DNA FISH Diagnostic Assay on Cytological Samples of Thyroid Follicular Neoplasms.

Although fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is helpful in determining whether thyroid nodules are benign or malignant, this distinction remains a cytological challenge in follicular neoplasms. Identification of genomic alterations in cytological specimens with direct and routine techniques would therefore have great clinical value. A series of 153 cases consisting of 72 and 81 histopathologically confirmed classic follicular adenomas (cFAs) and classic follicular thyroid carcinomas (cFTCs), respectively, was studied by means of different molecular techniques in three different cohorts of patients (pts). In the first cohort (training set) of 66 pts, three specific alterations characterized by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) were exclusively found in half of cFTCs. These structural abnormalities corresponded to losses of 1p36.33-35.1 and 22q13.2-13.31, and gain of whole chromosome X. The second independent cohort (validation set) of 60 pts confirmed these data on touch preparations of frozen follicular neoplasms by triple DNA fluorescent in situ hybridization using selected commercially available probes. The third cohort, consisting of 27 archived cytological samples from an equal number of pts that had been obtained for preoperative FNAC and morphologically classified as and histologically verified to be follicular neoplasms, confirmed our previous findings and showed the feasibility of the DNA FISH (DNA fluorescent in situ hybridization) assay. All together, these data suggest that our triple DNA FISH diagnostic assay may detect 50% of cFTCs with a specificity higher than 98% and be useful as a low-cost adjunct to cytomorphology to help further classify follicular neoplasms on already routinely stained cytological specimens.

Feasibility and first reports of the MATCH-R repeated biopsy trial at Gustave Roussy.

Unravelling the biological processes driving tumour resistance is necessary to support the development of innovative treatment strategies. We report the design and feasibility of the MATCH-R prospective trial led by Gustave Roussy with the primary objective of characterizing the molecular mechanisms of resistance to cancer treatments. The primary clinical endpoints consist of analyzing the type and frequency of molecular alterations in resistant tumours and compare these to samples prior to treatment. Patients experiencing disease progression after an initial partial response or stable disease for at least 24 weeks underwent a tumour biopsy guided by CT or ultrasound. Molecular profiling of tumours was performed using whole exome sequencing, RNA sequencing and panel sequencing. At data cut-off for feasibility analysis, out of 333 inclusions, tumour biopsies were obtained in 303 cases (91%). From these biopsies, 278 (83%) had sufficient quality for analysis by high-throughput next generation sequencing (NGS). All 278 samples underwent targeted NGS, 215 (70.9%) RNA sequencing and 222 (73.2%) whole exome sequencing. In total, 163 tumours were implanted in NOD scid gamma (NSG) or nude mice and 54 patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were established, with a success rate of 33%. Adverse events secondary to invasive tumour sampling occurred in 24 patients (7.6%). Study recruitment is still ongoing. Systematic molecular profiling of tumours and the development of patient-derived models of acquired resistance to targeted agents and immunotherapy is feasible and can drive the selection of the next therapeutic strategy.

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Hypercalcemic Type (SCCOHT) beyond SMARCA4 Mutations: A Comprehensive Genomic Analysis.

Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) is an aggressive malignancy that occurs in young women, is characterized by recurrent loss-of-function mutations in the SMARCA4 gene, and for which effective treatments options are lacking. The aim of this study was to broaden the knowledge on this rare malignancy by reporting a comprehensive molecular analysis of an independent cohort of SCCOHT cases. We conducted Whole Exome Sequencing in six SCCOHT, and RNA-sequencing and array comparative genomic hybridization in eight SCCOHT. Additional immunohistochemical, Sanger sequencing and functional data are also provided. SCCOHTs showed remarkable genomic stability, with diploid profiles and low mutation load (mean, 5.43 mutations/Mb), including in the three chemotherapy-exposed tumors. All but one SCCOHT cases exhibited 19p13.2-3 copy-neutral LOH. SMARCA4 deleterious mutations were recurrent and accompanied by loss of expression of the SMARCA2 paralog. Variants in a few other genes located in 19p13.2-3 (e.g., PLK5) were detected. Putative therapeutic targets, including MAGEA4, AURKB and CLDN6, were found to be overexpressed in SCCOHT by RNA-seq as compared to benign ovarian tissue. Lastly, we provide additional evidence for sensitivity of SCCOHT to HDAC, DNMT and EZH2 inhibitors. Despite their aggressive clinical course, SCCOHT show remarkable inter-tumor homogeneity and display genomic stability, low mutation burden and few somatic copy number alterations. These findings and preliminary functional data support further exploration of epigenetic therapies in this lethal disease.

Association between FGFR1 copy numbers, MAP3K1 mutations, and survival in axillary node-positive, hormone receptor-positive, and HER2-negative early breast cancer in the PACS04 and METABRIC studies.

PURPOSE: Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) early breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent BC subtype with substantial biological heterogeneity. Although clinicopathological (CP) characteristics have a clear prognostic value, additional biomarkers could refine survival prediction and guide treatment decision. METHODS: Copy number aberrations and somatic driver mutations were obtained with OncoScan CGH array and sequencing of 36 genes on HR+/HER2- node-positive early BC patients treated with chemotherapy from the PACS04 trial. We built a two-gene genomic score (GS) associated with distant disease-free survival (DDFS), whose prognostic value was assessed on the external METABRIC data (n = 1413) using overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS). RESULTS: In the PACS04 trial (n = 327), the median follow-up for DDFS (65 events) was 9.6 years. FGFR1 amplifications ([Formula: see text] = 2.44, 95% CI [1.25; 4.76], p = 0.009) and MAP3K1 mutations ([Formula: see text] = 0.10, [0.01; 0.78], p = 0.03) were associated with DDFS beyond CP characteristics. A prognostic GS combining FGFR1 amplifications and MAP3K1 mutations added more information to CP model ([Formula: see text] = 12.97, [Formula: see text] < 0.001 and [Formula: see text] = 11.52, [Formula: see text] < 0.001). In the METABRIC study (n = 1413), FGFR1 amplifications ([Formula: see text] = 2.00 [1.40; 2.87], p < 0.001) and MAP3K1 mutations ([Formula: see text] = 0.58 [0.41; 0.83], p = 0.003) were significantly associated with BCSS beyond CP characteristics. The prognostic GS added significant prognostic information to CP model ([Formula: see text] = 15.39, [Formula: see text] < 0.001 and [Formula: see text] = 5.62, [Formula: see text] = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In axillary node-positive, HR+, and HER2- early BC, amplifications of FGFR1 gene were strongly associated with increased risk for distant disease, while mutations of MAP3K1 gene were significantly associated with decreased risk.

Diverse Resistance Mechanisms to the Third-Generation ALK Inhibitor Lorlatinib in ALK-Rearranged Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE: Lorlatinib is a third-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitor with proven efficacy in patients with ALK-rearranged lung cancer previously treated with first- and second-generation ALK inhibitors. Beside compound mutations in the ALK kinase domain, other resistance mechanisms driving lorlatinib resistance remain unknown. We aimed to characterize the mechanisms of resistance to lorlatinib occurring in patients with ALK-rearranged lung cancer and design new therapeutic strategies in this setting. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Resistance mechanisms were investigated in 5 patients resistant to lorlatinib. Longitudinal tumor biopsies were studied using high-throughput next-generation sequencing. Patient-derived models were developed to characterize the acquired resistance mechanisms, and Ba/F3 cell mutants were generated to study the effect of novel ALK compound mutations. Drug combinatory strategies were evaluated in vitro and in vivo to overcome lorlatinib resistance. RESULTS: Diverse biological mechanisms leading to lorlatinib resistance were identified. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediated resistance in two patient-derived cell lines and was susceptible to dual SRC and ALK inhibition. We characterized three ALK kinase domain compound mutations occurring in patients, L1196M/D1203N, F1174L/G1202R, and C1156Y/G1269A, with differential susceptibility to ALK inhibition by lorlatinib. We identified a novel bypass mechanism of resistance caused by NF2 loss-of-function mutations, conferring sensitivity to treatment with mTOR inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that mechanisms of resistance to lorlatinib are diverse and complex, requiring new therapeutic strategies to tailor treatment upon disease progression.

Added Value of Whole-Exome and Transcriptome Sequencing for Clinical Molecular Screenings of Advanced Cancer Patients With Solid Tumors.

Comprehensive genomic profiling using high-throughput sequencing brings a wealth of information, and its place in the clinical setting has been increasingly prominent. This review emphasizes the utility of whole-exome sequencing (WES) and transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq) in patient care and clinical research, based on published reports as well as our experience with the MOSCATO-01 (MOlecular Screening for CAncer Treatment Optimization) molecular triage trial at Gustave Roussy Cancer Center. In this trial, all contributive samples of patients with advanced solid tumors were analyzed prospectively with targeted gene sequencing (TGS) and comparative genomic hybridization. In addition, 92 consecutive metastatic patients with contributive biopsies were sequenced for WES and RNAseq and compared with TGS and comparative genomic hybridization. Whole-exome sequencing allowed the reporting of additional variants in relevant genes in 38% of patients. Mutation detection sensitivity of WES was 95% compared with TGS. Additional information derived from WES and RNAseq could influence clinical decision, including fusion transcripts, expression levels, allele-specific expression, alternate transcripts, RNA-based pathogen diagnostic, tumor mutation load, mutational signatures, expression signatures, HLA genotyping, and neoepitope prediction. The current challenge is to be able to process the large-scale data from these comprehensive genome-wide technologies in an efficient way.

High-Throughput Genomics and Clinical Outcome in Hard-to-Treat Advanced Cancers: Results of the MOSCATO 01 Trial.

High-throughput genomic analyses may improve outcomes in patients with advanced cancers. MOSCATO 01 is a prospective clinical trial evaluating the clinical benefit of this approach. Nucleic acids were extracted from fresh-frozen tumor biopsies and analyzed by array comparative genomic hybridization, next-generation sequencing, and RNA sequencing. The primary objective was to evaluate clinical benefit as measured by the percentage of patients presenting progression-free survival (PFS) on matched therapy (PFS2) 1.3-fold longer than the PFS on prior therapy (PFS1). A total of 1,035 adult patients were included, and a biopsy was performed in 948. An actionable molecular alteration was identified in 411 of 843 patients with a molecular portrait. A total of 199 patients were treated with a targeted therapy matched to a genomic alteration. The PFS2/PFS1 ratio was >1.3 in 33% of the patients (63/193). Objective responses were observed in 22 of 194 patients (11%; 95% CI, 7%-17%), and median overall survival was 11.9 months (95% CI, 9.5-14.3 months).Significance: This study suggests that high-throughput genomics could improve outcomes in a subset of patients with hard-to-treat cancers. Although these results are encouraging, only 7% of the successfully screened patients benefited from this approach. Randomized trials are needed to validate this hypothesis and to quantify the magnitude of benefit. Expanding drug access could increase the percentage of patients who benefit. Cancer Discov; 7(6); 586-95. ©2017 AACR.See related commentary by Schram and Hyman, p. 552This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 539.

Correction of the FSHD myoblast differentiation defect by fusion with healthy myoblasts.

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is a neuromuscular disease with a prevalence that could reach 1 in 8,000 characterized by progressive asymmetric muscle weakness. Myoblasts isolated from FSHD muscles exhibit morphological differentiation defects and show a distinct transcription profile. These abnormalities may be linked to the muscle weakness in FSHD patients. We have tested whether fusion of FSHD myoblasts with primary myoblasts isolated from healthy individuals could correct the differentiation defects. Our results show that the number of hybrid myotubes with normal phenotype increased with the percentage of normal myoblasts initially cultured. We demonstrated that a minimum of 50% of normal nuclei is required for a phenotypic correction of the FSHD phenotype. Moreover, transcriptomic profiles of phenotypically corrected hybrid myotubes showed that the expression of deregulated genes in FSHD myotubes became almost normal. The number of deregulated pathways also decreased from 39 in FSHD myotubes to one in hybrid myotubes formed with 40% FSHD and 60% normal myoblasts. We thus propose that while phenotypical and functional correction of FSHD is feasible, it requires more than 50% of normal myoblasts, it creates limitations for cell therapy in the FSHD context.

Preclinical evaluation of dasatinib alone and in combination with cabozantinib for the treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-derived growth factor receptor A is altered by amplification and/or mutation in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). We explored in vitro on new DIPG models the efficacy of dasatinib, a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting this receptor. METHODS: Gene expression profiles were generated from 41 DIPGs biopsied at diagnosis and compared with the signature associated with sensitivity/resistance to dasatinib. A panel of 12 new DIPG cell lines were established from biopsy at diagnosis, serially passaged, and characterized by gene expression analyses. Effects of dasatinib (1-10 µM) on proliferation, invasion, and cytotoxicity were determined on 4 of these cell lines using live-cell imaging and flow cytometry assays. Downstream signaling and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) were assessed by western blot and phospho-RTK array. The effect of the combination with the c-Met inhibitor cabozantinib was studied on cellular growth and invasion analyzed by the Chou-Talaly method. RESULTS: DIPG primary tumors and cell lines exhibited the gene expression signature of sensitivity to dasatinib. Dasatinib reduced proliferation (half-maximal inhibitory concentration = 10-100 nM) and invasion (30%-60% reduction) at 100 nM in 4/4 cultures and induced apoptosis in 1 of 4 DIPG cell lines. Activity of downstream effectors of dasatinib targets including activin receptor 1 was strongly reduced. Since multiple RTKs were activated simultaneously in DIPG cell lines, including c-Met, which can be also amplified in DIPG, the benefit of the combination of dasatinib with cabozantinib was explored for its synergistic effects on proliferation and migration/invasion in these cell lines. CONCLUSION: Dasatinib exhibits antitumor effects in vitro that could be increased by the combination with another RTK inhibitor targeting c-Met.

ITPR1 protects renal cancer cells against natural killer cells by inducing autophagy.

Clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCC) frequently display inactivation of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene leading to increased level of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF). In this study, we investigated the potential role of HIF2α in regulating RCC susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated killing. We demonstrated that the RCC cell line 786-0 with mutated VHL was resistant to NK-mediated lysis as compared with the VHL-corrected cell line (WT7). This resistance was found to require HIF2α stabilization. On the basis of global gene expression profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we found ITPR1 (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor, type 1) as a direct novel target of HIF2α and that targeting ITPR1 significantly increased susceptibility of 786-0 cells to NK-mediated lysis. Mechanistically, HIF2α in 786-0 cells lead to overexpression of ITPR1, which subsequently regulated the NK-mediated killing through the activation of autophagy in target cells by NK-derived signal. Interestingly, both ITPR1 and Beclin-1 silencing in 786-0 cells inhibited NK-induced autophagy and subsequently increased granzyme B activity in target cells. Finally, in vivo ITPR1 targeting significantly enhanced the NK-mediated tumor regression. Our data provide insight into the link between HIF2α, the ITPR1-related pathway, and natural immunity and strongly suggest a role for the HIF2α/ITPR1 axis in regulating RCC cell survival.

Gene copy number variations in breast cancer of Sub-Saharan African women.

The goal of this study was CGH array profiling of breast cancer from Malian women in order to define differences with those from USA. CGH array was performed in 28 samples, 17 with a triple negative phenotype. The profiles were compared to those of 106 tumors from USA. 6 chromosomal regions (6p21, 9q34, 11q13, 12q24, 17q25 and 22q12.1-22q13.1) were identified with a significant higher rate of copy number alterations. These regions contain several genes of interest including BCR. FISH and IHC confirmed that BCR was amplified and overexpressed particularly in triple negative tumors. Finally, 5 regions presented a high level of amplification in two or more samples, including 2 regions located between 9p22.3-9p23 and 9p23-9p24.1. This study confirms that breast cancers from African women present biological differences with those from USA. Larger studies are needed to go further in the identification of therapeutic targets that would be specific to African women.

Mesenchymal transition and PDGFRA amplification/mutation are key distinct oncogenic events in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is one of the most frequent malignant pediatric brain tumor and its prognosis is universaly fatal. No significant improvement has been made in last thirty years over the standard treatment with radiotherapy. To address the paucity of understanding of DIPGs, we have carried out integrated molecular profiling of a large series of samples obtained with stereotactic biopsy at diagnosis. While chromosomal imbalances did not distinguish DIPG and supratentorial tumors on CGHarrays, gene expression profiling revealed clear differences between them, with brainstem gliomas resembling midline/thalamic tumours, indicating a closely-related origin. Two distinct subgroups of DIPG were identified. The first subgroup displayed mesenchymal and pro-angiogenic characteristics, with stem cell markers enrichment consistent with the possibility to grow tumor stem cells from these biopsies. The other subgroup displayed oligodendroglial features, and appeared largely driven by PDGFRA, in particular through amplification and/or novel missense mutations in the extracellular domain. Patients in this later group had a significantly worse outcome with an hazard ratio for early deaths, ie before 10 months, 8 fold greater that the ones in the other subgroup (p = 0.041, Cox regression model). The worse outcome of patients with the oligodendroglial type of tumors was confirmed on a series of 55 paraffin-embedded biopsy samples at diagnosis (median OS of 7.73 versus 12.37 months, p = 0.045, log-rank test). Two distinct transcriptional subclasses of DIPG with specific genomic alterations can be defined at diagnosis by oligodendroglial differentiation or mesenchymal transition, respectively. Classifying these tumors by signal transduction pathway activation and by mutation in pathway member genes may be particularily valuable for the development of targeted therapies.

hSMG-1 is a granzyme B-associated stress-responsive protein kinase.

Granzyme B plays a key role in cell-mediated programmed cell death. We previously demonstrated that p53 is a functional determinant in the granzyme B-induced cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response. However, the pathways leading to activation of p53 by granzyme B remain incompletely understood. We now demonstrate that granzyme B-induced DNA damage signaling as revealed by histone H2AX phosphorylation and subsequent activation of the stress kinase CHK2. Confocal microscopy analysis indicates that granzyme B treatment of tumor cells induced an early translocation of endonuclease caspase-activated DNase. DNA microarray-based global transcriptional profiling and RT-PCR indeed revealed genes related to DNA damage. Among these genes, hSMG-1, a genotoxic stress-activated protein, was constantly upregulated in tumor cells following granzyme B treatment. Knockdown of the hSMG-1 gene in T1 tumor target cell line resulted in a significant inhibition of granzyme B- and CTL-induced killing. Our data suggest that granzyme B may exert cell death through DNA damage signaling and uncover a novel molecular link between the DNA damage pathway and granzyme B-induced cell death.

Chromosomal minimal critical regions in therapy-related leukemia appear different from those of de novo leukemia by high-resolution aCGH.

Therapy-related acute leukemia (t-AML), is a severe complication of cytotoxic therapy used for primary cancer treatment. The outcome of these patients is poor, compared to people who develop de novo acute leukemia (p-AML). Cytogenetic abnormalities in t-AML are similar to those found in p-AML but present more frequent unfavorable karyotypes depending on the inducting agent. Losses of chromosome 5 or 7 are observed after alkylating agents while balanced translocations are found after topoisomerase II inhibitors. This study compared t-AML to p-AML using high resolution array CGH in order to find copy number abnormalities (CNA) at a higher resolution than conventional cytogenetics. More CNAs were observed in 30 t-AML than in 36 p-AML: 104 CNAs were observed with 63 losses and 41 gains (mean number 3.46 per case) in t-AML, while in p-AML, 69 CNAs were observed with 32 losses and 37 gains (mean number of 1.9 per case). In primary leukemia with a previously "normal" karyotype, 18% exhibited a previously undetected CNA, whereas in the (few) t-AML with a normal karyotype, the rate was 50%. Several minimal critical regions (MCRs) were found in t-AML and p-AML. No common MCRs were found in the two groups. In t-AML a 40 kb deleted MCR pointed to RUNX1 on 21q22, a gene coding for a transcription factor implicated in frequent rearrangements in leukemia and in familial thrombocytopenia. In de novo AML, a 1 Mb MCR harboring ERG and ETS2 was observed from patients with complex aCGH profiles. High resolution cytogenomics obtained by aCGH and similar techniques already published allowed us to characterize numerous non random chromosome abnormalities. This work supports the hypothesis that they can be classified into several categories: abnormalities common to all AML; those more frequently found in t-AML and those specifically found in p-AML.

High resolution genome-wide analysis of chromosomal alterations in Burkitt's lymphoma.

Additional chromosomal abnormalities are currently detected in Burkitt's lymphoma. They play major roles in the progression of BL and in prognosis. The genes involved remain elusive. A whole-genome oligonucleotide array CGH analysis correlated with karyotype and FISH was performed in a set of 27 Burkitt's lymphoma-derived cell lines and primary tumors. More than half of the 145 CNAs<2 Mb were mapped to Mendelian CNVs, including GSTT1, glutathione s-transferase and BIRC6, an anti-apoptotic protein, possibly predisposing to some cancers. Somatic cell line-specific CNVs localized to the IG locus were consistently observed with the 244 K aCGH platform. Among 136 CNAs >2 Mb, gains were found in 1q (12/27), 13q (7/27), 7q (6/27), 8q(4/27), 2p (3/27), 11q (2/27) and 15q (2/27). Losses were found in 3p (5/27), 4p (4/27), 4q (4/27), 9p (4/27), 13q (4/27), 6p (3/27), 17p (3/27), 6q (2/27),11pterp13 (2/27) and 14q12q21.3 (2/27). Twenty one minimal critical regions (MCR), (range 0.04-71.36 Mb), were delineated in tumors and cell lines. Three MCRs were localized to 1q. The proximal one was mapped to 1q21.1q25.2 with a 6.3 Mb amplicon (1q21.1q21.3) harboring BCA2 and PIAS3. In the other 2 MCRs, 1q32.1 and 1q44, MDM4 and AKT3 appeared as possible drivers of these gains respectively. The 13q31.3q32.1 <89.58-96.81> MCR contained an amplicon and ABCC4 might be the driver of this amplicon. The 40 Kb 2p16.1 <60.96-61> MCR was the smallest gained MCR and specifically encompassed the REL oncogene which is already implicated in B cell lymphomas. The most frequently deleted MCR was 3p14.1 <60.43-60.53> that removed the fifth exon of FHIT. Further investigations which combined gene expression and functional studies are essential to understand the lymphomagenesis mechanism and for the development of more effective, targeted therapeutic strategies.

The cooperative induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha and STAT3 during hypoxia induced an impairment of tumor susceptibility to CTL-mediated cell lysis.

Hypoxia is an essential component of tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the influence of hypoxia (1% PO(2)) on CTL-mediated tumor cell lysis. We demonstrate that exposure of target tumor cells to hypoxia has an inhibitory effect on the CTL clone (Heu171)-induced autologous target cell lysis. Such inhibition correlates with hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) induction but is not associated with an alteration of CTL reactivity as revealed by granzyme B polarization or morphological change. Western blot analysis indicates that although hypoxia had no effect on p53 accumulation, it induced the phosphorylation of STAT3 in tumor cells by a mechanism at least in part involving vascular endothelial growth factor secretion. We additionally show that a simultaneous nuclear translocation of HIF-1alpha and phospho-STAT3 was observed. Interestingly, gene silencing of STAT3 by small interfering RNA resulted in HIF-1alpha inhibition and a significant restoration of target cell susceptibility to CTL-induced killing under hypoxic conditions by a mechanism involving at least in part down-regulation of AKT phosphorylation. Moreover, knockdown of HIF-1alpha resulted in the restoration of target cell lysis under hypoxic conditions. This was further supported by DNA microarray analysis where STAT3 inhibition resulted in a partly reversal of the hypoxia-induced gene expression profile. The present study demonstrates that the concomitant hypoxic induction of phospho-STAT3 and HIF-1alpha are functionally linked to the alteration of non-small cell lung carcinoma target susceptibility to CTL-mediated killing. Considering the eminent functions of STAT3 and HIF-1alpha in the tumor microenvironment, their targeting may represent novel strategies for immunotherapeutic intervention.

Molecular characterization of breast cancer with high-resolution oligonucleotide comparative genomic hybridization array.

PURPOSE: We used high-resolution oligonucleotide comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) arrays and matching gene expression array data to identify dysregulated genes and to classify breast cancers according to gene copy number anomalies. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: DNA was extracted from 106 pretreatment fine needle aspirations of stage II-III breast cancers that received preoperative chemotherapy. CGH was done using Agilent Human 4 x 44K arrays. Gene expression data generated with Affymetrix U133A gene chips was also available on 103 patients. All P values were adjusted for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: The average number of copy number abnormalities in individual tumors was 76 (range 1-318). Eleven and 37 distinct minimal common regions were gained or lost in >20% of samples, respectively. Several potential therapeutic targets were identified, including FGFR1 that showed high-level amplification in 10% of cases. Close correlation between DNA copy number and mRNA expression levels was detected. Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering of DNA copy number aberrations revealed three distinct molecular classes in this data set. NMF class I was characterized by a high rate of triple-negative cancers (64%) and gains of 6p21. VEGFA, E2F3, and NOTCH4 were also gained in 29% to 34% of triple-negative tumors. A gain of ERBB2 gene was observed in 52% of NMF class II and class III was characterized by a high rate of estrogen receptor-positive tumors (73%) and a low rate of pathologic complete response to preoperative chemotherapy (3%). CONCLUSION: The present study identified dysregulated genes that could classify breast cancer and may represent novel therapeutic targets for molecular subsets of cancers.

Potentiation of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in human lung adenocarcinoma: role of NKG2D-dependent pathway.

Natural cytotoxicity receptors and NKG2D correspond to major activating receptors involved in triggering of tumor cell lysis by human NK cells. In this report, we investigated the expression of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs), MHC class I-related chain (MIC) A, MICB and UL16-binding proteins 1, 2 and 3, on a panel of human non-small-cell lung carcinoma cell lines, and we analyzed their role in tumor cell susceptibility to NK cell lysis. Although adenocarcinoma (ADC) cells expressed heterogeneous levels of NKG2DLs, they were often resistant to NK cell-mediated killing. Resistance of a selected cell line, ADC-Coco, to allogeneic polyclonal NK cells and autologous NK cell clones correlated with shedding of NKG2DLs resulting from a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production. Treatment of ADC-Coco cells with a MMP inhibitor (MMPI) combined with IL-15 stimulation of autologous NK cell clones lead to a potentiation of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This lysis is mainly NKG2D mediated, since it is abrogated by anti-NKG2D-neutralizing mAb. These results suggest that MMPIs, in combination with IL-15, may be useful for overcoming tumor cell escape from the innate immune response.

Granzyme B-induced cell death involves induction of p53 tumor suppressor gene and its activation in tumor target cells.

In this study we investigated the involvement of p53 in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL)-induced tumor target cell killing mediated by the perforin/granzymes pathway. For this purpose we used a human CTL clone (LT12) that kills its autologous melanoma target cells (T1), harboring a wild type p53. We demonstrated initially that LT12 kills its T1 target in a perforin/granzymes-dependent manner. Confocal microscopy and Western blot analysis indicated that conjugate formed between LT12 and T1 resulted in rapid cytoplasmic accumulation of p53 and its activation in T1 target cells. Cytotoxic assay using recombinant granzyme B (GrB) showed that this serine protease is the predominant factor inducing such accumulation. Furthermore, RNA interference-mediated lowering of the p53 protein in T1 cells or pifithrin-alpha-induced p53-specific inhibition activity significantly decreased CTL-induced target killing mediated by CTL or recombinant GrB. This emphasizes that p53 is an important determinant in granzyme B-induced apoptosis. Our data show furthermore that when T1 cells were treated with streptolysin-O/granzyme B, specific phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15 and Ser-37 residues was observed subsequent to the activation of the stress kinases ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and p38K. Treatment of T1 cells with pifithrin-alpha resulted in inhibition of p53 phosphorylation at these residues and in a significant decrease in GrB-induced apoptotic T1 cell death. Furthermore, small interference RNAs targeting p53 was also accompanied by an inhibition of streptolysin-O/granzyme B-induced apoptotic T1 cell death. The present study supports p53 induction after CTL-induced stress in target cells. These findings provide new insight into a potential role of p53 as a component involved in the dynamic regulation of the major pathway of CTL-mediated cell death and may have therapeutic implications.