Overexpression of TMPRSS4 in non-small cell lung cancer is associated with poor prognosis in patients with squamous histology

Background:

Mortality rates in lung cancer patients have not decreased significantly in recent years, even with the implementation of new therapeutic regimens. One of the main problems is that a large proportion of patients present local or distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. The need for identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for a more effective management of lung cancer led us to investigate TMPRSS4, a protease reported to promote tumour growth and metastasis.

Material and methods:

In all, 34 lung cancer cell lines were used to evaluate the TMPRSS4 expression. Cell migration and clonogenic assays, and an in-vivo lung metastasis model were used for functional analysis of the TMPRSS4 downregulation in H358, H441 and H2170 cell lines. The TMPRSS4 expression analysis in normal and malignant lung tissue samples was performed by qPCR. Five different microarray-based publicly available expression databases were used to validate our results and to study prognosis.

Results:

The TMPRSS4 knock down in H358, H441 and H2170 cells resulted in a significant reduction in proliferation, clonogenic capacity and invasion. A significant (P<0.05) decrease in the lung colonisation and growth was found when mice were injected with TMPRSS4-depleated H358-derived clones, as compared with controls. Expression of TMPRSS4 showed a >30-fold increase (P<0.001) in tumours in comparison with non-malignant samples. Levels in tumours with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) histology were found to be significantly higher (P<0.001) than those with adenocarcinoma (AC) histology, which was confirmed in data retrieved from the microarrays. Kaplan–Meier curves demonstrated that high levels of TMPRSS4 were significantly associated (P=0.017) with reduced overall survival in the patients with SCC histology, whereas no correlation was found for the AC histology.

Conclusion:

Our results demonstrate that TMPRSS4 has a role in the lung cancer development. The potential use of TMPRSS4 as a biomarker for lung cancer detection or as a predictor of patient's outcome warrants further investigation.

Use of transgenic mice as models for prostate cancer chemoprevention

Prostate cancer is a long latency type of tumor that usually develops in men older than 50 years of age. Prostate epithelial neoplasia (PIN), the initial malignant lesion, progresses to invasive carcinoma over the course of years. Because of the particular features of prostate carcinogenesis, this type of tumor may represent a paradigm for cancer prevention. Several clinical trials have evaluated the effect of different compounds on prostate tumor development, including finasteride, selenium, vitamin E, and carotenes. Although some results are promising, no conclusive data have been achieved as to recommend any of these compounds as preventive agents. Results from some trials, such as SELECT, where supplementation of selenium and/or vitamin-E was used, have been rather disappointing. However, many novel chemopreventive agents that target different cancer-related pathways are being developed lately. Appropriate animal models (in particular, genetically modified mice) are being used to assess the efficacy of these novel compounds. The transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model has been validated as an accurate model to test a variety of preventive agents. Genistein, alpha-difluoromethylornithine, toremifene, R-flurbiprofen, celecoxib, and green tea polyphenols have been shown to prevent prostate cancer development in TRAMP mice. In conclusion, new chemopreventive compounds which are effective in animal models are likely to be tested soon in clinical trials, with the final goal of reducing prostate cancer incidence in men.

Use of an inhibitor of differentiation-1 (Id1) expression (exp) to discriminate good prognosis (GP) from poor prognosis (PP) prostate cancer (PCa)

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Background: In the PSA era a significant proportion of PCa patients (pts) at onset have potential indolent tumors that will not impact their life expectancy or quality of life. Most of them will be radically treated and suffer its consequences. Thus, PCa overtreatment is a great concern among clinicians. Pre-treatment molecular factors may help differentiate indolent from aggressive PCa. Id1, involved in cell differentiation and angiogenesis, has recently showed to mediate lung metastasis (mts) from breast cancer. Its role in PCa endothelial (end) cells is well established but its exp and role in PCa cells is controversial. Using a new monoclonal antibody (MoAb) (195–14) for immunohistochemistry (IHC), Id1 exp is limited to some PP breast and bladder tumors. Whether Id1 exp is relevant in PCa prognosis is unknown. We tested 195–14 in PP and GP PCa samples and matched mts where available. Methods: 52 PCa pts were studied, 20 GP + 32 PP. All formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded primary biopsies and matched mts of 16 of them were stained for tumor and end cell Id1 exp. 195–14 (1:500), (Biocheck), was used for IHC. Results: GP group: median age 65, all pts T2N0M0, median Gleason score 6 (6–9), median PSA at onset 5,5 ng/ml. After a median follow-up of 38 months (ms) 1 pt showed radiological and PSA progression (P); other PSA P. All but one remain alive. PP group: median age was 70, T3-T4 (70%), Gleason 8–10 (61%), median PSA at onset 58 ng/ml, 2 or more mts locations (79%), 94% showed P to docetaxel, median time-to- progression and overall survival after chemotherapy were 18 weeks and 7 ms. Among PP, 39% of primary PCa and 38% of mts showed Id1 tumor cell exp and 79% of primary tumors and 81% of mts showed end Id1 exp. In the GP group 0% showed Id1 tumor cell exp, and 50% showed end Id1 exp. The unexpected Id1 exp difference in tumor cells in PP compared to GP pts predicted clinical outcome. Consistently with other reports end Id1 exp is high in both groups. PP showed higher levels. Conclusions: Id1 exp discriminated GP from PP in our PCa cohort. These novel results highlight Id1 as a prognostic marker in PCa. Whether Id1 exp in the diagnostic biopsy can impact PCa therapeutic decision-making needs further investigation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Inhibitor of differentiation-1 (Id1) characterization in poor-prognosis (PP) human bladder cancer (BCa) primary tumors and matched metastases (MTS) using a new monoclonal antibody (MoAb)

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Background: Id1, involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, has recently showed to mediate lung MTS from breast cancer (PNAS 2007). The expression of Id1 in human cancer has been related to poor prognosis breast, prostate (Gil-Bazo, Amer Soc Clin Oncol GU. 2009) and other non-adenocarcinoma tumors. To date one study showed remarkable Id1 expression (exp.) in 28% of unselected human BCa using a new MoAb (195–14) for immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. Our aim is to study Id1 exp. in a group of PP BCa and their matched MTS using this MoAb (195–14). Methods: We selected 22 patients (pts) treated in our institution. Formalin-fixed and paraffin- embedded bladder biopsy samples of each patient and matched MTS samples of 9 of them were stained and scored for tumor and endothelial Id1 exp. Anti-human Id1 rabbit MoAb 195–14 (1:500), (Biocheck), was used for IHC. Results: 90% of pts were males; median age was 61. Most pts had PP advanced (22,7 % stage III; 68,2% stage IV) BCa. Primary tumor samples and additional 9 matched MTS biopsy samples were analyzed. In contrast with the previous data 80% of primary invasive BCa and more than 75% of MTS showed tumor cell Id1 exp. As previously reported Id1 exp. in tumor samples endothelial cells reached 70%. We also observed Id1 exp. in tumor in situ areas near the invasive carcinoma in 16 out of 20 pts expressing Id1 in the primary tumor. Conclusions: For the first time using a MoAb against Id1 and in accord with our previous observations in prostate cancer the selection of PP pts increases tumor cell Id1 exp. from 28 up to 80%. Interestingly we show BCa MTS to express Id1 with a similar exp. pattern than primary tumors. Id1 exp. profile in PP and metastatic initiation of BCa needs further research. Id1 exp. in tumor in situ areas suggests Id1 as an initial factor in the BCa carcinogenic process and in the case of being confirmed Id1 could represent a target in BCa prophylaxis.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.