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International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2022Microsatellite instability (MSI)/defective DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) is receiving more attention as a biomarker for eligibility for immune checkpoint inhibitors in... (Review)
Review
Microsatellite instability (MSI)/defective DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) is receiving more attention as a biomarker for eligibility for immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced diseases. However, due to high costs and resource limitations, MSI/dMMR testing is not widely performed. Some attempts are in progress to predict MSI/dMMR status through histomorphological features on H&E slides using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In this study, the potential predictive role of this new methodology was reviewed through a systematic review. Studies up to September 2021 were searched through PubMed and Embase database searches. The design and results of each study were summarized, and the risk of bias for each study was evaluated. For colorectal cancer, AI-based systems showed excellent performance with the highest standard of 0.972; for gastric and endometrial cancers they showed a relatively low but satisfactory performance, with the highest standard of 0.81 and 0.82, respectively. However, analyzing the risk of bias, most studies were evaluated at high-risk. AI-based systems showed a high potential in predicting the MSI/dMMR status of different cancer types, and particularly of colorectal cancers. Therefore, a confirmation test should be required only for the results that are positive in the AI test.
Topics: Artificial Intelligence; Colorectal Neoplasms; DNA Mismatch Repair; Endometrial Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Microsatellite Instability
PubMed: 35269607
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052462 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2022DNA repair phenotype can be measured in blood and may be a potential biomarker of cancer risk. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
DNA repair phenotype can be measured in blood and may be a potential biomarker of cancer risk. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies of DNA repair phenotype and cancer through March 2021. We used random-effects models to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) of cancer risk for those with the lowest DNA repair capacity compared with those with the highest capacity. We included 55 case-control studies that evaluated 12 different cancers using 10 different DNA repair assays. The pooled OR of cancer risk (all cancer types combined) was 2.92 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.49, 3.43) for the lowest DNA repair. Lower DNA repair was associated with all studied cancer types, and pooled ORs (95% CI) ranged from 2.02 (1.43, 2.85) for skin cancer to 7.60 (3.26, 17.72) for liver cancer. All assays, except the homologous recombination repair assay, showed statistically significant associations with cancer. The effect size ranged from 1.90 (1.00, 3.60) for the etoposide-induced double-strand break assay to 5.06 (3.67, 6.99) for the γ-H2AX assay. The consistency and strength of the associations support the use of these phenotypic biomarkers; however large-scale prospective studies will be important for understanding their use related to age and screening initiation.
Topics: Case-Control Studies; DNA Repair; Humans; Phenotype; Prospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms
PubMed: 35233009
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07256-7 -
PloS One 2022Analytic approaches to clinical validation of results from preclinical models are important in assessment of their relevance to human disease. This systematic review...
INTRODUCTION
Analytic approaches to clinical validation of results from preclinical models are important in assessment of their relevance to human disease. This systematic review examined consistency in reporting of glioblastoma cohorts from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) or Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and assessed whether studies included patient characteristics in their survival analyses.
METHODS
We searched Embase and Medline on 02Feb21 for studies using preclinical models of glioblastoma published after Jan2008 that used data from TCGA or CGGA to validate the association between at least one molecular marker and overall survival in adult patients with glioblastoma. Main data items included cohort characteristics, statistical significance of the survival analysis, and model covariates.
RESULTS
There were 58 eligible studies from 1,751 non-duplicate records investigating 126 individual molecular markers. In 14 studies published between 2017 and 2020 using TCGA RNA microarray data that should have the same cohort, the median number of patients was 464.5 (interquartile range 220.5-525). Of the 15 molecular markers that underwent more than one univariable or multivariable survival analyses, five had discrepancies between studies. Covariates used in the 17 studies that used multivariable survival analyses were age (76.5%), pre-operative functional status (35.3%), sex (29.4%) MGMT promoter methylation (29.4%), radiotherapy (23.5%), chemotherapy (17.6%), IDH mutation (17.6%) and extent of resection (5.9%).
CONCLUSION
Preclinical glioblastoma studies that used TCGA for validation did not provide sufficient information about their cohort selection and there were inconsistent results. Transparency in reporting and the use of analytic approaches that adjust for clinical variables can improve the reproducibility between studies.
Topics: Adult; Brain Neoplasms; DNA Methylation; DNA Modification Methylases; DNA Repair Enzymes; Glioblastoma; Glioma; Humans; Prognosis; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 35231064
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264740 -
Urology Jul 2022To review the effect of universal screening of newly diagnosed upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC) for mismatch repair (MMR) protein loss to aid in Lynch syndrome... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To review the effect of universal screening of newly diagnosed upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC) for mismatch repair (MMR) protein loss to aid in Lynch syndrome diagnostics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Studies were identified through PubMed on December 1, 2021. Eligibility criteria were universal immunohistochemical analyses for at least 2 MMR proteins in unselected, consecutively collected UTUC cohorts. Exclusion criteria included reviews, case-reports, non-English language, and non-humans. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analyses were performed to compare the association between clinical criteria and Lynch syndrome diagnoses.
RESULTS
From 12 included studies, 1628 surgically removed UTUC from 1626 patients were screened for MMR protein loss. In 11 studies, 140 of the 1559 patients had tumors with loss (9.0%) with 80.7% showing loss of MSH2, MSH6, or both. In 7 studies, genetic testing confirmed Lynch syndrome diagnosis for 20 of 970 patients (2.1%). In 8 studies, 31 patients were given a clinical Lynch syndrome diagnosis (2.6%). In total, 51 assumed or verified Lynch syndrome patients were identified among 1087 patients (4.7%). Meta-analyses of 3 studies showed significant association between previous cancer diagnosis and Lynch syndrome-associated UTUC (P = .038).
CONCLUSION
Despite the few studies conducted and lack of genetic testing, current data suggests that universal screening for MMR protein loss in UTUC may result in Lynch syndrome diagnoses in 4.7%. However, for the screening to be effective for Lynch syndrome diagnostics, follow-up investigations, such as genetic testing for MMR variants, are needed.
Topics: Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis; DNA Mismatch Repair; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; MutL Protein Homolog 1; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
PubMed: 35217028
DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2022.02.006 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Feb 2022Platinum-based agents may benefit patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors are dysfunctional in DNA repair mechanisms associated with the... (Review)
Review
Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) and BRCA 1/2 Gene Mutation for Predicting the Effect of Platinum-Based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy of Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
BACKGROUND
Platinum-based agents may benefit patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors are dysfunctional in DNA repair mechanisms associated with the homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the values of BRCA1/2 and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) in the prediction of the pathological complete response (pCR) rates of patients with TNBC treated with platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients with TNBC with BRCA or HRD status from platinum-based NAC trials were analyzed. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the identified studies were calculated.
RESULTS
13 eligible studies between January 2000 and September 2021 were included through systematic literature searches of Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases. In 12 trials with BRCA status, 629 of 1266 (49.7%) patients with TNBC achieved pCR with platinum-based NAC, including 134 out of 222 (60.4%) BRCA1/2-mutated patients and 495 out of 1044 (47.4%) BRCA wildtype patients (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.20-2.20). The prevalence of HRD was higher than BRCA1/2 mutations in patients with TNBC (69.2% vs. 17.5%). In six trials with HRD information, pCR rates of HRD-positive patients with TNBC were significantly higher than those of HRD-negative patients with TNBC (241/412, 58.5% vs. 60/183, 32.8%, OR, 3.01; 95% CI, 2.07-4.39, < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
BRCA1/2-mutated and HRD-positive patients with TNBC could benefit from platinum-based NAC. In the future, a prospective study using unified HRD testing criteria is warranted for further investigation.
PubMed: 35207810
DOI: 10.3390/jpm12020323 -
Biomedicines Jan 2022Pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1) is allowed in selected metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (PC) patients showing microsatellite instability/mismatch repair system... (Review)
Review
What Do We Have to Know about PD-L1 Expression in Prostate Cancer? A Systematic Literature Review (Part 6): Correlation of PD-L1 Expression with the Status of Mismatch Repair System, , , and Other Genes.
Pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1) is allowed in selected metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (PC) patients showing microsatellite instability/mismatch repair system deficiency (MSI-H/dMMR). loss-of-function is linked to hereditary PCs and homologous recombination DNA-repair system deficiency: poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase inhibitors can be administered to -mutated PC patients. Recently, docetaxel-refractory metastatic castration-resistant PC patients with or somatic mutations had higher response rates to pembrolizumab. regulates cell cycle/proliferation/apoptosis through pathways including the AKT/mTOR, which upregulates PD-L1 expression in PC. Our systematic literature review (PRISMA guidelines) investigated the potential correlations between PD-L1 and MMR/MSI/ statuses in PC, discussing few other relevant genes. Excluding selection biases, 74/677 (11%) PCs showed dMMR/MSI; 8/67 (12%) of dMMR/MSI cases were PD-L1+. dMMR-PCs included ductal (3%) and acinar (14%) PCs (all cases tested for MSI were acinar-PCs). In total, 15/39 (39%) PCs harbored aberrations: limited data are available for PD-L1 expression in these patients. 13/137 (10%) PTEN- PCs were PD-L1+; 10/29 (35%) PD-L1+ PCs showed PTEN negativity. mutations may increase PD-L1 levels, while the potential correlation between PD-L1 and ERG expression in PC should be clarified. Further research should verify how the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in metastatic castration-resistant PCs is related to dMMR/MSI, DNA-damage repair genes defects, or PD-L1 expression.
PubMed: 35203446
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020236 -
Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal... May 2022Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) syndrome, with an estimated prevalence of 2% to 3% of CRC. A prevalence study is needed to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) syndrome, with an estimated prevalence of 2% to 3% of CRC. A prevalence study is needed to provide accurate estimates of the true prevalence of LS.
METHODS
MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, and Web of Science were searched. Prevalence was calculated by random effects meta-analysis models. I score was used to assess heterogeneity across studies. Meta-regression was performed for between-study variance.
RESULTS
A total of 51 studies were included in this review. The overall pooled yield of LS screening was 2.2% based on all methods of detection. Studies performing germline tests on all participants with CRC reported higher prevalence (5.1%) as opposed to studies only performing germline tests on participants with tumors with mismatch repair deficiency (1.6%) or microsatellite instability (1.1%). Selected cohorts of CRC had a higher prevalence of germline LS diagnoses.
CONCLUSION
LS prevalence across multiple ethnic, geographic, and clinical populations is remarkably similar. Universal germline testing of patients presenting with cancer identifies that most CRCs are attributed to LS. Young patients presenting with CRC and those who fulfill criteria for a familial risk provide the highest returns for LS identification. Our study supports the universal germline CRC screening for LS.
Topics: Colorectal Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis; DNA Mismatch Repair; Humans; Microsatellite Instability; Prevalence
PubMed: 35177335
DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2022.01.014 -
Translational Cancer Research Oct 2021This study aimed to investigate the frequency of Lynch syndrome-associated clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics in Lynch syndrome gynecologic cancers. (Review)
Review
Screening and identification of Lynch syndrome: a systematic review of the frequency of Lynch syndrome-associated clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics in Lynch syndrome gynecologic cancers.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to investigate the frequency of Lynch syndrome-associated clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics in Lynch syndrome gynecologic cancers.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted in the literature databases (Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov) to identify the studies describing clinicopathologic characteristics, MMR protein immunohistochemistry and/or MSI, MLH1 methylation, and genetic testing in Lynch syndrome gynecologic cancer patients.
RESULTS
A total of 24 of the evaluated studies that met the inclusion criteria were identified. A clinicopathological examination confirmed 242 endometrial cancer, 17 clear cells endometrial cancer, 35 serous endometrial cancer, 30 mixed and 21 other endometrial cancer. Thus, a total of 345 endometrial cancer was confirmed from the screening of 1,317 gynaecological cancer. However, the morphological analysis demonstrated 236 patients with endometrial cancer associated with Lynch syndrome. The frequency of confirmed LS with endometrial cancer was 68.40%. At diagnosis, the median age was 49.94±4.34 years, and the average BMI was 26.07±3.77 kg/m. Endometrioid histology and stage I disease were the most frequent at 70.97% and 71.19% histological type and FIGO stage, respectively. Similarly, morphological and histological analysis demonstrated a higher degree of grade I cancer (47.28) and lymphovascular invasion (56.52%), respectively.
DISCUSSION
Lynch syndrome-associated clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics occur significantly in Lynch syndrome gynecologic cancers and may improve risk stratification and triaging of gynecologic cancers for genetic testing.
PubMed: 35116308
DOI: 10.21037/tcr-21-677 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2022Clinical observations have demonstrated that microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) and/or deficient MMR (dMMR) status are associated with favorable prognosis and no... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Clinical observations have demonstrated that microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) and/or deficient MMR (dMMR) status are associated with favorable prognosis and no benefit from 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resected stage II colorectal cancer (CRC). This study represents a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the predictive role of MSI-H status in stage III CRC undergoing or not adjuvant chemotherapy. Published articles that evaluated the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in resected stage III CRC from inception to September 2020 were identified by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. The random-effects model was conducted to estimate the pooled effect size of OS and DFS. The primary outcome of interest was OS. 21,590 patients with MSI-H/dMMR stage III CRC, from n = 17 retrospective studies, were analyzed. Overall, OS was improved with any adjuvant chemotherapy vs. any control arm (single-agent 5-FU or surgery alone): HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26-0.66; P < 0.01. Conversely, DFS was not significantly improved (HR 0.7, 95% CI 0.45-1.09; P = 0.11). In patients with stage III MSI-H/dMMR CRC, adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with a significant OS improvement. Thus, MSI-H/dMMR status does represent a predictive factor for postoperative chemotherapy benefit in stage III CRC beyond its prognostic role.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Colonic Neoplasms; DNA Mismatch Repair; Disease-Free Survival; Humans; Microsatellite Instability; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35058539
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05065-6 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Dec 2021Recently, checkpoint inhibitors have been investigated in metastatic prostate cancer, however their overall effect is unclear and needs to be further investigated. (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Recently, checkpoint inhibitors have been investigated in metastatic prostate cancer, however their overall effect is unclear and needs to be further investigated.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the oncological response of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
METHODS
Based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement, a systematic review of the literature was conducted through online electronic databases and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meeting Library. Eligible publications were selected after a staged screening and selection process. RevMan 5.4 software was employed to run the quantitative analysis and forest plots. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the Cochrane tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for the randomized and non-randomized trials, respectively.
RESULTS
From the 831 results retrieved, 8 studies including 2768 patients were included. There was no significant effect on overall survival (OS) (overall response (OR) = 0.98; Z = 0.42; = 0.67). Meanwhile, progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly better with immune checkpoint inhibitors administration (OR = 0.85; Z = 3.9; < 0.0001). The subgroup analysis for oncological outcomes based on programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) positivity status displayed no significant effect, except on prostate-specific antigen response rate (PSA RR) (OR = 3.25; Z = 2.29; = 0.02). Based on DNA damage repair (DDR), positive patients had a significantly better PFS and a trend towards better OS and overall response rate (ORR); the ORR was 40% in positive patients compared to 20% in the negative patients (OR = 2.46; Z = 1.3; = 0.19), while PSA RR was 23.5% compared to 14.3% (OR = 1.88; Z = 0.88; = 0.38). Better PFS was clearly associated with DDR positivity (OR = 0.70; Z = 2.48; = 0.01) with a trend towards better OS in DDR positive patients (OR = 0.71; Z = 1.38; = 0.17). Based on tumor mutation burden (TMB), ORR was 46.7% with high TMB versus 8.8% in patients with low TMB (OR = 11.88; Z = 3.0; = 0.003).
CONCLUSIONS
Checkpoint inhibitors provide modest oncological advantages in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. There are currently no good predictive indicators that indicate a greater response in some patients.
PubMed: 35055323
DOI: 10.3390/jpm12010008