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British Journal of Haematology Sep 2023Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a T-cell malignancy predominantly driven by the oncogenic anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), accounting for approximately 15% of...
Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a T-cell malignancy predominantly driven by the oncogenic anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), accounting for approximately 15% of all paediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients with central nervous system (CNS) relapse are particularly difficult to treat with a 3-year overall survival of 49% and a median survival of 23.5 months. The second-generation ALK inhibitor brigatinib shows superior penetration of the blood-brain barrier unlike the first-generation drug crizotinib and has shown promising results in ALK+ non-small-cell lung cancer. However, the benefits of brigatinib in treating aggressive paediatric ALK+ ALCL are largely unknown. We established a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) resource from ALK+ ALCL patients at or before CNS relapse serving as models to facilitate the development of future therapies. We show in vivo that brigatinib is effective in inducing the remission of PDX models of crizotinib-resistant (ALK C1156Y, TP53 loss) ALCL and furthermore that it is superior to crizotinib as a second-line approach to the treatment of a standard chemotherapy relapsed/refractory ALCL PDX pointing to brigatinib as a future therapeutic option.
Topics: Child; Humans; Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; Crizotinib; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic; Heterografts; Lung Neoplasms; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Organophosphorus Compounds; Protein Kinase Inhibitors
PubMed: 37357529
DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18953 -
Journal of Translational Medicine Aug 2023Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is known to highly expression and promotes cancer progression in many cancer types, including colorectal cancer. While...
BACKGROUND
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is known to highly expression and promotes cancer progression in many cancer types, including colorectal cancer. While metastasis is one of the main causes of cancer treatment failure, the involvement of EpCAM signaling in metastatic processes is unclear. We propose the potential crosstalk of EpCAM signaling with the HGFR signaling in order to govern metastatic activity in colorectal cancer.
METHODS
Immunoprecipitation (IP), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was conducted to explore the extracellular domain of EpCAM (EpEX) and HGFR interaction. Western blotting was taken to determine the expression of proteins in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. The functions of EpEX in CRC were investigated by proliferation, migration, and invasion analysis. The combined therapy was validated via a tail vein injection method for the metastasis and orthotopic colon cancer models.
RESULTS
This study demonstrates that the EpEX binds to HGFR and induces downstream signaling in colon cancer cells. Moreover, EpEX and HGF cooperatively mediate HGFR signaling. Furthermore, EpEX enhances the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastatic potential of colon cancer cells by activating ERK and FAK-AKT signaling pathways, and it further stabilizes active β-catenin and Snail proteins by decreasing GSK3β activity. Finally, we show that the combined treatment of an anti-EpCAM neutralizing antibody (EpAb2-6) and an HGFR inhibitor (crizotinib) significantly inhibits tumor progression and prolongs survival in metastatic and orthotopic animal models of colon cancer.
CONCLUSION
Our findings illuminate the molecular mechanisms underlying EpCAM signaling promotion of colon cancer metastasis, further suggesting that the combination of EpAb2-6 and crizotinib may be an effective strategy for treating cancer patients with high EpCAM expression.
Topics: Animals; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; Crizotinib; Cell Line, Tumor; Colonic Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Cell Movement
PubMed: 37543570
DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04390-2 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2024Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are involved in tumorigenesis and progression, however, their role in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is not well understood. In this...
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are involved in tumorigenesis and progression, however, their role in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is not well understood. In this study, we examined the expression levels, mutations, and clinical significance of HDACs in DLBCL. Additionally, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Chidamide, a novel HDAC inhibitor, to provide scientific evidence for targeting HDACs in DLBCL patients. We extracted transcriptome data of DLBCLs--including 47 lymph node samples and 337 whole-blood-cell controls--from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Bioinformatic analyses of HDAC expression, mutation, and correlation with the clinical significance of DLBCL patients were performed with the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, GENEMANIA, and web-based software including cBioPortal and WebGestalt. To examine the therapeutic effect of Chidamide, DLBCL cell lines (WSU-DLCL-2 and DB cells) were employed. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed with Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry assays. The impact of Chidamide treatment was also analyzed by RNA sequencing of treated DB cells. Western blot was used to explore the molecular mechanism of the cytotoxicity of Chidamide on DLBCL cell lines. The expression of some HDACs (HDAC1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9) were significantly higher in the lymph node samples of DLBCL than that in whole-blood-cell controls. Moreover, we found that the mutation rate of HDACs was also higher in DLBCL tissues, although the overall survival of DLBCL patients was not associated with HDAC expression. Chidamide was found to have a cytotoxic effect on DLBCL cells in a dose-dependent manner, while transcriptome analysis and western blot revealed that using it for treatment impacted several biological processes, including PI3K/AKT signaling, mTOR signaling, the cell cycle, and apoptosis pathways. Alterations of HDAC genes, including enhanced expression and mutations, are positively related to DLBCL. Targeting HDACs with specific inhibitors such as Chidamide may represent a potential therapeutic approach for DLBCL patients.
Topics: Humans; Histone Deacetylases; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Aminopyridines; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Cell Proliferation; Cell Line, Tumor; Apoptosis
PubMed: 38168914
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50956-x -
The role of chidamide in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: An updated systematic review.Biomolecules & Biomedicine Sep 2023B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) is a lymphoid malignancy derived from B-cells that remains difficult to treat. Moreover, relapses and refractory cases are common.... (Review)
Review
B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) is a lymphoid malignancy derived from B-cells that remains difficult to treat. Moreover, relapses and refractory cases are common. Abnormalities in epigenetic mechanisms, such as imbalanced histone acetylation affecting certain genes, contribute to relapses and refractory cases. Chidamide (tucidinostat) is a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor that can reverse this epigenetic imbalance and has been approved for the treatment of T-cell malignancies. However, the use of chidamide for B-NHL remains limited, and the lack of relevant literature exacerbates this limitation. We conducted this review to summarize the anticancer activity of chidamide against B-NHL and its clinical applications to overcome drug resistance. This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, using some keyword combinations from MEDLINE and EBSCO. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were also defined. Of the 131 records retrieved from databases, 16 were included in the review. Nine articles revealed that chidamide limited tumor progression by modifying the tumor microenvironment, stopping the cell cycle, inducing apoptosis and autophagy, and enhancing complement-dependent and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicities.According to seven other studies, administering chidamide in combination with another existing therapeutic regimen may benefit not only patients with relapsed/refractory B-NHL, but also those with newly diagnosed B-NHL. Chidamide plays many important roles in limiting B-NHL progression through epigenetic modifications. Thus, combining chidamide with other anticancer drugs may be more beneficial for patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory B-NHL.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Antineoplastic Agents; Aminopyridines; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37004241
DOI: 10.17305/bb.2023.8791 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... Sep 2023The French phase II AcSé-crizotinib trial aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of crizotinib in patients with ALK, ROS1, and MET-driven malignancies, including...
Efficacy and safety of crizotinib in ALK-positive systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in children, adolescents, and adult patients: results of the French AcSé-crizotinib trial.
BACKGROUND
The French phase II AcSé-crizotinib trial aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of crizotinib in patients with ALK, ROS1, and MET-driven malignancies, including ALK-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALK ALCL).
METHODS
ALK ALCL patients 12 months or older with measurable disease and no standard care options available received crizotinib twice daily at 165 mg/m in children and adolescents and 250 mg in adults. The primary end-point was the response rate at 8 weeks.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight patients were enroled between February 2014 and March 2018. Three patients who were not treated were excluded from the analysis. The median age was 19 years. The median previous line of chemotherapy was two. In the 24 patients with an evaluable response, the response rate at 8 weeks was 67% (95% CI: 47-82%). All patients discontinued crizotinib after a median treatment duration of 3.7 months: eight for progression, two for adverse events (AEs) related to prior treatments, and 15 by choice, including six for allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. The median follow-up was 45 months. Nine patients experienced an event: eight relapses (seven after crizotinib discontinuation and one after dose reduction), and one died in complete remission. The median duration of response was 43.3 months (95% CI: 8.3-not reached). The 3-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 40% (95% CI: 23-59%) and 63% (95% CI: 43-79%). Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related AEs occurred in 32% of patients.
CONCLUSION
Crizotinib shows efficacy and an acceptable safety profile in ALK ALCL relapsed/refractory patients. However, a large proportion of patients experience a relapse after crizotinib discontinuation. Future studies will assess if prolonged ALK inhibitor exposure has curative potential without consolidation.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Crizotinib; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Lung Neoplasms
PubMed: 37549532
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.112984 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023While fluorescent organic materials have many potential as well as proven applications and so have attracted significant attention, pyridine-olefin conjugates remain a...
While fluorescent organic materials have many potential as well as proven applications and so have attracted significant attention, pyridine-olefin conjugates remain a less studied subset of such systems. Herein, therefore, we report on the development of the straightforward syntheses of pyridin-1(2)-ylacrylates and the outcomes of a study of the effects of substituents on their fluorescent properties. Such compounds were prepared using a simple, metal-free and three-component coupling reaction involving 2-aminopyridines, sulfonyl azides and propiolates. The fluorescent properties of the ensuing products are significantly affected by the positions of substituents on the cyclic framework, with those located in central positions having the greatest impact. Electron-withdrawing groups tend to induce blue shifts while electron-donating ones cause red shifts. This work highlights the capacity that the micro-modification of fluorescent materials provides for fine-tuning their properties such that they may be usefully applied to, for example, the study of luminescent materials.
PubMed: 37764287
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186511 -
MedRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Aug 2023The cause of downbeat nystagmus (DBN) remains unknown in approximately 30% of patients (idiopathic DBN). Here, we hypothesized that: (i) (GAA) repeat expansions...
The cause of downbeat nystagmus (DBN) remains unknown in approximately 30% of patients (idiopathic DBN). Here, we hypothesized that: (i) (GAA) repeat expansions represent a frequent genetic cause of idiopathic DBN syndromes, (ii) are treatable with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and (iii) (GAA) alleles are potentially pathogenic. We conducted a multi-modal cohort study of 170 patients with idiopathic DBN that comprised: in-depth ocular motor, neurological, and disease evolution phenotyping; assessment of 4-AP treatment response, including re-analysis of placebo-controlled video-oculography treatment response data from a previous randomized double-blind 4-AP trial; and genotyping of the repeat. Frequency of (GAA) expansions was 48% (82/170) in the entire idiopathic DBN cohort. Additional cerebellar ocular motor signs were observed in 100% (82/82), cerebellar ataxia in 43% (35/82), and extracerebellar features in 21% (17/82) of (GAA) - patients. Alleles of 200 to 249 GAA repeats were enriched in patients with DBN (12%; 20/170) compared to controls (0.87%; 19/2,191; OR, 15.20; 95% CI, 7.52-30.80; =9.876e-14). The phenotype of (GAA) - patients closely mirrored that of (GAA) - patients. (GAA) - and (GAA) - patients had a significantly greater clinician-reported (80% vs 31%; =0.0011) and self-reported (59% vs 11%; =0.0003) response rate to 4-AP treatment compared to (GAA) - patients. This included a treatment response with high relevance to everyday living, as exemplified by an improvement of 2 FARS stages in some cases. Placebo-controlled video-oculography data of four (GAA) - patients previously enrolled in a 4-AP randomized double-blind trial showed a significant decrease in slow phase velocity of DBN with 4-AP, but not placebo. This study shows that GAA repeat expansions are a highly frequent genetic cause of DBN syndromes, especially when associated with additional cerebellar features. Moreover, they genetically stratify a subgroup of patients with DBN that appear to be highly responsive to 4-AP, thus paving the way for a "theranostics" approach in DBN syndromes.
PubMed: 37577458
DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.30.23293380 -
EBioMedicine Apr 2024GAA-FGF14 disease/spinocerebellar ataxia 27B is a recently described neurodegenerative disease caused by (GAA) expansions in the fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14)...
BACKGROUND
GAA-FGF14 disease/spinocerebellar ataxia 27B is a recently described neurodegenerative disease caused by (GAA) expansions in the fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) gene, but its phenotypic spectrum, pathogenic threshold, and evidence-based treatability remain to be established. We report on the frequency of FGF14 (GAA) and (GAA) expansions in a large cohort of patients with idiopathic downbeat nystagmus (DBN) and their response to 4-aminopyridine.
METHODS
Retrospective cohort study of 170 patients with idiopathic DBN, comprising in-depth phenotyping and assessment of 4-aminopyridine treatment response, including re-analysis of placebo-controlled video-oculography treatment response data from a previous randomised double-blind 4-aminopyridine trial.
FINDINGS
Frequency of FGF14 (GAA) expansions was 48% (82/170) in patients with idiopathic DBN. Additional cerebellar ocular motor signs were observed in 100% (82/82) and cerebellar ataxia in 43% (35/82) of patients carrying an FGF14 (GAA) expansion. FGF14 (GAA) alleles were enriched in patients with DBN (12%; 20/170) compared to controls (0.87%; 19/2191; OR, 15.20; 95% CI, 7.52-30.80; p < 0.0001). The phenotype of patients carrying a (GAA) allele closely mirrored that of patients carrying a (GAA) allele. Patients carrying a (GAA) or a (GAA) allele had a significantly greater clinician-reported (80%, 33/41 vs 31%, 5/16; RR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.23-5.41; Fisher's exact test, p = 0.0011) and self-reported (59%, 32/54 vs 11%, 2/19; RR, 5.63; 95% CI, 1.49-21.27; Fisher's exact test, p = 0.00033) response to 4-aminopyridine treatment compared to patients carrying a (GAA) allele. Placebo-controlled video-oculography data, available for four patients carrying an FGF14 (GAA) expansion, showed a significant decrease in slow phase velocity of DBN with 4-aminopyridine, but not placebo.
INTERPRETATION
This study confirms that FGF14 GAA expansions are a frequent cause of DBN syndromes. It provides preliminary evidence that (GAA) alleles might be pathogenic. Finally, it provides large real-world and preliminary piloting placebo-controlled evidence for the efficacy of 4-aminopyridine in GAA-FGF14 disease.
FUNDING
This work was supported by the Clinician Scientist program "PRECISE.net" funded by the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (to CW, AT, and MSy), the grant 779257 "Solve-RD" from the European's Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (to MSy), and the grant 01EO 1401 by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (to MSt). This work was also supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) N° 441409627, as part of the PROSPAX consortium under the frame of EJP RD, the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases, under the EJP RD COFUND-EJP N° 825575 (to MSy, BB and-as associated partner-SZ), the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (grant 2R01NS072248-11A1 to SZ), the Fondation Groupe Monaco (to BB), and the Montreal General Hospital Foundation (grant PT79418 to BB). The Care4Rare Canada Consortium is funded in part by Genome Canada and the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI-147 to KMB), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR GP1-155867 to KMB), Ontario Research Foundation, Genome Quebec, and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation. The funders had no role in the conduct of this study.
Topics: Child; Humans; 4-Aminopyridine; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Nystagmus, Pathologic; Ontario; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 38507876
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105076 -
The Oncologist Feb 2024The MONARCH 2 trial (NCT02107703) showed the efficacy of abemaciclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 & 6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i), in combination with fulvestrant for hormone...
BACKGROUND
The MONARCH 2 trial (NCT02107703) showed the efficacy of abemaciclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 & 6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i), in combination with fulvestrant for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The aim of this analysis was to explore the prediction of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) stratification using machine learning for hypothesis generation of biomarker-driven clinical trials.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Predicted CTCs were computed in the MONARCH 2 trial through a K nearest neighbor (KNN) classifier trained on a dataset comprising 2436 patients with MBC. Patients were categorized into predicted Stage IVaggressive (pStage IVaggressive, ≥5 predicted CTCs) or predicted Stage IVindolent (pStage IVindolent, <5 predicted CTCs). Prognosis was tested in terms of progression-free-survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) through Cox regression.
RESULTS
Patients classified as predicted pStage IVaggressive and predicted pStage Stage IVindolent were, respectively, 183 (28%) and 461 (72%). After multivariable Cox regression, predicted CTCs were confirmed as independently associated with prognosis in terms of OS, together with ECOG performance status, liver involvement, bone-only disease, and treatment arm. Patients in the pStage Stage IVindolent subgroup treated with abemaciclib experienced the best prognosis both in terms of PFS and OS. The treatment effect of abemaciclib on OS was then explored through subgroup analysis, showing a consistent benefit across all subgroups.
CONCLUSION
This study is the first analysis of CTCs modeling for stage IV disease stratification. These results show the need to expand biomarker profiling in combination with CTCs stratification for improved biomarker-driven drug development.
Topics: Humans; Female; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; Breast Neoplasms; Receptor, ErbB-2; Retrospective Studies; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Aminopyridines; Benzimidazoles
PubMed: 37935631
DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad293 -
Journal of Experimental & Clinical... Apr 2024Brain metastasis (BM) is common among cases of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is the leading cause of death for these patients. Mesothelin (MSLN), a...
BACKGROUND
Brain metastasis (BM) is common among cases of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is the leading cause of death for these patients. Mesothelin (MSLN), a tumor-associated antigen expressed in many solid tumors, has been reported to be involved in the progression of multiple tumors. However, its potential involvement in BM of NSCLC and the underlying mechanism remain unknown.
METHODS
The expression of MSLN was validated in clinical tissue and serum samples using immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ability of NSCLC cells to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was examined using an in vitro Transwell model and an ex vivo multi-organ microfluidic bionic chip. Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were used to detect the disruption of tight junctions. In vivo BBB leakiness assay was performed to assess the barrier integrity. MET expression and activation was detected by western blotting. The therapeutic efficacy of drugs targeting MSLN (anetumab) and MET (crizotinib/capmatinib) on BM was evaluated in animal studies.
RESULTS
MSLN expression was significantly elevated in both serum and tumor tissue samples from NSCLC patients with BM and correlated with a poor clinical prognosis. MSLN significantly enhanced the brain metastatic abilities of NSCLC cells, especially BBB extravasation. Mechanistically, MSLN facilitated the expression and activation of MET through the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway, which allowed tumor cells to disrupt tight junctions and the integrity of the BBB and thereby penetrate the barrier. Drugs targeting MSLN (anetumab) and MET (crizotinib/capmatinib) effectively blocked the development of BM and prolonged the survival of mice.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that MSLN plays a critical role in BM of NSCLC by modulating the JNK/MET signaling network and thus, provides a potential novel therapeutic target for preventing BM in NSCLC patients.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Mesothelin; Lung Neoplasms; GPI-Linked Proteins; Crizotinib; Cell Line, Tumor; Brain Neoplasms; Benzamides; Imidazoles; Triazines
PubMed: 38570866
DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03015-w