Vincent Molinié

A SUMOylation-defective MITF germline mutation predisposes to melanoma and renal carcinoma

So far, no common environmental and/or phenotypic factor has been associated with melanoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The known risk factors for melanoma include sun exposure, pigmentation and nevus phenotypes; risk factors associated with RCC include smoking, obesity and hypertension. A recent study of coexisting melanoma and RCC in the same patients supports a genetic predisposition underlying the association between these two cancers. The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) has been proposed to act as a melanoma oncogene; it also stimulates the transcription of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF1A), the pathway of which is targeted by kidney cancer susceptibility genes. We therefore proposed that MITF might have a role in conferring a genetic predisposition to co-occurring melanoma and RCC. Here we identify a germline missense substitution in MITF (Mi-E318K) that occurred at a significantly higher frequency in genetically enriched patients affected with melanoma, RCC or both cancers, when compared with controls. Overall, Mi-E318K carriers had a higher than fivefold increased risk of developing melanoma, RCC or both cancers. Codon 318 is located in a small-ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) consensus site (ΨKXE) and Mi-E318K severely impaired SUMOylation of MITF. Mi-E318K enhanced MITF protein binding to the HIF1A promoter and increased its transcriptional activity compared to wild-type MITF. Further, we observed a global increase in Mi-E318K-occupied loci. In an RCC cell line, gene expression profiling identified a Mi-E318K signature related to cell growth, proliferation and inflammation. Lastly, the mutant protein enhanced melanocytic and renal cell clonogenicity, migration and invasion, consistent with a gain-of-function role in tumorigenesis. Our data provide insights into the link between SUMOylation, transcription and cancer.

Renal translocation carcinomas: clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and gene expression profiling analysis of 31 cases with a review of the literature.

We report clinicopathologic features of a large series of renal translocation carcinomas from a multicentric study. Diagnosis was performed by cytogenetic examination of fresh material and/or by immunochemistry with antibodies directed against the C-terminal part of transcription factor E3 (TFE3) and native transcription factor EB (TFEB) proteins. Clinical data, follow-up, and histologic features were assessed. Antibodies against CK7, CD10, vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, AE1-AE3, E-cadherin, α-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase, melan A, and HMB45 were tested on tissue microarrays. Whole-genome microarray expression profiling was performed on 4 tumors. Twenty-nine cases were diagnosed as TFE3 and 2 as TFEB renal translocation carcinomas, including 13 males and 18 females, mean age 24.6 years. Two patients had a previous history of chemotherapy and 1 had a history of renal failure. Mean size of the tumor was 6.9 cm. Thirteen cases were ≥pT3 stage. Twelve cases were N+ or M+. Mean follow-up was 29.5 months. Three patients presented metastases and 5 have died. Mixed papillary and nested patterns with clear and/or eosinophilic cells represented the most consistent histologic appearance, with common foci of calcifications regardless of the type of translocation. Using a 30 mn incubation at room temperature, TFE3 immunostainings were positive in only 82% of our TFE3 translocation carcinomas. Both TFE3 and TFEB renal translocation carcinomas expressed CD10 and α-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase in all cases. An expression of E-cadherin was observed in two-third of cases. Cytokeratins were expressed in less than one-third of cases. Melanocytic markers were expressed at least weakly in all cases except two. Unsupervised clustering on the basis of the gene expression profiling indicated a distinct subgroup of tumors. TRIM 63 glutathione S-transferase A1 and alanyl aminopeptidase are the main differentially expressed genes for this group of tumors. Our results suggest that these differentially expressed genes may serve as novel diagnostic or prognostic markers.

Cross sectional study of conventional cervical smear, monolayer cytology, and human papillomavirus DNA testing for cervical cancer screening

Abstract Objectives: To compare the sensitivity, specificity, and interobserver reliability of conventional cervical smear tests, monolayer cytology, and human papillomavirus testing for screening for cervical cancer. Design: Cross sectional study in which the three techniques were performed simultaneously with a reference standard (colposcopy and histology). Setting: Public university and private practices in France, with complete independence from the suppliers. Participants: 828 women referred for colposcopy because of previously detected cytological abnormalities and 1757 women attending for routine smears. Main outcome measures: Clinical readings and optimised interpretation (two blind readings followed, if necessary, by consensus). Sensitivity, specificity, and weighted κ computed for various thresholds of abnormalities. Results: Conventional cervical smear tests were more often satisfactory (91% v 87%) according to the Bethesda system, more reliable (weighted κ 0.70 v 0.57), and had consistently better sensitivity and specificity than monolayer cytology. These findings applied to clinical readings and optimised interpretations, low and high grade lesions, and populations with low and high incidence of abnormalities. Human papillomavirus testing associated with monolayer cytology, whether systematic or for atypical cells of undetermined significance, performed no better than conventional smear tests. Conclusions: Monolayer cytology is less reliable and more likely to give false positive and false negative results than conventional cervical smear tests for screening for cervical cancer. What is already known on this topic New technologies have been developed to improve the detection of cervical cancer and its precursors and reduce the rate of false negative results from conventional cervical smear tests In several countries liquid based monolayer cytology is replacing conventional smear tests, despite controversy about whether these more expensive tests perform better What this study adds Conventional cervical smear testing is superior in terms of low and high grade lesions and in populations with a low or a high incidence of abnormalities Monolayer testing is less reliable and should not replace conventional cervical smear testing

Heat shock proteins HSP27, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90: expression in bladder carcinoma.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are synthesized by cells in response to various stress conditions, including carcinogenesis. The expression of HSPs in neoplasia has been implicated in the regulation of apoptosis, and HSPs also can act by increasing immunity. In the current study, the authors attempted to clarify the significance of HSPs in bladder carcinoma and their effect on tumor behavior.

EGFR as a potential therapeutic target for a subset of muscle-invasive bladder cancers presenting a basal-like phenotype

A subtype of aggressive human muscle-invasive bladder cancer expresses basal epithelial markers and is sensitive to EGFR inhibition in preclinical models. Bladder Cancer’s Basal Instincts Like most cancers, bladder tumors are much easier to treat when they do not invade deep into the tissue, accounting for the poor outcomes of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. By performing genetic analysis on a large number of these tumors, Rebouissou et al. identified a specific subgroup of muscle-invasive bladder cancers expressing basal markers. Although these are aggressive tumors, the authors showed that they have a weak spot and are unusually dependent on the activity of a signaling pathway called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As a result, these tumors are sensitive to treatment with drugs that inhibit the EGFR pathway, which the authors confirmed in preclinical models. Muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC) constitutes a heterogeneous group of tumors with a poor outcome. Molecular stratification of MIBC may identify clinically relevant tumor subgroups and help to provide effective targeted therapies. From seven series of large-scale transcriptomic data (383 tumors), we identified an MIBC subgroup accounting for 23.5% of MIBC, associated with shorter survival and displaying a basal-like phenotype, as shown by the expression of epithelial basal cell markers. Basal-like tumors presented an activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway linked to frequent EGFR gains and activation of an EGFR autocrine loop. We used a 40-gene expression classifier derived from human tumors to identify human bladder cancer cell lines and a chemically induced mouse model of bladder cancer corresponding to human basal-like bladder cancer. We showed, in both models, that tumor cells were sensitive to anti-EGFR therapy. Our findings provide preclinical proof of concept that anti-EGFR therapy can be used to target a subset of particularly aggressive MIBC tumors expressing basal cell markers and provide diagnostic tools for identifying these tumors.

Addition of Radiotherapy to Long-Term Androgen Deprivation in Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer: An Open Randomised Phase 3 Trial

BACKGROUND Radiotherapy combined with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is superior to radiotherapy alone in localised prostate cancer; however, data comparing ADT alone are somewhat limited. OBJECTIVE To compare 3-yr ADT plus radiotherapy with ADT alone in locally advanced prostate cancer patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A multicentre randomised open controlled phase 3 trial in 264 histologically confirmed T3-4 or pT3N0M0 prostate cancer patients randomised from March 2000 to December 2003. INTERVENTION ADT (11.25mg subcutaneous depot injection of leuprorelin every 3 mo for 3 yr) plus external-beam radiotherapy or ADT alone. Flutamide (750 g/d) was administered for 1 mo. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The primary objective was 5 yr progression-free survival (PFS) according to clinical or biologic criteria, using the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the newer (Phoenix) definition (nadir plus 2 ng/ml), by intention to treat. Secondary objectives included time to locoregional recurrence and distant metastases, and overall and disease-specific survival. Our Analyses: intent-to-treat analysis, multivariate analyses using a Cox model with a 5% threshold from univariate analysis, and Kaplan-Meier estimates. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS ADT alone was administered to 130 patients and combined therapy to 133. With a median follow-up of 67 mo, 5-yr PFS was 60.9% for combined therapy versus 8.5% with ADT alone (ASTRO; p<0.0001), and 64.7% versus 15.4%, respectively, for Phoenix (p<0.0011). Locoregional progression was reported in 9.8% of combined-therapy patients versus 29.2% with ADT alone (p<0.0001) and metastatic progression in 3.0% versus 10.8%, respectively (p<0.018). Overall survival was 71.4% with combined therapy versus 71.5% with ADT alone; disease-specific survival was 93.2% versus 86.2%. Limitations included the relatively small population and a relatively short follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Combined therapy strongly favoured improved PFS, locoregional control, and metastasis-free survival. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the potential survival impact.

Cancer de la prostate

Mutations “ciblables” dans les cancers de la prostate métastatiques Fruit de la collaboration entre de grandes institutions américaines et européennes, un groupe de chercheurs international (1) a analysé, par séquençage systémique de l’exome entier et du transcriptome, les échantillons de 150 patients atteints d’un cancer de la prostate résistant à la castration métastatique (CPRCm). Près de 90 % des hommes testés présentaient au moins 1 mutation permettant de prédire une réponse ou une résistance à des thérapies connues. Des mutations au niveau du récepteur des androgènes (RA) ont été notées chez près du tiers des patients (63 %). Les autres anomalies génomiques retrouvées le plus fréquemment concernaient les gènes de fusion ETS, TP53 et PTEN (40 à 60 % des cas) avec, par rapport aux cancers de la prostate primaires, un enrichissement des altérations du RA et de TP53. De nouvelles altérations ont été identifiées : PI3K3CA/B, R-spondin , BRAF/RAF1, APC, β-caténine, ZBTB16/PLZF. Mais la découverte sans doute la plus importante est le fait, encore une fois par rapport aux tumeurs primaires, que de nombreux patients (23 %) présentaient des mutations des gènes de la réparation de l’ADN, comme BRCA2, BRCA1 et ATM, ouvrant des perspectives thérapeutiques particulières. Ces patients pourraient répondre à des inhibiteurs de PARP, comme l’olaparib (2) .

RECURRENCE, PROGRESSION AND SUCCESS IN STAGE TA GRADE 3 BLADDER TUMORS TREATED WITH LOW DOSE BACILLUS CALMETTE- GUERIN INSTILLATIONS

PURPOSE Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy is considered to be an effective prophylactic and therapeutic agent for high risk superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Nevertheless, in a select uncommon population of stage Ta grade 3 superficial lamina-free tumors the results of this treatment have not yet been well established. We evaluated recurrence and progression rates, and the success of BCG therapy in a population with stage Ta grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS Of the 605 patients treated at our institution from 1982 to 1996 for the histopathological diagnosis of primary bladder cancer 32 (5.3%) with stage Ta grade 3 noninvasive primary bladder tumor were treated with intravesical instillations of 75 mg. Pasteur strain BCG in 50 ml. saline weekly for 6 weeks. At a followup of 2 to 13 years (mean 58.4 months) patients were evaluated with urinary cytology, cystoscopy, transurethral resection and random mucosal biopsies. Recurrence, grade and stage progression, death and causality were analyzed. RESULTS Of the 32 patients 9 (28%) responded positively to BCG without recurrence, while disease recurred as stage Ta in 8 (25%) and T1 in 7 (22%), and progressed to muscle layer infiltration in 8 (25%). Four patients (12%) died of bladder cancer. The number of tumors at primary resection, gross examination, the mitotic index or an association with carcinoma in situ did not appear to be predictive factors of progression to muscle invasion. Urine cytology (I to II versus III to IV) appeared to correlate highly with progression and BCG response (p<0.001) with excellent sensitivity (1) but low specificity (0.67). CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates the high progression potential of stage Ta grade 3 tumors, since nearly 50% recurred and 25% progressed to invasive disease. These results may be closely compared with the results of previous trials of stage T1 grade 3 disease. We suggest that recurrence should be detected at an early stage using long-term followup with strict observance of the surveillance protocols during a minimum 5-year tumor-free period.

Molecular subtypes of clear cell renal cell carcinoma are associated with sunitinib response in the metastatic setting

Purpose: Selecting patients with metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (m-ccRCC) who might benefit from treatment with targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) is a challenge. Our aim was to identify molecular markers associated with outcome in patients with m-ccRCC treated with sunitinib. Experimental Design: We performed global transcriptome analyses on 53 primary resected ccRCC tumors from patients who developed metastatic disease and were treated with first-line sunitinib. We also determined chromosome copy-number aberrations, methylation status, and gene mutations in von Hippel–Lindau and PBRM1. Molecular data were analyzed in relation with response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Validation was performed in 47 additional ccRCC samples treated in first-line metastatic setting with sunitinib. Results: Unsupervised transcriptome analysis identified 4 robust ccRCC subtypes (ccrcc1 to 4) related to previous molecular classifications that were associated with different responses to sunitinib treatment. ccrcc1/ccrcc4 tumors had a lower RR (P = 0.005) and a shorter PFS and OS than ccrcc2/ccrcc3 tumors (P = 0.001 and 0.0003, respectively). These subtypes were the only significant covariate in the multivariate Cox model for PFS and OS (P = 0.017 and 0.006, respectively). ccrcc1/ccrcc4 tumors were characterized by a stem-cell polycomb signature and CpG hypermethylation, whereas ccrcc3 tumors, sensitive to sunitinib, did not exhibit cellular response to hypoxia. Moreover, ccrcc4 tumors exhibited sarcomatoid differentiation with a strong inflammatory, Th1-oriented but suppressive immune microenvironment, with high expression of PDCD1 (PD-1) and its ligands. Conclusions: ccRCC molecular subtypes are predictive of sunitinib response in metastatic patients, and could be used for personalized mRCC treatment with TKIs, demethylating or immunomodulatory drugs. Clin Cancer Res; 21(6); 1329–39. ©2015 AACR.

Diagnostic utility of a p63/ α -methyl-CoA-racemase (p504s) cocktail in atypical foci in the prostate

Prostatic needle biopsy is the preferred method for diagnosing early prostate cancer, providing specific information. In cases of histological cancer mimics, a diagnosis of atypical small acinar proliferation suspected of but not diagnosed as malignancy can be made. In such cases, and in small focus carcinomas, pathologists use 34βE12, cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 or p63 immunostaining to label basal cells, and α-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR/p504s) immunostaining as a positive prostate cancer marker on two distinct slides. However, in cases of small foci, ambiguous lesions might disappear. The purpose of our study was to improve the sensitivity of a cocktail of two antibodies (p63/p504s) with a sample incubation on 260 prostatic specimens, in order to help make a decision in conjunction with standard histology and CK 5/6 immunostaining. We tested 101 small focus prostatic cancers, 104 atypical small acinar proliferation, 19 high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, two atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and 34 benign mimics of cancer. After p63/p504s immunostaining, the final diagnoses retained were as follows: 154 prostatic cancers, 14 atypical small acinar proliferation, 30 high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, three atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and 62 benign mimics of cancer. To differentiate malignant from benign lesions, we used the criteria of greater sensitivity to p504s/p63 (95%) than to CK 5/6 (57%) or p63 (86%), and higher specificity for p504s/p63 (95%) than for CK 5/6 (88%) or p63 (81%). With the p504s/p63 cocktail, 89% of the ambiguous lesions were classified vs 53% for CK 5/6. Combined use of the two antibodies, one (p504s) as a positive marker and the other (p63) as a negative marker, with a simple immunostaining procedure, may improve diagnostic performance, sensitivity and specificity, leading to a reduction in the risk of false negatives; this technique in cases of atypical small acinar proliferation should reduce the percentage of residual ambiguous lesions and the need for additional biopsies.