scholarly journals Restoring p53 Function in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma to Improve Treatments

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tycho de Bakker ◽  
Fabrice Journe ◽  
Géraldine Descamps ◽  
Sven Saussez ◽  
Tatiana Dragan ◽  
...  

TP53 mutation is one of the most frequent genetic alterations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and results in an accumulation of p53 protein in tumor cells. This makes p53 an attractive target to improve HNSCC therapy by restoring the tumor suppressor activity of this protein. Therapeutic strategies targeting p53 in HNSCC can be divided into three categories related to three subtypes encompassing WT p53, mutated p53 and HPV-positive HNSCC. First, compounds targeting degradation or direct inhibition of WT p53, such as PM2, RITA, nutlin-3 and CH1iB, achieve p53 reactivation by affecting p53 inhibitors such as MDM2 and MDMX/4 or by preventing the breakdown of p53 by inhibiting the proteasomal complex. Second, compounds that directly affect mutated p53 by binding it and restoring the WT conformation and transcriptional activity (PRIMA-1, APR-246, COTI-2, CP-31398). Third, treatments that specifically affect HPV+ cancer cells by targeting the viral enzymes E6/E7 which are responsible for the breakdown of p53 such as Ad-E6/E7-As and bortezomib. In this review, we describe and discuss p53 regulation and its targeting in combination with existing therapies for HNSCC through a new classification of such cancers based on p53 mutation status and HPV infection.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Jaeil Ahn ◽  
Rekha Raghunathan ◽  
Bhaskar V. Kallakury ◽  
Bruce Davidson ◽  
...  

Sulfation of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) regulates signaling of growth factor receptors via specific interactions with the sulfate groups. 6-O-Sulfation of HSPG is an impactful modification regulated by the activities of dedicated extracellular endosulfatases. Specifically, extracellular sulfatase Sulf-2 (SULF2) removes 6-O-sulfate from HS chains, modulates affinity of carrier HSPG to their ligands, and thereby influences activity of the downstream signaling pathway. In this study, we explored the effect of SULF2 expression on HSPG sulfation and its relationship to clinical outcomes of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We found a significant overexpression of SULF2 in HNSCC tumor tissues which differs by tumor location and etiology. Expression of SULF2 mRNA in tumors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection was two-fold lower than in tumors associated with a history of tobacco and alcohol consumption. High SULF2 mRNA expression is significantly correlated with poor progression-free interval and overall survival of patients (n = 499). Among all HS-related enzymes, SULF2 expression had the highest hazard ratio in overall survival after adjusting for clinical characteristics. SULF2 protein expression (n = 124), determined by immunohistochemical analysis, showed a similar trend. The content of 6-O-sulfated HSPG, measured by staining with the HS3A8 antibody, was higher in adjacent mucosa compared to tumor tissue but revealed no difference based on SULF2 staining. LC-MS/MS analysis showed low abundance of N-sulfation and O-sulfation in HS but no significant difference between SULF2-positive and SULF2-negative tumors. Levels of enzymes modifying 6-O-sulfation, measured by RT-qPCR in HNSCC tumor tissues, suggest that HSPG sulfation is carried out by the co-regulated activities of multiple genes. Imbalance of the HS modifying enzymes in HNSCC tumors modifies the overall sulfation pattern, but the alteration of 6-O-sulfate is likely non-uniform and occurs in specific domains of the HS chains. These findings demonstrate that SULF2 expression correlates with survival of HNSCC patients and could potentially serve as a prognostic factor or target of therapeutic interventions.


Author(s):  
Pedro Henrique Isaacsson Velho ◽  
Gilberto Castro ◽  
Christine H. Chung

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous disease arising from the mucosal epithelia in the head and neck region. The most common risk factors are tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection, particularly in the oropharynx. The HPV-positive HNSCC is biologically and clinically distinct from the HPV-negative HNSCC; however, deregulations within the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway are frequent in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC as it is the most frequently altered oncogenic pathway with a gain-of-function in HNSCC. This article reviews the basic biology and clinical data from the trials involving anticancer agents targeting the PI3K pathway in HNSCC. It also discusses the difficulties of translating the preclinical data to tangible clinical efficacy of these agents in patients with HNSCC even when there is significant preclinical data suggesting the PI3K pathway is a promising therapeutic target in HNSCC. We conclude that additional studies to determine appropriate patient selection for the activation of PI3K pathway and to develop targeted agents either as a monotherapy or combination therapy with favorable toxicity profiles are required before a broader clinical application.


Toukeibu Gan ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 360-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Tokumaru ◽  
Masato Fujii ◽  
Noboru Habu ◽  
Yoko Yajima ◽  
Tatsuo Matsunaga ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 114-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvette Carrasco ◽  
Amanda Chargin ◽  
Haitham Mirghani ◽  
Bruce Kendrick Patterson

114 Background: Research into causality of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has found a link to HPV infections affiliated with better survival than tobacco associated HNSCC. Currently, p16 immunohistochemistry is used as a predictive biomarker for HPV infection in HNSCC. We were interested in looking at an additional biomarker, HPV E6,E7 mRNA overexpression by flow cytometry, to see if it correlated with p16 status. Each test looks at a different marker of HPV infection, p16 as a surrogate of E7 activity, and E6,E7 mRNA overexpression as a marker of transcriptionally active and integrated virus. Currently p16 positive samples are confirmed with an ISH assay. Additionally, we looked at the PD-L1 expression in these tumors to see if it correlated with HPV mRNA overexpression. Advances in immuno-oncology have brought immunotherapy to the forefront of cancer treatment including HNSCC. Methods: Swabs were collected from Institut Gustave Roussy patients with lesions of the oral pharynx. Swabs were placed into a vial with a proprietary fixation solution and shipped overnight for processing. Upon receipt, samples were passed through a 35 uM filter to remove aggregates. Cells underwent in situ hybridization with E6, E7 mRNA probes (HPV OncoTect), were labeled with PD-L1 Ab, and then stained with a cell cycle dye identify single nucleated cells prior to analysis on the flow cytometer. FFPE biopsy tissue of the lesion was tested with p16 IHC. Positive samples were confirmed by ISH. Results: We analyzed samples from 27 patients with oral cancer with the combined E6, E7 mRNA/PD-L1 assay by flow cytometry and p16/ISH. Concordance between HPV E6,E7 mRNA positive results and p16 positive confirmed by ISH was 74%. Interestingly, PD-L1 expression was seen only in samples without HPV infection (according to HPV E6,E7 mRNA flow result). Samples are still being accrued and updated data will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: Here we report a novel assay to quantify both HPV E6, E7 mRNA and PD-L1 simultaneously in single cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, the ability to characterize both E6,E7 mRNA expression and PD-L1 in one test can provide clinicians with insight into treatment options.


2013 ◽  
Vol 462 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes H. Dreyer ◽  
Franziska Hauck ◽  
Michelle Oliveira-Silva ◽  
Mario Henrique M. Barros ◽  
Gerald Niedobitek

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e0115353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seda Ekizoglu ◽  
Pelin Bulut ◽  
Emin Karaman ◽  
Erkan Kilic ◽  
Nur Buyru

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Ashraf I. Khasawneh ◽  
Nisreen Himsawi ◽  
Jumana Abu-Raideh ◽  
Muna Salameh ◽  
Niveen Abdullah ◽  
...  

Background: In addition to smoking and alcohol consumption, human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading etiology for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). However, this causal association is still understudied in Middle Eastern populations. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV-associated infection in the Jordanian HNSCC patients and the associated HPV genotypes. Methods: Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) squamous cell carcinoma samples of the head and neck were collected from two referral centers in Amman, Jordan to determine the existence of HPV DNA. After DNA extraction HPV infection and genotyping were identified using real-time PCR. Results: HPV DNA was detected in 19 out of 61 (31.1%) HNSCC samples. Despite screening for 28 different genotypes, HPV 16 was the only genotype identified in all examined samples. Most HPV-positive samples were obtained from the oropharynx (41.7%), oral cavity (37%), and larynx (18.2%). No significant association between HPV 16 genotype and age, sex, tobacco use, anatomical location, or tumor grade was noticed. Conclusion: This study reported a high association between HPV 16 genotype and HNSCC in Jordanian patients. These data should facilitate the implementation of appropriate HPV awareness campaigns, and activate selective prophylactic measures against HPV infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18046-e18046
Author(s):  
Ping Wu ◽  
Zicheng Yu ◽  
Chubo Xie ◽  
Ling Yang ◽  
Xuefeng Xia ◽  
...  

e18046 Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by dismal prognosis, nonetheless limited studies have unveiled the mechanisms underlying HNSCC relapse. Methods: Next-generation sequencing 1 5 was performed to identify somatic mutations in 188 matched samples including primary tumors, tumor adjacent tissues (TATs), pre- and post-operative plasma, saliva and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from 27 patients. Evolutionary relationship between TATs and tumors were analyzed. The dynamic changes of tumor- and TAT-specific mutations in liquid biopsies were monitored together with survival analysis. Results: Alterations were detected in 27/27 and 19/26 tumors and TATs respectively. TP53 was the most prevalent genes mutated in TATs. Some TATs shared mutations with primary tumors, while some other TATs were evolutionarily unrelated to tumors. Notably, TP53 mutations in TATs are stringently associated with premalignant transformation and indicative of worse survival (HR=14.01). TAT-specific mutations were also detected in pre- and/or post-operative liquid biopsies, and indicative of disease relapse. Conclusions: TATs might undergo the processes of premalignant transformation, tumorigenesis, and eventually relapse by either inheriting tumorigenic mutations from ancestral clones where tumor originated or gaining private mutations independent to primary tumor. Detection of tumor- and/or TAT-specific genetic alterations in post-operative biopsies shows profound potential in prognostic use.


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