Abstract
TFE3
-translocation renal cell carcinoma (
TFE3
-tRCC) is a rare and heterogeneous subtype of kidney cancer with no standard treatment for advanced disease. We describe comprehensive ...molecular characteristics of 63 untreated primary
TFE3
-tRCCs based on whole-exome and RNA sequencing.
TFE3
-tRCC is highly heterogeneous, both clinicopathologically and genotypically.
ASPSCR1-TFE3
fusion and several somatic copy number alterations, including the loss of 22q, are associated with aggressive features and poor outcomes. Apart from tumors with
MED15-TFE3
fusion, most
TFE3
-tRCCs exhibit low PD-L1 expression and low T-cell infiltration. Unsupervised transcriptomic analysis reveals five molecular clusters with distinct angiogenesis, stroma, proliferation and KRAS down signatures, which show association with fusion patterns and prognosis. In line with the aggressive nature, the high angiogenesis/stroma/proliferation cluster exclusively consists of tumors with
ASPSCR1-TFE3
fusion. Here, we describe the genomic and transcriptomic features of
TFE3
-tRCC and provide insights into precision medicine for this disease.
G9a, also named EHMT2, is a histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase responsible for catalyzing H3K9 mono- and dimethylation (H3K9me1 and H3K9me2). G9a contributes to various aspects of embryonic ...development and tissue differentiation through epigenetic regulation. Furthermore, the aberrant expression of G9a is frequently observed in various tumors, particularly in prostate cancer, where it contributes to cancer pathogenesis and progression. This review highlights the critical role of G9a in multiple cancer-related processes, such as epigenetic dysregulation, tumor suppressor gene silencing, cancer lineage plasticity, hypoxia adaption, and cancer progression. Despite the increased research on G9a in prostate cancer, there are still significant gaps, particularly in understanding its interactions within the tumor microenvironment and its broader epigenetic effects. Furthermore, this review discusses the recent advancements in G9a inhibitors, including the development of dual-target inhibitors that target G9a along with other epigenetic factors such as EZH2 and HDAC. It aims to bring together the existing knowledge, identify gaps in the current research, and suggest future directions for research and treatment strategies.
Abstract
Background
Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) is a subtype of prostate cancer featured by poor prognosis. Previous studies suggested IDC-P could have a potentially unstable ...genome. Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score is a result-oriented method to describe the genomic instability status. This study investigates the association of HRD scores with IDC-P and other clinicopathological factors and the prognostic implication of HRD scores in an aggressive prostate cancer cohort.
Methods
This study involved 123 PCa patients, including high-risk localized (M0) and de novo metastatic (M1) diseases. HRD score is calculated based on over 10,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms distributed across the human genome. We explored the association between HRD scores and clinicopathological characteristics, genomic alterations, and patients’ prognoses using rank-sum tests, chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox proportional hazards method.
Results
The median HRD score of this cohort is 21.0, with 65 (52.8%) patients showing HRD score≥21. Tumors with IDC-P displayed higher HRD scores than adenocarcinoma (
P
=0.002); other high HRD score-related factors included M1 (
P
=0.008) and high ISUP grades (4–5) (
P
=0.001).
MYC
mutations were associated with high HRD scores (
P
<0.001) in the total cohort.
TP53
mutations (
P
=0.010) and HRR pathway mutations (
P
=0.028) corresponded to high HRD scores in IDC-P positive and non-IDC-P patients, respectively, but not vice versa. HRD scores higher than 21 indicated significantly worse survival in the total cohort.
Conclusions
M1, high Gleason score, and IDC-P pathology represent higher HRD scores in PCa. Tumors with IDC-P might have different driven mechanisms for high HRD scores than non-IDC-P. HRD score displayed prognostic value in this aggressive prostate cancer cohort.
Abstract Background TFE3 -rearranged renal cell carcinoma ( TFE3 -rRCC) is a rare but highly heterogeneous renal cell carcinoma (RCC) entity, of which the clinical treatment landscape is largely ...undefined. This study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of different systemic treatments and further explore the molecular correlates. Methods Thirty-eight patients with metastatic TFE3 -rRCC were enrolled. Main outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate. RNA sequencing was performed on 32 tumors. Results Patients receiving first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) based combination therapy achieved longer PFS than those treated without ICI (median PFS: 11.5 vs. 5.1 months, P = 0.098). After stratification of fusion partners, the superior efficacy of first-line ICI based combination therapy was predominantly observed in ASPSCR1-TFE3 rRCC (median PFS: not reached vs. 6.5 months, P = 0.01; ORR: 67.5% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.019), but almost not in non- ASPSCR1-TFE3 rRCC. Transcriptomic data revealed enrichment of ECM and collagen-related signaling in ASPSCR1-TFE3 rRCC, which might interfere with the potential efficacy of anti-angiogenic monotherapy. Whereas angiogenesis and immune activities were exclusively enriched in ASPSCR1-TFE3 rRCC and promised the better clinical outcomes with ICI plus tyrosine kinase inhibitor combination therapy. Conclusions The current study represents the largest cohort comparing treatment outcomes and investigating molecular correlates of metastatic TFE3 -rRCC based on fusion partner stratification. ICI based combination therapy could serve as an effective first-line treatment option for metastatic ASPSCR1-TFE3 rRCC patients. Regarding with other fusion subtypes, further investigations should be performed to explore the molecular mechanisms to propose pointed therapeutic strategy accordingly.
Background To assess the efficacies and potential predictors of a corticosteroid switch in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients with biochemical progression on abiraterone ...acetate plus prednisone (A + P). Methods Patients with mCRPC treated between April 2016 and August 2020, who experienced biochemical progression on A + P and then switched to A plus dexamethasone (D), were retrospectively identified. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were PSA response, overall survival (OS), and safety. Results One hundred and thirty consecutive cases were enrolled. The median PFS and OS on A + D were 5.0 and 18.7 months, respectively. The best PSA decline of greater than or equai to50% (PSA50) and greater than or equai to 30% (PSA30) were observed in 29.2 and 46.2% patients, respectively. Lower PSA at corticosteroid switch (less than or equai to 20 ng/mL; median PFS, HR 0.63, p = 0.019; median OS, HR 0.38, p = 0.001) and longer mCRPC-free survival (greater than or equai to 18 months; median PFS, HR 0.61, p = 0.013; median OS, HR 0.51, p = 0.015) were identified as independent prognostic predictors associated with longer PFS and OS. A risk stratification tool was developed to select candidates for corticosteroid switch based on the independent prognostic predictors of PFS and OS. Conclusions A corticosteroid switch from prednisone to dexamethasone is effective for mCRPC which progressed on A + P treatment. Patients with lower PSA at corticosteroid switch and/or longer mCRPC-free survival may gain more benefits by the corticosteroid switch. Keywords: Abiraterone, Castration-resistant prostate cancer, Prednisone, Dexamethasone, Corticosteroid switch
The optimal treatment for patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) remains a debate and selection of patients to receive proper therapy is still an unsettled question. This systematic review was ...conducted to compare the effectiveness of prostatectomy (RP) and radiotherapy (RT) in patients with high-risk PCa and to select candidates for optimal treatment.
PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for eligible studies. We extracted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of all included studies. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS); the secondary outcomes were biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS) and clinical recurrence-free survival (CRFS). The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to Gleason score (GS), T stage and RT types. Quality of life (QoL) was compared with these two treatments.
A total of 25 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, RP showed more survival benefits than RT on CSS (P = 0.003) and OS (P = 0.002); while RT was associated with better BRFS (P = 0.002) and MFS (P = 0.004). Subgroup analyses showed RT was associated with similar or even better survival outcomes compared to RP in patients with high GS, high T stage or received external beam radiotherapy plus brachytherapy (EBRT + BT). As for QoL, RP was associated with poorer urinary and sexual function but better performance in the bowel domain.
RP could prolong the survival time of patients with high-risk PCa; however, RT could delay the disease progression, and combined RT (EBRT + BT) even brought preferable CSS and similar OS compared to RP. RT might be the prior choice for patients with high T stage or high GS. RP could lead to poorer urinary and sexual function, while bringing better performance in the bowel domain.
Lacking head-to-head trial, the optimal treatment for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) after docetaxel failure is unclear. This study is to compare the efficacy ...and safety of systemic treatments in patients who progressed after docetaxel to aid clinical decision-making.
Databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to June 15th, 2021. The outcomes of interest include overall survival (OS), biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS), and serious adverse events (SAEs). The Cochrane risk of bias tools were used to assess study quality. Indirect comparisons of competing treatments were performed via Bayesian network meta-analysis.
Five trials with 3,862 patients comparing four treatments (abiraterone, enzalutamide, cabazitaxel, and radium-223) were identified. All the four treatments were associated with improved OS and bPFS relative to best supportive care. Among them, enzalutamide (hazard ratio HR = 0.58, 95% credible interval Crl: 0.49-0.69) had the highest probability of ranking first in terms of OS, followed by cabazitaxel (HR = 0.70, 95% Crl: 0.59-0.83), radium-223 (HR = 0.71, 95% Crl: 0.56-0.90) and abiraterone (HR = 0.73, 95% Crl: 0.63-0.84). Similarly, enzalutamide (HR = 0.25, 95% Crl: 0.20-0.31) showed the greatest improvement of bPFS, followed by abiraterone (HR = 0.60, 95% Crl: 0.51-0.71) and cabazitaxel (HR = 0.75, 95% Crl: 0.63-0.89). In terms of safety, treatments ranked from the safest to the least safe were radium-223 (OR = 0.58, 95% Crl: 0.20-1.68), enzalutamide (OR = 0.80, 95% Crl: 0.28-2.29), abiraterone (OR = 0.94, 95% Crl: 0.39-2.27) and cabazitaxel (OR = 2.50, 95% Crl: 0.84-7.44).
For patients with mCRPC who progressed after docetaxel, enzalutamide may offer the most significant survival benefits and satisfying safety. Cabazitaxel is effective in post-docetaxel settings but associated with a high risk of SAEs. Although network meta-analysis provides indirect comparisons and ranking probabilities, the results should be treated with caution as it cannot replace randomized direct comparison.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020223040, identifier CRD42020223040.
Purpose:
It remained unclear whether tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) related renal impairment had impact on the survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).
Methods:
...Clinicopathological parameters of patients with mRCC treated with TKIs were retrospectively reviewed. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), proteinuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at baseline and during TKIs treatment were recorded. BUN > 7.1mol/L, eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2 and/or proteinuria level > 0.3 g/L were defined as renal impairment. eGFR and proteinuria were furtherly classified into different levels. Treatment outcomes were defined as progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
Results:
At baseline, the presence of abnormal BUN, eGFR and proteinuria level were observed in 25 (22.7%), 27 (25.5%) and 30 (27.3%) patients, which increased to 46 (41.8%), 55 (50.0%) and 64 (58.2%) respectively after TKIs treatment. In the whole cohort (N = 110), survival analysis suggested that only post-treatment renal impairment was related to survival outcomes. Interestingly, sub-analysis showed that post-treatment eGFR level (p = 0.004), proteinuria (p = 0.014) and eGFR decrease >10% (p = 0.012) and elevated proteinuria compared with baseline (p = 0.006) were statistically correlated with OS among patients without RI at baseline (N = 51). On the contrary, deterioration of renal impairment after TKIs treatment in patients with renal impairment at baseline (N = 59) had no relationship with either PFS or OS. Furthermore, eGFR (p = 0.020) and eGFR decrease >10% (p = 0.016) within 1 year after TKIs therapy were potential biomarkers for OS.
Conclusion:
Dynamic changes of TKI-induced RI during TKIs treatment, especially eGFR and proteinuria level, could be considered as potential biomarkers predicting survival outcomes of mRCC patients.
The role of lipid metabolic status in tyrosine kinase inhibitors-treated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma is insufficient.
To analyse the influence of dynamic changes of lipid metabolism ...on survival outcomes in tyrosine kinase inhibitors-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were collected, both before tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy and at different time points of tyrosine kinase inhibitors treatment duration. Other clinicopathological and survival data were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical outcomes, including tumour response, progression-free survival and overall survival, were analysed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted and the log-rank test was used to analyse statistical significance.
A total of 127 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, initially treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors as first-line systemic therapy, were included. In the whole cohort, the serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol fluctuated but gradually increased during tyrosine kinase inhibitors treatment. In survival analysis, the higher serum level of lipid metabolism, the longer progression-free survival was observed. In terms of overall survival, all post-treatment lipid metabolism, including the percentages of increasing change, were correlated with better survival. Further multivariate analysis showed that patients with five components of treatment-related dysfunction of lipid metabolism had superior survival to those with less than five components. However, lipid metabolism was not correlated with tumour response.
Increasing parameters of lipid metabolism indicated improvement of survival in tyrosine kinase inhibitors-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma, especially the increasing percentages.
We aim to investigate the prognostic value of different pathological patterns of non-adenocarcinoma prostate cancers (PCa) in radical prostatectomy (RP) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).
...Data of 470,258 localized PCa patients between 2004 and 2016 were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Propensity score matching was performed to balance the baseline characteristics of patients in different groups. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression were used for survival analysis. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were set as endpoints.
Totally, 1044 patients with non-adenocarcinoma patterns of PCa were included. Patients with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC) and neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) harbored the worst prognosis in both RP and EBRT among all pathological groups. RP exhibited superior effects to EBRT for this group of cases. Ductal carcinoma (DA) was also related to poorer survival outcomes versus PAC in both local therapies. Yet, for men with DA, both RP and EBRT still improved patients' prognosis against no local therapy (NLT), with RP being the superior modality. Cases harboring mucinous adenocarcinoma (MA) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) shared comparable clinical outcomes to men with PAC. However, for cases with MA, neither RP nor EBRT was related to better survival outcomes against NLT, while for patients with SRCC, both RP and EBRT prolonged patients’ survival with similar effects.
Our study provided a comprehensive view of the treatment effect of RP and EBRT in non-adenocarcinoma PCa patients. These findings could facilitate clinicians in making therapeutic decision-making for non-adenocarcinoma patients.
PDF
