Virchows Archiv (2015): 1-9.
Hauck F, Oliveira-Silva M, Dreyer JH, Ferreira Perrusi VJ, Arcuri RA, Hassan R, Bonvicino CR, Barros MHM, Niedobitek G.
PMID: 25820374 | DOI: 10.1007/s00428-015-1761-4
Rising prevalence rates of high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) infection in oropharyngeal carcinoma (up to 80 %) have been reported in North America and Scandinavia. We have analysed 424 German and 163 Brazilian head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) from the oral cavity (OSCC), oropharynx (OPSCC) and hypopharynx (HPSCC) using p16 immunohistochemistry, HPV DNA PCR and sequencing, hrHPV DNA in situ hybridisation (ISH) and hrHPV E6/E7 RNA ISH. In the German series, 52/424 cases (12.3 %) were p16-positive/hrHPV-positive (OSCC 3.8 % [10/265], OPSCC 34.4 % [42/122], HPSCC 0 % [0/37]). In addition, there were 9 cases that were p16-positive/hrHPV-negative (5 OPSCC and 4 OSCC). In the Brazilian series, the overall hrHPV DNA prevalence by PCR was 11.0 % ([18/163]; OSCC 6 % [5/83], OPSCC 15.5 % [11/71], HPSCC 22.2 % [2/9]). Ten of these cases were hrHPV-positive/p16-positive. The remaining 8 hrHPV-positive/p16-negative cases were also negative in both ISH assays. Furthermore, 5 p16-positive/hrHPV-negative cases (2 OPSCC and 3 OSCC) were identified. In both series, HPV16 was by far the most common HPV type detected. We confirm that regardless of geographical origin, the highest hrHPV prevalence in HNSCC is observed in oropharyngeal carcinomas. The proportion of HPV-associated OPSCC was substantially higher in the German cohort than in the Brazilian series (34.4 vs. 15.5 %), and in both groups, the prevalence of hrHPV in OPSCC was much lower than in recent reports from North America and Scandinavia. We suggest, therefore, that it may be possible to define areas with high (e.g. USA, Canada, Scandinavia), intermediate (e.g. Germany) and low (e.g. Brazil) prevalences of HPV infection in OPSCC.
Nikitin, P;Musina, G;Pekov, S;Kuzin, A;Popov, I;Belyaev, A;Kobyakov, G;Usachev, D;Nikolaev, V;Mikhailov, V;
| DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010145
Diffuse gliomas continue to be an important problem in neuro-oncology. To solve it, studies have considered the issues of molecular pathogenesis from the intratumoral heterogeneity point. Here, we carried out a comparative dynamic analysis of the different cell populations’ content in diffuse gliomas of different molecular profiles and grades, considering the cell populations’ functional properties and the relationship with patient survival, using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, multiparametric fluorescent in situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, and cultural methods. It was shown that an increase in the IDH-mutant astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas malignancy is accompanied by an increase in stem cells’ proportion and mesenchymal cell populations’ appearance arising from oligodendrocyte-progenitor-like cells with cell plasticity and cells’ hypoxia response programs’ activation. In glioblastomas, malignancy increase is accompanied by an increase in both stem and definitive cells with mesenchymal differentiation, while proneuronal glioma stem cells are the most likely the source of mesenchymal glioma stem cells, which, in hypoxic conditions, further give rise to mesenchymal-like cells. Clinical confirmation was a mesenchymal-like cell and mesenchymal glioma stem cell number, and the hypoxic and plastic molecular programs’ activation degree had a significant effect on relapse-free and overall survival. In general, we built a multi-vector model of diffuse gliomas’ pathogenetic tracing up to the practical plane.
Dai J, Yang L, Xu T, Si L, Cui C, Sheng X, Chi Z, Mao L, Lian B, Tang B, Bai X, Zhou L, Li S, Wang X, Yan X, Kong Y, Guo J
PMID: 32226509 | DOI: 10.7150/jca.43010
Purpose: Polymorphisms of genes in the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling pathway have been found to predict cutaneous melanoma (CM) survival, but their clinical effects in acral melanoma (AM) patients have not been explored. The aim of this study was to characterize the functional effect of the tag single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2228230:C>T and assess its association with clinical outcomes in AM patients. Methods: The effect of rs2228230:C>T on mRNA structures and codon usage values were evaluated using in silico analyses. PDGF receptor alpha (PDGFRA) expression vectors with the rs2228230:C or rs2228230:T allele were constructed to evaluate the expression and signaling activity of PDGFRA. The expression of PDGFRA in AM samples was measured using in situ RNAscope hybridization and immunohistochemical staining. The association of the rs2228230 genotype with survival was analyzed in two independent AM cohorts. Results: In silico analyses indicated that the rs2228230:T allele increases the minimum free energy and reduces synonymous codon usage. The rs2228230:T allele decreased the expression of PDGFRA by reducing the stability of its mRNA and protein as well as the signaling activity of the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. PDGFRA mRNA and protein expression was significantly reduced in AM tissues with the rs2228230:T allele. The progression-free survival and overall survival of AM patients with the rs2228230:T allele were significantly longer than those of patients with the CC genotype. Conclusion: Our study indicated that rs2228230:T can reduce the expression of PDGFRA and downstream signaling activity and is associated with better survival in AM patients.
The American journal of surgical pathology
Ordulu, Z;Mino-Kenudson, M;Young, RH;Van de Vijver, K;Zannoni, GF;Félix, A;Burandt, E;Wong, A;Nardi, V;Oliva, E;
PMID: 36069807 | DOI: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001943
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) of the cervix are rare aggressive tumors associated with poor prognosis and only limited treatment options. Although there is some literature on molecular underpinnings of cervical small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (SCNECs), detailed morphologic and associated molecular characteristics of cervical NENs remains to be elucidated. Herein, 14 NENs (SCNEC: 6, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma [LCNEC]: 6, neuroendocrine tumor [NET]: 2), including 5 admixed with human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated adenocarcinoma (carcinoma admixed with neuroendocrine carcinoma) were analyzed. All except 3 SCNECs were HPV16/18 positive. TP53 (3) and/or RB1 (4) alterations (3 concurrent) were only seen in SCNECs (4/6) and were enriched in the HPV16/18-negative tumors. The other most common molecular changes in neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) overlapping with those reported in the literature for cervical carcinomas involved PI3K/MAPK pathway (4) and MYC (4) and were seen in both SCNECs and LCNECs. In contrast, the 2 NETs lacked any significant alterations. Two LCNECs admixed with adenocarcinoma had enough material to sequence separately each component. In both pathogenic alterations were shared between the 2 components, including ERBB2 amplification in one and an MSH6 mutation with MYC amplification in the other. Overall, these findings suggest that cervical HPV-associated NETs are genomically silent and high-grade NECs (regardless of small or large cell morphology) share molecular pathways with common cervical carcinomas as it has been reported in the endometrium and are different from NECs at other sites. Molecular analysis of these highly malignant neoplasms might inform the clinical management for potential therapeutic targets.
Pentraxin 3 is a stromally-derived biomarker for detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Goulart, MR;Watt, J;Siddiqui, I;Lawlor, RT;Imrali, A;Hughes, C;Saad, A;ChinAleong, J;Hurt, C;Cox, C;Salvia, R;Mantovani, A;Crnogorac-Jurcevic, T;Mukherjee, S;Scarpa, A;Allavena, P;Kocher, HM;
PMID: 34188166 | DOI: 10.1038/s41698-021-00192-1
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), characterized by dense desmoplastic stroma laid down by pancreatic stellate cells (PSC), has no reliable diagnostic biomarkers for timely detection. A multi-center cohort of PDAC patients and controls (chronic pancreatitis, intra-ductal papillary neoplasms, gallstones and otherwise healthy) donated serum in an ethically approved manner. Serum PTX3 above 4.34 ng/mL has a higher sensitivity (86%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 65-97%) and specificity (86%, 95% CI: 79-91%), positive predictive value (97%) and likelihood ratio (6.05), and is superior when compared to serum CA19-9 and CEA for detection of PDAC. In vitro and ex vivo analyses of PTX3, in human PDAC samples, PSCs, cell lines and transgenic mouse model for PDAC, suggest that PTX3 originates from stromal cells, mainly PSC. In activated PSC, PTX3 secretion could be downregulated by rendering PSC quiescent using all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). PTX3 organizes hyaluronan in conjunction with tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene 6 (TSG-6) and facilitates stellate and cancer cell invasion. In SCALOP clinical trial (ISRCTN96169987) testing chemo-radiotherapy without stromal targeting, PTX3 had no prognostic or predictive role. However, in STARPAC clinical trial (NCT03307148), stromal modulation by ATRA even at first dose is accompanied with serum PTX3 response in patients who later go on to demonstrate disease control but not those in whom the disease progresses. PTX3 is a putative stromally-derived biomarker for PDAC which warrants further testing in prospective, larger, multi-center cohorts and within clinical trials targeting stroma.
Filbin MG, Tirosh I, Hovestadt V, Shaw ML, Escalante LE, Mathewson ND, Neftel C, Frank N, Pelton K, Hebert CM, Haberler C, Yizhak K, Gojo J, Egervari K, Mount C, van Galen P, Bonal DM, Nguyen QD, Beck A, Sinai C, Czech T, Dorfer C, Goumnerova L, Lavarino
PMID: 29674595 | DOI: 10.1126/science.aao4750
Gliomas with histone H3 lysine27-to-methionine mutations (H3K27M-glioma) arise primarily in the midline of the central nervous system of young children, suggesting a cooperation between genetics and cellular context in tumorigenesis. Although the genetics of H3K27M-glioma are well characterized, their cellular architecture remains uncharted. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing in 3321 cells from six primary H3K27M-glioma and matched models. We found that H3K27M-glioma primarily contain cells that resemble oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC-like), whereas more differentiated malignant cells are a minority. OPC-like cells exhibit greater proliferation and tumor-propagating potential than their more differentiated counterparts and are at least in part sustained by PDGFRA signaling. Our study characterizes oncogenic and developmental programs in H3K27M-glioma at single-cell resolution and across genetic subclones, suggesting potential therapeutic targets in this disease.
Ichihara, R;Shiraki, Y;Mizutani, Y;Iida, T;Miyai, Y;Esaki, N;Kato, A;Mii, S;Ando, R;Hayashi, M;Takami, H;Fujii, T;Takahashi, M;Enomoto, A;
PMID: 35020975 | DOI: 10.1111/pin.13198
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a compartment of the tumor microenvironment, were previously thought to be a uniform cell population that promotes cancer progression. However, recent studies have shown that CAFs are heterogeneous and that there are at least two types of CAFs, that is, cancer-promoting and -restraining CAFs. We previously identified Meflin as a candidate marker of cancer-restraining CAFs (rCAFs) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The precise nature of rCAFs, however, has remained elusive owing to a lack of understanding of their comprehensive gene signatures. Here, we screened genes whose expression correlated with Meflin in single-cell transcriptomic analyses of human cancers. Among the identified genes, we identified matrix remodeling-associated protein 8 (MXRA8), which encodes a type I transmembrane protein with unknown molecular function. Analysis of MXRA8 expression in human PDAC samples showed that MXRA8 was differentially co-expressed with other CAF markers. Moreover, in patients with PDAC or syngeneic tumors developed in MXRA8-knockout mice, MXRA8 expression did not affect the roles of CAFs in cancer progression, and the biological importance of MXRA8+ CAFs is still unclear. Overall, we identified MXRA8 as a new CAF marker; further studies are needed to determine the relevance of this marker.
Scott-Wittenborn, N;D'Souza, G;Tewari, S;Rooper, L;Troy, T;Drake, V;Bigelow, EO;Windon, MJ;Ryan, WR;Ha, PK;Kiess, AP;Miles, B;Westra, WH;Mydlarz, WK;Eisele, DW;Fakhry, C;
PMID: 35132635 | DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34124
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for a growing proportion of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) among men and White individuals. Whether similar trends apply to women, non-Whites, and non-oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (non-OPSCCs) is unknown.This is a cross-sectional analysis combining 2 multi-institutional case series of incident head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases. Incident HNSCCs from 1995 to 2012 were enrolled retrospectively using banked tumor samples and medical record abstraction. Incident HNSCCs from 2013 to 2019 were enrolled prospectively. The prevalence of tumor HPV biomarkers was tested over 3 time periods (1995-2003, 2004-2012, and 2013-2019). Centralized testing was done for p16 immunohistochemistry (p16) and oncogenic HPV in situ hybridization (ISH).A total of 1209 incident cases of HNSCC were included. Prevalence of p16- and ISH-positive tumors increased significantly for oropharynx cancers over time. The majority were positive after 2013 for White patients (p16, 92%; P < .001; ISH 94%; P < .001), Black patients (p16, 72%; P = .021; ISH 67%; P = .011), and Hispanic patients (p16, 100%; P = .04; ISH 100%; P = .013). For women with OPSCC, the prevalence of p16- and ISH-positive tumors increased significantly to 82% (P < .001) and 78% (P = .004), respectively. For non-OPSCCs, there was increased p16 and ISH positivity overall with 24% p16 and 16% ISH positivity in the most recent time period (P < .001 for both).The majority of OPSCCs in US tertiary care centers are now p16 and ISH positive for all sex and race groups. In some populations in the United States, 91% of OPSCCs are now caused by HPV. Few non-OPSCCs are p16 and ISH positive.
Rajendra S, Yang T, Xuan W, Sharma P, Pavey D, Soon Lee C, Le S, Collins J, Wang B.
PMID: 28722212 | DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30896
We have previously demonstrated that transcriptionally active high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) is strongly incriminated in Barrett's dysplasia (BD) and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) using mainly fresh frozen tissue. This study aimed to identify biomarkers of active HPV infection in Barrett's metaplasia, (BM)/BD/OAC by immunohistochemical staining (IHC) of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue for aberrations of p53 and the retinoblastoma (pRb) pathway which are targets for the viral oncoproteins, E6/E7 respectively. Prospectively, BM(n=81)/BD(n=72)/OAC(n=65) FFPE specimens were subjected to IHC staining for pRb, p16INK4A , cyclin D1 , p53 and RNA in-situ hybridization (ISH) for E6/E7 transcripts. HPV DNA was determined via PCR in fresh frozen specimens. Viral load measurement (real-time PCR) and Next Generation Sequencing of TP53 was also performed. Of 218 patients, 56 were HPV DNA positive [HPV16 (n=42), 18 (n=13), 6 (n=1)]. Viral load was low. Transcriptionally active HPV (DNA+ /RNA+ ) was only found in the dysplastic and adenocarcinoma group (n=21). The majority of HPV DNA+ /RNA+ BD/OAC were characterized by p16INK4Ahigh (14/21, 66.7%), pRblow (15/21, 71.4%) and p53low (20/21, 95%) and was significantly different to controls [combination of HPV DNA- /RNA- (n=94) and HPV DNA+ /RNA- cohorts (n=22)]. p53low had the strongest association with DNA+ /RNA+ oesophageal lesions (OR=23.5, 95% CI=2.94-187.8, p=0.0029). Seventeen HPV DNA+ /RNA+BD/OAC identified as p53low, were sequenced and all but one exhibited wild-type status. pRblow /p53low provided the best balance of strength of association (OR=8.0, 95% CI=2.6-25.0, p=0.0003) and sensitivity (71.4%)/specificity (71.6%) for DNA+ /RNA+ BD/OAC. Active HPV involvement in BD/OAC is characterized by wild-type p53 and aberrations of the retinoblastoma protein pathway.
Clin Cancer Res. 2018 Sep 21.
Aggarwal C, Cohen RB, Morrow MP, Kraynak KA, Sylvester AJ, Knoblock DM, Bauml J, Weinstein GS, Lin A, Boyer J, Sakata L, Tan S, Anton A, Dickerson K, Mangrolia D, Vang R, Dallas M, Oyola S, Duff S, Esser MT, Kumar R, Weiner DB, Csiki I, Bagarazzi M.
PMID: 30242022 | DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-18-1763
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Clinical responses with programmed death (PD-1) receptor directed antibodies occur in about 20% of patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCCa). Viral neoantigens, such as the E6/E7 proteins of HPV16/18 are attractive targets for therapeutic immunization, and offer an immune activation strategy that may be complementary to PD-1 inhibition.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:
We report Phase Ib/II safety, tolerability and immunogenicity results of immunotherapy with MEDI0457 (DNA immunotherapy targeting HPV16/18 E6/E7 with IL-12 encoding plasmids) delivered by electroporation with CELLECTRA® constant current device. Twenty-two patients with locally advanced, p16+ HNSCCa received MEDI0457.
RESULTS:
MEDI0457 was associated with mild injection site reactions but no treatment related grade 3-5 adverse events (AEs). Eighteen of 21 evaluable patients showed elevated antigen specific T cell activity by IFNg ELISpot and persistent cellular responses surpassing 100 SFU/106 PBMC were noted out to one year. Induction of HPV-specific CD8+ T cells was observed. MEDI0457 shifted the CD8+/FoxP3+ ratio in 4/5 post-immunotherapy tumor samples and increased the number of perforin+ immune infiltrates in all five patients. One patient developed metastatic disease and was treated with anti-PD-1 therapy with a rapid and durable complete response. Flow cytometric analyses revealed induction of HPV16 specific PD-1+ CD8+ T cells that were not found prior to MEDI0547 (0% vs. 1.8%).
CONCLUSIONS:
These data demonstrate that MEDI0457 can generate durable HPV16/18 antigen-specific peripheral and tumor immune responses. This approach may be used as a complementary strategy to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition in HPV-associated HNSCCa to improve therapeutic outcomes.
Bulstrode, H;Girdler, GC;Gracia, T;Aivazidis, A;Moutsopoulos, I;Young, AMH;Hancock, J;He, X;Ridley, K;Xu, Z;Stockley, JH;Finlay, J;Hallou, C;Fajardo, T;Fountain, DM;van Dongen, S;Joannides, A;Morris, R;Mair, R;Watts, C;Santarius, T;Price, SJ;Hutchinson, PJA;Hodson, EJ;Pollard, SM;Mohorianu, I;Barker, RA;Sweeney, TR;Bayraktar, O;Gergely, F;Rowitch, DH;
PMID: 36174572 | DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.09.002
Zika virus (ZIKV) can infect human developing brain (HDB) progenitors resulting in epidemic microcephaly, whereas analogous cellular tropism offers treatment potential for the adult brain cancer, glioblastoma (GBM). We compared productive ZIKV infection in HDB and GBM primary tissue explants that both contain SOX2+ neural progenitors. Strikingly, although the HDB proved uniformly vulnerable to ZIKV infection, GBM was more refractory, and this correlated with an innate immune expression signature. Indeed, GBM-derived CD11b+ microglia/macrophages were necessary and sufficient to protect progenitors against ZIKV infection in a non-cell autonomous manner. Using SOX2+ GBM cell lines, we found that CD11b+-conditioned medium containing type 1 interferon beta (IFNβ) promoted progenitor resistance to ZIKV, whereas inhibition of JAK1/2 signaling restored productive infection. Additionally, CD11b+ conditioned medium, and IFNβ treatment rendered HDB progenitor lines and explants refractory to ZIKV. These findings provide insight into neuroprotection for HDB progenitors as well as enhanced GBM oncolytic therapies.