Correlation of messenger RNA expression patterns of ERCC1, TS, EGFR, and VEGFR2 with KRAS and BRAF mutational status in advanced colorectal cancer: Implications for targeted therapies.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 383-383
Author(s):  
Martin K. H. Maus ◽  
Craig Stephens ◽  
Stephanie H. Astrow ◽  
Peter Philipp Grimminger ◽  
Dongyun Yang ◽  
...  

383 Background: Gene expression levels of ERCC1, TS, EGFR and VEGFR2 may have predictive value for the personalized use of standard chemotherapeutics as well as agents targeting the EGFR and VEGF pathways and the efficacy of EGFR directed monoclonal antibodies like panitumumab and cetuximab has been confirmed to be dependent on wt KRAS and wt BRAF in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. We investigated the correlations between KRAS/BRAF mutational status and the mRNA expression levels of these genes. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 600 patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma were microdissected and DNA and RNA was extracted. Specifically designed primers and probes were used to detect 7 different base substitutions in codon 12 and 13 of KRAS, V600E mutations in BRAF and the expression levels of ERCC1, TS, EGFR and VEGFR2 by RT-PCR. Results: Mt KRAS tumors had significantly lower TS and EGFR gene expression levels compared with wt KRAS (p<0,001), whereas mt BRAF tumors showed significantly increased TS and EGFR mRNA levels compared to wt BRAF (p<0,001). Mt BRAF tumors showed significantly higher mRNA levels than mt KRAS tumors (p<0,001). ERCC1 and VEGFR2 mRNA levels were significantly down-regulated in mt KRAS specimen (p<0,001), but showed no significant correlation with BRAF mutational status. Conclusions: KRAS and BRAF mutations are associated with opposite mRNA expression levels for TS and EGFR. Recently, resistance to BRAF inhibition in mt BRAF colorectal tumors has been shown in preclinical models to be associated with up-regulation of EGFR. Our data suggests that BRAF mutants are associated with high EGFR levels at the time of diagnosis, and not necessarily part of an acquired mechanism of resistance. Significantly lower mRNA expression levels of VEGFR2 in mt KRAS tumors may explain lower response to angiogenesis inhibition seen in the TML study.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiwei Gong ◽  
Yueyang Liu ◽  
Eleftherios P. Diamandis ◽  
Marion Kiechle ◽  
Holger Bronger ◽  
...  

Abstract Background High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common and lethal subtype of ovarian cancer. A growing body of evidence suggests tumor-supporting roles of several members of the kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) family, including KLK5 and KLK7, in this cancer subtype. In normal physiology, KLK5 and KLK7 are the major proteases involved in skin desquamation. Moreover, in several cancer types KLK5 and KLK7 co-expression has been observed. Recently, we have shown that elevated KLK5 mRNA levels are associated with an unfavorable prognosis in HGSOC. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of KLK7 mRNA expression and to explore its relation to KLK5 levels in HGSOC. Methods mRNA expression levels of KLK7 were quantified by qPCR in a well-characterized patient cohort afflicted with advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer (FIGO III/IV, n = 139). Previously determined KLK5 mRNA as well as KLK5 and KLK7 antigen concentrations were used to evaluate the relationship between the expression patterns of both factors on the mRNA as well as protein level in tumor tissue of HGSOC patients. Results There were strong, significant positive correlations between KLK5 and KLK7 both at the mRNA and the protein level, suggesting coordinate expression of these proteases in HGSOC. In univariate analyses, elevated KLK7 levels as well as the combination of KLK5 + KLK7 (high and/or high versus low/low) were significantly associated with worse progression-free survival (PFS). High mRNA expression levels of KLK7 and the combination of KLK5 and KLK7 showed a trend towards significance for overall survival (OS). In multivariate analyses, KLK7 mRNA expression represented an unfavorable, statistically significant independent predictor for PFS and OS. Conclusions The findings imply that both increased KLK5 and KLK7 mRNA expression levels represent unfavorable prognostic biomarkers in advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer, whereby multivariate analyses indicate that KLK7 mRNA exhibits a stronger predictive value as compared to KLK5 mRNA and the combination of KLK5 and KLK7.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15071-e15071
Author(s):  
H. Kuramochi ◽  
K. Hayashi ◽  
G. Nakajima ◽  
H. Kamikozuru ◽  
M. Yamamoto

e15071 Background: Oxaliplatin has been widely used for the treatment of colorectal cancer. The mechanism of action of platinum compounds such as oxaliplatin is to bind to a DNA molecule in the form of a platinum-DNA-adduct. Excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1), which plays a major role in the nucleotide excision pathway, has a polymorphism in codon 118, and is reported to be associated with a resistance to platinum-based therapy. Thymidylate synthase (TS) and dehydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) are key enzymes of 5-FU metabolism and are well known to be associated with a response to 5-FU-based therapy. Methods: Twenty-one colorectal cancer patients (male:female = 7:14; median age, 65) treated with a combination of oxaliplatin and S-1 as a first-line therapy were analyzed for ERCC1 codon 118 polymorphism and the mRNA expression levels of TS, ERCC1, and DPD. Formalin-fixed paraffin- embedded surgical specimens were used and t-RNA and DNA were extracted. The mRNA expression levels were measured using real-time RT-PCR, and the polymorphism was analyzed using the allelic discrimination method together with real-time PCR. Results: No correlation was observed between ERCC1 codon118 polymorphism and any response to the chemotherapy. ERCC1 mRNA levels tended to be higher in the patients with wild-type homozygous alleles in codon 118 than in those with at least one mutant allele(1.19 vs.0.68: p= 0.15). Patients with both high TS and ERCC1 mRNA levels showed a significantly lower response rate than the others (25% vs. 67%, p=0.02). No relationship was seen between DPD mRNA expression levels and the response. Conclusions: The mRNA expression levels of TS and ERCC1 appear to be useful markers for the treatment of S-1 and oxaliplatin. No particular usefulness of ERCC1 codon 118 polymorphism was verified. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 4106-4106
Author(s):  
H. Kuramochi ◽  
K. Hayashi ◽  
K. Uchida ◽  
M. Yamamoto ◽  
K. D. Danenberg ◽  
...  

4106 Background: As it has been well known that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is strongly related to a tumor proliferation and a metastasis, new EGFR-inhibitory small molecules, such as gefitinib and erlotinib, and EGFR antibodies have been developed recently. It is reported that the high expression levels of EGFR mRNA are associated with high response probability and longer progression-free survival in gefitinib-treated lung cancer patients. Thus, since liver metastases are the main cause of death for most of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, it is reasonable to expect that measurement of EGFR gene expression levels in liver metastases would provide the best prediction of therapy benefit, but in most cases, only biopsies of the patient’s primary tumor are readily available for analysis. Our aim was to determine how EGFR gene expression levels in primary CRC were related to those in liver metastases. Methods: Thirty-one pairs of primary CRC and corresponding liver metastases were analyzed. (18 males and 13 females: Median age 66 (range 45–85)). Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens were dissected by using laser-captured microdissection. RNA was extracted and cDNA was prepared by reverse-transcription. Quantitation of target gene and internal reference gene was performed using real-time PCR (Taqman PCR). Results: No significant difference was seen between median mRNA expression levels of EGFR in primary cancer and those in corresponding liver metastases (Median value: 1.35 vs 1.24, p=0.99 , Wilcoxon signed rank test), although the median value of EGFR mRNA from normal liver tissue is significantly higher than those from normal colon mucosa (Median value: 5.06 vs 1.39, p<0.0001). When matched tissue sets were compared on an individual basis, there was a significant correlation for EGFR mRNA expression between primary cancer and corresponding liver metastases (rs=0.78, p<0.0001, Spearman rank correlation coefficient). Conclusions: A good prediction of EGFR mRNA levels in liver metastases can be obtained by measuring those of primary CRC. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Manuel Gomez Bergna ◽  
Abril Marchesini ◽  
Leslie Cinthya Amoros Morales ◽  
Paula Nazarena Arrias ◽  
Hernan Gabriel Farina ◽  
...  

Breast cancer is the most common cancer as well as the first cause of death by cancer in women worldwide. BIRC6 (baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 6) is a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family thought to play an important role in the progression or chemoresistance of many cancers. The aim of the present work was to investigate the role of apoptosis inhibitor BIRC6 in breast cancer, focusing particularly on its involvement in the metastatic cascade. We analyzed BIRC6 mRNA expression levels and Copy Number Variations (CNV) in three breast cancer databases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) comparing clinical and molecular attributes. Genomic analysis was performed using CBioportal platform while transcriptomic studies (mRNA expression levels, correlation heatmaps, survival plots and Gene Ontology) were performed with USC Xena and R. Statistical significance was set at p values less than 0.05. Our analyses showed that there was a differential expression of BIRC6 in cancer samples when compared to normal samples. CNV that involve amplification and gain of BIRC6 gene were correlated with negative hormone receptor tumors, higher prognostic indexes, younger age at diagnosis and both chemotherapy and radiotherapy administration. Transcriptomic and gene-ontology analyses showed that, in conditions of high BIRC6 mRNA levels, there are differential expression patterns in apoptotic, proliferation, and metastatic pathways. In summary, our in silico analyses suggest that BIRC6 exhibits an antiapoptotic, pro-proliferative and an apparent pro-metastatic role and could be a relevant molecular target for treatment of Breast Cancer tumors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Meng-Lu Zeng ◽  
Xian-Jin Zhu ◽  
Jin Liu ◽  
Peng-Chong Shi ◽  
Yan-Li Kang ◽  
...  

Background. S100 family genes exclusively encode at least 20 calcium-binding proteins, which possess a wide spectrum of intracellular and extracellular functions in vertebrates. Multiple lines of evidences suggest that dysregulated S100 proteins are associated with human malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the diverse expression patterns and prognostic roles of distinct S100 genes in CRC have not been fully elucidated. Methods. In the current study, we analyzed the mRNA expression levels of S100 family genes and proteins and their associations with the survival of CRC patients using the Oncomine analysis and GEPIA databases. Expressions and mutations of S100 family genes were analyzed using the cBioPortal, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of S100 proteins and their mutation-related coexpressed genes were analyzed using STRING and Cytoscape. Results. We observed that the mRNA expression levels of S100A2, S100A3, S100A9, S100A11, and S100P were higher and the level of S100B was lower in CRC tissues than those in normal colon mucosa. A high S100A10 levels was associated with advanced-stage CRC. Results from GEPIA database showed that highly expressed S100A1 was correlated with worse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) and that overexpressions of S100A2 and S100A11 were associated with poor DFS of CRC, indicating that S100A1, S100A2, and S100A11 are potential prognostic markers. Unexpectedly, most of S100 family genes showed no significant prognostic values in CRC. Conclusions. Our findings, though still need to be ascertained, offer novel insights into the prognostic implications of the S100 family in CRC and will inspire more clinical trials to explore potential S100-targeted inhibitors for the treatment of CRC.


Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otília Menyhart ◽  
Tatsuhiko Kakisaka ◽  
Lőrinc Sándor Pongor ◽  
Hiroyuki Uetake ◽  
Ajay Goel ◽  
...  

Background: Numerous driver mutations have been identified in colorectal cancer (CRC), but their relevance to the development of targeted therapies remains elusive. The secondary effects of pathogenic driver mutations on downstream signaling pathways offer a potential approach for the identification of therapeutic targets. We aimed to identify differentially expressed genes as potential drug targets linked to driver mutations. Methods: Somatic mutations and the gene expression data of 582 CRC patients were utilized, incorporating the mutational status of 39,916 and the expression levels of 20,500 genes. To uncover candidate targets, the expression levels of various genes in wild-type and mutant cases for the most frequent disruptive mutations were compared with a Mann–Whitney test. A survival analysis was performed in 2100 patients with transcriptomic gene expression data. Up-regulated genes associated with worse survival were filtered for potentially actionable targets. The most significant hits were validated in an independent set of 171 CRC patients. Results: Altogether, 426 disruptive mutation-associated upregulated genes were identified. Among these, 95 were linked to worse recurrence-free survival (RFS). Based on the druggability filter, 37 potentially actionable targets were revealed. We selected seven genes and validated their expression in 171 patient specimens. The best independently validated combinations were DUSP4 (p = 2.6 × 10−12) in ACVR2A mutated (7.7%) patients; BMP4 (p = 1.6 × 10−04) in SOX9 mutated (8.1%) patients; TRIB2 (p = 1.35 × 10−14) in ACVR2A mutated patients; VSIG4 (p = 2.6 × 10−05) in ANK3 mutated (7.6%) patients, and DUSP4 (p = 7.1 × 10−04) in AMER1 mutated (8.2%) patients. Conclusions: The results uncovered potentially druggable genes in colorectal cancer. The identified mutations could enable future patient stratification for targeted therapy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 3257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Gravel ◽  
Benoit Panzini ◽  
Francois Belanger ◽  
Jacques Turgeon ◽  
Veronique Michaud

To characterize effects of type 2 diabetes (T2D) on mRNA expression levels for 10 Cytochromes P450 (CYP450s), two carboxylesterases, and three drug transporters (ABCB1, ABCG2, SLCO2B1) in human duodenal biopsies. To compare drug metabolizing enzyme activities of four CYP450 isoenzymes in duodenal biopsies from patients with or without T2D. mRNA levels were quantified (RT-qPCR) in human duodenal biopsies obtained from patients with (n = 20) or without (n = 16) T2D undergoing a scheduled gastro-intestinal endoscopy. CYP450 activities were determined following incubation of biopsy homogenates with probe substrates for CYP2B6 (bupropion), CYP2C9 (tolbutamide), CYP2J2 (ebastine), and CYP3A4/5 (midazolam). Covariables related to inflammation, T2D, demographic, and genetics were investigated. T2D had no major effects on mRNA levels of all enzymes and transporters assessed. Formation rates of metabolites (pmoles mg protein−1 min−1) determined by LC-MS/MS for CYP2C9 (0.48 ± 0.26 vs. 0.41 ± 0.12), CYP2J2 (2.16 ± 1.70 vs. 1.69 ± 0.93), and CYP3A (5.25 ± 3.72 vs. 5.02 ± 4.76) were not different between biopsies obtained from individuals with or without T2D (p > 0.05). No CYP2B6 specific activity was measured. TNF-α levels were higher in T2D patients but did not correlate with any changes in mRNA expression levels for drug metabolizing enzymes or transporters in the duodenum. T2D did not modulate expression or activity of tested drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters in the human duodenum. Previously reported changes in drug oral clearances in patients with T2D could be due to a tissue-specific disease modulation occurring in the liver and/or in other parts of the intestines.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 4080-4092
Author(s):  
Takahiro Ichikawa ◽  
Masahiro Shibata ◽  
Takahiro Inaishi ◽  
Ikumi Soeda ◽  
Mitsuro Kanda ◽  
...  

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates tumor-promoting roles of synaptotagmin 13 (SYT13) in several cancers; however, no studies have investigated its expression in breast cancer (BC). This study aimed to clarify the significance of SYT13 in BC. Methods: SYT13 mRNA expression levels were evaluated in BC cell lines. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between expression levels of SYT13 and other tumor-associated genes. Then, the association of SYT13 expression levels in the clinical BC specimens with patients’ clinicopathological factors was evaluated. These findings were subsequently validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Results: Among 13 BC cell lines, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cells showed higher SYT13 mRNA levels than ER-negative cells. PCR array analysis revealed positive correlations between SYT13 and several oncogenes predominantly expressed in ER-positive BC, such as estrogen receptor 1, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1, and cyclin-dependent kinases 4. In 165 patients, ER-positive specimens exhibited higher SYT13 mRNA expression levels than ER-negative specimens. The TCGA database analysis confirmed that patients with ER-positive BC expressed higher SYT13 levels than ER-negative patients. Conclusion: This study suggests that SYT13 is highly expressed in ER-positive BC cells and clinical specimens, and there is a positive association of SYT13 with the ER signaling pathways.


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (41) ◽  
pp. E6117-E6125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhipeng Zhou ◽  
Yunkun Dang ◽  
Mian Zhou ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Chien-hung Yu ◽  
...  

Codon usage biases are found in all eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes, and preferred codons are more frequently used in highly expressed genes. The effects of codon usage on gene expression were previously thought to be mainly mediated by its impacts on translation. Here, we show that codon usage strongly correlates with both protein and mRNA levels genome-wide in the filamentous fungus Neurospora. Gene codon optimization also results in strong up-regulation of protein and RNA levels, suggesting that codon usage is an important determinant of gene expression. Surprisingly, we found that the impact of codon usage on gene expression results mainly from effects on transcription and is largely independent of mRNA translation and mRNA stability. Furthermore, we show that histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation is one of the mechanisms responsible for the codon usage-mediated transcriptional silencing of some genes with nonoptimal codons. Together, these results uncovered an unexpected important role of codon usage in ORF sequences in determining transcription levels and suggest that codon biases are an adaptation of protein coding sequences to both transcription and translation machineries. Therefore, synonymous codons not only specify protein sequences and translation dynamics, but also help determine gene expression levels.


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