TAMI-08. A TALE OF TWO TELOMERE MAINTENANCE MECHANISMS: TERT EXPRESSION AND THE ALT PATHWAY INDUCE UNIQUE MRS-DETECTABLE METABOLIC REPROGRAMMING IN LOW-GRADE GLIOMAS

Abstract Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures at chromosomal ends that shorten with cell division and constitute a natural barrier to proliferation. In order to proliferate indefinitely, all tumors require a telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM). Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression is the TMM in most tumors, including low-grade oligodendrogliomas (LGOGs). In contrast, low-grade astrocytomas (LGAs) use the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway as their TMM. As molecular hallmarks of tumor proliferation, TMMs are attractive tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Non-invasive imaging of TMM status will, therefore, allow assessment of tumor proliferation and treatment response. However, translational methods of imaging TMM status are lacking. Here, we show that TERT expression and the ALT pathway are associated with unique magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-detectable metabolic reprogramming in LGOGs and LGAs respectively. In genetically-engineered and patient-derived LGOG models, TERT expression is linked to elevated 1H-MRS-detectable NAD(P)/H, glutathione, aspartate and AXP. In contrast, the ALT pathway in LGAs is associated with higher α-ketoglutarate, glutamate, alanine and AXP. Importantly, elevated flux of hyperpolarized [1-13C]-alanine to pyruvate, which depends on α-ketoglutarate, is a non-invasive in vivo imaging biomarker of the ALT pathway in LGAs while elevated flux of hyperpolarized [1-13C]-alanine to lactate, which depends on NADH, is an imaging biomarker of TERT expression in LGOGs. Mechanistically, the ALT pathway in LGAs is linked to higher glutaminase (GLS), a key enzyme for α-ketoglutarate biosynthesis while TERT expression in LGOGs is associated with elevated nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), a key enzyme for NADH biosynthesis. Notably, TERT expression and the ALT pathway are linked to MRS-detectable metabolic reprogramming in LGOG and LGA patient biopsies, emphasizing the clinical validity of our observations. Collectively, we have identified unique metabolic signatures of TMM status that integrate critical oncogenic information with noninvasive imaging modalities that can improve diagnosis and treatment response monitoring for LGOG and LGA patients.

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NIMG-51. DEUTERIUM METABOLIC IMAGING OF BRAIN TUMOR IMMORTALITY USING 2H-PYRUVATE

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noab196.549 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi140-vi141

Author(s):

Georgios Batsios ◽

Céline Taglang ◽

Meryssa Tran ◽

Anne Marie Gillespie ◽

Sabrina Ronen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumor ◽

Lactate Production ◽

Response To Therapy ◽

Telomere Maintenance ◽

Metabolic Imaging ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Low Grade ◽

Tumor Proliferation ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Tert Expression

Abstract Telomere maintenance is essential for tumor immortality and sustained tumor proliferation. Most tumors, including high-grade glioblastomas and low-grade oligodendrogliomas achieve telomere maintenance via reactivation of the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), which is silenced in normal somatic cells. Due to this essential role, TERT is a therapeutic target and TERT inhibitors such as 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine are in clinical trials. Non-invasive methods of imaging TERT, therefore, have the potential to provide a readout of tumor proliferation and response to therapy. We previously showed that TERT expression is associated with elevated levels of NADH in gliomas. Since NADH is essential for the conversion of pyruvate to lactate, measuring pyruvate flux to lactate could be useful for imaging TERT expression. In this context, deuterium magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2H-MRS) recently emerged as a novel, clinically translatable method of monitoring metabolic fluxes. The goal of this study was to assess the potential of [U-2H]pyruvate for non-invasive imaging of TERT status in gliomas. Following intravenous injection of [U-2H]pyruvate, lactate production was significantly higher in mice bearing orthotopic oligodendroglioma (SF10417, BT88) or glioblastoma (GBM1, GBM6) tumors relative to tumor-free controls. 2D chemical shift imaging showed localization of lactate production to tumor vs. contralateral normal brain. Importantly, following treatment of mice bearing orthotopic GBM6 or BT88 tumors with the TERT inhibitor 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine, lactate production from [U-2H]pyruvate was significantly reduced at early timepoints when alterations in tumor volume could not be detected by anatomical imaging, pointing to the ability of [U-2H]pyruvate to report on pseudoprogression. Collectively, we have, for the first time, demonstrated the utility of [U-2H]pyruvate for metabolic imaging of brain tumor burden and treatment response in vivo. Importantly, since 2H-MRS can be implemented on clinical scanners, our results provide a novel, non-invasive method of integrating information regarding a fundamental tumor hallmark, i.e. TERT, into glioma patient management.

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Non-invasive assessment of telomere maintenance mechanisms in brain tumors

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-20312-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Pavithra Viswanath ◽

Georgios Batsios ◽

Joydeep Mukherjee ◽

Anne Marie Gillespie ◽

Peder E. Z. Larson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetically Engineered ◽

Telomere Maintenance ◽

Imaging Biomarker ◽

Response Monitoring ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Low Grade ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Alternative Lengthening ◽

Metabolic Biomarkers ◽

Tert Expression

AbstractTelomere maintenance is a universal hallmark of cancer. Most tumors including low-grade oligodendrogliomas use telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression for telomere maintenance while astrocytomas use the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. Although TERT and ALT are hallmarks of tumor proliferation and attractive therapeutic targets, translational methods of imaging TERT and ALT are lacking. Here we show that TERT and ALT are associated with unique 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-detectable metabolic signatures in genetically-engineered and patient-derived glioma models and patient biopsies. Importantly, we have leveraged this information to mechanistically validate hyperpolarized [1-13C]-alanine flux to pyruvate as an imaging biomarker of ALT status and hyperpolarized [1-13C]-alanine flux to lactate as an imaging biomarker of TERT status in low-grade gliomas. Collectively, we have identified metabolic biomarkers of TERT and ALT status that provide a way of integrating critical oncogenic information into non-invasive imaging modalities that can improve tumor diagnosis and treatment response monitoring.

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BIMG-08. DEUTERIUM MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY USING 2H-PYRUVATE ALLOWS NON-INVASIVE IN VIVO IMAGING OF TERT EXPRESSION IN BRAIN TUMORS

Neuro-Oncology Advances ◽

10.1093/noajnl/vdab024.007 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. i2-i2

Author(s):

Georgios Batsios ◽

Celine Taglang ◽

Meryssa Tran ◽

Anne Marie Gillespie ◽

Joseph Costello ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

In Vivo Imaging ◽

Lactate Production ◽

Telomere Maintenance ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Low Grade ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Tert Expression

Abstract Telomere shortening constitutes a natural barrier to uncontrolled proliferation and all tumors must find a mechanism of maintaining telomere length. Most human tumors, including high-grade primary glioblastomas (GBMs) and low-grade oligodendrogliomas (LGOGs) achieve telomere maintenance via reactivation of the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), which is silenced in normal somatic cells. TERT expression is, therefore, a driver of tumor proliferation and, due to this essential role, TERT is also a therapeutic target. However, non-invasive methods of imaging TERT are lacking. The goal of this study was to identify magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-detectable metabolic biomarkers of TERT expression that will enable non-invasive visualization of tumor burden in LGOGs and GBMs. First, we silenced TERT expression by RNA interference in patient-derived LGOG (SF10417, BT88) and GBM (GS2) models. Our results linked TERT silencing to significant reductions in steady-state levels of NADH in all models. NADH is essential for the conversion of pyruvate to lactate, suggesting that measuring pyruvate flux to lactate could be useful for imaging TERT status. Recently, deuterium (2H)-MRS has emerged as a novel, clinically translatable method of monitoring metabolic fluxes in vivo. However, to date, studies have solely examined 2H-glucose and the use of [U-2H]pyruvate for non-invasive 2H-MRS has not been tested. Following intravenous injection of a bolus of [U-2H]pyruvate, lactate production was higher in mice bearing orthotopic LGOG (BT88 and SF10417) and GBM (GS2) tumor xenografts relative to tumor-free mice, suggesting that [U-2H]pyruvate has the potential to monitor TERT expression in vivo. In summary, our study, for the first time, shows the feasibility and utility of [U-2H]pyruvate for in vivo imaging. Importantly, since 2H-MRS can be implemented on clinical scanners, our results provide a novel, non-invasive method of integrating information regarding a fundamental cancer hallmark, i.e. TERT, into glioma patient management.

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CBMT-41. IMAGING A HALLMARK OF CANCER: HYPERPOLARIZED 13C-MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY CAN NON-INVASIVELY MONITOR TERT EXPRESSION IN LOW-GRADE GLIOMAS IN VIVO

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noz175.163 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi42-vi42

Author(s):

Pavithra Viswanath ◽

Georgios Batsios ◽

Anne Marie Gillespie ◽

Russell O Pieper ◽

Sabrina Ronen

Keyword(s):

Lactate Production ◽

Metabolic Imaging ◽

Imaging Biomarkers ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Low Grade ◽

Normal Brain ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Glucose Flux ◽

Tert Expression

Abstract Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression is a hallmark of cancer, including in primary glioblastomas and low-grade oligodendrogliomas. Since TERT is essential for glioma proliferation and is an attractive therapeutic target, metabolic imaging of TERT status can inform on tumor progression and response to therapy. To that end, the goal of this study was to identify non-invasive, translational, hyperpolarized 13C-magnetic resonance spectroscopy-detectable metabolic imaging biomarkers of TERT in low-grade oligodendrogliomas. Unbiased metabolomic analysis of immortalized normal human astrocytes without (NHAcontrol) and with TERT (NHAtert) indicated that TERT induced unique metabolic reprogramming. Notably, TERT increased NADPH and NADH levels. Glucose flux through the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is a major producer of NADPH. Non-invasive imaging of PPP flux using hyperpolarized [U-13C,U-2H]-glucose indicated that production of the PPP metabolite 6-phosphogluconate (6-PG) was elevated in NHAtert cells relative to NHAcontrol. Importantly, hyperpolarized [U-13C,U-2H]-glucose flux to 6-PG clearly differentiated tumor from normal brain in orthotopic NHAtert tumor xenografts. Next, we exploited the observation that TERT expression increased NADH, which is essential for the metabolism of hyperpolarized [1-13C]-alanine to lactate. Lactate production from hyperpolarized [1-13C]-alanine was higher in NHAtert cells relative to NHAcontrol. Importantly, hyperpolarized [1-13C]-alanine imaging in orthotopic NHAtert tumors revealed pronounced differences in lactate production between tumor tissue and normal brain. Mechanistically, TERT increased expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), the rate-limiting enzyme for 6-PG and NADPH production, and of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), a rate-limiting enzyme for NADH biosynthesis. Silencing TERT reversed G6PDH and NAMPT expression and normalized hyperpolarized [U-13C,U-2H]-glucose and [1-13C]-alanine metabolism, validating our imaging biomarkers. Finally, hyperpolarized [U-13C,U-2H]-glucose and [1-13C]-alanine could monitor TERT status in the clinically relevant, patient-derived BT54 oligodendroglioma model. In summary, we demonstrate, for the first time, non-invasive in vivo imaging of TERT status in gliomas that can enable longitudinal analysis of tumor burden and treatment response in the clinic.

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TBMT-01. HYPERPOLARIZED δ-[1-13C]GLUCONOLACTONE MONITORS TERT-INDUCED ELEVATION IN PENTOSE PHOSPHATE PATHWAY FLUX IN BRAIN TUMORS IN VIVO

Neuro-Oncology Advances ◽

10.1093/noajnl/vdab024.083 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. i20-i20

Author(s):

Georgios Batsios ◽

Pavithra Viswanath ◽

Celine Taglang ◽

Robert Flavell ◽

Joseph Costello ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pentose Phosphate Pathway ◽

Therapeutic Target ◽

Pentose Phosphate ◽

Response To Therapy ◽

Homogeneous Distribution ◽

Low Grade ◽

Tumor Proliferation ◽

Low Grade Gliomas ◽

Tert Expression

Abstract Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression is essential for tumor proliferation and is an attractive therapeutic target for gliomas. TERT expression has previously been shown to enhance glucose flux via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) in low grade gliomas expressing TERT. Hyperpolarized δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone has been used to detect flux via the PPP by monitoring its conversion to 6-phospho-[1-13C]gluconate (6PG) in isolated perfused liver. The goal of our study was to evaluate whether hyperpolarized δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone can be used to monitor elevated PPP flux induced by TERT expression in low grade gliomas, thereby providing a non-invasive method of assessing TERT expression in vivo. Immortalized normal human astrocytes without (NHApre) and with TERT expression (NHApost) were used in cell bioreactor experiments. In vivo experiment with rats bearing orthotopic NHApost or patient-derived low-grade oligodendroglioma (SF10417) tumors were contacted. Dynamic 13C MR spectra were acquired at 14T (cells) or 3T (rats) following injection of hyperpolarized δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone. NHApost cells showed significantly higher flux through the PPP compared to NHApre. This finding was in agreement with previous results indicating that TERT expression elevates PPP flux. In all rats δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone and 6PG were observed indicating that δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone crosses the blood-brain barrier and is rapidly metabolized. Furthermore, both models presented homogeneous distribution of δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone in the brain and higher ratio of 6PG-to-δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone in the tumor area. In summary we show in vivo that hyperpolarized δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone metabolism to 6-phospho-[1-13C]gluconate is significantly higher in tumor compared to contralateral normal brain in TERT-expressing genetically-engineered and patient-derived low-grade oligodendrogliomas. Due to its fundamental role in tumor proliferation, TERT is both a tumor biomarker and a therapeutic target. Monitoring HP δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone metabolism, therefore, has the potential to inform on tumor burden and response to therapy in the clinic.

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NIMG-50. DEUTERIUM METABOLIC IMAGING OF THE ALTERNATIVE LENGTHENING OF TELOMERES PATHWAY REPORTS ON TUMOR BURDEN AND PSEUDOPROGRESSION IN LOW-GRADE GLIOMAS

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noab196.548 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi140-vi140

Author(s):

Céline Taglang ◽

Georgios Batsios ◽

Joydeep Mukherjee ◽

Meryssa Tran ◽

Anne Marie Gillespie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Tumor Burden ◽

Telomere Maintenance ◽

Metabolic Imaging ◽

Glycolytic Flux ◽

Low Grade ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Glucose Flux ◽

Alternative Lengthening

Abstract Glioma patient management relies heavily on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, MRI is often inadequate for assessment of tumor burden and pseudoprogression. Non-invasive methods that report on molecular pathways such as telomere maintenance that drive tumor proliferation are needed. Among brain tumors, low-grade astrocytomas (LGAs) use the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway for telomere maintenance. The goal of this study was to identify ALT-linked metabolic alterations that can be exploited for non-invasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-based imaging of LGAs. We examined the patient-derived BT257 model and compared neurospheres that are ALT-dependent (BT257 ALT+) with those in which the ALT pathway has been silenced (BT257 ALT-). Our studies suggest that expression and activity of the rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase-1 are significantly higher in BT257 ALT+ neurospheres relative to ALT-, an effect that is associated with elevated glucose flux to lactate. Studies indicate that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors such as niraparib selectively induce telomeric fusion and cell death in ALT-dependent cells. We find that the telomeric fusion-mediated cytotoxicity of niraparib is associated with significantly reduced glycolytic flux in BT257 ALT+ neurospheres. We then examined whether 2H-MRS using [6,6’-2H]-glucose, which is a clinically translatable method of imaging glycolytic flux, can be used to monitor the ALT pathway in vivo. [6,6’-2H]-glucose flux to lactate is elevated in tumor relative to normal brain in mice bearing orthotopic BT257 tumors. Importantly, following treatment of BT257 tumor-bearing mice with niraparib, lactate production from [6,6’-2H]-glucose is significantly reduced at early timepoints when alterations in tumor volume cannot be observed by MRI, pointing to the ability of [6,6’-2H]-glucose to report on pseudoprogression in vivo. Collectively, our studies mechanistically link the ALT pathway with elevated glycolytic flux via phosphofructokinase-1 and identify deuterium metabolic imaging as a novel, non-invasive method of imaging tumor burden and treatment response in LGAs in vivo.

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BIMG-05. TO BE OR NOT TO BE GLYCOLYTIC: DEUTERATED GLUCOSE-BASED ASSESSMENT OF THE WARBURG EFFECT ALLOWS NON-INVASIVE IMAGING OF TUMOR BURDEN AND TREATMENT RESPONSE IN MUTANT IDH GLIOMAS IN VIVO

Neuro-Oncology Advances ◽

10.1093/noajnl/vdab024.004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. i1-i2

Author(s):

Celine Taglang ◽

Georgios Batsios ◽

Meryssa Tran ◽

Anne Marie Gillepsie ◽

Hema Artee Luchman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Response ◽

Warburg Effect ◽

Tumor Tissue ◽

Tumor Burden ◽

Low Grade ◽

Normal Brain ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Tumor Bearing ◽

The Warburg Effect

Abstract The Warburg effect, characterized by elevated glucose uptake and flux to lactate, is a metabolic hallmark of cancer. Recent studies have identified deuterium 2H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) using 6,6’-2H-glucose as a novel method of imaging the Warburg effect in high-grade primary glioblastomas (GBMs). However, its utility for imaging low-grade gliomas has not been tested. The goal of this study was to determine whether 6,6’-2H-glucose can be used for imaging tumor burden and treatment response in mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDHmut) low-grade gliomas in vivo. We examined mice bearing orthotopic tumors of the patient-derived BT257 astrocytoma model. 1H-MRS, providing a readout of steady-state metabolite levels, confirmed the presence of 2-hydroxyglutarate, the product of IDHmut, in BT257 tumor tissue but not normal brain. Previous studies comparing IDHmut gliomas with GBMs suggest that IDHmut gliomas undergo lactate dehydrogenase silencing, potentially leading to a non-glycolytic phenotype. Nevertheless, our results indicated that, compared to normal brain, glucose uptake and concomitant flux to lactate were significantly higher in BT257 tumor tissue. Importantly, 6,6’-2H-glucose metabolism to lactate was observed in BT257 tumor-bearing mice, but not tumor-free mice. Furthermore, imaging studies confirmed spatial localization of lactate production to the tumor vs. contralateral normal brain. We then examined the ability of 6,6’-2H-glucose to assess treatment response. Poly-(adenosine 5′-diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) inhibit IDHmut glioma growth and are in clinical trials for IDHmut glioma patients. Treatment with the PARPi niraparib reduced 6,6’-2H-glucose flux to lactate in BT257 tumor-bearing mice. Importantly, this reduction was observed at early time-points when no difference in tumor volume could be detected using anatomical imaging, pointing to the ability of 6,6’-2H-glucose to assess pseudoprogression. Collectively, our results suggest that IDHmut gliomas display a glycolytic phenotype amenable to non-invasive 2H-MRS-based imaging of tumor burden and treatment response.

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Current Trends in Non-Invasive Imaging of Interactions in the Liver Tumor Microenvironment Mediated by Tumor Metabolism

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13153645 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 3645

Author(s):

Isabel Theresa Schobert ◽

Lynn Jeanette Savic

Keyword(s):

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Liver Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Tumor Metabolism ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Metabolic Reprogramming ◽

Non Invasive

With the increasing understanding of resistance mechanisms mediated by the metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, there is a growing clinical interest in imaging technologies that allow for the non-invasive characterization of tumor metabolism and the interactions of cancer cells with the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediated through tumor metabolism. Specifically, tumor glycolysis and subsequent tissue acidosis in the realms of the Warburg effect may promote an immunosuppressive TME, causing a substantial barrier to the clinical efficacy of numerous immuno-oncologic treatments. Thus, imaging the varying individual compositions of the TME may provide a more accurate characterization of the individual tumor. This approach can help to identify the most suitable therapy for each individual patient and design new targeted treatment strategies that disable resistance mechanisms in liver cancer. This review article focuses on non-invasive positron-emission tomography (PET)- and MR-based imaging techniques that aim to visualize the crosstalk between tumor cells and their microenvironment in liver cancer mediated by tumor metabolism.

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Identification of miR-20a-5p as Robust Normalizer for Urine microRNA Studies in Renal Cell Carcinoma and A Profile of Dysregulated microRNAs

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22157913 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (15) ◽

pp. 7913

Author(s):

Julia Oto ◽

Raquel Herranz ◽

Emma Plana ◽

José Vicente Sánchez-González ◽

Javier Pérez-Ardavín ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Renal Cell ◽

Diagnostic Value ◽

Diagnostic Model ◽

Low Grade ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Good Expression ◽

Independent Cohort

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the third most frequent urinary malignancy and one of the most lethal. Current diagnostic and follow-up techniques are harmful and unspecific in low-grade tumors. Novel minimally invasive markers such as urine microRNAs (miRNAs) are under study. However, discrepancies arise among studies in part due to lack of consent regarding normalization. We aimed to identify the best miRNA normalizer for RCC studies performed in urine samples together with a miRNA profile with diagnostic value and another for follow-up. We evaluated the performance of 120 candidate miRNAs in the urine of 16 RCC patients and 16 healthy controls by RT-qPCR followed by a stability analysis with RefFinder. In this screening stage, miR-20a-5p arose as the most stably expressed miRNA in RCC and controls, with a good expression level. Its stability was validated in an independent cohort of 51 RCC patients and 32 controls. Using miR-20a-5p as normalizer, we adjusted and validated a diagnostic model for RCC with three miRNAs (miR-200a-3p, miR-34a-5p and miR-365a-3p) (AUC = 0.65; Confidence Interval 95% [0.51, 0.79], p = 0.043). let-7d-5p and miR-205-5p were also upregulated in patients compared to controls. Comparing RCC samples before surgery and fourteen weeks after, we identified let-7d-5p, miR-152-3p, miR-30c-5p, miR-362-3p and miR-30e-3p as potential follow-up profile for RCC. We identified validated targets of most miRNAs in the renal cell carcinoma pathway. This is the first study that identifies a robust normalizer for urine RCC miRNA studies, miR-20a-5p, which may allow the comparison of future studies among laboratories. Once confirmed in a larger independent cohort, the miRNAs profiles identified may improve the non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of RCC.

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Common and Novel Markers for Measuring Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Ex Vivo in Research and Clinical Practice—Which to Use Regarding Disease Outcomes?

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10030414 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 414

Author(s):

Alain Menzel ◽

Hanen Samouda ◽

Francois Dohet ◽

Suva Loap ◽

Mohammed S. Ellulu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Acute Phase Proteins ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Low Grade ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Amyloid A ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Markers Of Inflammation

Many chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type-2 diabetes, obesity, peripheral/coronary artery disease and auto-immune diseases are associated with low-grade inflammation. Closely related to inflammation is oxidative stress (OS), which can be either causal or secondary to inflammation. While a low level of OS is physiological, chronically increased OS is deleterious. Therefore, valid biomarkers of these signalling pathways may enable detection and following progression of OS/inflammation as well as to evaluate treatment efficacy. Such biomarkers should be stable and obtainable through non-invasive methods and their determination should be affordable and easy. The most frequently used inflammatory markers include acute-phase proteins, essentially CRP, serum amyloid A, fibrinogen and procalcitonin, and cytokines, predominantly TNFα, interleukins 1β, 6, 8, 10 and 12 and their receptors and IFNγ. Some cytokines appear to be disease-specific. Conversely, OS—being ubiquitous—and its biomarkers appear less disease or tissue-specific. These include lipid peroxidation products, e.g., F2-isoprostanes and malondialdehyde, DNA breakdown products (e.g., 8-OH-dG), protein adducts (e.g., carbonylated proteins), or antioxidant status. More novel markers include also –omics related ones, as well as non-invasive, questionnaire-based measures, such as the dietary inflammatory-index (DII), but their link to biological responses may be variable. Nevertheless, many of these markers have been clearly related to a number of diseases. However, their use in clinical practice is often limited, due to lacking analytical or clinical validation, or technical challenges. In this review, we strive to highlight frequently employed and useful markers of inflammation-related OS, including novel promising markers.

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