1. |
- Razumova, Zoia, et al.
(författare)
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The Prognostic Role of LRIG Proteins in Endometrial Cancer
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - Stockholm : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 13:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy in Sweden and it has various prognostic factors. The LRIG family is a group of three integral surface proteins with a similar domain organization. The study aimed to explore LRIG family as prognostic factor proteins in EC. The initial study cohort included 100 women with EC who were treated at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, between 2007 and 2012. We assessed the associations between LRIG protein expression and type, grade, and stage of EC, as well as progression-free and overall survival. Immunohistochemistry results revealed that most women in the analytical sample had >50% LRIG1-, LRIG2- and LRIG3-positive cells. A statistically significant association was observed between having a high number of LRIG3-positive cells and superior overall survival (incidence rate ratio = 0.977; 95% confidence interval: 0.958–0.996, p = 0.019). Moreover, positive LRIG3 staining of the cell membrane was associated with reducing in the risk of death (hazard ratio = 0.23; 95% confidence interval: 0.09–0.57). Our results show that LRIG3 expression might be a prognostic factor in EC. The role of LRIG1 and LRIG2 expression remains to be further investigated.
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2. |
- Jönsson, K. Ingemar, 1959-
(författare)
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Radiation tolerance in tardigrades : current knowledge and potential applications in medicine
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cancers. - 2072-6694. ; 11:9
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tardigrades represent a phylum of very small aquatic animals in which many species have evolved adaptations to survive under extreme environmental conditions, such as desiccation and freezing. Studies on several species have documented that tardigrades also belong to the most radiation-tolerant animals on Earth. This paper gives an overview of our current knowledge on radiation tolerance of tardigrades, with respect to dose-responses, developmental stages, and different radiation sources. The molecular mechanisms behind radiation tolerance in tardigrades are still largely unknown, but omics studies suggest that both mechanisms related to the avoidance of DNA damage and mechanisms of DNA repair are involved. The potential of tardigrades to provide knowledge of importance for medical sciences has long been recognized, but it is not until recently that more apparent evidence of such potential has appeared. Recent studies show that stress-related tardigrade genes may be transfected to human cells and provide increased tolerance to osmotic stress and ionizing radiation. With the recent sequencing of the tardigrade genome, more studies applying tardigrade omics to relevant aspects of human medicine are expected. In particular, the cancer research field has potential to learn from studies on tardigrades about molecular mechanisms evolved to maintain genome integrity.
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3. |
- Kalliara, Eirini, et al.
(författare)
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Spatially Guided and Single Cell Tools to Map the Microenvironment in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
- 2023
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Ingår i: Cancers. - 2072-6694. ; 15:8, s. 1-15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are two closely related clinical variants of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). Previously demonstrated large patient-to-patient and intra-patient disease heterogeneity underpins the importance of personalized medicine in CTCL. Advanced stages of CTCL are characterized by dismal prognosis, and the early identification of patients who will progress remains a clinical unmet need. While the exact molecular events underlying disease progression are poorly resolved, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as an important driver. In particular, the Th1-to-Th2 shift in the immune response is now commonly identified across advanced-stage CTCL patients. Herein, we summarize the role of the TME in CTCL evolution and the latest studies in deciphering inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity. We introduce spatially resolved omics as a promising technology to advance immune-oncology efforts in CTCL. We propose the combined implementation of spatially guided and single-cell omics technologies in paired skin and blood samples. Such an approach will mediate in-depth profiling of phenotypic and molecular changes in reactive immune subpopulations and malignant T cells preceding the Th1-to-Th2 shift and reveal mechanisms underlying disease progression from skin-limited to systemic disease that collectively will lead to the discovery of novel biomarkers to improve patient prognostication and the design of personalized treatment strategies.
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4. |
- Abdrakhmanov, A, et al.
(författare)
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Receptor-Mediated Mitophagy Rescues Cancer Cells under Hypoxic Conditions
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Targeting mitochondria with thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA), an inhibitor of Complex II in the respiratory chain, stimulated cisplatin-induced apoptosis in various cell lines in normoxia but not in hypoxia. This can be explained by the elimination of mitochondria involved in triggering apoptotic cell death by mitophagy, either Parkin-dependent or receptor-mediated. Treatment with TTFA alone or in combination with cisplatin did not cause accumulation of PINK1, meaning that under hypoxic conditions cells survive through activation of a receptor-mediated pathway. Hypoxia triggers the accumulation of BNIP3 and BNIP3L (also known as NIX), key participants in receptor-mediated mitophagy. Under hypoxic conditions, stimulation of autophagy, as assessed by the accumulation of lipidated form of LC3 (LC3II), was observed. To exclude the contribution of canonical macroautophagy in LC3II accumulation, experiments were performed using U1810 cells lacking ATG13, a key enzyme of macroautophagy. Despite the absence of ATG13, hypoxia-mediated accumulation of LC3II was not affected, underlying the importance of the receptor-mediated pathway. In order to prove the protective role of BNIP3 against cisplatin-induced apoptosis, BNIP3-deficient A549 cells were used. Surprisingly, a BNIP3 knockout did not abolish hypoxia-induced protection; however, in cells lacking BNIP3, a compensatory upregulation of BNIP3L was detected. Thus, in the absence of BNIP3, mitophagy could be maintained by BNIP3L and lead to cell death suppression due to the elimination of proapoptotic mitochondria. When both BNIP3 and BNIP3L were knocked out, the inhibitory effect of hypoxia on apoptosis was diminished, although not abolished completely. Undoubtedly, receptor-mediated mitophagy is likely to be one of the mechanisms responsible for cell death suppression under hypoxic conditions.
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5. |
- Ahmed, JH, et al.
(författare)
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CYP2D6 Genotype Predicts Plasma Concentrations of Tamoxifen Metabolites in Ethiopian Breast Cancer Patients
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 11:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tamoxifen displays wide inter-individual variability (IIV) in its pharmacokinetics and treatment outcome. Data on tamoxifen pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics from black African breast cancer patient populations is lacking. We investigated the pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenetic profile of tamoxifen and its major active metabolite, endoxifen, in Ethiopian breast cancer patients. A total of 81 female breast cancer patients on adjuvant tamoxifen therapy were enrolled. Tamoxifen (Tam) and its major metabolites, N-desmethyltamoxifen (NDM), 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (4-HT), and (Z)-endoxifen (E) were quantified using LC-MS/MS. Genotyping for CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A5, POR, and ABCB1 and UGT2B15 and copy number variation for CYP2D6 were done. The proportion of patients with low endoxifen level (<5.9 ng/mL) was 35.8% (median concentration 7.94 ng/mL). The allele frequency of CYP2D6 gene deletion (*5) and duplication (*1×N or *2×N) was 4.3% and 14.8%, respectively. Twenty-six percent of the patients carried duplicated or multiplicated CYP2D6 gene. An increase in CYP2D6 activity score was associated with increased endoxifen concentration and MRE/NDM (p < 0.001). The IIV in endoxifen concentration and MRE/NDM was 74.6% and 59%, respectively. CYP2D6 diplotype explained 28.2% and 44% of the variability in absolute endoxifen concentration and MRE/NDM, respectively. The explanatory power of CYP2D6 diplotype was improved among ABCB1c.4036G carriers (43% and 65.2%, respectively for endoxifen concentration and MRE/NDM) compared to A/A genotype. CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A5 genotypes had no significant influence on endoxifen concentration or MRE/NDM. In conclusion, we report a high rate of low endoxifen level as well as large IIV in tamoxifen and its metabolite concentrations. CYP2D6 is significant predictor of plasma endoxifen level in a gene-dose dependent manner.
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6. |
- Aktypis, Charalampos, et al.
(författare)
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Cardiovascular Toxicities Secondary to Biotherapy and Molecular Targeted Therapies in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials.
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 13:9
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- A broad spectrum of novel targeted therapies with prime antitumor activity and/or ample control of hormonal symptoms together with an overall acceptable safety profile have emerged for patients with metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). In this systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis, the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched to assess and compare the safety profile of NEN treatments with special focus on the cardiovascular adverse effects of biotherapy and molecular targeted therapies (MTTs). Quality/risk of bias were assessed using GRADE criteria. Placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in patients with metastatic NENs, including medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) were included. A total of 3695 articles and 122 clinical trials registered in clinicaltrials.gov were screened. We included sixteen relevant RCTs comprising 3408 unique patients assigned to different treatments compared with placebo. All the included studies had a low risk of bias. We identified four drug therapies for NENs with eligible placebo-controlled RCTs: somatostatin analogs (SSAs), tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Grade 3 and 4 adverse effects (AE) were more often encountered in patients treated with mTOR inhibitors and TKI (odds ratio [OR]: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.87-3.12 and OR: 3.41, 95% CI: 1.46-7.96, respectively) as compared to SSAs (OR:0.77, 95% CI: 0.47-1.27) and TPH inhibitors (OR:0.77, 95% CI: 0.35-1.69). MTOR inhibitors had the highest risk for serious cardiac AE (OR:3.28, 95% CI: 1.66-6.48) followed by TKIs (OR:1.51, 95% CI: 0.59-3.83). Serious vascular AE were more often encountered in NEN patients treated with mTOR inhibitors (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 0.64-4.64) and TKIs (OR:1.64, 95% CI: 0.35-7.78). Finally, patients on TKIs were at higher risk for new-onset or exacerbation of pre-existing hypertension (OR:3.31, 95% CI: 1.87-5.86). In conclusion, SSAs and TPH inhibitors appear to be safer as compared to mTOR inhibitors and TKIs with regards to their overall toxicity profile, and cardiovascular toxicities in particular. Special consideration should be given to a patient-tailored approach with anticipated toxicities of targeted NEN treatments together with assessment of cardiovascular comorbidities, assisting clinicians in treatment selection and early recognition/management of cardiovascular toxicities. This approach could improve patient compliance and preserve cardiovascular health and overall quality of life.
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7. |
- Alevroudis, Emmanouil, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical utility of 18f-fdg pet in neuroendocrine tumors prior to peptide receptor radionuclide therapy : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 13:8
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The role of 18F-FDG PET in patients with variable grades of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) prior to peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has not been adequately elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the impact of 18F-FDG PET status on disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) patients receiving PRRT. We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases up to July 2020 and used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) criteria to assess quality/risk of bias. A total of 5091 articles were screened. In 12 studies, 1492 unique patients with NETs of different origins were included. The DCR for patients with negative 18F-FDG PET status prior to PRRT initiation was 91.9%, compared to 74.2% in patients with positive 18F-FDG PET status (random effects odds ratio (OR): 4.85; 95% CI: 2.27–10.36). Adjusted analysis of pooled hazard ratios (HRs) confirmed longer PFS and OS in NET patients receiving PRRT with negative 18F-FDG PET (random effects HR:2.45; 95%CIs: 1.48–4.04 and HR:2.25; 95% CIs:1.55–3.28, respectively). In conclusion, 18F-FDG PET imaging prior to PRRT administration appears to be a useful tool in NET patients to predict tumor response and survival outcomes and a negative FDG uptake of the tumor is associated with prolonged PFS and OS.
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8. |
- Almangush, A, et al.
(författare)
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Improving Risk Stratification of Early Oral Tongue Cancer with TNM-Immune (TNM-I) Staging System
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although patients with early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) show better survival than those with advanced disease, there is still a number of early-stage cases who will suffer from recurrence, cancer-related mortality and worse overall survival. Incorporation of an immune descriptive factor in the staging system can aid in improving risk assessment of early OTSCC. A total of 290 cases of early-stage OTSCC re-classified according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC 8) staging were included in this study. Scores of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were divided as low or high and incorporated in TNM AJCC 8 to form our proposed TNM-Immune system. Using AJCC 8, there were no significant differences in survival between T1 and T2 tumors (p > 0.05). Our proposed TNM-Immune staging system allowed for significant discrimination in risk between tumors of T1N0M0-Immune vs. T2N0M0-Immune. The latter associated with a worse overall survival with hazard ratio (HR) of 2.87 (95% CI 1.92–4.28; p < 0.001); HR of 2.41 (95% CI 1.26–4.60; p = 0.008) for disease-specific survival; and HR of 1.97 (95% CI 1.13–3.43; p = 0.017) for disease-free survival. The TNM-Immune staging system showed a powerful ability to identify cases with worse survival. The immune response is an important player which can be assessed by evaluating TILs, and it can be implemented in the staging criteria of early OTSCC. TNM-Immune staging forms a step towards a more personalized classification of early OTSCC.
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9. |
- Almeida, Natália, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping the melanoma plasma proteome (MPP) using single-shot proteomics interfaced with the WiMT database
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plasma analysis by mass spectrometry-based proteomics remains a challenge due to its large dynamic range of 10 orders in magnitude. We created a methodology for protein identification known as Wise MS Transfer (WiMT). Melanoma plasma samples from biobank archives were directly analyzed using simple sample preparation. WiMT is based on MS1 features between several MS runs together with custom protein databases for ID generation. This entails a multi-level dynamic protein database with different immunodepletion strategies by applying single-shot proteomics. The highest number of melanoma plasma proteins from undepleted and unfractionated plasma was reported, mapping >1200 proteins from >10,000 protein sequences with confirmed significance scoring. Of these, more than 660 proteins were annotated by WiMT from the resulting ~5800 protein sequences. We could verify 4000 proteins by MS1t analysis from HeLA extracts. The WiMT platform provided an output in which 12 previously well-known candidate markers were identified. We also identified low-abundant proteins with functions related to (i) cell signaling, (ii) immune system regulators, and (iii) proteins regulating folding, sorting, and degradation, as well as (iv) vesicular transport proteins. WiMT holds the potential for use in large-scale screening studies with simple sample preparation, and can lead to the discovery of novel proteins with key melanoma disease functions.
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10. |
- Andtback, HB, et al.
(författare)
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Sex Differences in Overall Survival and the Effect of Radiotherapy in Merkel Cell Carcinoma-A Retrospective Analysis of a Swedish Cohort
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer where Merkel cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) contributes to the pathogenesis. In an adjuvant setting, radiotherapy (RT) is believed to give a survival benefit. The prognostic impact of sex related to MCPyV-status and adjuvant RT were analyzed in patients referred to Karolinska University Hospital. Data were collected from 113 patients’ hospital records and MCPyV analyses were made in 54 patients (48%). We found a significantly better overall survival (OS) for women compared to men and a significant difference in OS in patients receiving adjuvant RT. Furthermore, we found that men with virus negative MCC have an increased risk for earlier death (HR 3.6). This indicates that MCPyV positive and negative MCC act as two different diseases, and it might be due to different mechanism in the immune response between male and female patients. This could have significance in tailoring treatment and follow-up in MCC patients in the future.
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11. |
- Arbajian, Elsa, et al.
(författare)
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Methylation patterns and chromatin accessibility in neuroendocrine lung cancer
- 2020
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 12:8, s. 1-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lung cancer is the worldwide leading cause of death from cancer. Epigenetic modifications such as methylation and changes in chromatin accessibility are major gene regulatory mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis and cellular lineage commitment. We aimed to characterize these processes in the context of neuroendocrine (NE) lung cancer. Illumina 450K DNA methylation data were collected for 1407 lung cancers including 27 NE tumors. NE differentially methylated regions (NE-DMRs) were identified and correlated with gene expression data for 151 lung cancers and 31 human tissue entities from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) consortium. Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were performed on eight lung cancer cell lines, including three NE cell lines, to identify neuroendocrine specific gene regulatory elements. We identified DMRs with methylation patterns associated with differential gene expression and an NE tumor phenotype. DMR-associated genes could further be split into six functional modules, including one highly specific gene module for NE lung cancer showing high expression in both normal and malignant brain tissue. The regulatory potential of NE-DMRs was further validated in vitro using paired ATAC-and RNA-seq and revealed both proximal and distal regulatory elements of canonical NE-marker genes such as CHGA, NCAM1, INSM1, as well as a number of novel candidate markers of NE lung cancer. Using multilevel genomic analyses of both tumor bulk tissue and lung cancer cell lines, we identified a large catalogue of gene regulatory elements related to the NE phenotype of lung cancer.
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12. |
- Arce, Maximiliano, et al.
(författare)
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Coagulation Factor Xa Promotes Solid Tumor Growth, Experimental Metastasis and Endothelial Cell Activation
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 11:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hypercoagulable state is linked to cancer progression; however, the precise role of the coagulation cascade is poorly described. Herein, we examined the contribution of a hypercoagulative state through the administration of intravenous Coagulation Factor Xa (FXa), on the growth of solid human tumors and the experimental metastasis of the B16F10 melanoma in mouse models. FXa increased solid tumor volume and lung, liver, kidney and lymph node metastasis of tail-vein injected B16F10 cells. Concentrating on the metastasis model, upon coadministration of the anticoagulant Dalteparin, lung metastasis was significantly reduced, and no metastasis was observed in other organs. FXa did not directly alter proliferation, migration or invasion of cancer cells in vitro. Alternatively, FXa upon endothelial cells promoted cytoskeleton contraction, disrupted membrane VE-Cadherin pattern, heightened endothelial-hyperpermeability, increased inflammatory adhesion molecules and enhanced B16F10 adhesion under flow conditions. Microarray analysis of endothelial cells treated with FXa demonstrated elevated expression of inflammatory transcripts. Accordingly, FXa treatment increased immune cell infiltration in mouse lungs, an effect reduced by dalteparin. Taken together, our results suggest that FXa increases B16F10 metastasis via endothelial cell activation and enhanced cancer cell-endothelium adhesion advocating that the coagulation system is not merely a bystander in the process of cancer metastasis.
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13. |
- Arnljots, U, et al.
(författare)
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Optical Coherence Tomography Identifies Visual Pathway Involvement Earlier than Visual Function Tests in Children with MRI-Verified Optic Pathway Gliomas
- 2022
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 14:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigates whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) could add useful information in the examination of children with optic pathway glioma (OPG) at high risk of developing vision loss. For this purpose, the relationship between ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness and visual function, evaluated with tests of visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF), as well as tumor site according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were examined in a geographically defined group of children with OPG. Methods: Children aged <18 years with OPG underwent ophthalmic examination including VA, VF (Zeiss HFA perimetry) and OCT imaging (Zeiss Cirrus HD-OCT). Results: Out of 51 patients included, 45 provided 77 eyes with MRI-verified OPG, and 19 patients provided 25 eyes without OPG. Significant correlations were found between GC-IPL, VF and VA (p < 0.001). The GC-IPL pattern loss corresponded in 95% to VF defects and in 92% to MRI findings. Conclusions: Our study indicates that GC-IPL measures could serve as an early marker of vision-threatening changes related to OPG and as a valuable link between MRI and visual function tests. Thinning of GC-IPL and differences in topography between eyes are strong indicators of and predictive of vision loss related to OPG.
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14. |
- Atsaves, V, et al.
(författare)
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AP-1 Transcription Factors as Regulators of Immune Responses in Cancer
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 11:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Immune check point blockade therapy has revolutionized the standard of cancer treatment and is credited with producing remarkable tumor remissions and increase in overall survival. This unprecedented clinical success however is feasible for a limited number of cancer patients due to resistance occurring before or during a course of immunotherapy, which is often associated with activation of oncogenic signaling pathways, co-inhibitory checkpoints upregulation or expansion of immunosuppressive regulatory T-cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenviroment (TME). Targeted therapy aiming to inactivate a signaling pathway such as the Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) has recently received a lot of attention due to emerging data from preclinical studies indicating synergy with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. The dimeric transcription factor complex Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) is a group of proteins involved in a wide array of cell processes and a critical regulator of nuclear gene expression during T-cell activation. It is also one of the downstream targets of the MAPK signaling cascade. In this review, we will attempt to unravel the roles of AP-1 in the regulation of anti-tumor immune responses, with a focus on the regulation of immune checkpoints and Tregs, seeking to extract useful insights for more efficacious immunotherapy.
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15. |
- Aughton, Karen, et al.
(författare)
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hENT1 Predicts Benefit from Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Cancer but Only with Low CDA mRNA
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 13:22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based treatments can be selected for pancreatic cancer. Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) predicts adjuvant gemcitabine treatment benefit over 5-FU. Cytidine deaminase (CDA), inside or outside of the cancer cell, will deaminate gemcitabine, altering transporter affinity. ESPAC-3(v2) was a pancreatic cancer trial comparing adjuvant gemcitabine and 5-FU. Tissue microarray sections underwent in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Analysis of both CDA and hENT1 was possible with 277 patients. The transcript did not correlate with protein levels for either marker. High hENT1 protein was prognostic with gemcitabine; median overall survival was 26.0 v 16.8 months (p = 0.006). Low CDA transcript was prognostic regardless of arm; 24.8 v 21.2 months with gemcitabine (p = 0.02) and 26.4 v 14.6 months with 5-FU (p = 0.02). Patients with low hENT1 protein did better with 5-FU, but only if the CDA transcript was low (median survival of 5-FU v gemcitabine; 29.3 v 18.3 months, compared with 14.2 v 14.6 with high CDA). CDA mRNA is an independent prognostic biomarker. When added to hENT1 protein status, it may also provide treatment-specific predictive information and, within the frame of a personalized treatment strategy, guide to either gemcitabine or 5FU for the individual patient.Simple Summary:Recent clinical trials suggest that combination therapies that include either gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) both give significant survival benefits for pancreatic cancer patients. The tumor level of the nucleoside transporter hENT1 is prognostic in patients treated with adjuvant gemcitabine but not adjuvant 5-FU. This work shows for the first time that hENT1 is only predictive of benefit from gemcitabine over 5-FU in patients with low levels of CDA transcript. A choice between adjuvant 5-FU based combination therapies (such as FOLFIRINOX) and gemcitabine-based therapy (e.g., GemCap) could be made based on a combination of hENT1 protein and CDA mRNA measured in a resected tumor.
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16. |
- Azatyan, Ani, et al.
(författare)
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Circular rnas in hedgehog signaling activation and hedgehog‐mediated medulloblastoma tumors
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:20
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Within the past decade, circular RNAs have largely emerged as novel regulators of human biology, including brain function and cancer development. On the other hand, the Hedgehog pathway has established roles in regulating biological processes, including tumorigenesis. Here, the circular RNA transcriptome, in the context of Hedgehog signaling activation of medulloblastoma Daoy and human embryonic palatal mesenchyme HEPM cells, was determined. In total, 29 out of the 30 selected circular RNAs were validated by Sanger sequencing, with some regulated to a lim-ited extent by Hedgehog signaling. Interestingly, back‐spliced junctions, the marker of exonic RNA circles, were also identified at a low frequency within poly (A) mRNAs, reflecting exon repetition events. Thirteen circular RNAs had reduced expression in human medulloblastoma tumors in comparison to normal cerebellum. For seven out of these thirteen RNA circles, the linear mRNAs origi-nating from the same genes did not exhibit a reduced expression. Depletion and/or overexpression of these seven circular RNAs minimally affected medulloblastoma cell proliferation. These findings highlight that differential expression of a gene product may not necessarily elicit an obvious phenotypic impact. Consequently, further analysis is required to determine the possible subtle contri-butions to the development of this cerebellar tumor.
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17. |
- Banys-Paluchowski, M, et al.
(författare)
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Surgical Management of the Axilla in Clinically Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Converting to Clinical Node Negativity through Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Rationale for the EUBREAST-03 AXSANA Study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the last two decades, surgical methods for axillary staging in breast cancer patients have become less extensive, and full axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is confined to selected patients. In initially node-positive patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, however, the optimal management remains unclear. Current guidelines vary widely, endorsing different strategies. We performed a literature review on axillary staging strategies and their place in international recommendations. This overview defines knowledge gaps associated with specific procedures, summarizes currently ongoing clinical trials that address these unsolved issues, and provides the rationale for further research. While some guidelines have already implemented surgical de-escalation, replacing ALND with, e.g., sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or targeted axillary dissection (TAD) in cN+ patients converting to clinical node negativity, others recommend ALND. Numerous techniques are in use for tagging lymph node metastasis, but many questions regarding the marking technique, i.e., the optimal time for marker placement and the number of marked nodes, remain unanswered. The optimal number of SLNs to be excised also remains a matter of debate. Data on oncological safety and quality of life following different staging procedures are lacking. These results provide the rationale for the multinational prospective cohort study AXSANA initiated by EUBREAST, which started enrollment in June 2020 and aims at recruiting 3000 patients in 20 countries (NCT04373655; Funded by AGO-B, Claudia von Schilling Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, AWOgyn, EndoMag, Mammotome, and MeritMedical).
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18. |
- Barnekow, Elin, et al.
(författare)
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A Swedish Genome-Wide Haplotype Association Analysis Identifies a Novel Breast Cancer Susceptibility Locus in 8p21.2 and Characterizes Three Loci on Chromosomes 10, 11 and 16
- 2022
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 14:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The heritability of breast cancer is partly explained but much of the genetic contribution remains to be identified. Haplotypes are often used as markers of ethnicity as they are preserved through generations. We have previously demonstrated that haplotype analysis, in addition to standard SNP association studies, could give novel and more detailed information on genetic cancer susceptibility.Methods: In order to examine the association of a SNP or a haplotype to breast cancer risk, we performed a genome wide haplotype association study, using sliding window analysis of window sizes 1-25 and 50 SNPs, in 3200 Swedish breast cancer cases and 5021 controls.Results: We identified a novel breast cancer susceptibility locus in 8p21.1 (OR 2.08; p 3.92 x 10(-8)), confirmed three known loci in 10q26.13, 11q13.3, 16q12.1-2 and further identified novel subloci within these three loci. Altogether 76 risk SNPs, 3302 risk haplotypes of window size 2-25 and 113 risk haplotypes of window size 50 at p < 5 x 10(-8) on chromosomes 8, 10, 11 and 16 were identified. In the known loci haplotype analysis reached an OR of 1.48 in overall breast cancer and in familial cases OR 1.68.Conclusions: Analyzing haplotypes, rather than single variants, could detect novel susceptibility loci even in small study populations but the method requires a fairly homogenous study population.
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19. |
- Beckmann, Kerri, et al.
(författare)
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The Value of Real-World Data in Understanding Prostate Cancer Risk and Improving Clinical Care : Examples from Swedish Registries
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 13:4
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Simple SummaryReal-world data (RWD), i.e., data reflecting normal clinical practice collected outside the constraints of randomised controlled trials, provide important insights into our understanding of prostate cancer and its management. Clinical cancer registries are an important source of RWD. Depending on their scope and the potential linkage to other data sources, registry-based data can be utilised to address a variety of questions including risk factors, healthcare utilisation, treatment effectiveness, adverse effects, disparities in healthcare access, quality of care and healthcare economics. This review describes the various registry-based RWD sources for prostate cancer research in Sweden (namely the National Prostate Cancer Register, the Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe) and the Patient-overview Prostate Cancer) and documents their utility for better understanding prostate cancer aetiology and improving clinical care.AbstractReal-world data (RWD), that is, data from sources other than controlled clinical trials, play an increasingly important role in medical research. The development of quality clinical registers, increasing access to administrative data sources, growing computing power and data linkage capacities have contributed to greater availability of RWD. Evidence derived from RWD increases our understanding of prostate cancer (PCa) aetiology, natural history and effective management. While randomised controlled trials offer the best level of evidence for establishing the efficacy of medical interventions and making causal inferences, studies using RWD offer complementary evidence about the effectiveness, long-term outcomes and safety of interventions in real-world settings. RWD provide the only means of addressing questions about risk factors and exposures that cannot be “controlled”, or when assessing rare outcomes. This review provides examples of the value of RWD for generating evidence about PCa, focusing on studies using data from a quality clinical register, namely the National Prostate Cancer Register (NPCR) Sweden, with longitudinal data on advanced PCa in Patient-overview Prostate Cancer (PPC) and data linkages to other sources in Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe).
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20. |
- Benedetti, Rosaria, et al.
(författare)
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Inhibition of histone demethylases LSD1 and UTX regulates ERα signaling in breast cancer
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 11:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In breast cancer, Lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD1) and other lysine demethylases (KDMs), such as Lysine-specific demethylase 6A also known as Ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat, X chromosome (UTX), are co-expressed and co-localize with estrogen receptors (ERs), suggesting the potential use of hybrid (epi)molecules to target histone methylation and therefore regulate/redirect hormone receptor signaling. Here, we report on the biological activity of a dual-KDM inhibitor (MC3324), obtained by coupling the chemical properties of tranylcypromine, a known LSD1 inhibitor, with the 2OG competitive moiety developed for JmjC inhibition. MC3324 displays unique features not exhibited by the single moieties and well-characterized mono-pharmacological inhibitors. Inhibiting LSD1 and UTX, MC3324 induces significant growth arrest and apoptosis in hormone-responsive breast cancer model accompanied by a robust increase in H3K4me2 and H3K27me3. MC3324 down-regulates ERα in breast cancer at both transcriptional and non-transcriptional levels, mimicking the action of a selective endocrine receptor disruptor. MC3324 alters the histone methylation of ERα-regulated promoters, thereby affecting the transcription of genes involved in cell surveillance, hormone response, and death. MC3324 reduces cell proliferation in ex vivo breast cancers, as well as in breast models with acquired resistance to endocrine therapies. Similarly, MC3324 displays tumor-selective potential in vivo, in both xenograft mice and chicken embryo models, with no toxicity and good oral efficacy. This epigenetic multi-target approach is effective and may overcome potential mechanism(s) of resistance in breast cancer.
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21. |
- Benedetti, Rosaria, et al.
(författare)
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Regulatory interplay between mir-181a-5p and estrogen receptor signaling cascade in breast cancer
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The efficacy and side effects of endocrine therapy in breast cancer (BC) depend largely on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression, the specific drug administered, and treatment scheduling. Although the benefits of endocrine therapy outweigh any adverse effects in the initial stages of BC, later- or advanced-stage tumors acquire resistance to treatments. The mechanisms underlying tumor resistance to therapy are still not well understood, posing a major challenge for BC patient care. Epigenetic regulation and miRNA expression may be involved in the switch from a treatment-sensitive to a treatment-resistant state and could provide a valid therapeutic strategy for ERα negative BC. Here, a hybrid lysine-specific histone demethylase inhibitor, MC3324, displaying selective estrogen receptor down-regulator-like activities in BC, was used to highlight the interplay between epigenetic and ERα signaling. MC3324 anticancer action is mediated by microRNA (miRNA) expression regulation, indicating an innovative function for this molecule. Integrated analysis suggests a crosstalk between estrogen signaling, ERα interactors, miRNAs, and their putative targets. Specifically, miR-181a-5p expression is regulated by MC3324 and has an impact on cellular levels of ERα. A comparison of breast tumor versus healthy mammary tissues confirmed the important role of miR-181a-5p in ERα regulation and points to its putative predictive function in BC therapy.
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22. |
- Bergstrom, H, et al.
(författare)
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CYP3A Activity in End-of-Life Cancer Patients Measured by 4β-Hydroxycholesterol/cholesterol Ratio, in Men and Women
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- More than 50% of all drugs are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A enzyme (CYP3A). The aim of this study was to investigate if the CYP3A activity, measured by the endogenous marker 4β-hydroxycholesterol/cholesterol ratio (4β-OHC/C), is changed during the last weeks and days of life in men and women. To this end, serum samples from 137 deceased patients (median age 70 years) collected at a single time point 1–60 days before death, were analyzed and compared to 280 young (median 27 years), and 30 elderly (median age 70 years) non-cancer controls. There were no significant differences in the 4β-OHC/C ratio between men and women in end-of-life patients (p < 0.25). The median 4β-OHC/C was significantly higher in end-of-life male patients compared to both young (p < 0.0001) and elderly (p < 0.05) male controls. In a similar manner, 4β-OHC/C in end-of-life female patients was significantly higher compared to young and elderly female controls, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively. There was no significant correlation between 4β-OHC/C and survival time. The results from this study suggest maintained CYP3A activity to the very last days of life and even a capacity of induction of the enzyme in end-of-life cancer patients.
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23. |
- Betancourt, Lazaro Hiram, et al.
(författare)
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The hidden story of heterogeneous B-raf V600E mutation quantitative protein expression in metastatic melanoma—association with clinical outcome and tumor phenotypes
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 11:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In comparison to other human cancer types, malignant melanoma exhibits the greatest amount of heterogeneity. After DNA-based detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in melanoma patients, targeted inhibitor treatment is the current recommendation. This approach, however, does not take the abundance of the therapeutic target, i.e., the B-raf V600E protein, into consideration. As shown by immunohistochemistry, the protein expression profiles of metastatic melanomas clearly reveal the existence of inter-and intra-tumor variability. Nevertheless, the technique is only semi-quantitative. To quantitate the mutant protein there is a fundamental need for more precise techniques that are aimed at defining the currently non-existent link between the levels of the target protein and subsequent drug efficacy. Using cutting-edge mass spectrometry combined with DNA and mRNA sequencing, the mutated B-raf protein within metastatic tumors was quantitated for the first time. B-raf V600E protein analysis revealed a subjacent layer of heterogeneity for mutation-positive metastatic melanomas. These were characterized into two distinct groups with different tumor morphologies, protein profiles and patient clinical outcomes. This study provides evidence that a higher level of expression in the mutated protein is associated with a more aggressive tumor progression. Our study design, comprised of surgical isolation of tumors, histopathological characterization, tissue biobanking, and protein analysis, may enable the eventual delineation of patient responders/non-responders and subsequent therapy for malignant melanoma.
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24. |
- Bethlehem, Martijn S., et al.
(författare)
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Meta-Analysis of Isolated Hepatic Perfusion and Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion as a Treatment for Uveal Melanoma Liver Metastases
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Simple Summary Isolated hepatic perfusion is one of the available treatment options for patients with liver metastases from uveal melanoma. This is an open surgical procedure where the liver is isolated from the circulation and perfused with a chemotherapeutic agent. A modern development is the minimally invasive percutaneous hepatic perfusion, where the liver is endovascularly isolated and then perfused with a chemotherapeutic agent through a catheter in the arterial system. Within this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aim to compare these modalities in terms of overall survival, progression-free survival, complications and response. Background: Uveal melanoma is the most commonly occurring primary intraocular malignancy in adults, and patients have a high risk of developing metastatic disease, mostly in the liver. Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) with melphalan is a liver-directed therapy for patients with liver metastases. Percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP), a minimally invasive technique, is available as well. PHP benefits from the fact that the procedure can be repeated and therefore possibly offers better survival. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing both techniques. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using the electronic databases of Scopus, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL. A total of nine articles reporting on eight studies were included in the analysis. Individual survival data were extracted from each study. Results: The median overall survival (OS) was 17.1 months for IHP and 17.3 months for PHP. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.2 months for IHP and 9.6 months for PHP. The median hepatic progression-free survival was 10 months for IHP and 9.5 months for PHP. The complication rate and 30-day mortality rate were 39.1% and 5.5% for IHP and 23.8% and 1.8% for PHP. Conclusion: There was no difference in OS or PFS between IHP and PHP for patients with uveal melanoma liver metastases, but patients have significantly less of a risk for complications and mortality following PHP.
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25. |
- Bezu, L, et al.
(författare)
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Immunological Effects of Epigenetic Modifiers
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 11:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epigenetic alterations are associated with major pathologies including cancer. Epigenetic dysregulation, such as aberrant histone acetylation, altered DNA methylation, or modified chromatin organization, contribute to oncogenesis by inactivating tumor suppressor genes and activating oncogenic pathways. Targeting epigenetic cancer hallmarks can be harnessed as an immunotherapeutic strategy, exemplified by the use of pharmacological inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) and histone deacetylases (HDAC) that can result in the release from the tumor of danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) on one hand and can (re-)activate the expression of tumor-associated antigens on the other hand. This finding suggests that epigenetic modifiers and more specifically the DNA methylation status may change the interaction of chromatin with chaperon proteins including HMGB1, thereby contributing to the antitumor immune response. In this review, we detail how epigenetic modifiers can be used for stimulating therapeutically relevant anticancer immunity when used as stand-alone treatments or in combination with established immunotherapies.
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