María José Faus-Dáder

PTEN and PI3K/AKT in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In the last years, the identification of activating EGFR mutations, conferring increased sensitivity and disease response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, has changed the prospect of NSCLC patients. The PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway regulates multiple cellular functions, including cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, survival, motility, invasion and intracellular trafficking. Alterations in this pathway, mainly PTEN inactivation, have been associated with resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy and lower survival in NSCLC patients. In this review, we will briefly discuss the main PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway alterations found in NSCLC, as well as the cell processes regulated by PTEN/PI3K/AKT leading to tumorigenesis.

MET: a new promising biomarker in non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) leads cancer-related deaths worldwide. Mutations in the kinase domain of the EGFR gene provide sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) drugs. TKI show initial response rates over 75% in mutant EGFR-NSCLC patients, although most of these patients acquire resistance to EGFR inhibitors after therapy. EGFR-TKI resistance mechanisms include amplification in MET and its ligand, and also MET mutations. MET signaling dysregulation has been involved in tumor cell growth, survival, migration and invasion, angiogenesis and activation of several pathways, therefore representing an attractive target for anticancer drug development. In this review, we will discuss MET-related mechanisms of EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC, as well as the main drugs targeted to inhibit MET pathway.

Pharmacogenetic predictors of toxicity to platinum based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for NSCLC patients with EGFR wild-type, and as alternative to failure to EGFR inhibitors. However, this treatment is aggressive and most patients experience grade 3-4 toxicities. ERCC1, ERCC2, ERCC5, XRCC1, MDM2, ABCB1, MTHFR, MTR, SLC19A1, IL6 and IL16 gene polymorphisms may contribute to individual variation in toxicity to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of these polymorphisms on platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. A prospective cohorts study was conducted, including 141 NSCLC patients. Polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR Real-Time with Taqman(®) probes and sequencing. Patients with ERCC1 C118T-T allele (p=0.00345; RR=26.05; CI95%=4.33, 515.77) and ERCC2 rs50872-CC genotype (p=0.00291; RR=4.06; CI95%=1.66, 10.65) had higher risk of general toxicity for platinum-based chemotherapy. ERCC2 Asp312Asn G-alelle, ABCB1 C1236T-TT and the IL1B rs12621220-CT/TT genotypes conferred a higher risk to present multiple adverse events. The subtype toxicity analysis also revealed that ERCC2 rs50872-CC genotype (p=0.01562; OR=3.23; CI95%=1.29, 8.82) and IL16 rs7170924-T allele (p=0.01007; OR=3.19; CI95%=1.35, 7.97) were associated with grade 3-4 hematological toxicity. We did not found the influence of ERCC1 C8092A, ERCC2 Lys751Gln, ERCC2 Asp312Asn, ERCC5 Asp1104His, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, MDM2 rs1690924, ABCB1 C3435T, ABCB1 Ala893Ser/Thr, MTHFR A1298C, MTHFR C677T, IL1B rs1143623, IL1B rs16944, and IL1B rs1143627 on platinum-based chemotherapy toxicity. In conclusion, ERCC1 C118T, ERCC2 rs50872, ERCC2 Asp312Asn, ABCB1 C1236T, IL1B rs12621220 and IL16 rs7170924 polymorphisms may substantially act as prognostic factors in NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Contribution of genetic factors to platinum-based chemotherapy sensitivity and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer

Although platinum-based chemotherapy remains the standard treatment for advanced NSCLC patients, clinical outcomes are poor and most patients develop high-grade toxicities. Genetic factors, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involved in platinum pharmacodynamics, metabolism and mechanism of action, may account for inter-individual differences shown in effectiveness and toxicity. Polymorphisms in genes involved in DNA repair and others such as PI3K/PTEN/AKT and TGF-β pathways have been demonstrated to be associated with response, survival and toxicity in advanced NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Other cellular processes, like DNA methylation and proliferation have been connected with clinical outcome for platinum-based chemotherapy regimens through folate metabolism and cytokine signaling. The influence of gene polymorphisms in the NER pathway on clinical outcome has been extensively investigated in advanced NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy but contradictory results have been reported. The most recent and thorough meta-analyses have failed to show an association between ERCC1 C118T/C8092A and ERCC5 rs1047768 polymorphisms and response to platinum based chemotherapy. However, other polymorphisms in ERCC2 (Lys751Gln and Asp312Asn) and ERCC5 (rs2094258 and rs2296147) and have been related with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), respectively. The Arg194Trp and Gln399Arg polymorphisms in XRCC1, have also been extensively investigated. Their effects seem to be dependent on ethnicity, and recent meta-analyses have confirmed an association with response in Asian but not in Caucasian patients. The influence on overall response rate (ORR) of the rs861539 polymorphism in XRCC3, part of (DSB) repair pathway, has also been confirmed in a meta-analysis. Finally, SNPs in genes coding proteins of the p53, PI3K, TGF-β, membrane transporters, gluthatione metabolism enzymes and cytokine pathways have been less extensively investigated. Some polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with toxicity or clinical outcome, but data generally come from a limited number of studies and need to be confirmed.

Negative outcomes associated with medication in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation who present at the emergency department

Medication is the main treatment option for patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. However, medication can have negative effects. We aimed to detect negative outcomes associated with medication that led to patients with chronic atrial fibrillation presenting themselves to hospital emergency departments. We assessed the severity of those outcomes and comment on whether they could have been avoided.

Validación de un cuestionario de satisfacción de pacientes con el servicio de indicación en farmacias comunitarias

Objetivo Analizar las evidencias de validez y fiabilidad de un cuestionario de satisfaccion de pacientes con el servicio de indicacion en las farmacias comunitarias argentinas. Material y Metodos Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Participaron todos los pacientes o sus cuidadores que concurrieron a las farmacias durante el periodo de estudio (marzo y abril de 2006) y que supieran leer y escribir. Resultados Se obtuvieron 289 cuestionarios. El analisis factorial revelo un unico componente explicando el 52,2 % de la varianza total. Se obtuvo un coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de 0,89. Los pacientes expresaron comentarios adicionales en 87 cuestionarios (30,1 %) que se relacionaron con la calidad de la atencion recibida y con otros aspectos de la asistencia. Discusion El cuestionario mostro evidencias de validez de contenido, validez como estructura interna y fiabilidad para valorar la satisfaccion de pacientes con el servicio de indicacion en las farmacias comunitarias argentinas.

Pharmacogenetics of platinum-based chemotherapy: impact of DNA repair and folate metabolism gene polymorphisms on prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer patients

Chemotherapy based on platinum compounds is the standard treatment for NSCLC patients with EGFR wild type, and is also used as second line in mutated EGFR patients. Nevertheless, this therapy presents poor clinical outcomes. ERCC1, ERCC2, XRCC1, MDM2, MTHFR, MTR, and SLC19A1 gene polymorphisms may contribute to individual variation in response and survival to platinum-based chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of these polymorphisms on response and survival of NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. A retrospective–prospective cohorts study was conducted, including 141 NSCLC patients. Polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR real-time with Taqman® probes. Patients with ERCC1 rs3212986-GG (p = 0.0268; OR = 2.50; CI95% = 1.12–5.69) and XRCC1 rs25487-GG (p = 0.0161; OR = 2.99; CI95% = 1.26–7.62) genotype showed significantly better ORR. Cox survival analysis revealed that patients carrying the MDM2 rs1690924-GG genotype (p = 0.0345; HR = 1.99; CI95% = 1.05–3.80) presented higher risk of death. Furthermore, carriers of MTR rs1805087-A alleles (p = 0.0060; HR = 8.91; CI95% = 1.87–42.42) and SLC19A1 rs1051266-AA genotype (p = 0.0130; HR = 1.74; CI95% = 1.12–2.68) showed greater risk of progression. No influence of ERCC1 rs11615, ERCC2 rs13181, ERCC2 rs1799793, XRCC1 rs1799782, MDM2 rs1470383, MTHFR rs1801131, and MTHFR rs1801133 on platinum-based chemotherapy clinical outcomes was found. In conclusion, our results suggest that ERCC1 rs3212986, XRCC1 rs25487, MDM2 rs1690924, MTR rs1805087, and SLC19A1 rs1051266 gene polymorphisms may significantly act as predictive factors in NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Cytokine single-nucleotide polymorphisms and risk of non-small-cell lung cancer

Objective Lung cancer, particularly the non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtype, is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Several functional polymorphisms in inflammatory cytokine genes, such as IL1B, IL6, IL12A, IL13 and IL16, have been associated with the risk of NSCLC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between ILs gene polymorphisms and the risk of developing NSCLC. Participants and methods A retrospective case–control study was carried out, including 174 NSCLC cases and 298 controls of Spanish origin. IL1B (rs1143634), IL1B (rs12621220), IL1B (rs1143623), IL1B (rs16944), IL1B (rs1143627), IL12A (rs662959), IL13 (rs1881457), IL6 (rs1800795) and IL16 (rs7170924) gene polymorphisms were analysed by TaqMan. Results The genotypic logistic regression model adjusted by smoking status showed that the IL1B rs1143634-TT genotype was associated with a lower risk of NSCLC (P=0.04312; odds ratio=0.226; 95% confidence interval=0.044–0.840). No other gene polymorphisms showed an association with NSCLC in any of the models tested. Conclusion In conclusion, IL1B rs1143634 was significantly associated with a higher risk of NSCLC. No influence of IL1B rs12621220, rs1143623, rs16944, rs1143627, IL12A rs662959, IL13 rs1881457 and IL16 rs7170924 on the risk of developing NSCLC was found in our study.

IMPACT OF DNA REPAIR, FOLATE AND GLUTATHIONE GENE POLYMORPHISMS ON RISK OF NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtype, is the leading cause of cancer-related death related worldwide. Numerous gene polymorphisms in DNA repair, folate and glutathione pathways have been associated with susceptibility of NSCLC. We conducted this study to evaluate the effects of ERCC1, ERCC2, ERCC5, XRCC1, XRCC3, MTHFR, MTR, MTHFD1, SLC19A1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms on risk of NSCLC. No association between these gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of NSCLC were found in our patients, suggesting that genetic variations in genes involved in DNA repair, folate and glutathione metabolism pathways may not influence the risk of NSCLC.