FGFR a promising druggable target in cancer: Molecular biology and new drugs.

Abstract: Introduction: The Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) family consists of Tyrosine Kinase Receptors (TKR) involved in several biological functions. Recently, alterations of FGFR have been reported to be important for progression and development of several cancers. In this setting, different studies are trying to evaluate the efficacy of different therapies targeting FGFR. Areas Covered: This review summarizes the current status of treatments targeting FGFR, focusing on the trials that are evaluating the FGFR profile as inclusion criteria: Multi-Target, Pan-FGFR Inhibitors and anti-FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor)/FGFR Monoclonal Antibodies. Expert opinion: Most of the TKR share …

Exosomal microRNAs in liquid biopsies: future biomarkers for prostate cancer

Abstract: Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in males in the world. Plasma quantification of prostate-specific antigen substantially improved the early detection of prostate cancer, but still lacks the required specificity. Clinical management of prostate cancer needs advances in the development of new non-invasive biomarkers, ameliorating current diagnosis and prognosis and guiding therapeutic decisions. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. These miRNAs are expressed in the cells and are also present in cell-derived extracellular vesicles such as exosomes. Exosomes have been shown to act as…

CD5 and CD6 as immunoregulatory biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer

Background: The study of immune surveillance in the tumour microenvironment is leading to the development of new biomarkers and therapies. The present research focuses on the expression of CD5 and CD6-two lymphocyte surface markers involved in the fine tuning of TCR signaling-as potential prognostic biomarkers in resectable stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).; Methods: CD5 and CD6 gene expression was analysed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR) in 186 paired fresh frozen tumour and normal tissue samples of resected NSCLC.; Results: Patients with higher CD5 expression had significantly increased overall survival (OS, 49.63 vs. 99.90 months, P=0.…

Lung tumorspheres reveal cancer stem cell-like properties and a score with prognostic impact in resected non-small-cell lung cancer

AbstractThe high resistance against current therapies found in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been associated to cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), a population for which the identification of targets and biomarkers is still under development. In this study, primary cultures from early-stage NSCLC patients were established, using sphere-forming assays for CSC enrichment and adherent conditions for the control counterparts. Patient-derived tumorspheres showed self-renewal and unlimited exponential growth potentials, resistance against chemotherapeutic agents, invasion and differentiation capacities in vitro, and superior tumorigenic potential in vivo. Using quantitative PCR, gene express…

MicroRNA profiling associated with non-small cell lung cancer: next generation sequencing detection, experimental validation, and prognostic value

[EN] Background: The average five-year survival for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is approximately 15%. Emerging evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a new class of gene regulators in humans that may play an important role in tumorigenesis. Hence, there is growing interest in studying their role as possible new biomarkers whose expression is aberrant in cancer. Therefore, in this study we identified dysregulated miRNAs by next generation sequencing (NGS) and analyzed their prognostic value. Methods: Sequencing by oligo ligation detection technology was used to identify dysregulated miRNAs in a training cohort comprising paired tumor/normal tissue samples (N = …

Immune Checkpoints Score and CD8+ T Cells Infiltration Are Independent Prognostic Biomarkers in Resected Nsclc

MiRNA profiling by NGS in resectable non-small cell lung cancer: Prognostic implications.

7559 Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) regulate gene expression, and are implicated in several processes like tumorogenesis. Here, we applied a multiplexed NGS approach to study differentially expressed miRNAs (tumor/ normal) in a cohort of resectable NSCLC patients and its correlation with clinical outcome. Methods: RNA was isolated from frozen lung specimens (tumor/ normal) from 33 patients. High-quality samples were analyzed and enriched in the miRNA fraction. Libraries were prepared according to manufactured instruction (SOLID), and miRNAs were sequenced. Data analysis was carried out using CLCbio software. First, raw data were annotated using miRBase and normalized by total reads followed …

Exosomes genetic cargo in lung cancer: a truly Pandora s box

Lung cancer is a highly lethal disease. Targeted therapies have been developed in last years, however survival rates are not improving due to the delay in the diagnosis, making biomarkers one of the most interesting fields of study in cancer. Liquid biopsy has raised as an alternative to tissue biopsy due to improvements in analytical techniques for circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell free DNA and exosomes. Among all, exosomes have raised as one of the most promising tools to understand the tumor due to their stability in the blood and their similarity to the cells of origin. In the last years, different alterations have been described inside the exosomes derived from non-small cell lung c…

EpCAM duality becomes this molecule in a new Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tale.

EpCAM, known as an epithelial cell adhesion molecule, plays an essential role in cell adhesion, migration, metastasis and cell signalling. Rather than acting as an apoptosis antagonist, it induces cellular proliferation that impacts the cell cycle, and as a signalling transducer it uses and enhances the Wnt pathway, which is significantly relevant in cell renewal and cancer. EpCAM has become a marker of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in lung cancer due to its specificity, and its high and stable expression level. Recent findings have allowed us to relearn and discover EpCAM again as a CSCs marker by demonstrating its role in human epithelial cancer progression. In line with this, the focus…

Profile of the Roche cobas® EGFR mutation test v2 for non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract: Introduction: The discovery of driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has led to the development of genome-based personalized medicine. Fifteen to 20% of adenocarcinomas harbor an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activating mutation associated with responses to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Individual laboratories' expertise and the availability of appropriate equipment are valuable assets in predictive molecular pathology, although the choice of methods should be determined by the nature of the samples to be tested and whether the detection of only well-characterized EGFR mutations or rather, of all detectable mutations, is required.Areas covered:…

Analysis of immunosuppressive factors produced by tumorspheres in NSCLC: Prognostic value of galectin-3 in adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are targets poorly recognized by the immune surveillance system given that they induce an immunosuppressive microenvironment. The aim of this work is to study the interactions between CSCs and the immune microenvironment in NSCLC. Methods Tumor cells from 8 resected NSCLC patients and 12 cell lines were established as tumorspheres enriched in CSCs and as monolayers. The gene expression of IL-4, IL-10, IL6, IL8 and LGALS-3 was analyzed by RTqPCR. Results were validated at a protein level by a sensitivity bead-based multiplex immunoassay using the Millipore kit for Luminex 100/200. The prognostic value of these factors in silico was determined in a…

Analysis of the immune microenvironment in resected non-small cell lung cancer: the prognostic value of different T lymphocyte markers

[EN] The prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains poor and heterogeneous and new biomarkers are needed. As the immune system plays a pivotal role in cancer, the study of immune-related markers may provide valuable prognostic information of NSCLC. In 122 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples from early-stage NSCLC, tumor and tumor-near stromal areas were microdissected and gene expression levels of conventional and regulatory T cell markers were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Also, the presence of infiltrating CD4+, CD8+, and FOXP3+ cells in tumor samples was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The relative proportion of conventional and reg…

Prognostic role of immune checkpoint-related genes in resectable lung adenocarcinomas.

11085 Background: Immune checkpoints blockade has demonstrated promising clinical results in NSCLC patients. In this study we have investigated the prognostic role of immune checkpoint markers (CTLA4, PD1 and PDL1) in resectable lung adenocarcinoma (ADC). Methods: RNA was isolated from fresh-frozen lung specimens (tumor and normal lung) from resectable ADC patients (n=92). RT-PCR was performed to analyze the expression of CTLA4, PD1 and PDL1 by the use of hydrolysis probes. Relative gene expression was assessed by Pfaffl formula and normalized by CDKN1B and ACTB as endogenous genes (selected by geNorm algorithm). Statistical analyses were considered significant at p<0.05. Results: Patient’s…

Abstract 4330: Immune checkpoint expression score is an independent prognostic biomarker in resectable non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract BACKGROUND Immune checkpoints blockade, which activate antitumor immunity, has demonstrated promising clinical results in NSCLC. In this study we have investigated the prognostic role of immune checkpoint expression markers and its correlation with immune-cells infiltration and clinico-pathological characteristics in a cohort of resectable NSCLC patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS RNA was isolated from fresh-frozen lung specimens (tumor and normal lung) (n = 178). RTqPCR was performed to analyze the expression of CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1 by the use of hydrolysis probes. Relative gene expression was assessed by Pfaffl formula and normalized by the use of CDKN1B, GUS and ACTB as endogenous …

miRNA detection methods and clinical implications in lung cancer

[EN] Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Therefore, advances in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease are urgently needed. miRNAs are a family of small, noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level. miRNAs have been reported to be deregulated and to play a critical role in different types of cancer, including lung cancer. Thus, miRNA profiling in lung cancer patients has become the core of several investigations. To this end, the development of a multitude of platforms for miRNA profiling analysis has been essential. This article focuses on the different technologies available for assessing miRNAs and the most important results obtai…

Analysis of the Gut Microbiota: An Emerging Source of Biomarkers for Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Simple Summary The immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and concretely the blockade of the PD1/PDL1 axis, has opened up a new standard of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, despite substantial advances in clinical care, many patients still remain refractory to these therapies. Biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression and tumor mutational burden have been associated with ICB efficacy, but the mechanisms underlying variable responses are not yet fully understood. Recently, the differential composition of the gut microbiota was studied as one of the variables accounting for interpatient heterogeneity in ICB responses. To better understand the potential role of the gut microbiot…

MA04.03 Lung Tumorspheres Characterization Reveals Cancer Stem-Like Cells Potential Targets and Prognostic Markers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Characterization of lung tumourspheres reveals cancer stem-like cells potential targets and prognostic markers in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the first cause of death cancer-related worldwide mainly due to high therapeutic resistance. This resistance is related to cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), for which the identification of targets and markers is still ongoing. Methods Primary cultures from 8 NSCLC patients were established as tumorspheres and as monolayers. CSCs properties were tested for both conditions in vitro and in vivo. The expression of 50 CSCs-related genes was assessed by RTqPCR and proteins of significantly overexpressed genes were examined by immunoblot and immunofluorescence. The prognostic role of these genes was analyzed in a cohort of 661 NSCLC patients f…

Analysis of the prognostic impact of Treg-related genes in tumor and stroma in resectable NSCLC

11073 Background: Immunosuppressive regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) have been proved to play a critical role in immune tolerance to tumor. In this study we have analyzed the expression of 11 genes related to Tregs in both tumor and stroma samples of resectable NSCLC patients. Methods: Primary tumor tissues of FFPE samples from 125 early-stage NSCLC patients were used in this retrospective study. The most representative areas of tumor cells and tumor stroma of each sample were carefully micro-dissected. RTqPCR using hydrolysis probes (TaqMan, Applied Biosystems) was performed to assess the expression of Treg markers such as: CD127, CD25, FOXP3, CTLA-4, IL-10, TGFB-1, LAG-3, GITR and TNF-a …

Analysis of the prognostic role of an immune checkpoint score in resected non-small cell lung cancer patients

[EN] Tumors develop mechanisms to recruit tolerogenic immune cells and to induce the expression of molecules that act as immune checkpoints. This regulation of the immune microenvironment favors immune tolerance to the neoplastic cells. In this study, we have investigated the prognostic role of immune-checkpoint expression markers in a cohort of resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. RNA was isolated from fresh-frozen lung specimens (tumor and normal lung) (n = 178). RTqPCR was performed to analyze the relative expression of 20 immune-related genes that were normalized by the use of endogenous genes selected by GeNorm algorithm. Patients with higher expression levels of IL2…

Exosomes in lung cancer liquid biopsies: Two sides of the same coin?

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Ratios between VEGF ligands and receptors in tumor and stroma have impact on the outcome in resectable NSCLC.

e22147 Background: In tumor angiogenesis there is a complex interplay between endothelial, stromal and tumor cells. Some key regulators of this process are the members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of ligands and receptors and the neuropilins (NRP). This study analyzes the correlations between the expression of these angiogenic factors in tumor cells and tumor stroma, and their prognostic role in tissue samples from resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods: Representative tumor and stroma areas from FFPE tissue samples of 125 early-stage NSCLC patients were carefully micro-dissected. RNA isolated from the samples was retrotranscripted and prea…