Resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy is a major obstacle to bladder cancer treatment. We aimed to identify microRNAs (miRNA) that are dysregulated in cisplatin-resistant disease, ascertain how ...these contribute to a drug-resistant phenotype, and how this resistance might be overcome.
miRNA expression in paired cisplatin-resistant and -sensitive cell lines was measured. Dysregulated miRNAs were further studied for their ability to mediate resistance. The nature of the cisplatin-resistant phenotype was established by measurement of cisplatin/DNA adducts and intracellular glutathione (GSH). Candidate miRNAs were examined for their ability to (i) mediate resistance and (ii) alter the expression of a candidate target protein (SLC7A11); direct regulation of SLC7A11 was confirmed using a luciferase assay. SLC7A11 protein and mRNA, and miRNA-27a were quantified in patient tumor material.
A panel of miRNAs were found to be dysregulated in cisplatin-resistant cells. miRNA-27a was found to target the cystine/glutamate exchanger SLC7A11 and to contribute to cisplatin resistance through modulation of GSH biosynthesis. In patients, SLC7A11 expression was inversely related to miRNA-27a expression, and those tumors with high mRNA expression or high membrane staining for SLC7A11 experienced poorer clinical outcomes. Resistant cell lines were resensitized by restoring miRNA-27a expression or reducing SLC7A11 activity with siRNA or with sulfasalazine.
Our findings indicate that miRNA-27a negatively regulates SLC7A11 in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer, and shows promise as a marker for patients likely to benefit from cisplatin-based chemotherapy. SLC7A11 inhibition with sulfasalazine may be a promising therapeutic approach to the treatment of cisplatin-resistant disease.
Bladder cancer (BC) is the 12th most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Although there are several well-established molecular and immunological classifications, prognostic and predictive markers ...for tumor cells and immune cells are still needed. Using a tissue microarray, we analyzed the expression of the chemokine CC motif ligand 5 (CCL5) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 175 muscle-invasive BC samples. The application of a single cutoff for the staining status of tumor cells (TCs; positive vs. negative) and immune cells (ICs; positive vs. negative) revealed 75 patients (42.9%) and 123 patients (70.3%) with CCL5-positive TCs or ICs, respectively. IHC results were associated with prognostic and predictive data. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that positive CCL5 staining in TCs was associated with significantly shorter disease-specific survival (DSS; RR = 1.51; p = 0.047), but CCL5-negative ICs were associated with significantly shorter overall survival (OS; RR = 1.66; p = 0.005), DSS (RR = 2.02; p = 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; RR = 1.94; p = 0.002). Adjuvant chemotherapy was favorable for patients with CCL5-negative ICs for OS (RR = 0.30; p = 0.006), DSS (RR = 0.36; p = 0.022) and RFS (RR = 0.41; p = 0.046) but not for patients with CCL5-positive ICs, except in the subgroup of N1 + N2 patients, where it was associated with better OS. We suggest that CCL5 expression can be a prognostic and predictive marker for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients.
Loss of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of dedifferentiated carcinomas from different organs, but its possible role in undifferentiated ...urothelial carcinoma (UC) has not been studied to date. In this study, we analyzed by immunohistochemistry 14 undifferentiated UCs (11 from bladder and 3 from renal pelvis) with a nondescript anaplastic or rhabdoid morphology, using commercially available antibodies against the SWI/SNF components SMARCB1 (INI1), SMARCA2, SMARCA4, SMARCC1, SMARCC2, and ARID1A. Patients were eight females and six males aged 40 to 84 years (median, 65). All tumors were muscle-invasive (9 were T3–4). A conventional UC component was seen in eight cases and varied from in situ to papillary. The undifferentiated component comprised 60–100 % of the tumors. Histologically, most tumors showed diffuse dyscohesive or pseudoalveolar growth of variably sized cells with frequent rhabdoid features. Transition from conventional to undifferentiated UC was abrupt, except in one case. The undifferentiated component almost always expressed pan-cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (13/14) and variably vimentin (8/14) and GATA3 (9/14). Complete loss of at least one SWI/SNF subunit limited to the undifferentiated component was detected in 10/14 cases (71 %). SMARCA2 was most frequently lost (six) followed by ARID1A (four), SMARCB1/INI1 (two), SMARCA4 (one), and SMARCC1 (one). This is the first study exploring SWI/SNF expression in undifferentiated UC of the urinary tract. Our results are in line with recent studies reporting involvement of the SWI/SNF complex in the dedifferentiation process of a variety of epithelial neoplasms in different organs, including the urinary tract, and association with aggressive clinical course.
Macrophages are one of the key mediators of the therapeutic effects exerted by monoclonal antibodies, such as the anti-CD19 antibody tafasitamab, approved in combination with lenalidomide for the ...treatment of relapsed or refractory (r/r) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) in the tumor microenvironment can be counteracted by increased expression of the inhibitory receptor SIRPα on macrophages and its ligand, the immune checkpoint molecule CD47 on tumor cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the CD47-SIRPα axis on tafasitamabmediated phagocytosis and explore the potential of anti-CD47 blockade to enhance its antitumor activity. Elevated expression of both SIRPα and CD47 was observed in DLBCL patient-derived lymph node biopsies compared to healthy controls. CRISPR-mediated CD47 overexpression impacted tafasitamab-mediated ADCP in vitro and increased expression of SIRPα on macrophages correlated with decreased ADCP activity of tafasitamab against DLBCL cell lines. Combination of tafasitamab and an anti-CD47 blocking antibody enhanced ADCP activity of in vitro generated macrophages. Importantly, tafasitamab-mediated phagocytosis was elevated in combination with CD47 blockade using primary DLBCL cells and patient-derived lymphoma-associated macrophages (LAMs) in an autologous setting. Furthermore, lymphoma cells with low CD19 expression were efficiently eliminated by the combination treatment. Finally, combined treatment of tafasitamab and an anti-CD47 antibody resulted in enhanced tumor volume reduction and survival benefit in lymphoma xenograft mouse models. These findings provide evidence that CD47 blockade can enhance the phagocytic potential of tumor targeting immunotherapies such as tafasitamab and suggest there is value in exploring the combination in the clinic.
Stage pT1 bladder cancer (BC) shows highly diverse outcomes. Predictive markers are required to stratify patients for personalized treatment. The present study aimed to validate immune response ...quantification as a prognostic marker. Patients with pT1 BC (
= 167) treated by transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) were enrolled. Formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded material was stained for CD3 and CD8. Corresponding T cells were counted in three regions with the highest immune response. Numbers of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) and lymphocyte aggregates (LA) were quantified. High CD3
stroma T-cell infiltration was associated with improved survival (
= 0.045), especially in the G3 subgroup (
= 0.01). Cluster with higher immune response showed less recurrence (
= 0.034) and favorable overall survival (OS) (
= 0.019). In contrast, higher CD3
and CD8
tumor T-cell infiltration seemed to have a negative impact on prognosis. TLS and LA were more frequently observed in G3 tumors, indicating an increased anti-tumoral immune response. We proved the role of immune cell infiltration and showed that higher infiltration numbers of CD3
(not CD8
) lymphocytes in the stroma are associated with favorable outcome. Immune cell quantification could be used as a marker to help stratify patients' risk and therefore, to optimize patients' management and follow-up examination as well as possible therapies.
The outcome of prostate cancer is highly unpredictable. To assess the dynamics of systemic disease and to identify patients at high risk for early relapse we followed the fate of disseminated tumor ...cells in bone marrow for up to 10 years and genetically analyzed such cells isolated at various stages of disease.
Nine hundred bone marrow aspirates from 384 patients were stained using the monoclonal antibody A45-B/B3 directed against cytokeratins 8, 18, and 19. Log-rank statistics and Cox regression analysis were applied to determine the prognostic impact of positive cells detected before surgery (244 patients) and postoperatively (214 patients). Samples from primary tumors (n = 55) and single disseminated tumor cells (n = 100) were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization.
Detection of cytokeratin-positive cells before surgery was the strongest independent risk factor for metastasis within 48 months (P < .001; relative risk RR, 5.5; 95% CI, 2.4 to 12.9). In contrast, cytokeratin-positive cells detected 6 months to 10 years after radical prostatectomy were consistently present in bone marrow with a prevalence of approximately 20% but had no influence on disease outcome. Characteristic genotypes of cytokeratin-positive cells were selected at manifestation of metastasis.
Cytokeratin-positive cells in the bone marrow of prostate cancer patients are only prognostically relevant when detected before surgery. Because we could not identify significant genetic differences between pre- and postoperatively isolated tumor cells before manifestation of metastasis, we postulate the existence of perioperative stimuli that activate disseminated tumor cells. Patients with cytokeratin-positive cells in bone marrow before surgery may therefore benefit from adjuvant therapies.
PURPOSE: The role of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced bladder cancer still remains to be defined. We hypothesized that assessing the gene expression of the chemotherapy ...response modifiers multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) and excision repair crosscomplementing 1 (ERCC1) may help identify the group of patients benefiting from cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples from 108 patients with locally advanced bladder cancer, who had been enrolled in AUO-AB05/95, a phase 3trial randomizing a maximum of three courses of adjuvant cisplatin and methotrexate (CM) versus methotrexate, vinblastine, epirubicin, and cisplatin (M VEC), were included in the study. Tumor cells were retrieved by laser-captured microdissection and analyzed for MDR1 and ERCC1 expression using a quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. Gene expression levels were correlated with clinical outcomes by multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: Expressions of MDR1 and ERCC1 were independently associated with overall progression-free survival (P = .001, relative risk = 2.9 and P = .01, relative risk = 2.24, respectively). The correlation of high MDR1 expression with inferior outcome was stronger in patients receiving M-VEC, whereas ERCC1 analysis performed equally in the CM and M-VEC groups. CONCLUSIONS: High MDR1 and ERCC1 gene expressions are associated with inferior outcome after cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced bladder cancer. Prospective studies are warranted to define a role for MDR1 and ERCC1 analysis in individualizing multimodality treatment in locally advanced bladder cancer.
Since 2016, large nested urothelial carcinoma (LNUC) has been included within the WHO classification of urothelial tumors. Limited reports with mainly small case series have confirmed the malignant ...behavior of LNUC despite its bland morphological appearance. We evaluated, for the first time, markers for new immunooncological or targeted therapies including
mutational status and PD-L1 status, the frequency of
-promoter mutations and the molecular subtype in a cohort of 25 LNUC using SNaPshot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Of the 25 cases, 17 were pure LNUC, with 13 showing an additional exophytic papillary/papillary-like component. Seven mixed LNUCs presented areas of classical nested variant urothelial carcinoma (NVUC) and one showed a component of conventional urothelial carcinoma. Of the 17 evaluable pure LNUCs, 16 were
-mutated with identical mutations in their concomitant papillary/papillary-like components. An
mutation was found in 1/7 evaluable mixed LNUCs combined with NVUC.
-promoter mutations were detected in 86.7% pure and 83.3% mixed tumors. Immunohistochemistry revealed a luminal phenotype; PD-L1 was negative in the majority of tumor cells and tumor-associated immune cells. Pure LNUC is a prime example of a luminal,
-mutated, mostly PD-L1-negative tumor. In contrast,
mutations seem to be rare in mixed LNUC, which may indicate a different pathway of tumor development.
Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease characterized by systemic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) reflected by hemolysis, anemia, thrombocytopenia and systemic organ injury. The ...optimal management of aHUS-patients when undergoing kidney transplantation to prevent recurrence in the allograft is eculizumab, an approved recombinant antibody targeting human complement component C5.
A 39 year-old woman presented with severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and emesis for 3 days. In her past medical history she had experienced an episode of aHUS leading to end stage renal disease (ESRD) in 2007 and a genetic workup revealed a heterozygous mutation in the membrane cofactor protein gene. In 2014 she underwent cadaveric kidney transplantation. Four years later she had to go back on hemodialysis due to allograft failure following a severe systemic cytomegalovirus infection resulting in transplant failure. At presentation she still received calcineurin-inhibitor therapy and reported subfebrile temperatures and pain projecting over the transplant prior to the current symptoms. A contrast enhanced CT-scan of the abdomen revealed inflammatory wall thickening of the small intestine. Diagnostic endoscopy discovered fresh blood in the small intestine without a clear source of bleeding. Histopathology of the small intestine biopsies showed severe thrombotic microangiopathy. Of note, the patient persistently had no signs of systemic hemolysis. Since the TMA of the small intestine was most likely due to aHUS, eculizumab treatment was initiated which abolished the symptoms.
Here we report a patient with thrombotic microangiopathy with predominant manifestation in a single organ, the small intestine, due to aHUS with absence of systemic signs and symptoms. aHUS patients usually require a secondary trigger for the disease to manifest. In this case, the trigger may be attributed to the dysfunctional renal transplant, which was subsequently explanted. Histology of the explanted kidney showed severe inflammation due to purulent nephritis and signs of cellular rejection. After nephrectomy, we continued eculizumab therapy until the patient completely recovered. No signs of TMA recurred after discontinuation of eculizumab, further supporting the concept of the renal transplant as the main trigger of TMA of the small intestine in our patient.
Bladder cancer (BCa) is the ninth most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Although there are several well-established molecular and immunological classifications, markers for tumor cells and immune ...cells that are associated with prognosis are still needed. The chemokine CC motif ligand 2 (CCL2) could be such a marker. We analyzed the expression of CCL2 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 168 muscle invasive BCa samples using a tissue microarray. Application of a single cut-off for the staining status of tumor cells (TCs; positive vs. negative) and immune cells (ICs; ≤6% of ICs vs. >6% of ICs) revealed 57 cases (33.9%) and 70 cases (41.7%) with CCL2-positive TCs or ICs, respectively. IHC results were correlated with clinicopathological and survival data. Positive CCL2 staining in TCs was associated with shorter overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) (
= 0.004,
= 0.036, and
= 0.047; log rank test) and appeared to be an independent prognostic factor for OS (RR = 1.70;
= 0.007; multivariate Cox's regression analysis). In contrast, positive CCL2 staining in the ICs was associated with longer OS, DSS, and RFS (
= 0.032,
= 0.001, and
= 0.001; log rank test) and appeared to be an independent prognostic factor for DSS (RR = 1.77;
= 0.031; multivariate Cox's regression analysis). Most interestingly, after separating the patients according to their lymph node status (N0 vs. N1+2), CCL2 staining in the ICs was differentially associated with prognosis. In the N0 group, CCL2 positivity in the ICs was a positive independent prognostic factor for OS (RR = 1.99;
= 0.014), DSS (RR = 3.17;
= 0.002), and RFS (RR = 3.10;
= 0.002), whereas in the N1+2 group, CCL2 positivity was a negative independent factor for OS (RR = 3.44;
= 0.019)) and RFS (RR = 4.47;
= 0.010; all multivariate Cox's regression analyses). In summary, CCL2 positivity in TCs is a negative prognostic factor for OS, and CCL2 can mark ICs that are differentially associated with prognosis depending on the nodal stage of BCa patients. Therefore, CCL2 staining of TCs and ICs is suggested as a prognostic biomarker for BCa patients.
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