significant increase in FGF2 and FGFR1 expression in the primary ATC area (FGF2 = 38.2 ± 6.2% in ATC vs 34.6 ± 6.0% in the differentiated area of PTC, P < 0.05; FGFR1: 41.7 ± 6.0% in ATC vs 34.4 ± 4.2% in PTC, P < 0.001) and in metastatic neck lymph nodes (P < 0.001 vs normal control tissues). Unlike conventional imaging, F-FDG PET/CT with PERCIST 1.0 criteria promptly and quantitatively detected disease recurrence and remission before and after multitarget therapy, combining anatomic, metabolic, and functional data. INTERVENTIONS Foscarnet was administered given the positivity for FGF2, FGFR1 and FGFR4 in ATC. Low molecular wight heparin and Sunitinib were coadministere to limiti metastatic progression and on neck tumor masse, respectively. OUTCOMES The rationale for the clinical response to this innovative multitarget association with foscarnet is based on the histological and genetic finding that fibroblast growth factors and their receptor super-family are up-regulated in the primary anaplastic thyroid tumor and in the metastatic lymph node of our patient. LESSONS We propose that fibroblast growth factors and their receptor super-family play a key role as potential therapeutic targets in anaplastic thyroid cancer and the positive relevance of this suggestion for patient care, especially for an individualized management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Specialities
| | - Cira Di Gioia
- Department of Radiology, Anatomopathology and Oncology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome
| | - Flavia Longo
- Department of Radiology, Anatomopathology and Oncology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome
| | - Vincenzo Tombolini
- Department of Radiology, Anatomopathology and Oncology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome
| | - Nadia Bulzonetti
- Department of Radiology, Anatomopathology and Oncology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome
| | | | | | | | | | - Raffaella Carletti
- Department of Radiology, Anatomopathology and Oncology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome
| | | | | | - Alberto Baroli
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Interventional Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedale di Circolo di Busto Arsizio Varese, Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy
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Rosignolo F, Sponziello M, Giacomelli L, Russo D, Pecce V, Biffoni M, Bellantone R, Lombardi CP, Lamartina L, Grani G, Durante C, Filetti S, Verrienti A. Identification of Thyroid-Associated Serum microRNA Profiles and Their Potential Use in Thyroid Cancer Follow-Up. J Endocr Soc 2017; 1:3-13. [PMID: 29264441 PMCID: PMC5677215 DOI: 10.1210/js.2016-1032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Context: Trends toward more conservative management of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) diminish the primacy of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) assays as a posttreatment surveillance tool. Objective: To identify thyroid tumor-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) in the serum with potential for development as unique biomarkers of PTC recurrence. Methods: We measured expression of 754 miRNAs in serum samples collected from 11 patients with PTC before and 30 days after thyroidectomy. Major candidates were then re-evaluated by absolute quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis in an independent cohort of patients with PTC (n = 44) or benign nodules and 20 healthy controls (HCs). The 2 miRNAs most significantly associated with thyroid tumors were then assessed in matched serum samples (before and 30 days and 1 to 2 years after surgery) from the 20 PTC patients with complete follow-up datasets and results correlated with American Thyroid Association (ATA) responses to therapy. Results: Eight miRNAs (miR-221-3p, miR-222-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-146b-5p, miR-191-5p, miR-103a-3p, and miR-28-3p) displayed levels in prethyroidectomy serum samples from patients with PTC that significantly exceeded those measured after thyroidectomy and those found in samples from HCs. The 2 most promising candidates—miR-146a-5p and miR-221-3p —were further analyzed in the 20 PTC patients mentioned earlier. Serum levels of both miRNAs after 1 to 2 years of follow-up were consistent with ATA responses to therapy in all patients, including 2 with structural evidence of disease whose Tg assays remained negative (<1 ng/mL). Conclusion: miR-146a-5p and miR-221-3p hold remarkable promise as serum biomarkers for post-treatment monitoring of PTC patients, especially when Tg assay results are uninformative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Giacomelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; and
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche and
| | - Marco Biffoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Bellantone
- U.O. Chirurgia Endocrina e Metabolica, Policlinico "A. Gemelli", Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Celestino Pio Lombardi
- U.O. Chirurgia Endocrina e Metabolica, Policlinico "A. Gemelli", Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio Grani
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche and
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche and
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45
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Verrienti A, Tallini G, Colato C, Boichard A, Checquolo S, Pecce V, Sponziello M, Rosignolo F, de Biase D, Rhoden K, Casadei GP, Russo D, Visani M, Acquaviva G, Ferdeghini M, Filetti S, Durante C. RET mutation and increased angiogenesis in medullary thyroid carcinomas. Endocr Relat Cancer 2016; 23:665-76. [PMID: 27402614 DOI: 10.1530/erc-16-0132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Advanced medullary thyroid cancers (MTCs) are now being treated with drugs that inhibit receptor tyrosine kinases, many of which involved in angiogenesis. Response rates vary widely, and toxic effects are common, so treatment should be reserved for MTCs likely to be responsive to these drugs. RET mutations are common in MTCs, but it is unclear how they influence the microvascularization of these tumors. We examined 45 MTCs with germ-line or somatic RET mutations (RETmut group) and 34 with wild-type RET (RETwt). Taqman Low-Density Arrays were used to assess proangiogenic gene expression. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess intratumoral, peritumoral and nontumoral expression levels of VEGFR1, R2, R3, PDGFRa, PDGFB and NOTCH3. We also assessed microvessel density (MVD) and lymphatic vessel density (LVD) based on CD31-positive and podoplanin-positive vessel counts, respectively, and vascular pericyte density based on staining for a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), a pericyte marker. Compared with RETwt tumors, RETmut tumors exhibited upregulated expression of proangiogenic genes (mRNA and protein), especially VEGFR1, PDGFB and NOTCH3. MVDs and LVDs were similar in the two groups. However, microvessels in RETmut tumors were more likely to be a-SMA positive, indicating enhanced coverage by pericytes, which play key roles in vessel sprouting, maturation and stabilization. These data suggest that angiogenesis in RETmut MTCs may be more intense and complete than that found in RETwt tumors, a feature that might increase their susceptibility to antiangiogenic therapy. Given their increased vascular pericyte density, RETmut MTCs might also benefit from combined or preliminary treatment with PDGF inhibitors.
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MESH Headings
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/genetics
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Microvessels
- Mutation
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/metabolism
- Receptor, Notch3/genetics
- Receptor, Notch3/metabolism
- Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha/genetics
- Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics
- Thyroid Neoplasms/metabolism
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1/metabolism
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/metabolism
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tallini
- Department of Medicine (DIMES)Anatomic Pathology-Molecular Diagnostic Unit AUSL of Bologna, University of Bologna School of Medicine, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Colato
- Department of Diagnostics and Public HealthUniversity and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Amélie Boichard
- Laboratoire de Recherche Translationnelle etCentre de Ressources Biologiques, AMMICA, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Saula Checquolo
- Laboratory of Molecular PathologyDepartment of Medico-Surgical and Biotechnology, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Latin, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario de Biase
- Department of Pharmacology and Biotechnology (FaBiT)University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Kerry Rhoden
- Department of Medicine (DIMEC)Medical Genetics Unit, University of Bologna School of Medicine, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gian Piero Casadei
- Anatomic Pathology UnitAUSL di Bologna-Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health SciencesUniversity of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia', Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Michela Visani
- Department of Medicine (DIMES)Anatomic Pathology-Molecular Diagnostic Unit AUSL of Bologna, University of Bologna School of Medicine, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Acquaviva
- Department of Medicine (DIMES)Anatomic Pathology-Molecular Diagnostic Unit AUSL of Bologna, University of Bologna School of Medicine, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Ferdeghini
- Department of Diagnostics and Public HealthUniversity and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Lamartina L, Grani G, Biffoni M, Giacomelli L, Costante G, Lupo S, Maranghi M, Plasmati K, Sponziello M, Trulli F, Verrienti A, Filetti S, Durante C. Risk Stratification of Neck Lesions Detected Sonographically During the Follow-Up of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2016; 101:3036-44. [PMID: 27186860 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2016-1440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The European Thyroid Association (ETA) has classified posttreatment cervical ultrasound findings in thyroid cancer patients based on their association with disease persistence/recurrence. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to assess this classification's ability to predict the growth and persistence of such lesions during active posttreatment surveillance of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). DESIGN This was a retrospective, observational study. SETTING The study was conducted at a thyroid cancer center in a large Italian teaching hospital. PATIENTS Center referrals (2005-2014) were reviewed and patients selected with pathologically-confirmed DTC; total thyroidectomy, with or without neck dissection and/or radioiodine remnant ablation; abnormal findings on two or more consecutive posttreatment neck sonograms; and subsequent follow-up consisting of active surveillance. Baseline ultrasound abnormalities (thyroid bed masses, lymph nodes) were classified according to the ETA system. Patients were divided into group S (those with one or more lesions classified as suspicious) and group I (indeterminate lesions only). We recorded baseline and follow-up clinical data through June 30, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES The main outcomes were patients with growth (>3 mm, largest diameter) of one or more lesions during follow-up and patients with one or more persistent lesions at the final visit. RESULTS The cohort included 58 of the 637 DTC cases screened (9%). A total of 113 lesions were followed up (18 thyroid bed masses, 95 lymph nodes). During surveillance (median 3.7 y), group I had significantly lower rates than group S of lesion growth (8% vs 36%, P = .01) and persistence (64% vs 97%, P = .014). The median time to scan normalization was 2.9 years. CONCLUSIONS The ETA's evidence-based classification of sonographically detected neck abnormalities can help identify papillary thyroid cancer patients eligible for more relaxed follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Lamartina
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Giorgio Grani
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marco Biffoni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laura Giacomelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Giuseppe Costante
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefania Lupo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marianna Maranghi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Katia Plasmati
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fabiana Trulli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (L.L., G.G., S.L., M.M., K.P., M.S., F.T., A.V., S.F., C.D.), Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche (M.B., L.G.), Università di Roma "Sapienza," 00161 Roma, Italy; and Department of Internal Medicine (G.C.), Institut Jules Bordet Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
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Dima M, Pecce V, Biffoni M, Di Gioia CRT, Tallini G, Biffoni M, Rosignolo F, Verrienti A, Sponziello M, Damante G, Russo D, Durante C. Molecular profiles of cancer stem-like cell populations in aggressive thyroid cancers. Endocrine 2016; 53:145-56. [PMID: 26370117 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-015-0739-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A substantial proportion of patients with advanced thyroid carcinoma fail to respond to or at some point become refractory to conventional therapies. This resistance and the phenomena of thyroid cancer progression and metastasis themselves are thought to be related to tumor-cell sub-populations with stem-like properties. We isolated thyrospheres from four advanced thyroid carcinomas that were resistant to radioiodine therapy and analyzed their molecular profiles. ALDH activity and proteomic profile of main stem cell markers were used to assess stem cell properties. The TaqMan Low Density Array approach was used to evaluate the expression of several genes involved in the EMT process. The phosphorylation status of tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs) was analyzed to identify potential markers for targeted therapies. We then investigated the effects of the EMT-inhibitor crizotinib on both cell proliferation and phosphorylation status of RTK targets. The cancer stem-like properties of a subset of cells from primary cultures of each tumor were demonstrated. A wide variability among thyrospheres arising from the four thyroid cancers in terms of ALDH activity, stem cell marker expression, and phosphoproteome profiling was present. Dysregulated expression of genes involved in the EMT was observed in all four thyrosphere lines. Treatment with crizotinib was ineffective in cancer stem-like cells, suggesting the presence of a mechanism of resistance in thyrospheres. Collectively, our data indicate that thyroid cancer stem-like populations vary markedly from tumor to tumor and require detailed molecular and biological characterization if they are to be used as the basis of "personalized" treatment of aggressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariavittoria Dima
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Biffoni
- Dipartimento di Ematologia, Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Tallini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Biffoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Sponziello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Biologiche, Università di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
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48
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Rosignolo F, Maggisano V, Sponziello M, Celano M, Di Gioia CRT, D'Agostino M, Giacomelli L, Verrienti A, Dima M, Pecce V, Durante C. Reduced expression of THRβ in papillary thyroid carcinomas: relationship with BRAF mutation, aggressiveness and miR expression. J Endocrinol Invest 2015; 38:1283-9. [PMID: 26003825 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-015-0309-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Down-regulation of thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRβ) gene has been described in several human malignancies, including thyroid cancer. In this study, we analyzed THRβ mRNA expression in surgical specimens from a series of human papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), characterized by their genotypic and clinical-biological features. METHODS Thirty-six PTCs were divided into two groups according to the 2009 American Thyroid Association risk classification (17 low, 19 intermediate), and each group was divided into subgroups based on the presence or absence of the BRAFV600E mutation (21 BRAF mutated, 15 BRAF wild type). Gene expression was analyzed using fluidic cards containing probes and primers specific for the THRβ gene, as well as for genes of thyroperoxidase (TPO), sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) and for some miRNAs involved in thyroid neoplasia and targeting THRβ. The mRNA levels of each tumor tissue were compared with their correspondent normal counterpart. RESULTS THRβ transcript was down-regulated in all PTCs examined. No significant differences were found between intermediate- vs low-risk PTCs patients, and BRAF-mutated vs BRAF wild-type groups. THRβ expression was directly correlated with NIS, TPO, Tg and TSH-R, and inversely correlated to miR-21, -146a, -181a and -221 expression. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that down-regulation of THRβ is a common feature of PTCs. While it is not associated with a more aggressive phenotype of PTC, it correlates with the reduction of all the markers of differentiation and is associated with overexpression of some miRNAs supposed to play a role in thyroid tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - V Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia', 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - M Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia', 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - C R T Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M D'Agostino
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro 'Magna Graecia', 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - L Giacomelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M Dima
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - V Pecce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - C Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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49
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Sponziello M, Verrienti A, Rosignolo F, De Rose RF, Pecce V, Maggisano V, Durante C, Bulotta S, Damante G, Giacomelli L, Di Gioia CRT, Filetti S, Russo D, Celano M. PDE5 expression in human thyroid tumors and effects of PDE5 inhibitors on growth and migration of cancer cells. Endocrine 2015; 50:434-41. [PMID: 25837309 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-015-0586-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed in normal thyroid tissue the presence of the transcript of several phosphodiesterases (PDEs), enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of cyclic nucleotides. In this work, we analyzed the expression of PDE5 in a series of human papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) presenting or not BRAF V600E mutation and classified according to ATA risk criteria. Furthermore, we tested the effects of two PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil) against human thyroid cancer cells. PDE5 gene and protein expression were analyzed in two different cohorts of PTCs by real-time PCR using a TaqMan micro-fluid card system and Western blot. MTT and migration assay were used to evaluate the effects of PDE5 inhibitors on proliferation and migration of TPC-1, BCPAP, and 8505C cells. In a first series of 36 PTCs, we found higher expression levels of PDE5A in tumors versus non-tumor (normal) tissues. PTCs with BRAF mutation showed higher levels of mRNA compared with those without mutation. No significant differences were detected between subgroups with low and intermediate ATA risk. Upregulation of PDE5 was also detected in tumor tissue proteins. Similar results were obtained analyzing the second cohort of 50 PTCs. Moreover, all tumor tissues with high PDE5 levels showed reduction of Thyroglobulin, TSH receptor, Thyroperoxidase, and NIS transcripts. In thyroid cancer cells in vitro, sildenafil and tadalafil determined a reduction of proliferation and cellular migration. Our findings demonstrate for the first time an overexpression of PDE5 in PTCs, and the ability of PDE5 inhibitors to block the proliferation of thyroid cancer cells in culture, therefore, suggesting that specific inhibition of PDE5 may be proposed for the treatment of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Francesca De Rose
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Campus "S. Venuta", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Maggisano
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Campus "S. Venuta", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Campus "S. Venuta", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University Hospital "S. Maria della Misericordia", 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Laura Giacomelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Cira Rosaria Tiziana Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Campus "S. Venuta", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Marilena Celano
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Campus "S. Venuta", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
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50
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Tallini G, de Biase D, Durante C, Acquaviva G, Bisceglia M, Bruno R, Bacchi Reggiani ML, Casadei GP, Costante G, Cremonini N, Lamartina L, Meringolo D, Nardi F, Pession A, Rhoden KJ, Ronga G, Torlontano M, Verrienti A, Visani M, Filetti S. BRAF V600E and risk stratification of thyroid microcarcinoma: a multicenter pathological and clinical study. Mod Pathol 2015; 28:1343-59. [PMID: 26271724 DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.2015.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Studies from single institutions have analyzed BRAF in papillary microcarcinomas, sometimes with contradictory results. Most of them have provided limited integration of histological and clinical data. To obtain a comprehensive picture of BRAF V600E-mutated microcarcinomas and to evaluate the role of BRAF testing in risk stratification we performed a retrospective multicenter analysis integrating microscopical, pathological, and clinical information. Three hundred and sixty-five samples from 300 patients treated at six medical institutions covering different geographical regions of Italy were analyzed with central review of all cases. BRAF V600E statistical analysis was conducted on 298 microcarcinomas from 264 patients after exclusion of those that did not meet the required criteria. BRAF V600E was identified in 145/298 tumors (49%) including the following subtypes: 35/37 (95%, P<0.0001) tall cell and 72/114 (64%, P<0.0001) classic; conversely 94/129 follicular variant papillary microcarcinomas (73%, P<0.0001) were BRAF wild type. BRAF V600E-mutated microcarcinomas were characterized by markedly infiltrative contours (P<0.0001) with elongated strings of neoplastic cells departing from the tumor, and by intraglandular tumor spread (P<0.0001), typically within 5 mm of the tumor border. Multivariate analysis correlated BRAF V600E with specific microscopic features (nuclear grooves, optically clear nuclei, tall cells within the tumor, and tumor fibrosis), aggressive growth pattern (infiltrative tumor border, extension into extrathyroidal tissues, and intraglandular tumor spread), higher American Thyroid Association recurrence risk group, and non-incidental tumor discovery. The following showed the strongest link to BRAF V600E: tall cell subtype, many neoplastic cells with nuclear grooves or with optically clear nuclei, infiltrative growth, intraglandular tumor spread, and a tumor discovery that was non-incidental. BRAF V600E-mutated microcarcinomas represent a distinct biological subtype. The mutation is associated with conventional clinico-pathological features considered to be adverse prognostic factors for papillary microcarcinoma, for which it could be regarded as a surrogate marker. BRAF analysis may be useful to identify tumors (BRAF wild type) that have negligible clinical risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Tallini
- Department of Medicine (DIMES), Anatomic Pathology Unit, Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna School of Medicine, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dario de Biase
- Department of Medicine (DIMES), Anatomic Pathology Unit, Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna School of Medicine, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University 'Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Acquaviva
- Department of Medicine (DIMES), Anatomic Pathology Unit, Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna School of Medicine, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Bisceglia
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences, Etromapmacs Pole, Lesina, Italy
| | - Rocco Bruno
- Endocrinology Unit, Tinchi-Pisticci Hospital, Matera, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Costante
- Department of Health Science, University Magna Grecia di Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nadia Cremonini
- Endocrinology Unit, AUSL Bologna-Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Livia Lamartina
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University 'Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Nardi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Anatomic Pathology Unit, University 'Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Pession
- Department of Pharmacology and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Kerry J Rhoden
- Department of Medicine (DIMEC), Medical Genetics Unit, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ronga
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University 'Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Torlontano
- Department of Medical Science, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza-IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University 'Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Visani
- Department of Pharmacology and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University 'Sapienza', Rome, Italy
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