| 1. |
- Adolfsson, Per, 1967-
(author)
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Regulatory importance of cyclic nucleotides in smooth muscle growth of the urogenital tract
- 2001
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Smooth muscle hyperplasia/hypertrophy is, if not responsible for, so at least involved in those diseases, which impair life quality for most people in today's society.This thesis, presents a pharmacological investigation, related to the regulatory role of cyclic nucleotides, of smooth muscle hyperplasia/hypeitrophy in human uterine leiomyoma and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).Four main aspects, with cAMP as a connecting thought, have been analyzed, namely expression and characterization of the adrenergic receptors (AR), determination of adenylyl cyclase (AC)- and phosphodiesterase (PDE)-activity, and finally the connection between mentioned issues and proliferation of cultured smooth muscle cells (smc).In the frrst paper, characterization of the a 2-adrenergic receptor (az-AR) subtypes in human myometrium at term pregnancy was examined by combining radioligand binding-studies with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results demonstrated a significant eo-expression of α2A and α2B, and a weak indication of the α2C-AR, which however was identified at the mRNA level by the RT-PCR analysis.In the next investigatio~ smooth muscle tissue of human uterine leiomyoma (benign smooth muscle tumor) was compared with surrounding myometrial tissue (control). The expression of AR, AC- and PDE-activity was analyzed, as well as the effect of cAMP with respect to growth regulation of cultured leiomyoma smc. Primarily, a significantly reduced ß2-AR expression and AC-activity was detected in leiomyoma compared to control tissue, whereas the PDE-activity was approximately 100% higher. In addition, the α2-AR population in leiomyoma was slightly increased. When cultured leiomyoma smc was treated with cAMP increasing agents as forskolin, an AC stimulating agent, or papaverin, a general PDE inhibitor, a considerable inhibition of DNA replication and protein synthesis was obtained.In the thh·d paper, a proliferation study was made on cultured benign prostate hyperplasia smc, were the mitogen effect of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and cAMP/cGMP increasing agents was investigated. LPA generated a dose-dependent mitogen response, which was efficiently inhibited, both by forskolin, and by papaverin. In addition, sildenafil (Viagra®), which serve as a potent and selective PDE5 inhibitor, also decreased the LPA mediated growth promotion in a dose dependent manner.The last study, demonstrate primarily the expression pattem of LPA receptors (Edg) in BPH smc. Further, the intracellular cAMP changes in LPA stimulated BPH smc and the proliferative effect of the LPA analogue sphingosine 1-phosphate (SIP) was considered. First, all Edg was identified with exception of Edg6. Moreover, the cAMP level was unchanged by LPA per se, whereas co-incubation with forskolin generated a rapid and transient response. Further, SIP generated a divergent response including a LPA equivalent mitogen effect at low concentrations whereas inhibition of DNA replication was obtained at higher concentrations.In summary, this project demonstrates that cyclic nucleotides inhibit smooth muscle hyperplasia/hypertrophy in the luogenital tract. These results also suggest that manipulation of cyclic nucleotide level using tissue specific PDE inhibitors might constitute a new therapeutic approach for hyperplasia/hypertrophy related diseases in the urogenital tract.
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| 2. |
- Guren, Tormod Kyrre, et al.
(author)
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Cetuximab in treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer : final survival analyses and extended RAS data from the NORDIC-VII study
- 2017
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In: British Journal of Cancer. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 116:10, s. 1271-1278
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The NORDIC-VII study is a randomised phase III trial of cetuximab plus continuous or intermittent fluorouracil, folinic acid, and oxaliplatin (Nordic FLOX) vs FLOX alone in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. The present report presents an updated and final survival analysis with BRAF and extended RAS mutational status, 5 years after the primary analysis.Methods: A total of 566 patients were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population of the NORDIC-VII study. Updated survival status was obtained from 176 patients who were alive in the primary survival analyses. Samples from 223 tumours previously found to be KRAS (exon 2) and BRAF (V600E) wild-type, were re-analysed for KRAS (exons 3 and 4) and NRAS (exons 2-4) mutations.Results: Including the extended RAS analyses, RAS and BRAF mutational status was available from 457 patients (81% of the ITT population). RAS was mutated in 46% and BRAF in 12% of the tumours. RAS and BRAF, if mutated, were negative prognostic factors. The updated analyses confirmed the finding of the primary report that cetuximab did not provide any additional benefit when added to FLOX in patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type tumours, neither on progression-free nor overall survival. However, the outcomes in a subset of patients, which, after the first eight treatment cycles, received cetuximab alone, suggested a beneficial effect of cetuximab monotherapy.Conclusions: Adding cetuximab to Nordic FLOX did not provide any clinical benefit, but the data suggested an effect of cetuximab monotherapy in patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type tumours in the NORDIC-VII cohort. The data were compatible with a negative interaction between cetuximab and the Nordic FLOX chemotherapy backbone.
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| 3. |
- Thomsen, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Health-related quality of life in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, association with systemic inflammatory response and RAS and BRAF mutation status
- 2017
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In: European Journal of Cancer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0959-8049 .- 1879-0852. ; 81, s. 26-35
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cetuximab on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the NORDIC-VII trial on metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), and to assess HRQoL in relation to RAS and BRAF mutation status and inflammatory biomarkers. Patient and methods: HRQoL was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) at baseline, after every fourth cycle of chemotherapy, and at the end of treatment. HRQoL during 12 cycles of chemotherapy was evaluated over time, compared between treatment arms, and assessed for association with tumour mutation status and inflammatory markers. Results: QLQ-C30 was completed by 512 patients (90%) before start of treatment. HRQoL variables were well balanced across treatment arms at baseline, and no statistically significant differences during treatment were seen. Patients with BRAF-mutated tumours reported poorer HRQoL at baseline and subsequent time points than patients with RAS-mutated or RAS/BRAF wild-type tumours. Patients with high serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) or C-reactive protein (CRP) had markedly impaired HRQoL compared to patients with normal levels. There was a statistically significant association between reduction in IL-6 and CRP levels and improvement in HRQoL during treatment from baseline to cycle 4. Conclusion: The addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy did not affect HRQoL in mCRC patients. Patients with BRAF-mutated tumours have both a worse prognosis and a poor HRQoL. The associations between levels of systemic inflammatory markers and reduced HRQoL suggest that the patients might benefit from anti-inflammatory treatment.
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| 4. |
- Thomsen, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein as prognostic biomarkers in metastatic colorectal cancer
- 2016
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In: Oncotarget. - : Impact Journals, LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 7:46, s. 75013-75022
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: The aim was to explore the prognostic significance of IL-6 and markers of systemic inflammatory response (SIR), in particular C-reactive protein (CRP), in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, in the total study population and according to RAS and BRAF mutation status. Results: High levels of pretreatment serum IL-6 or CRP were associated with impaired outcome, in terms of reduced PFS and OS. Patients with low versus high serum IL-6 levels had median OS of 26.0 versus 16.6 months, respectively (P < 0.001). Stratified according to increasing CRP levels, median OS varied from 24.3 months to 12.3 months, (P < 0.001). IL-6 and CRP levels affected overall prognosis also in adjusted analyses. The effect of IL-6 was particularly pronounced in patients with BRAF mutation (interaction P = 0.004). Materials and Methods: IL-6 and CRP were determined in pre-treatment serum samples from 393 patients included in the NORDIC-VII trial, in which patients with mCRC received first line treatment. The effect of serum IL-6 and CRP on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was estimated. Conclusions: High baseline serum consentrations of IL-6 or CRP were associated with impaired prognosis in mCRC. IL-6 and CRP give independent prognostic information in addition to RAS and BRAF mutation status.
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| 5. |
- Thomsen, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Prognostic role of carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in metastatic colorectal cancer : a BRAF-mutant subset with high CA 19-9 level and poor outcome
- 2018
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In: British Journal of Cancer. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 118:12, s. 1609-1616
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Mutation status of RAS and BRAF, as well as serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), are biomarkers used in clinical management of patients with gastrointestinal cancers. This study aimed to examine the prognostic role of these biomarkers in a patient population that started first-line chemotherapy for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in the NORDIC-VII study.METHODS: CEA and CA 19-9 were measured in serum samples from 545 patients obtained before the start of chemotherapy. Four hundred and ninety-four patients had detectable levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9). RAS (exons 2-4) and BRAF (V600E) mutation status were available from 440 patients. Overall survival (OS) was estimated in patient groups defined by serum CEA or CA 19-9 levels using cut-off values of 5 mu g/L and 35 kU/L, respectively, in the total population and in subgroups according to RAS and BRAF mutation status.RESULTS: For both CEA and CA 19-9, elevated serum levels were associated with reduced OS in adjusted analyses which included RAS and BRAF mutation status, baseline World Health Organization performance status, and levels of alkaline phosphatase and C-reactive protein. The negative prognostic information provided by an elevated CA 19-9 level was particularly marked in patients with BRAF mutation (hazard ratio = 4.35, interaction P = 0.003, in an adjusted model for OS).CONCLUSIONS: High baseline serum concentrations of CEA and CA 19-9 provide independent information of impaired prognosis in mCRC. In patients with BRAF-mutant tumours, elevated serum CA 19-9 may identify a subgroup with highly aggressive disease and could contribute to improving therapeutic decisions.
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| 6. |
- Tveit, Kjell Magne, et al.
(author)
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Phase III Trial of Cetuximab With Continuous or Intermittent Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin (Nordic FLOX) Versus FLOX Alone in First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer : The NORDIC-VII Study
- 2012
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In: Journal of Clinical Oncology. - : American Society of Clinical Oncology: JCO. - 0732-183X .- 1527-7755. ; 30:15, s. 1755-1762
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: The NORDIC-VII multicenter phase III trial investigated the efficacy of cetuximab when added to bolus fluorouracil/folinic acid and oxaliplatin (Nordic FLOX), administered continuously or intermittently, in previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The influence of KRAS mutation status on treatment outcome was also investigated. Patients and Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either standard Nordic FLOX (arm A), cetuximab and FLOX (arm B), or cetuximab combined with intermittent FLOX (arm C). Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Overall survival (OS), response rate, R0 resection rate, and safety were secondary end points. Results: Of the 571 patients randomly assigned, 566 were evaluable in intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses. KRAS and BRAF mutation analyses were obtained in 498 (88%) and 457 patients (81%), respectively. KRAS mutations were present in 39% of the tumors; 12% of tumors had BRAF mutations. The presence of BRAF mutations was a strong negative prognostic factor. In the ITT population, median PFS was 7.9, 8.3, and 7.3 months for the three arms, respectively (not significantly different). OS was almost identical for the three groups (20.4, 19.7, 20.3 months, respectively), and confirmed response rates were 41%, 49%, and 47%, respectively. In patients with KRAS wild-type tumors, cetuximab did not provide any additional benefit compared with FLOX alone. In patients with KRAS mutations, no significant difference was detected, although a trend toward improved PFS was observed in arm B. The regimens were well tolerated. Conclusion: Cetuximab did not add significant benefit to the Nordic FLOX regimen in first-line treatment of mCRC.
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