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1.
World J Urol ; 41(8): 2091-2097, 2023 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37528288

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Determining the frequency and distribution of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in Austrian prostate cancer (PCa) patients and to assess the accuracy of different clinical risk scores to correctly predict PGVs. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 313 men with advanced PCa. A comprehensive personal and family history was obtained based on predefined questionnaires. Germline DNA sequencing was performed between 2019 and 2021 irrespective of family history, metastatic or castration status or age at diagnosis. Clinical risk scores for hereditary cancer syndromes were evaluated and a PCa-specific score was developed to assess the presence of PGVs. RESULTS: PGV presence was associated with metastasis (p = 0.047) and castration resistance (p = 0.011), but not with personal cancer history or with relatives with any type of cancer. Clinical risk scores (Manchester score, PREMM5 score, Amsterdam II criteria or Johns Hopkins criteria) showed low sensitivities (3.3-20%) for assessing the probability of PGV presence. A score specifically designed for PCa patients stratifying patients into low- or high-risk regarding PGV probability, correctly classified all PGV carriers as high-risk, whereas a third of PCa patients without PGVs was classified as low risk of the presence of PGVs. CONCLUSION: Application of common clinical risk scores based on family history are not suitable to identify PCa patients with high PGV probabilities. A PCa-specific score stratified PCa patients into low- or high-risk of PGV presence with sufficient accuracy, and germline DNA sequencing may be omitted in patients with a low score. Further studies are needed to evaluate the score.


Subject(s)
Prostatic Neoplasms , Male , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Risk Factors , Germ Cells/pathology , Austria , Genetic Predisposition to Disease
2.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 117(34): 20920-20925, 2020 08 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32788371

ABSTRACT

In plants, environmental stressors trigger plasma membrane depolarizations. Being electrically interconnected via plasmodesmata, proper functional dissection of electrical signaling by electrophysiology is basically impossible. The green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii evolved blue light-excited channelrhodopsins (ChR1, 2) to navigate. When expressed in excitable nerve and muscle cells, ChRs can be used to control the membrane potential via illumination. In Arabidopsis plants, we used the algal ChR2-light switches as tools to stimulate plasmodesmata-interconnected photosynthetic cell networks by blue light and monitor the subsequent plasma membrane electrical responses. Blue-dependent stimulations of ChR2 expressing mesophyll cells, resting around -160 to -180 mV, reproducibly depolarized the membrane potential by 95 mV on average. Following excitation, mesophyll cells recovered their prestimulus potential not without transiently passing a hyperpolarization state. By combining optogenetics with voltage-sensing microelectrodes, we demonstrate that plant plasma membrane AHA-type H+-ATPase governs the gross repolarization process. AHA2 protein biochemistry and functional expression analysis in Xenopus oocytes indicates that the capacity of this H+ pump to recharge the membrane potential is rooted in its voltage- and pH-dependent functional anatomy. Thus, ChR2 optogenetics appears well suited to noninvasively expose plant cells to signal specific depolarization signatures. From the responses we learn about the molecular processes, plants employ to channel stress-associated membrane excitations into physiological responses.


Subject(s)
Cell Membrane/metabolism , Channelrhodopsins/metabolism , Proton Pumps/metabolism , Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism , Algal Proteins/metabolism , Channelrhodopsins/physiology , Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/metabolism , Color , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Light , Membrane Potentials/physiology , Optogenetics/methods , Proton Pumps/physiology , Rhodopsin/metabolism , Signal Transduction
3.
Int J Mol Sci ; 24(6)2023 Mar 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36982918

ABSTRACT

Survival outcomes after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BCa) have not improved in recent decades; nevertheless, RC remains the standard treatment for patients with localized muscle-invasive BCa. Identification of the patients most likely to benefit from RC only versus a combination with systemic therapy versus systemic therapy first/only and bladder-sparing is needed. This systematic review and meta-analysis pools the data from published studies on blood-based biomarkers to help prognosticate disease recurrence after RC. A literature search on PubMed and Scopus was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Articles published before November 2022 were screened for eligibility. A meta-analysis was performed on studies investigating the association of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the only biomarker with sufficient data, with recurrence-free survival. The systematic review identified 33 studies, and 7 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Our results demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between elevated NLR and an increased risk of disease recurrence (HR 1.26; 95% CI 1.09, 1.45; p = 0.002) after RC. The systematic review identified various other inflammatory biomarkers, such as interleukin-6 or the albumin-to-globulin ratio, which have been reported to have a prognostic impact on recurrence after RC. Besides that, the nutritional status, factors of angiogenesis and circulating tumor cells, and DNA seem to be promising tools for the prognostication of recurrence after RC. Due to the high heterogeneity between the studies and the different cut-off values of biomarkers, prospective and validation trials with larger sample sizes and standardized cut-off values should be conducted to strengthen the approach in using biomarkers as a tool for risk stratification in clinical decision-making for patients with localized muscle-invasive BCa.


Subject(s)
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms , Urinary Bladder , Humans , Urinary Bladder/pathology , Cystectomy/methods , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology , Biomarkers
4.
Curr Opin Urol ; 32(1): 48-53, 2022 Jan 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34772864

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this study was to give an overview of molecular alterations in upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUCs) and to discuss them in the context of current and prospective systemic therapies. RECENT FINDINGS: UTUCs not only share a similar molecular landscape with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB), but also have distinct molecular features that can have an impact on therapy selection. FGFR3 alterations occur with a significant higher frequency in UTUC, with up to 40% of tumours harbouring FGFR3 driver mutations compared with 20% in UCB. In addition, a substantial number of high-grade UTUC show an immune-depleted phenotype and a luminal papillary expression subtype, thus predisposing them for FGFR inhibitor treatment. Approximately 20% of UTUC tumours have acquired mutations in TP53 and demonstrate a significant degree of genomic instability, which makes them candidates for systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Whereas microsatellite instability (MSI) is rare in sporadic UTUC, 5-10% of UTUC patients have germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes, which leads to high MSI with enriched neoantigen load and presumably better response rates to immunotherapy. SUMMARY: Treatment decisions in UTUC should take molecular tumour characteristics into account. The currently most therapy-relevant molecular alterations in UTUC comprise FGFR3 mutational status and mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes with concomitant microsatellite instability.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/genetics , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Microsatellite Instability , Mutation , Prospective Studies , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology
5.
Curr Opin Urol ; 32(4): 358-363, 2022 07 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35749783

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Due to the limited number of cases, there are no guidelines for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the prostate. This review combines an unpublished case report of a 55-year-old patient with BCC with an assessment of the latest literature. RECENT FINDINGS: BCC of the prostate has previously been described in only approximately 140 cases. We describe the diagnostic process, including the uropathological and DNA-sequencing results, which allowed us to start an experimental treatment with pemigatinib. BCC of the prostate is associated with an aggressive biological and clinical behavior, such as recurrence and metastasis. Several immunohistochemical stainings are available to differentiate BCC from adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Based on pathology and results from next-generation sequencing (NGS), patients can be offered targeted therapies. SUMMARY: With the aid of histological work-up and immunostaining, prostatic BCC can be accurately diagnosed. Our patient underwent radical prostatectomy and staged extended lymphadenectomy due to lymph node recurrence. The patient subsequently developed progressive disease and was treated with the FGFR-inhibitor pemigatinib. The patient's liver metastasis significantly responded. The present case confirms the possibility of aggressive behavior of prostatic BCC and highlights the importance of a thorough uropathological and molecular biological analysis with a precision medicine strategy.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Basal Cell , Prostatic Neoplasms , Skin Neoplasms , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/surgery , Humans , Lymph Node Excision , Male , Middle Aged , Morpholines , Prostate/pathology , Prostatectomy , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Pyrimidines , Pyrroles , Skin Neoplasms/surgery
6.
Curr Opin Urol ; 32(5): 451-455, 2022 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35916009

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To highlight the latest changes in prostate cancer (PCa), urothelial carcinoma, upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) diagnosis and the impact of genetics in this field. RECENT FINDINGS: Breast cancer1/2 mutations start to play a major role in PCa treatment with regard to personalized medicine. In urothelial carcinoma an overlap between histological pathological and molecular findings exists, fibroblast growth factor receptor alteration are starting to play a major role, programmed death-ligand 1 although problematic is still important in the treatment setting. UTUC is rare, but genetically different from urothelial carcinoma. In the development of RCC, different genetic pathways such as Von Hippel-Lindau, but also tuberous sclerosis 1/2 and others play a major role in tumor development. SUMMARY: Over the last years, genetics has become increasingly important role in the diagnosis and the treatment of patients with urological malignancies. The upcoming 5th edition (1) of the WHO still considers conventional surgical pathology as the diagnostic gold standard, but molecular pathology is gaining importance not only for diagnosis, but also in personalized treatment, of prostate, kidney cancer and urothelial carcinomas. Therefore, a close collaboration between surgical urology, pathology and oncology departments is mandatory. In this review, we will discuss the latest evolutions in PCa, urothelial carcinoma, upper urinary tract carcinomas and RCC s in the field of genetics in urology.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Renal Cell , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell , Kidney Neoplasms , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms , Urologic Neoplasms , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/pathology , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/diagnosis , Kidney Neoplasms/genetics , Kidney Neoplasms/therapy , Male , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology , Urologic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Urologic Neoplasms/genetics , Urologic Neoplasms/therapy , Urologists , Urothelium/pathology
7.
Int J Cancer ; 148(3): 731-747, 2021 02 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33034050

ABSTRACT

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains a key approach in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). However, PCa inevitably relapses and becomes ADT resistant. Besides androgens, there is evidence that thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) and its active form 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) are involved in the progression of PCa. Epidemiologic evidences show a higher incidence of PCa in men with elevated thyroid hormone levels. The thyroid hormone binding protein µ-Crystallin (CRYM) mediates intracellular thyroid hormone action by sequestering T3 and blocks its binding to cognate receptors (TRα/TRß) in target tissues. We show in our study that low CRYM expression levels in PCa patients are associated with early biochemical recurrence and poor prognosis. Moreover, we found a disease stage-specific expression of CRYM in PCa. CRYM counteracted thyroid and androgen signaling and blocked intracellular choline uptake. CRYM inversely correlated with [18F]fluoromethylcholine (FMC) levels in positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging of PCa patients. Our data suggest CRYM as a novel antagonist of T3- and androgen-mediated signaling in PCa. The role of CRYM could therefore be an essential control mechanism for the prevention of aggressive PCa growth.


Subject(s)
Crystallins/genetics , Crystallins/metabolism , Down-Regulation , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Signal Transduction , Cell Line, Tumor , Choline/administration & dosage , Choline/analogs & derivatives , Cohort Studies , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , Male , Metabolomics , Neoplasm Staging , PC-3 Cells , Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography , Prognosis , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Receptors, Androgen/genetics , Receptors, Androgen/metabolism , Receptors, Thyroid Hormone/genetics , Sequence Analysis, RNA , Tissue Array Analysis , Triiodothyronine/antagonists & inhibitors , Triiodothyronine/metabolism , mu-Crystallins
8.
Curr Opin Urol ; 30(4): 519-526, 2020 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32427631

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this article is to give an overview of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) trials in prostate cancer and to discuss emerging approaches with potential future clinical implementation in both prostate and urothelial cancer. RECENT FINDINGS: PARPis are a class of drugs that can be applied for the treatment of homologous recombination repair (HRR)-deficient tumors. Tumors are potentially sensitive to PARPi harbor mutations in genes relevant for DNA damage repair, such as BRCA1/2 or ATM, which are present to a significant degree in metastatic prostate and urothelial cancer patients. Several PARPis have been successfully tested in clinical trials for HRR-deficient metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and olaparib and rucaparib have recently received breakthrough approval in BRCA1/2 mutated mCRPC. Combination treatment of PARPis with androgen-receptor inhibitors or with checkpoint inhibitors and earlier frontline applications are currently being evaluated, and clinical trials enrolling bladder cancer (BCa) patients with HRR deficiency have recently been initiated. SUMMARY: Approximately 10% of mCRPC patients and 34% of metastatic BCa patients have tumors with HRR deficiency and may benefit from PARPi treatment. Correct identification of these patients as well as determining the most adequate time point for drug administration will be key to successful clinical implementation.


Subject(s)
Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell , DNA Damage , Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Neoplasm Metastasis , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology
9.
Curr Opin Urol ; 30(4): 534-541, 2020 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32453005

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of the article to summarize recent changes of treatment options in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) with a special emphasis on immune checkpoint inhibition. RECENT FINDINGS: The introduction of checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy has led to a paradigm change in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Dual immune checkpoint inhibition or the combination of CPI and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) was shown to improve survival when compared with the former standard of care sunitinib. Moreover, these novel strategies were shown to enable unprecedented rates of complete and durable responses, particularly with dual checkpoint inhibition. Although the treatment landscape has rapidly evolved, it remains unknown which combination is the best for the individual patient. Pivotal trials have used sunitinib as a comparator but no head to head comparisons have been conducted between novel agents so far. Moreover, no predictive biomarker has been identified yet to bring the best treatment to the individual patient. SUMMARY: The aim of this review is to summarize the findings of CPI-based trials conducted in RCC and to discuss the future of mRCC treatment.


Subject(s)
B7-H1 Antigen , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/therapy , Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Kidney Neoplasms/therapy , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/therapeutic use , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasm Metastasis , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases , Pyrazoles/therapeutic use , Pyrimidines/therapeutic use , Sunitinib/therapeutic use
10.
Curr Opin Urol ; 30(2): 264-270, 2020 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31905176

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) exhibit, in contrast to other cancer types, a relatively low mutational burden. However, numerous epigenetic alterations have been shown to impact TGCT. In this review, we summarize the most relevant findings of the past 2 years. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies focused on the functions of microRNAs and the impact of aberrant DNA methylation. Moreover, several epigenetic drugs with antineoplastic effects in TGCTs were identified. SUMMARY: Aberrant DNA methylation and differentially expressed microRNAs have an important effect on TGCT pathogenesis. Moreover, differential DNA methylation patterns were found to be specific for different TGCT subtypes. Various microRNAs, such as miR-371a-3p, were found to be highly sensitive and specific biomarkers for TGCT. The epigenetic drugs guadecitabine, animacroxam, and JQ1 showed promising effects on TGCT in preclinical in-vivo and in-vitro studies.


Subject(s)
Epigenesis, Genetic/genetics , MicroRNAs/genetics , Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/genetics , Testicular Neoplasms/genetics , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Azacitidine/analogs & derivatives , Azacitidine/therapeutic use , Azepines/therapeutic use , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Cinnamates/therapeutic use , DNA Methylation/genetics , Humans , Imidazoles/therapeutic use , Male , Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/drug therapy , RNA, Untranslated/genetics , Testicular Neoplasms/drug therapy , Triazoles/therapeutic use
11.
Biomarkers ; 25(3): 268-273, 2020 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32091270

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To assess the prognostic significance of the nuclear receptor binding SET protein 2 (NSD2), a co-activator of the NFkB-pathway, on tumour progression in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa).Methods: We retrospectively assessed NSD2 expression in 53 patients with metastatic and castration-resistant PCa. Immunohistochemical staining for NSD2 was carried out on specimen obtained from palliative resection of the prostate. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to assess the association between NSD2 expression and PCa progression.Results: Of the 53 patients, 41 had castration-resistant PCa and 48 men had metastases at time of tissue acquisition. NSD2 expression was increased in tumour specimen from 42 patients (79.2%). In univariable Cox regression analyses, NSD2 expression was associated with PSA progression, progression on imaging and overall survival (p = 0.04, respectively). In multivariable analyses, NSD2 expression did not retain its association with these endpoints.Conclusions: NSD2 expression is abnormal in almost 80% of patients with advanced PCa. Expression levels of this epigenetic regulator are easily detected by immunohistochemistry while this biomarker exhibited prognostic value for PCa progression and death in univariable analysis. Further studies on NSD2 involvement in PCa proliferation, progression, metastasis and resistance mechanisms are needed.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/biosynthesis , Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/biosynthesis , Prostate/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Repressor Proteins/biosynthesis , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Disease Progression , Humans , Immunohistochemistry/statistics & numerical data , Male , Prognosis , Proportional Hazards Models , Prostate/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Prostatic Neoplasms/therapy , Retrospective Studies , Survival Analysis
12.
BJU Int ; 123(1): 11-21, 2019 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29807387

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present review was to assess the prognostic impact of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in transurethral resection (TUR) of bladder cancer (BCa) specimens on clinical outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature from the past 10 years was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane library in August 2017. The protocol for this systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (Central Registration Depository: CRD42018084876) and is available in full on the University of York website. Overall, 33 studies (including 6194 patients) evaluating the presence of LVI at TUR were retrieved. LVI was detected in 17.3% of TUR specimens. In 19 studies, including 2941 patients with ≤cT1 stage only, LVI was detected in 15% of specimens. In patients with ≤cT1 stage, LVI at TUR of the bladder tumour (TURBT) was a significant prognostic factor for disease recurrence (pooled hazard ratio [HR] 1.97, 95% CI: 1.47-2.62) and progression (pooled HR 2.95, 95% CI: 2.11-4.13), without heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.84 and I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.93, respectively). For patients with cT1-2 disease, LVI was significantly associated with upstaging at time of radical cystectomy (pooled odds ratio 2.39, 95% CI: 1.45-3.96), with heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 53.6%, P = 0.044). LVI at TURBT is a robust prognostic factor of disease recurrence and progression in non-muscle invasive BCa. Furthermore, LVI has a strong impact on upstaging in patients with organ-confined disease. The assessment of LVI should be standardized, reported, and considered for inclusion in the TNM classification system, helping clinicians in decision-making and patient counselling.


Subject(s)
Blood Vessels/pathology , Lymphatic Vessels/pathology , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/surgery , Cystectomy , Disease Progression , Humans , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Neoplasm Staging , Prognosis
13.
Curr Opin Urol ; 29(3): 239-246, 2019 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30762670

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To give an overview of current options for conservative treatment of patients failing intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and to discuss emerging approaches with potential future clinical applications. RECENT FINDINGS: Radical cystectomy is the standard-of-care for patients failing BCG therapy. In patients unfit or unwilling to undergo surgery, salvage therapy options could be proposed with the aim to offer local cancer control and prevent progression to muscle-invasive disease. Salvage treatments have been conducted using intravesical chemotherapy regimens, chemoradiation or chemohyperthermia. Intravesical agents such as valrubicin, gemcitabine or docetaxel showed response rates varying between 16 and 40%, whereas combination treatments of gemcitabine with docetaxel or mitomycin reported response rates in up to 50% of all patients with durable responses in about one out of three patients. For chemohyperthermia, 2-year recurrence rates between 41 and 56% have been reported. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating chemoradiation as well as novel approaches such as systemic immunotherapy, viral gene therapy, targeted therapy or vaccination strategies with promising preliminary outcomes. SUMMARY: Salvage therapeutic bladder-sparing strategies for BCG failure such as intravesical chemotherapy or chemoradiation should currently only be considered in patients unfit for or refusing surgery. Innovative concepts such as chemohyperthermia, checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapy or viral gene therapy could lead to major changes in clinical management of BCG failures in the future.


Subject(s)
Adjuvants, Immunologic/adverse effects , Adjuvants, Immunologic/therapeutic use , BCG Vaccine/adverse effects , BCG Vaccine/therapeutic use , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/therapy , Salvage Therapy , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/therapy , Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage , Administration, Intravesical , BCG Vaccine/administration & dosage , Cystectomy , Humans , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Treatment Failure , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology
14.
Curr Opin Urol ; 28(6): 584-590, 2018 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30188332

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize recent findings on tissue biomarkers for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with an emphasis on their prognostic and predictive role. RECENT FINDINGS: Accurate risk stratification is essential and the major driver in patient counseling regarding surveillance and decision making relative to therapeutic strategies. In NMIBC, there is an unmet need for improving the accuracy of current prognostic and predictive models, which rely only on clinicopathologic features and do not reflect the biological heterogeneity of the cancer in each individual. Studies continuously shed novel light on some processes involved in cancerogenesis, host response and interactions in the tumor's own microenvironment, which may be considered as potential biomarkers and targets for future directed therapies. SUMMARY: Biomarkers are necessary to transform bladder cancer management and usher in the age of personalized medicine. The clinical use is, however, still limited because of heterogeneity in study design, staining methods and an overall lacking adherence to a structured biomarker testing process.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/diagnosis , Urinary Bladder/pathology , Administration, Intravesical , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Biomarkers, Tumor/standards , Carcinogenesis/pathology , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/methods , Cystectomy , Guideline Adherence , Humans , Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , Risk Assessment/methods , Risk Assessment/standards , Urinary Bladder/surgery , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/therapy
16.
Curr Opin Urol ; 32(5): 443-444, 2022 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35916008

Subject(s)
Urology , Humans
17.
Neurobiol Dis ; 70: 1-11, 2014 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24937631

ABSTRACT

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are hereditary diseases leading to Purkinje cell degeneration and cerebellar dysfunction. Most forms of SCA are caused by expansion of CAG repeats similar to other polyglutamine disorders such as Huntington's disease. In contrast, in the autosomal dominant SCA-14 the disease is caused by mutations in the protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ) gene which is a well characterized signaling molecule in cerebellar Purkinje cells. The study of SCA-14, therefore, offers the unique opportunity to reveal the molecular and pathological mechanism eventually leading to Purkinje cell dysfunction and degeneration. We have created a mouse model of SCA-14 in which PKCγ protein with a mutation found in SCA-14 is specifically expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells. We find that in mice expressing the mutated PKCγ protein the morphology of Purkinje cells in cerebellar slice cultures is drastically altered and mimics closely the morphology seen after pharmacological PKC activation. Similar morphological abnormalities were seen in localized areas of the cerebellum of juvenile transgenic mice in vivo. In adult transgenic mice there is evidence for some localized loss of Purkinje cells but there is no overall cerebellar atrophy. Transgenic mice show a mild cerebellar ataxia revealed by testing on the rotarod and on the walking beam. Our findings provide evidence for both an increased PKCγ activity in Purkinje cells in vivo and for pathological changes typical for cerebellar disease thus linking the increased and dysregulated activity of PKCγ tightly to the development of cerebellar disease in SCA-14 and possibly also in other forms of SCA.


Subject(s)
Protein Kinase C/metabolism , Purkinje Cells/enzymology , Purkinje Cells/pathology , Spinocerebellar Degenerations/enzymology , Spinocerebellar Degenerations/pathology , Animals , Blotting, Western , Cerebellum/enzymology , Cerebellum/growth & development , Cerebellum/pathology , Dendrites/enzymology , Dendrites/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Mice, Transgenic , Motor Activity/physiology , Mutation , Protein Kinase C/genetics , Rotarod Performance Test , Spinocerebellar Ataxias , Tissue Culture Techniques
18.
Biochem J ; 455(1): 57-65, 2013 Oct 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23800229

ABSTRACT

Mitochondrial iron uptake is of key importance both for organelle function and cellular iron homoeostasis. The mitochondrial carrier family members Mrs3 and Mrs4 (homologues of vertebrate mitoferrin) function in organellar iron supply, yet other low efficiency transporters may exist. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, overexpression of RIM2 (MRS12) encoding a mitochondrial pyrimidine nucleotide transporter can overcome the iron-related phenotypes of strains lacking both MRS3 and MRS4. In the present study we show by in vitro transport studies that Rim2 mediates the transport of iron and other divalent metal ions across the mitochondrial inner membrane in a pyrimidine nucleotide-dependent fashion. Mutations in the proposed substrate-binding site of Rim2 prevent both pyrimidine nucleotide and divalent ion transport. These results document that Rim2 catalyses the co-import of pyrimidine nucleotides and divalent metal ions including ferrous iron. The deletion of RIM2 alone has no significant effect on mitochondrial iron supply, Fe-S protein maturation and haem synthesis. However, RIM2 deletion in mrs3/4Δ cells aggravates their Fe-S protein maturation defect. We conclude that under normal physiological conditions Rim2 does not play a significant role in mitochondrial iron acquisition, yet, in the absence of the main iron transporters Mrs3 and Mrs4, this carrier can supply the mitochondrial matrix with iron in a pyrimidine-nucleotide-dependent fashion.


Subject(s)
Iron/metabolism , Mitochondria/metabolism , Mitochondrial Membranes/metabolism , Nucleotide Transport Proteins/metabolism , Pyrimidine Nucleotides/metabolism , Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/metabolism , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism , Binding Sites , Biological Transport , Cation Transport Proteins/deficiency , Cation Transport Proteins/genetics , Cations, Divalent , Heme/biosynthesis , Mitochondria/genetics , Mitochondrial Proteins/deficiency , Mitochondrial Proteins/genetics , Mutation , Nucleotide Transport Proteins/genetics , Oxidation-Reduction , Protein Binding , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics , Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/genetics
19.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 107(37): 16228-33, 2010 Sep 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20805506

ABSTRACT

Aberrant anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) expression is a defining feature of many human cancers and was identified first in anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), an aggressive non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma. Since that time, many studies have set out to identify the mechanisms used by aberrant ALK toward tumorigenesis. We have identified a distinct profile of micro-RNAs (miRNAs) that characterize ALCL; furthermore, this profile distinguishes ALK(+) from ALK(-) subtypes, and thus points toward potential mechanisms of tumorigenesis induced by aberrant ALK. Using a nucleophosmin-ALK transgenic mouse model as well as human primary ALCL tumor tissues and human ALCL-derived cell lines, we reveal a set of overlapping deregulated miRNAs that might be implicated in the development and progression of ALCL. Importantly, ALK(+) and ALK(-) ALCL could be distinguished by a distinct profile of "oncomirs": Five members of the miR-17-92 cluster were expressed more highly in ALK(+) ALCL, whereas miR-155 was expressed more than 10-fold higher in ALK(-) ALCL. Moreover, miR-101 was down-regulated in all ALCL model systems, but its forced expression attenuated cell proliferation only in ALK(+) and not in ALK(-) cell lines, perhaps suggesting different modes of ALK-dependent regulation of its target proteins. Furthermore, inhibition of mTOR, which is targeted by miR-101, led to reduced tumor growth in engrafted ALCL mouse models. In addition to future therapeutical and diagnostic applications, it will be of interest to study the physiological implications and prognostic value of the identified miRNA profiles.


Subject(s)
Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic/enzymology , Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic/genetics , MicroRNAs/genetics , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism , Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Base Sequence , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic/drug therapy , Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic/pathology , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Multigene Family , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases , Sirolimus/analogs & derivatives , Sirolimus/therapeutic use , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
20.
Eur Urol Focus ; 2023 Dec 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38161107

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There are limited data on real-world outcomes for patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) since immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) became available. Our objective was to analyze outcomes for patients with mUC since ICIs became available. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 131 patients with mUC attending the outpatient clinic of a single tertiary care center who received systemic therapy between June 2017 and July 2021 with follow-up up to December 2022. Summary and descriptive statistics were calculated for categorical and continuous variables. The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to calculate survival, and a Cox proportional-hazards model was used to explore associations between clinical variables and outcomes. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: The median patient age was 68 yr (range 35-90). The first systemic therapy administered was platinum-based in 79% of cases and ICI-based in 21%. Some 61% of the cohort received a second systemic treatment, with 75% of these an ICI. Median overall survival for the entire cohort was 24 mo (interquartile range 9-35). Patients on ICI therapy for ≥6 mo had median overall survival of 59 mo (95% confidence interval 39 mo-not reached). Metastatic sites on initiation of ICI therapy and C-reactive protein kinetics were prognostic in patients receiving ICIs. Limitations include the retrospective design and inherent selection bias. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: More than 60% of patients with mUC received second-line treatment, and 75% of these received an ICI. Patients staying on immunotherapy for more than 6 mo have substantially better outcomes in comparison to patients with less time on immunotherapy and historical cohorts. PATIENT SUMMARY: We looked at the lines of therapy and outcomes for patients with advanced or metastatic cancer of the urinary tract, starting from when immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) became available. We found that 60% of patients have received second-line therapy, which is a double the rate in comparison to historical groups of patients. Patients with long-term ICI therapy (>6 months) had significantly better outcomes, with a median survival of more than 3 years.

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