Lynch syndrome-related small intestinal adenocarcinomas

Lynch syndrome is an autosomal-dominant disorder caused by defective DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes and is associated with increased risk of malignancies in multiple organs. Small-intestinal adenocarcinomas are common initial manifestations of Lynch syndrome. To define the incidence and characteristics of Lynch syndrome-related small-intestinal adenocarcinomas, meticulous familial and clinical histories were obtained from 195 patients with small-intestinal adenocarcinoma, and MMR protein immunohistochemistry, microsatellite instability, MLH1 methylation, and germline mutational analyses were performed. Lynch syndrome was confirmed in eight patients (4%), all of whom had synchronous/metachronous malignancies without noticeable familial histories. Small-intestinal adenocarcinomas were the first clinical manifestation in 37% (3/8) of Lynch syndrome patients, and second malignancies developed within 5 years in 63% (5/8). The patients with accompanying Lynch syndrome were younger (≤50 years; P=0.04) and more likely to have mucinous adenocarcinomas (P=0.003), and tended to survive longer (P=0.11) than those with sporadic cases. A meticulous patient history taking, MMR protein immunolabeling, and germline MMR gene mutational analysis are important for the diagnosis of Lynch syndrome-related small-intestinal adenocarcinomas. Identifying Lynch syndrome in patients with small-intestinal adenocarcinoma can be beneficial for the early detection and treatment of additional Lynch syndrome-related cancers, especially in patients who are young or have mucinous adenocarcinomas.

MRI traceability of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-embedded chitosan microspheres as an embolic material in rabbit uterus

PURPOSE

We aimed to compare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles with calibrated superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticle-loaded chitosan microspheres in a rabbit model, specifically regarding the relative distribution of embolic agents within the uterus based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathological evaluation.

METHODS

Twelve New Zealand white rabbits underwent uterine artery embolization using either standard PVA particles (45-150 µm or 350-500 µm) or calibrated SPIO-embedded chitosan microspheres (45-150 µm or 300-500 µm). MRI and histopathological findings were compared one week after embolization.

RESULTS

Calibrated SPIO-loaded chitosan microspheres 45-150 µm in size were detected on T2-weighted images. On histological analysis, calibrated SPIO-embedded chitosan microspheres were found in both myometrium and endometrium, whereas PVA particles were found only in the perimyometrium or extrauterine fat pads. A proportional relationship was noted between the calibrated SPIO-embedded chitosan microsphere size and the size of the occluded artery.

CONCLUSION

Calibrated SPIO-embedded chitosan microspheres induced greater segmental arterial occlusion than PVA particles and showed great potential as a new embolic material. SPIO-embedded chitosan microspheres can be used to follow distribution of embolic particles through MRI studies.

Abstract 3533: Role of autophagy-related protein expression in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

Background: Autophagy, a cellular degradation process, has complex roles in tumourigenesis and resistance to cancer treatment in humans. The aim of this study was to explore the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins in patients with rectal cancer and evaluate their clinical role in the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy setting.

Methods: All specimens evaluated were obtained from 101 patients with colorectal cancer who had undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and curative surgery. The primary outcomes measured were the expression levels of two autophagy-related proteins (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3β) and beclin-1) by immunohistochemistry and their association with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival.

Results: Among the 101 patients, the frequency of high expression of beclin-1 was 31.7% (32/101) and that of LC3β was 46.5% (47/101). A pathologic complete response was inversely associated with LC3β expression (P = 0.003) and alterations in the expression of autophagy-related proteins (P = 0.046). In the multivariate analysis, however, autophagy-related protein expression did not show prognostic significance for relapse-free survival or overall survival.

Conclusions: High expression of autophagy-related proteins shows a strong negative association with the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer. Autophagy has clear implications as a therapeutic target with which to improve the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Citation Format: Yoon Ho Ko, Soon Uk Hong, Der Sheng Sun, Hye Sung Won, Myung Ah Lee, Byoung Young Shim. Role of autophagy-related protein expression in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3533.

Role of autophagy-related protein expression in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

Background

Autophagy, a cellular degradation process, has complex roles in tumourigenesis and resistance to cancer treatment in humans. The aim of this study was to explore the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins in patients with rectal cancer and evaluate their clinical role in the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy setting.

Methods

All specimens evaluated were obtained from 101 patients with colorectal cancer who had undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and curative surgery. The primary outcomes measured were the expression levels of two autophagy-related proteins (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3β) and beclin-1) by immunohistochemistry and their association with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival.

Results

Among the 101 patients, the frequency of high expression of beclin-1 was 31.7 % (32/101) and that of LC3β was 46.5 % (47/101). A pathologic complete response was inversely associated with LC3β expression (P = 0.003) and alterations in the expression of autophagy-related proteins (P = 0.046). In the multivariate analysis, however, autophagy-related protein expression did not show prognostic significance for relapse-free survival or overall survival.

Conclusions

High expression of autophagy-related proteins shows a strong negative association with the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer. Autophagy has clear implications as a therapeutic target with which to improve the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Abstract 1547: The clinical implication of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 on prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Introduction: The interaction between tumor cells and tumor micro-environment (TME) plays important role in tumor initiation, progression, treatment resistance, and prognosis in solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic role of TME-related molecules in NSCLC patients who received surgical resection. To find out a possibility of a potential serum biomarker, protein expression in tissue from surgical specimen and pre-operative serum were investigated together.

Methods: For 85 NSCLC patients who underwent surgical resection from August 2006 to September 2010 and had pre-operative serum samplings, we screened the serum levels of 60 TME-related molecules with angiogenesis array kit for 8 patients who had recurrences and 4 patients who did not. For matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in which significant difference was observed between recurrence and recurrence-free groups, protein expressions were investigated using ELISA in serum and immunohistochemistry in tumor tissue.

Results: High serum MMP-1 was related to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level≥5 at diagnosis (P = 0.034), higher frequency of the presence of vascular invasion (P = 0.041). High expression of MMP-1 in tumor cells (intensity score≥2) was related to tumor differentiation (P = 0.057), whereas high MMP-1 expression in stroma was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P = 0.021 and P = 0.022, respectively). In the case of TIMP-1, expression in tumor cells was higher for adenocarcinoma but higher in stromal cells for squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.046). There was no correlation between the tissue and serum levels of MMP-1 and TIMP-1. High serum MMP-1 showed a trend for short overall survival (P = 0.080). When serum MMP-1 was combined with CEA level or presence of vascular invasion, the prognostic implication for overall survival was statistically significant. Neither tumor nor stromal positivity for MMP-1 and TIMP-1 was associated with survival outcome; however, a tumor/stroma TIMP-1 intensity ratio≥1 was strongly associated with early recurrence in multivariate analysis (HR = 13.1, P = 0.008).

Conclusion: In surgically resected NSCLC patients, serum MMP-1 showed a possibility as a prognostic biomarker. In addition, the tumor/stroma TIMP-1 ratio (≥1) in tissue may be a useful to predict tumor recurrence.

Citation Format: Ho Jung An, Jin-Hyoung Kang, Yoon-Jin Lee, Soon Uk Hong, Kyo Young Lee, Jeong-Oh Kim. The clinical implication of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 on prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1547. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1547

Linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) of an urban stream in Korea

Profiles of alkyl homologues and isomers of LAS were monitored for an urban stream polluted with municipal wastewaters in Korea. Alkylchains of the stream LAS were shorter than commercial standards and higher I/E ratios were associated with lower LAS concentrations. These suggested a partial biodegradation of LAS in the stream. Higher LAS concentrations were observed in the upper stream. LAS levels were at their lowest during summer probably due to high precipitation and faster biodegradation rates. LAS contributed to about 29% of MBAS and could be used to roughly estimate BOD concentration of the stream.