ABSTRACT
The FOEDUS-EOEO platform was relaunched in 2015 to allocate deceased donor organs across European borders when there are no suitable recipients in the donor's country. We analyzed organ offers from 01.06.2015-31.12.2021 and present the number of offers and transplants, and utilization as percentage of transplanted organs. 1,483 organs were offered, 287 were transplanted (19.4% utilization). Yearly number of offers and transplants increased from 2017 to 2021, while utilization stabilized after 2018. Utilization was highest for organs offered by Slovakia (47.2%), followed for organs offered by Lithuania, France, Greece, and Czechia (19.3%-22.9%). The most frequently offered organ was the heart (n = 405; 27.3%), followed by the lungs (n = 369; 24.9%) and the liver (n = 345; 23.3%). Utilization differed significantly by organ type (highest for liver, 35.7%; followed by heart, 18.8%; and kidney, 18.3%) and by donor age (highest for 1 to 5 year-old donors (25.0%)). FOEDUS-EOEO allowed for many European patients receiving a long-awaited transplant, especially for very young pediatric patients waiting for a liver, a heart, or a kidney. The increasing number of participating countries has increased both the number of offered organs and, to a lesser extent, the number of transplanted organs.
Subject(s)
Kidney Transplantation , Organ Transplantation , Tissue and Organ Procurement , Transplants , Humans , Child , Infant , Child, Preschool , Tissue DonorsABSTRACT
Non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC) represents a heterogeneous histological group which is 20-25% of those with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Patients with nccRCC have limited therapeutic options due to their exclusion from phase III randomized trials. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness and tolerability of pembrolizumabaxitinib combination in chromophobe and papillary metastatic RCC (mRCC) patients enrolled in the I-RARE (Italian Registry on rAre genitor-uRinary nEoplasms) observational ongoing study (Meet-URO 23). Baseline characteristics, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicities were retrospectively and prospectively collected from nccRCC patients treated in 14 Italian referral centers adhering to the Meet-Uro group, from December 2020 to April 2022. Only patients with chromophobe and papillary histology were considered eligible for the present pre-specified analysis. There were 32 eligible patients who received pembrolizumab-axitinib as first-line treatment, of whom 13 (40%) had chromophobe histology and 19 (60%) were classified as papillary RCC. The DCR was 78.1% whereas ORR was 43.7% (11 patients achieved stable disease and 14 patients obtained partial response: 9/19 papillary, 5/13 chromophobe). Six patients (18.7%) were primary refractory. Median PFS was 10.8 months (95%CI 1.7-11.5). Eleven patients (34.3%) interrupted the full treatment due to immune-related adverse events (irAEs): G3 hepatitis (n = 5), G3 hypophisitis (n = 1), G3 diarrhea (n = 1), G3 pancreatitis (n = 1), G3 asthenia (n = 1). Twelve patients (37.5%) temporarily interrupted axitinib only due to persistent G2 hand-foot syndrome or G2 hypertension. Pembrolizumab-axitinib combination could be an active and feasible first-line treatment option for patients with papillary or chromophobe mRCC.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Renal Cell , Kidney Neoplasms , Humans , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology , Axitinib/adverse effects , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The role of cytoreductive surgery in the poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors era is not fully investigated. We evaluated the impact of surgery performed prior to platinum-based chemotherapy followed by olaparib maintenance in platinum-sensitive BRCA-mutated recurrent ovarian cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study included platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer BRCA-mutated patients from 13 Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian cancer and gynecological malignancies centers treated between September 2015 and May 2019. The primary outcomes were progression-free survival and overall survival. Data on post-progression treatment was also assessed. RESULTS: Among 209 patients, 72 patients (34.5%) underwent cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy and olaparib maintenance, while 137 patients (65.5%) underwent chemotherapy treatment alone. After a median follow-up of 37.3 months (95% CI: 33.4 to 40.8), median progression-free survival in the surgery group was not reached, compared with 11 months in patients receiving chemotherapy alone (P<0.001). Median overall survival was nearly double in patients undergoing surgery before chemotherapy (55 vs 28 months, P<0.001). Post-progression therapy was assessed in 127 patients: response rate to chemotherapy was 29.2%, 8.8%, and 9.0% in patients with platinum-free interval >12 months, between 6 and 12 months, and <6 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cytoreductive surgery performed before platinum therapy and olaparib maintenance was associated with longer progression-free survival and overall survival in BRCA-mutated platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer patients. In accordance with our preliminary results, the response rate to chemotherapy given after progression during olaparib was associated with platinum-free interval.
Subject(s)
BRCA1 Protein/drug effects , BRCA2 Protein/drug effects , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/drug therapy , Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures/methods , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Phthalazines/therapeutic use , Piperazines/therapeutic use , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/mortality , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Mutation , Phthalazines/pharmacology , Piperazines/pharmacology , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Progression-Free Survival , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Olaparib is approved as maintenance therapy in patients with BRCA mutated platinum sensitive (PS) recurrent ovarian cancer (OC) after response to last platinum based therapy. Few data are available regarding the use out of the registration trials and on response to further treatments after progression. MATERIALS AD METHODS: In this non interventional, retrospective study, patients treated with olaparib in 13 centers, according to the label, have been collected and analyzed. Primary objectives of the study are to describe effectiveness and safety of olaparib in a real world setting with a focus on post progression treatments and response. RESULTS: 234 patients were analyzed. All patients were BRCA mutated and most of them had germline mutations. Around 50% of the patients received olaparib after 3 or more lines of platinum based chemotherapy achieving a radiologic complete (CR) or partial response. 12.4% patients with stable disease were also included. Median PFS was 14.7 months (95% CI:12.6-18), with statistically longer PFS in patients with normal serum Ca125 at baseline, a CR after last platinum based therapy and that received olaparib after second platinum based therapy. Median OS was not reached. Most frequent G3-G4 toxicity was anaemia (6%) with dose discontinuation and dose reduction in 11 (4.7%) and 49 (20.9%) of cases, respectively. Among 66 patients receiving further treatment after olaparib progression and evaluable for response, ORR was 22.2, 11.1% and 9.5% in patients with Platinum Free interval (PFI) of more than 12 months, between 6 and 12 months and less than 6 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Olaparib is effective and safe in real world setting. Data on post-progression treatments seem to suggest cross resistance with chemotherapy and need to be confirmed in larger studies because of the potential importance in clinical practice decisions.
Subject(s)
BRCA1 Protein/genetics , BRCA2 Protein/genetics , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics , Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Phthalazines/administration & dosage , Piperazines/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Female , Genes, BRCA1 , Genes, BRCA2 , Germ-Line Mutation , Humans , Maintenance Chemotherapy , Middle Aged , Organoplatinum Compounds/administration & dosage , Progression-Free Survival , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) represents the most aggressive status of this neoplastic disease, also characterized by the absence of biomarkers predictive of clinical outcome. New drugs as abiraterone or enzalutamide, affecting androgen receptor pathway at different levels, inhibit the proliferative advantage of prostate cancer cells with important long term benefits. Despite the advantages of this second-generation androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), resistance mechanisms, primitive or acquired, often develop. The existence of androgen receptor (AR) splice variants (AR-Vs), in particular AR-V7 expression detected in circulating tumor cells (CTCs), represents an example of acquired resistance, as evidenced in preclinical and clinical studies. Recent studies also have suggested the role of AR-V7 as a prognostic biomarker in mCRPC. In this field, hot topics are the methodology used to isolate CTC and the assay for AR-V7 measurement. Our study aims to develop a standardized operating procedure (SOP) to evaluate AR-V7 in CRPC. METHOD: The application of a realized cell based Reference Sample as Standardized Quality Control tool for CTC-AR-V7 assay has been shown. Then the development, the performance evaluation and contextualization in a clinical setting of this standardized operating procedure (SOP) have been reported to evaluate the prognostic biomarker AR-V7 in metastatic prostate cancer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The standardized procedure has high sensitivity and specificity and enables the detection and quantification of the spliced variant with respect to the full length AR (AR-FL) mRNA in CTC DNA purified from the blood of patients with CRPC. This procedure has been further validated in a consecutive series of patients with mCRPC, confirming its role as prognostic biomarker.
Subject(s)
Disease Progression , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/metabolism , Polymerase Chain Reaction/standards , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/blood , Protein Isoforms/blood , Receptors, Androgen/blood , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biomarkers, Tumor/blood , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/diagnosis , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics , Protein Isoforms/genetics , Receptors, Androgen/geneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Platinum-based chemotherapy (PBCT) is the standard first-line treatment for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). Potential cross-sensitivity can be hypothesized between platinum drugs and poly-ADP ribose-polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. OBJECTIVE: To compare maintenance treatment with the PARP inhibitor niraparib plus best supportive care (BSC) versus BSC alone in patients with advanced UC without disease progression after first-line PBCT. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Meet-URO12 is a randomized, multicenter, open-label phase 2 trial. Patients with advanced UC, without disease progression after four to six cycles of PBCT, with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1, were enrolled between August 2019 and March 2021. Randomization was stratified by ECOG performance status (0/1) and response to PBCT (objective response/stable disease). INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized (2:1) to experimental arm A (niraparib 300 or 200 mg daily according to body weight and baseline platelets, plus BSC) or control arm B (BSC alone). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis. The secondary endpoints reported in this primary analysis are progression-free rate at 6 mo and safety (adverse event rate). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Fifty-eight patients were randomized (39 in arm A and 19 in arm B). The median age was 69 yr, ECOG performance status was 0 in 66% and 1 in 34%; and the best response with chemotherapy was objective response in 55% and stable disease in 45%. The median PFS was 2.1 mo in arm A and 2.4 mo in arm B (hazard ratio 0.92; 95% confidence interval 0.49-1.75, p = 0.81). The 6-mo progression-free rates were 28.2% and 26.3%, respectively. The most common adverse events with niraparib were anemia (50%, grade [G]3 11%), thrombocytopenia (37%, G3-4 16%), neutropenia (21%, G3 5%), fatigue (32%, G3 16%), constipation (32%, G3 3%), mucositis (13%, G3 3%), and nausea (13%, G3 3%). The main limitation of the study is the small sample size: in March 2021, approval of maintenance avelumab for the same setting rendered randomization of patients in the control arm to BSC alone unethical, and accrual was stopped prematurely. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of maintenance niraparib to BSC after first-line PBCT did not demonstrate a significant improvement in PFS in patients with UC. These results do not support the conduction of a phase 3 trial with single agent niraparib in this population. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this trial, we tested the efficacy of niraparib as maintenance treatment in patients affected by advanced urothelial cancer after the completion of first-line chemotherapy. We could not demonstrate a significant improvement in progression-free survival with maintenance niraparib.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms , Humans , Aged , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/drug therapy , Platinum/therapeutic use , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/drug therapy , Progression-Free Survival , Disease Progression , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Maintenance ChemotherapyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is compelling need for novel biomarkers to predict response to PARP inhibitors (PARPi) in BRCA wild-type (WT) ovarian cancer (OC). METHODS: MITO 37 is a multicenter retrospective study aiming at correlating Ki67 expression at diagnosis with a clinical outcome following platinum treatment and PARPi maintenance. Clinical data were collected from high grade serous or endometroid BRCAWT OC treated with niraparib or rucaparib maintenance between 2010-2021 in 15 centers. Ki67 expression was assessed locally by certified pathologists on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues. Median Ki67 was used as a cut-off. RESULTS: A total of 136 patients were eligible and included in the analysis. Median Ki67 was 45.7% (range 1.0-99.9). The best response to platinum according to median Ki67 was 26.5% vs. 39.7% complete response (CR), 69.1% vs. 58.8% partial response (PR), 4.4% vs. 1.5% stable disease (SD). The best response to PARPi according to median Ki67 was 19.1% vs. 36.8% CR, 26.5% vs. 26.5% PR, 26.5 vs. 25% SD, 27.9% vs. 16.2% progressive disease (PD). No statistically significant differences in progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified between low and high Ki67. PFS and OS are in line with registration trials. CONCLUSIONS: Ki67 at diagnosis did not discriminate responders to PARPi.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nivolumab and cabozantinib are currently approved agents in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) but there are no data available for patients progressing to both treatments. The aim of this study was to compare active therapeutic options and best supportive care (BSC) after progression to nivolumab and cabozantinib in mRCC. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we selected 50 patients from eight Italian centers. The primary endpoint of the study was the overall survival (OS) of patients on active treatment versus BSC. Secondary endpoints were the progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). The efficacy of active therapy was also investigated. RESULTS: After progression to both nivolumab and cabozantinib, 57.1% of patients were given active treatment (mainly everolimus and sorafenib) while 42.9% received BSC. The median OS was 13 months (95% CI: 4-NR) in actively treated patients and 3 months (95% CI: 2-4) in BSC patients (p = 0.001). Patients treated with sorafenib had better disease control than those treated with everolimus (stable disease: 71.4% vs. 16.7%, progression disease: 14.3% vs. 58.3%; p = 0.03), with no significant differences in PFS (5 and 3 months, 95% CI: 1-6 vs. 2-5; p = 0.6) and OS (12 and 4 months, 95% CI: 3-NR vs. 2-NR; p = 0.2). CONCLUSION: After treatment with both nivolumab and cabozantinib, the choice of a safe active systemic therapy offered better outcomes than BSC.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents , Carcinoma, Renal Cell , Kidney Neoplasms , Anilides/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology , Disease Progression , Everolimus/adverse effects , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Nivolumab/therapeutic use , Pyridines , Retrospective Studies , Sorafenib/therapeutic useABSTRACT
This is a retrospective analysis on the safety and activity of compassionate Ipilimumab and Nivolumab (IPI-NIVO) administered to patients with metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC) with intermediate or poor International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) score as a first-line regimen. IPI was infused at 1 mg/kg in combination with Nivolumab 3 mg/kg every three weeks for four doses, followed by maintenance Nivolumab (240 or 480 mg flat dose every two or four weeks, respectively) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. A total of 324 patients started IPI-NIVO at 86 Italian centers. Median age was 62 years, 68.2% IMDC intermediate risk. Primary tumor had been removed in 65.1% of patients. Two hundred and twenty patients (67.9%) completed the four IPI-NIVO doses. Investigator-assessed overall response rate was 37.6% (2.8% complete). Twelve-month survival rate was 66.8%, median progression-free survival was 8.3 months. Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 67 patients (26.9%). IMDC intermediate risk, nephrectomy, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, and steroid use for toxicities correlated with improved survival, while age < 70 years did not. IPI-NIVO combination is a feasible and effective regimen for the first-line treatment of intermediate-poor IMDC risk mRCC patients in routine clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
Background: Treatment choice for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients is still based on baseline clinical and laboratory factors. Methods: By a pre-specified analysis of the Meet-URO 15 multicentric retrospective study enrolling 571 pretreated mRCC patients receiving nivolumab, baseline and early dynamic variations (Δ) of neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet absolute cell counts (ACC) and their inflammatory ratios (IR) were evaluated alongside their association with the best disease response and overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariable analyses on OS and PFS between baseline and Δ ACC and IR values were investigated with receiving operating curves-based cut-offs. Results: The analysis included 422 mRCC patients. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) increased over time due to consistent neutrophil increase (p < 0.001). Higher baseline platelets (p = 0.044) and lower lymphocytes (p = 0.018), increasing neutrophil Δ (p for time-group interaction <0.001), higher baseline IR values (NLR: p = 0.012, SII: p = 0.003, PLR: p = 0.003), increasing NLR and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) (i.e., NLR x platelets) Δ (p for interaction time-group = 0.0053 and 0.0435, respectively) were associated with disease progression. OS and PFS were significantly shorter in patients with baseline lower lymphocytes (p < 0.001 for both) and higher platelets (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively) alongside early neutrophils Δ (p = 0.046 and p = 0.033, respectively). Early neutrophils and NLR Δ were independent prognostic factors for both OS (p = 0.014 and p = 0.011, respectively) and PFS (p = 0.023 and p = 0.001, respectively), alongside baseline NLR (p < 0.001 for both) and other known prognostic variables. Conclusions: Early neutrophils and NLR Δ may represent new dynamic prognostic factors with clinical utility for on-treatment decisions.
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BACKGROUND: World Health Assembly Resolution 63.22 mandated World Health Organization to facilitate Member State access to appropriate information on medical products of human origin (MPHO), including collecting data on serious adverse events and reactions. To meet this challenge, the Italian National Transplant Center, with a mandate from World Health Organization, has built and maintained an open-access searchable database of instructive records on disease transmission and other MPHO adverse occurrences. METHODS: One record in the Notify Library describes a specific type of adverse occurrence in 1 type of MPHO and might be linked with 1 or multiple different references. The record inclusion criteria are that it has been reliably documented in a published article or official vigilance reporting system and that it has instructive value for the fields of transfusion, transplantation, or assisted reproduction. The selection and review of references for publication is performed by international experts who collaborate in 5 topic-specific editorial groups: infection transmission, malignancy transmission, living-donor reactions, process-related incidents, and clinical complications. New relevant references are identified through systematic searches and proactive communication by the experts. RESULTS: The Library contains 1733 records, quoting 2632 references. Of the records, 41.8% are related to organs, 20.8% to blood and blood components, 16.5% to hematopoietic progenitor cells, 15.2% to tissues, 4.2% to reproductive tissues and cells, and 1.5% to other MPHO. CONCLUSIONS: Notify Library is the first open-access, searchable database of systematically identified reports of disease transmission and other adverse occurrences arising from the donation and clinical application of MPHO.
Subject(s)
Access to Information , Biological Products/therapeutic use , Biological Therapy/adverse effects , Information Dissemination , Product Surveillance, Postmarketing , World Health Organization , Animals , Biological Products/adverse effects , Humans , Patient Safety , Risk Assessment , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
RATIONALE: Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) accounts for about 15% to 20% of renal cell carcinoma and is histologically distinguished in type I and type II. The last one is associated with poorer prognosis.Treatment options for PRCC patients are surgery, immunotherapy, revolutionized by Nivolumab, and other target-therapy with an improvement in overall survival. Heterogenous response and a pseudo-progression may be observed in the initial phase of biological treatment that could induce premature discontinuation. PATIENT CONCERNS: We present the case of a 44-year-old woman with left cervical palpable mass increased in size and without concomitant disease or previous surgery. DIAGNOSIS: Neck ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography, and 18F-FDG PET/CT were performed with the detection of lymph nodes involvement and a left renal lesion. INTERVENTIONS: The patients underwent left radical nephrectomy and homolateral cervical and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, with histological diagnosis of PRCC, type II. After disease relapse, the inter-aortocaval lymph node was laparoscopically removed. Following the detection of further disease relapse in several lymph nodes and the lung, several lines of target-therapy were started; then disease progression and worsening of clinical and hematological status led us to start Nivolumab as last-line therapy. OUTCOMES: A heterogeneous response to therapies was documented with morphological and nuclear medicine imaging, however the concomitant deterioration of performance status and liver function led to discontinuation of Nivolumab; then the patient died, 30 months after diagnosis. LESSONS: Here we describe the clinical case and radiological and nuclear medicine imaging investigations performed by our patient, highlighting that 18F-FDG PET/CT shows greater adequacy in assessing the response to therapy, avoiding premature drug discontinuation, and ensuring better management of a patient with advanced PRCC.
Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/diagnosis , Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/pharmacology , Kidney Neoplasms/diagnosis , Multimodal Imaging , Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography/methods , Adult , Bone Neoplasms/secondary , Bone Neoplasms/therapy , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/secondary , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/therapy , Combined Modality Therapy , Fatal Outcome , Female , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/therapy , Laparoscopy , Lymph Node Excision/methods , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Lymphatic Metastasis , Neck , Neoplasm Staging , Nephrectomy/methods , Radiopharmaceuticals/pharmacology , Thoracic VertebraeABSTRACT
In the "precision medicine" era, chemotherapy still remains the backbone for the treatment of many cancers, but no affordable predictors of response to the chemodrugs are available in clinical practice. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are gene sequence variations occurring in more than 1% of the full population, and account for approximately 80% of inter-individual genomic heterogeneity. A number of studies have investigated the predictive role of SNPs of genes enrolled in both pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutics, but the clinical implementation of related results has been modest so far. Among the examined germline polymorphic variants, several SNPs of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) have shown a robust role as predictors of toxicity following fluoropyrimidine- and/or irinotecan-based treatments respectively, and a few guidelines are mandatory in their detection before therapy initiation. Contrasting results, however, have been reported on the capability of variants of other genes as MTHFR, TYMS, ERCC1, XRCC1, GSTP1, CYP3A4/3A5 and ABCB1, in predicting either therapy efficacy or toxicity in patients undergoing treatment with pyrimidine antimetabolites, platinum derivatives, irinotecan and taxanes. While formal recommendations for routine testing of these SNPs cannot be drawn at this moment, therapeutic decisions may indeed benefit of germline genomic information, when available. Here, we summarize the clinical impact of germline genomic variants on the efficacy and toxicity of major chemodrugs, with the aim to facilitate the therapeutic expectance of clinicians in the odiern quicksand field of complex molecular biology concepts and controversial trial data interpretation.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In the era of precision medicine, the suitability of fluoropyrimidine therapies in clinical oncology can be checked by pharmacogenetic investigations of single patients, thus optimizing resources and indicating the appropriate drugs to personalize their chemotherapy. For example, the presence of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene (DPYD) polymorphisms in cancer patients may lead to adverse effects when adopting fluoropyrimidine-based therapies. METHODS: We detected in a cancer patient a rare germline synonymous heterozygous variant of DPYD (c.1905C>T) in proximity to the exon 14 splice donor site. Because in silico analyses hypothesized potential deleterious effects of the splice site, we performed both quantitative and qualitative mRNA analyses to investigate the possible pathogenic nature of the variant. RESULTS: We did not detect any alterations in mRNA expression or in the cDNA sequence of DPYD gene transcript. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest that the c.1905C>T variant of DPYD does not have a pathogenic effect. Therefore, assessment of the clinical significance of rare sequence variants could emphasize the predictive value of DPYD gene alterations in identifying patients at potential risk for fluoropyrimidine-related toxicity.
Subject(s)
Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP)/genetics , Pharmacogenetics/methods , Aged , Female , Gene Frequency , Humans , Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) , MutationABSTRACT
Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially adenocarcinoma, have recently undergone dramatic evolution according to the tremendous amount of molecular data collected on this cancer. In fact, the application of oncogenomics has identified novel molecular subtypes of NSCLC and led the way to diagnostic criteria based on the expression of specific genetic alterations that can provide prognostic and specific indications to the molecular targeted therapies. In NSCLC, several genes show "driver" molecular alterations that confer oncogenic potential to progenitor cells through the enrollment of metabolic pathways critical for cell proliferation and tumor development. On the other hand, clinical management of NSCLC with small molecules has undoubtedly provided optimistic results with both a significant increase in overall survival and reduction in therapy-related toxicity including relative complications. Thus, pharmacogenomics, as the newest tool for using the targeted therapy represents the most innovative approach for treatment of this cancer once the molecular aberrations are identified. In particular, the relative mutational status of several driver genes including EGFR, ALK, ROS1 and others, is directly correlated to a better response to thyrosin-kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, other therapeutic strategies with inhibitors of angiogenic receptors, PARP, histone-deacetylase, PI3K and HSP90, are intensively studied in pre-clinical models as well as in clinical trials for a potential adoption in clinical practice. The introduction of more advanced techniques for molecular profiling also allows to identify pathogenic variants of many other genes involved in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma with the aim to develop novel molecular targets for pharmacological research. In this review, we will revisit the current applications of oncogenomics in the diagnosis and treatment of this tumor.