Diagnostic Utility of Genetic and Immunohistochemical H3-3A Mutation Analysis in Giant Cell Tumour of Bone.

To validate the reliability and implementation of an objective diagnostic method for giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB). H3-3A gene mutation testing was performed using two different methods, Sanger sequencing and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays. A total of 214 patients, including 120 with GCTB and 94 with other giant cell-rich bone lesions, participated in the study. Sanger sequencing and IHC with anti-histone H3.3 G34W and G34V antibodies were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, which were previously decalcified in EDTA if needed. The sensitivity and specificity of the molecular method was 100% (95% CI: 96.97-100%) and 100% (95% CI: 96.15-100%), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of IHC was 94.32% (95% CI: 87.24-98.13%) and 100% (95% CI: 93.94-100.0%), respectively. P.G35 mutations were discovered in 2/9 (22.2%) secondary malignant GCTBs and 9/13 (69.2%) GCTB after denosumab treatment. We confirmed in a large series of patients that evaluation of H3-3A mutational status using direct sequencing is a reliable tool for diagnosing GCTB, and it should be incorporated into the diagnostic algorithm. Additionally, we discovered IHC can be used as a screening tool. Proper tissue processing and decalcification are necessary. The presence of the H3-3A mutation did not exclude malignant GCTB. Denosumab did not eradicate the neoplastic cell population of GCTB.

Various forms of HIF-1α protein characterize the clear cell renal cell carcinoma cell lines.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents around 2-3% of all malignancies diagnosed in adult patients. Most frequent (around 70-80% cases) and the most aggressive subtype is clear cell RCC (ccRCC). Mutations in VHL (von Hippel Lindau) gene, characteristic for this cancer type, lead to altered activity of the trimeric VBC (pVHL-elongin B-C) complex and consequently to HIF-1α stabilization. In this study, we present results of exhaustive investigation of HIF-1α alternative transcript variants abundance in A498, CAKI-1, and 786-O ccRCC cell lines. We proved the existence of truncated HIF-1α protein form (HIF1A∆-6) in A498 and HIF1A gene rearrangements in 786-O cell lines. Subsequently, we found that HIF1A∆2-6 was more stable than the full-length HIF-1α. Moreover, the shorter HIF-1α was insensitive for hypoxia and was overaccumulated after proteasome inhibitor treatment indicative of potential diversified roles of full-length and truncated HIF-1α forms in the cell. We also showed that A498, CAKI-1, and 786-O exhibit differential expression of various regulatory genes involved in the control of metabolic processes, that is, glucose and lipid metabolism, and encoding subunits of such machineries like SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. Furthermore, these cell lines exhibited differential responses to axitinib, everolimus, and sunitinib-anticancer drugs-in normoxia and hypoxia as well as various alterations in metabolism-related regulatory processes. Finally, we have shown that overexpression of truncated HIF1A∆2-6 form may affect the protein level of endogenous full-length HIF-1α protein. Thus, our study proves an important role of HIF-1α in the ccRCC development.

Lack of microsatellite instability in squamous cell vulvar carcinoma.

Mutator phenotypes with microsatellite instability (MSI) are observed in a subset of solid tumors. The objective of our study was to investigate the occurrence of MSI in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) and a possible relation between MSI and the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV). DNA samples from 44 tissue specimens of the primary VSCC as well as from six metastatic lymph node samples were analysed and compared with matched reference DNA from blood samples. The MSI status was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the Bethesda panel of five microsatellite markers. PCR products were analysed by fluorescent capillary electrophoresis. No microsatellite instability was detected in tumor samples or in metastatic lymph nodes from any of the VSCC patients examined. Microsatellite instability seems not to play a major role in the carcinogenesis of VSCC and is probably not associated with the HPV-related genetic background of this neoplasm.

RRM2 gene expression depends on BAF180 subunit of SWISNF chromatin remodeling complex and correlates with abundance of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in ccRCC.

About 40% of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cases carry the pbrm1 mutation inactivating BAF180 subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex (CRC). Here we show that the majority of transcriptomic changes appear at the stage I of ccRCC development. By contrast, the stage II ccRCC exhibits hyperactivation of DNA replication demonstrated by the overexpression of several genes, e.g., RRM1 and RRM2 genes encoding subunits of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) complex. We found that the degree of RRM1 and RRM2 upregulation in ccRCC patients depends on pbrm1 mutation. We show that the BAF180 protein product of the PBRM1 gene directly binds to RRM1 and RRM2 loci. The BAF180 binding regions are targeted by regulatory proteins previously reported as SWI/SNF CRC interacting partners. BAF180 binding to RRMs loci correlates with enrichment of H3K27me3 in case of RRM1 and H3K14Ac on RRM2, indicating the existence of differential regulatory mechanism controlling expression of these genes. We found that the strong overexpression of RRM2 in ccRCC patient samples correlates with T cell infiltration. Surprisingly, the majority of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) consisted of CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, we show that exhausted CD4+ T cells induced the expression of the RRM2 gene in the primary ccRCC cell line. Collectively, our results provide the link between PBRM1 loss, RRM2 expression and T cell infiltration, which may lead to the establishment of new treatment of this disease.

HAX1 impact on collective cell migration, cell adhesion, and cell shape is linked to the regulation of actomyosin contractility.

HAX1 protein is involved in the regulation of apoptosis, cell motility and calcium homeostasis. Its overexpression was reported in several tumors, including breast cancer. This study demonstrates that HAX1 has an impact on collective, but not single-cell migration, thus indicating the importance of cell-cell contacts for the HAX1-mediated effect. Accordingly, it was shown that HAX1 knockdown affects cell-cell junctions, substrate adhesion, and epithelial cell layer integrity. As demonstrated here, these effects can be attributed to the modulation of actomyosin contractility through changes in RhoA and septin signaling. Additionally, it was shown that HAX1 does not influence invasive potential in the breast cancer cell line, suggesting that its role in breast cancer progression may be linked instead to collective invasion of the epithelial cells but not single-cell dissemination.

Clinical importance of the EMSY gene expression and polymorphisms in ovarian cancer.

EMSY, a BRCA2-associated protein, is amplified and overexpressed in various sporadic cancers. This is the first study assessing the clinical impact of its expression and polymorphisms on ovarian cancer (OvCa) outcome in the context of the chemotherapy regimen used. In 134 frozen OvCa samples, we assessed EMSY mRNA expression with Reverse Transcription-quantitative PCR, and also investigated the EMSY gene sequence using SSCP and/or PCR-sequencing. Clinical relevance of changes in EMSY mRNA expression and DNA sequence was evaluated in two subgroups treated with either taxane/platinum (TP, n=102) or platinum/cyclophosphamide (PC, n=32). High EMSY expression negatively affected overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and sensitivity to treatment (PS) in the TP-treated subgroup (p-values: 0.001, 0.002 and 0.010, respectively). Accordingly, our OvCa cell line studies showed that the EMSY gene knockdown sensitized A2780 and IGROV1 cells to paclitaxel. Interestingly, EMSY mRNA expression in surviving cells was similar as in the control cells. Additionally, we identified 24 sequence alterations in the EMSY gene, including the previously undescribed: c.720G>C, p.(Lys240Asn); c.1860G>A, p.(Lys620Lys); c.246-76A>G; c.421+68A>C. In the PC-treated subgroup, a heterozygous genotype comprising five SNPs (rs4300410, rs3814711, rs4245443, rs2508740, rs2513523) negatively correlated with OS (p-value=0.009). The same SNPs exhibited adverse borderline associations with PS in the TP-treated subgroup. This is the first study providing evidence that high EMSY mRNA expression is a negative prognostic and predictive factor in OvCa patients treated with TP, and that the clinical outcome may hinge on certain SNPs in the EMSY gene as well.

Analysis of Newly Identified and Rare Synonymous Genetic Variants in the RET Gene in Patients with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma in Polish Population.

Gain-of-function germline mutations of the RET proto-oncogene are responsible for initiation of carcinogenesis within the thyroid gland and development of hereditary form of medullary thyroid carcinoma and MEN2 syndrome. Genotype-phenotype correlations are established for most RET mutations, but the importance of the synonymous changes in this gene remains debatable. We aimed to analyze RET gene variants in Polish population. Genetic testing for the RET gene variants was performed with standard methods in 585 people aged 1-85, including 448 patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma and 131 of their first- and second-degree relatives, as well as six patients suspected of MTC/MEN2. Besides the most frequent synonymous changes, p.Leu769Leu, p.Ser836Ser, and p.Ser904Ser, four rare changes-c.1827C>T (p.Cys609Cys), c.2364C>T (p.Ile788Ile), c.2418C>T (p.Tyr806Tyr), and c.2673G>A (p.Ser891Ser)-were found in the RET gene, in the Polish population. Two of the rare changes, p.Cys609Cys and p.Ile788Ile, had not been previously described. The frequency of molecular synonymous variants in the general population was evaluated by testing 400 anonymous blood samples of neonates. Our findings may contribute to a better understanding of the genetic diversity of the RET gene and the involvement of synonymous variants in this diversity.

Comparison between two widely used laboratory methods in BRAF V600 mutation detection in a large cohort of clinical samples of cutaneous melanoma metastases to the lymph nodes.

AIMS: The study compares detection rates of oncogenic BRAF mutations in a homogenous group of 236 FFPE cutaneous melanoma lymph node metastases, collected in one cancer center. BRAF mutational status was verified by two independent in-house PCR/Sanger sequencing tests, and the Cobas® 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test. RESULTS: The best of two sequencing approaches returned results for 230/236 samples. In 140 (60.9%), the mutation in codon 600 of BRAF was found. 91.4% of all mutated cases (128 samples) represented p.V600E. Both Sanger-based tests gave reproducible results although they differed significantly in the percentage of amplifiable samples: 230/236 to 109/143. Cobas generated results in all 236 cases, mutations changing codon V600 were detected in 144 of them (61.0%), including 5 not amplifiable and 5 negative in the standard sequencing. However, 6 cases positive in sequencing turned out to be negative in Cobas. Both tests provided us with the same BRAF V600 mutational status in 219 out of 230 cases with valid results (95.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The total BRAF V600 mutation detection rate didn't differ significantly between the two methodological approaches (60.9% vs. 61.0%). Sequencing was a reproducible method of V600 mutation detection and more powerful to detect mutations other than p.V600E, while Cobas test proved to be less susceptible to the poor DNA quality or investigator's bias. The study underlined an important role of pathologists in quality assurance of molecular diagnostics.

The putative oncogene, CRNDE, is a negative prognostic factor in ovarian cancer patients.

The CRNDE gene seems to play an oncogenic role in cancers, though its exact function remains unknown. Here, we tried to assess its usefulness as a molecular prognostic marker in ovarian cancer. Based on results of our microarray studies, CRNDE transcripts were further analyzed by Real-Time qPCR-based profiling of their expression. The qPCR study was conducted with the use of personally designed TaqMan assays on 135 frozen tissue sections of ovarian carcinomas from patients treated with platinum compounds and either cyclophosphamide (PC, N = 32) or taxanes (TP, N = 103). Elevated levels of two different CRNDE transcripts were a negative prognostic factor; they increased the risk of death and recurrence in the group of patients treated with TP, but not PC (DNA-damaging agents only). Higher associations were found for overexpression of the short CRNDE splice variant (FJ466686): HR 6.072, 95% CI 1.814-20.32, p = 0.003 (the risk of death); HR 15.53, 95% CI 3.812-63.28, p < 0.001 (the risk of recurrence). Additionally, accumulation of the TP53 protein correlated with decreased expression of both CRNDE transcripts in tumor cells. Our results depict CRNDE as a potential marker of poor prognosis in women with ovarian carcinomas, and suggest that its significance depends on the therapeutic regimen used.

Association of the BRCA1 promoter polymorphism rs11655505 with the risk of familial breast and/or ovarian cancer.

Germline mutations in the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene predispose affected individuals to breast cancer; however, incomplete cancer penetrance and the presence of phenocopies in BRCA1 families also indicate genetic and environmental modifiers of breast cancer risk. In this study, we have tested the single nucleotide polymorphism rs1655505 of the BRCA1 promoter, as candidate for the modifier of breast cancer risk. The polymorphic variants were genotyped in BRCA1-negative (729), familial breast and/or ovarian cancer cases (FBOC), including cases with a reported maternal history (154), nonfamilal (sporadic) cases (600), hereditary breast/ovarian cases with BRCA1 mutations (190) and population controls (1,590) from Central Poland. An association with the risk of FBOC was observed for the minor (T) allele and (TT) genotype (T: p = 0.006, OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.10-1.79; TT: p = 0.001, OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.37-3.62) in female cases with a reported maternal history, specifically in women with the onset of disease after 50 years of age (T: p = 0.004, OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.20-2.62; TT: p = 0.001, OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.62-8.46). The presented evidence suggests a need to conduct larger studies on the association between genetic variations at the BRCA1 promoter and the breast cancer risk, according to maternal/paternal lineage.