MTHFR和TYMS的多态性预测转移性乳腺癌患者因卡培他滨诱发的手足综合征

背景与目的乳腺癌是一个全球性问题,每年都会诊断出大量的新发病例。卡培他滨对转移性乳腺癌(metastatic breast cancer,MBC)患者有效。手足综合征(hand-foot syndrome,HFS)是卡培他滨的常见不良反应。在本文中,我们研究了卡培他滨代谢通路相关基因中的单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphisms,SNPs)与卡培他滨诱导的中国MBC患者HFS之间的相关性,以确定一些具有预测性的生物标志物基因。方法我们选择了3个参与卡培他滨代谢的基因,并筛选了这些靶基因的遗传变体。我们对342例接受卡培他滨化疗的MBC患者的胸苷酸合酶基因(thymidylate synthase gene,TYMS)、亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶基因(methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene,MTHFR)和核糖核苷酸还原酶M1基因(ribonucleotide reductaseM1gene,RRM1)中的22个SNPs进行了基因分型。使用Pearson’sχ2检验评估患有和不患有HFS的患者中每个SNP的基因型分布,并使用logistic回归分析确定HFS与SNP的基因型之间的相关性。使用血液表达数量定量性状基因座(expression quantitative trait loci,e QTL)Browser在线工具分析了SNP及其对应基因表达之间的相关性。结果我们在TYMS和MTHFR基因中发现了4个HFS阳性位点:TYMS rs2606241(P=0.022)、TYMS rs2853741(P=0.019)、MTHFR rs3737964(P=0.029)和MTHFR rs4846048(P=0.030)。Logistic回归分析显示,MTHFR rs3737964[比值比(odds ratio,OR)=0.54,95%置信区间(confidence interval,CI):0.3–0.97,P=0.038]和MTHFRrs4846048(OR=0.54,95%CI:0.30–0.98,P=0.042)的基因型AG是HFS的保护因素,而TYMS rs2853741的基因型CT(OR=2.25,95%CI:1.31–3.87,P=0.012)增加了HFS的风险。TYMSrs2606241的基因型GT(OR=1.27,95%CI:0.73–2.23,P=0.012)与HFS之间的相关性尚不确定。进一步的e QTL分析证实,rs3737964和rs4846048的等位基因影响顺式MTHFR的基因表达水平。结论我们已经确定了4个潜在有效的药物遗传学标记,TYMS rs2606241、TYMS rs2853741、MTHFR rs3737964和MTHFR rs4846048可以预测卡培他滨诱导的MBC患者的HFS。

基于上皮–间质转化标志物的循环肿瘤细胞表型检测对HER2阴性转移性乳腺癌一线化疗的预后意义

背景与目的上皮–间质转化(epithelia-mesenchymal,EMT)参与肿瘤细胞的转移,并且对基于上皮细胞黏附分子的循环肿瘤细胞(circulating tumor cells,CTCs)检测技术提出了挑战,CTCs已被证实是转移性乳腺癌的预后指标。虽然有证据表明基于EMT标志物的CTCs异质性与疾病进展相关,但在临床应用方面尚无统一的参考标准。本研究旨在评估基于EMT的动态CTCs检测对转移性乳腺癌患者的预后意义。方法我们从CAMELLIA III期前瞻性研究中招募了108例人表皮生长因子受体2阴性转移性乳腺癌患者,并应用CanPatrol CTC富集技术检测外周血中不同亚型的CTCs(包括上皮型CTCs、混合型上皮/间质CTCs和间质型CTCs)。应用1年无进展生存(progression-free survival,PFS)率作为界值分别寻找CTC总数和间质CTCs比例的受试者工作曲线来确定最佳阈值,并采用Kaplan-Meier分析和Cox比例风险回归分析验证综合考虑CTC总数和间质型CTCs比例制定的诊断标准的预后价值。结果CTC总数的最佳阈值为9.5[曲线下面积(area under the curve,AUC)=0.538,95%置信区间(confidence interval,CI=0.418–0.657)]及间质CTCs比例为10.7%(AUC=0.581,95%CI:0.463–0.699)作为预测1年PFS率的界值。我们采用CTC总数≥10/5 mL且间质CTCs比例>10.7%的联合标准预测PFS。符合联合标准的患者的中位PFS显著短于不符合标准的患者(6.2个月vs.9.9个月,P=0.010)。根据该标准和显著的临床病理学特征绘制列线图,C指数为0.613(P=0.010)。结论CTC总数和间质CTCs比例的联合标准可用于监测转移性乳腺癌患者的治疗耐药性和预测患者预后。

三阴性乳腺癌患者因新辅助或辅助化疗引起的早发性心脏事件与其基因组DNA中某些新的自噬相关单核苷酸多态性的相关性研究：一项真实世界研究

背景与目的越来越多的癌症患者死于心血管疾病。三阴性乳腺癌(triple-negative breast cancer,TNBC)可选的治疗方法有限,因此化疗引起的心脏毒性对该类患者非常重要。心脏自噬是心脏毒性的重要机制之一。本研究旨在研究化疗对TNBC患者的心脏毒性,筛选易感人群,探讨心脏毒性与自噬相关基因多态性的相关性。方法在2450例I–III期TNBC患者中,有147例纳入了本研究。大多数患者在化疗周期前进行心电图(electrocardiography,ECG)检查,并根据临床需要进行超声心动图(echocardiography,UCG)检查。所有ECG和UCG资料均由阜外医院国家心血管病中心的心血管专家重新评判。根据美国国家生物技术信息中心数据库和癌症体细胞突变目录数据库,我们筛选了25个与自噬相关的单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphisms,SNPs),并对147例TNBC患者进行了基因分型。采用配对样本T检验、卡方检验和logistic回归模型进行分析。结果每个化疗周期后,只有46(31.3%)例患者的ECG完全正常。在接受UCG的16例患者中,有2(12.5%)例患者左心室射血分数可逆性下降。使用蒽环类药物和过量饮酒是ECG异常的危险因素。随着化疗的持续,心率逐渐增加。蒽环类药物与QRS期持续异常有关(P=0.043)。我们对25个与自噬有关的SNP进行基因分型后发现,自噬相关基因13(ATG13)rs10838611的G等位基因与ECG异常显著相关(优势比=2.258,95%置信区间:1.318–3.869;P=0.003)。结论化疗引起的ECG异常在真实世界中很常见。自噬相关单核苷酸多态性与化疗引起的心脏毒性相关,本研究为自噬是化疗所致心脏损害的原因提供了新的证据。

Pyrotinib plus capecitabine could significantly improve overall survival in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

Dear Editor,The irreversible pan-ErbB tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs),including neratinib and pyrotinib,demonstrated more complete inhibition towards ErbB-family and promising antitumor activity compared to lapatinib,a reversible TKI.1 In the phase III NALA study for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer(MBC)who were progressed after two lines of HER2-targeted regimens,2 significant improvement was observed in progression-free survival(PFS)in patients receiving neratinib combined with capecitabine when compared to lapatinib plus capecitabine(L+C)group.However,the 2.2-month PFS improvement in neratinib plus capecitabine cohort failed to translate to a significant benefit in the overall survival(OS,24.0 vs 22.2 months,P=0.2086).2 While another irreversible TKI,pyrotinib combined with capecitabine(P+C)achieved clinically and statistically significant improvement in the PFS and a trend of benefits in the OS when compared to the L+C group,based on the interim analysis(with the cutoff of March 31,2019)of the phase III PHOEBE study.3 Generally speaking,current evidence was still limited regarding the survival data of irreversible TKIs.

Multi-omics fusion analysis models with machine learning predict survival of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: a multicenter prospective observational study

To the Editor:Oncology precision medicine aims to identify patientsmostlikely torespondeffectivelytotherapies.Efforts to establish a survival prediction model using a single platform have not yet met the precision medicine goals.

The prognostic and therapeutic implications of circulating tumor cell phenotype detection based on epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in the first-line chemotherapy of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer

Background:Epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)is implicated in the metastatic process and presents a chal-lenge to epithelial cell adhesion molecule-based detection of circulating tumor cells(CTCs),which have been demon-strated to be a prognostic indicator in metastatic breast cancer.Although evidence has indicated that heterogeneity of CTCs based on EMT markers is associated with disease progression,no standard recommendations have been established for clinical practice.This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of dynamic CTC detection based on EMT for metastatic breast cancer patients.Methods:We enrolled 108 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients from the prospective phase III CAMELLIA study and applied the CanPatrol CTC enrichment technique to identify CTC phenotypes(including epithelial CTCs,biphenotypic epithelial/mesenchymal CTCs,and mesenchymal CTCs)in peripheral blood samples.Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses of total CTC count and the proportion of mesenchymal CTCs for predicting the 1-year progression-free survival(PFS)rate were conducted to determine the optimal cut-off values,and Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed to investigate the prognostic value of the cut-off values of both total CTC count and the proportion of mesenchymal CTCs in combination.Results:For predicting the 1-year PFS rate,the optimal cut-off value of total CTC count was 9.5(Area under the curve[AUC]=0.538,95%confidence interval[CI]=0.418-0.657),and that of the proportion of mesenchymal CTCs was 10.7%(AUC=0.581,95%CI=0.463-0.699).We used the two cut-off values in combination to forecast PFS in which the total CTC count was equaled to or exceeded 10/5 mL with the proportion of mesenchymal CTCs surpassed 10.7%.Patients who met the combined criteria had significantly shorter median PFS than did those who did not meet the criteria(6.2 vs.9.9 months,P=0.010).A nomogram was constructed based on the criteria and significant clinicopatho-logical characteristics with a C-index of 0.613(P=0.010).Conclusions: The criteria, which combine the total CTC count and the proportion of mesenchymal CTCs, may be used to monitor therapeutic resistance and predict prognosis in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

The association between early-onset cardiac events caused by neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer patients and some novel autophagy-related polymorphisms in their genomic DNA: a real-world study

Background:An increasing number of cancer patients die of cardiovascular diseases.The cardiotoxicity of chemo-therapy is particularly important in triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)with limited therapeutic options.Cardiac autophagy is an important mechanism of cardiotoxicity.This research was aimed to investigate the cardiotoxicity of chemotherapy in TNBC,screen the susceptible population,and determine the relationship between cardiotoxicity and autophagy-related polymorphisms.Methods:From a total of 2450 stage I-III TNBC patients,147 met the inclusion criteria and finally recruited.Electro-cardiography(ECG)was performed before most chemotherapy cycles,and echocardiography(UCG)was performed according to clinical needs.All ECG and UCG records were re-interpreted by cardiologists at the National Center for Cardiovascular Disease,Fuwai Hospital.According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the Catalog of Somatic Mutations in Cancer database,we selected 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)related to autophagy and genotyped the 147 TNBC patients.Paired-sample T tests,Chi squared tests,and logistic regression models were employed for the analysis.Results:Only 46(31.3%)patients had normal ECG records after every chemotherapy cycle.Among the 16 patients who underwent UCG,2(12.5%)had a reversible decrease of left ventricular ejection fraction.The use of anthracyclines and excessive alcohol consumption were risk factors of ECG abnormalities.With the continuation of chemotherapy,heart rate gradually increased.Anthracyclines were associated with QRS duration abnormalities(P=0.043).After genotyping for 25 autophagy-related SNPs,we found that the G allele of autophagy-related 13(ATG13)rs10838611 was significantly associated with ECG abnormalities(odds ratio=2.258,95%confidence interval=1.318-3.869;P=0.003).Conclusion:ECG abnormalities caused by chemotherapy are common in the real world.Autophagy-related SNPs are associated with chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity,thereby providing new evidence for autophagy as a cause of chemotherapy-induced cardiac damage.

Polymorphisms of MTHFR and TYMS predict capecitabine-induced hand-foot syndrome in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Background:Breast cancer is a global problem,and a large number of new cases are diagnosed every year.Capecit-abine is effective in patients with metastatic breast cancer(MBC).Hand-foot syndrome(HFS)is a common adverse effect of capecitabine.In this study,we investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)in genes involved in capecitabine metabolism pathways and capecitabine-induced HFS in Chinese patients with MBC to identify some predictive genetic biomarkers.Methods:We selected 3 genes involved in capecitabine metabolism and screened genetic variants in these target genes.We genotyped a total of 22 SNPs in the thymidylate synthase gene(TYMS),the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene(MTHFR),and the ribonucleotide reductase M1 gene(RRM1)in 342 MBC patients treated with capecit-abine-based chemotherapy.The genotype distributions of each SNP in patients with and without HFS were assessed using Pearson’sχ^(2)test,and the relationship between HFS and genotypes of SNPs was determined using logistic regression analysis.The association between SNPs and their corresponding gene expression was analyzed using the Blood expression quantitative trait loci(eQTL)browser online tools.Results:We found 4 positive sites for HFS in the TYMS and MTHFR genes:TYMS rs2606241(P=0.022),TYMS rs2853741(P=0.019),MTHFR rs3737964(P=0.029),and MTHFR rs4846048(P=0.030).Logistic regression analyses showed that the genotype AG of MTHFR rs3737964[odds ratio(OR)=0.54,95%confidence interval(CI)0.31-0.97,P=0.038]and MTHFR rs4846048(OR=0.54,95%CI 0.30-0.98,P=0.042)were protective factors of HFS,whereas the genotype CT of TYMS rs2853741(OR=2.25,95%CI 1.31-3.87,P=0.012)increased the risk of HFS.The association between the genotype GT of TYMS rs2606241(OR=1.27,95%CI 0.73-2.23,P=0.012)and HFS was uncertain.Further eQTL analyses confirmed that the alleles of rs3737964 and rs4846048 affected the gene expression levels of MTHFR in cis.Conclusions:We have identified four potentially useful pharmacogenetic markers,TYMS rs2606241,TYMS rs2853741,MTHFR rs3737964,and MTHFR rs4846048 to predict capecitabine-induced HFS in MBC patients.

Antibody-drug conjugates in HER2-positive breast cancer

Antibody-drug conjugates(ADCs)combine the high specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the high anti-tumor activity of small molecular cytotoxic payloads.The anti-tumor activity of ADCs is mainly achieved by the direct blocking of the receptor by monoclonal antibodies,direct action and bystander effect of cytotoxic drugs,and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity.ADCs have been used in adjuvant therapy and rescue treatment of human epidermal receptor 2(HER2)-positive breast cancer,greatly improving the prognosis of breast cancer patients.Several ongoing clinical trials of ADC for breast cancer and other solid tumors proved the potential of ADCs will provide more promising treatment options for patients with malignant tumors.This review introduces the mechanism and latest clinical progress of ADC drugs approved for HER2-positive breast cancer to guide clinical practice and conduct research.

The molecular tumor burden index as a response evaluation criterion in breast cancer

Circulating tumor DNA(ctDNA)is a potential biomarker of prognosis and therapeutic response.We conducted this study to explore the role of the molecular tumor burden index(mTBI)in ctDNA as a therapeutic response and prognostic biomarker in a larger cohort prospective phase III randomized multicenter study.We collected 291 plasma samples from 125 metastatic breast cancer patients from the CAMELLIA study(NCT01917279).Target-capture deep sequencing of 1021 genes was performed to detect somatic variants in ctDNA from the plasma samples.The pretreatment mTBI value was correlated with tumor burden(P=0.025).Patients with high-level pretreatment mTBI had shorter overall survival than patients with low-level pretreatment mTBI,and the median overall survival was 40.9 months and 68.4 months,respectively(P=0.011).Patients with mTBI decrease to less than 0.02%at the first tumor evaluation had longer progression-free survival and overall survival(P<0.001 and P=0.007,respectively).The mTBI has good sensitivity to identify complete response/partial response and progressive disease based on computed tomography scans(88.5%and 87.5%,respectively).The patients classified as molecular responders had longer progression-free survival and overall survival than the nonmolecular responders in the overall cohort(P<0.001 and P=0.036,respectively),as well as in the cohort in which computed tomography scans were defined as representing stable disease(P=0.027 and P=0.015,respectively).The mTBI in ctDNA detected in liquid biopsies is a potential biomarker of therapeutic response and prognosis in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

A nanosystem of copper(II)-disulfiram for cancer treatment with high efficacy and few side effects

Developing chemotherapy drugs with high efficacy and few side effects has been a bottleneck problem that requires an efficient solution.The active cancer treatment ingredient disulfiram(DSF),inspired by the copper(II)diethyldithiocarbamate complex(CuET),can be used in a one-pot synthesis method to construct a CuET delivery nanosystem(CuET-ZIFCu@HA).Due to the high biocompatibility,targeting of CD44 overexpressed cancer cells,and acid response of zeolitic imidazolate framework(ZIF)materials of hyaluronic acid(HA),we realized that CuET-ZIFCu@HA could become an effective and highly selective cancer treatment.Both in vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that CuET-ZIFCu@HA has robust anti-tumor properties without evident side effects.This research provided a promising strategy for DSF nanosystems that involves simple preparation and high efficacy,both of which are key to reusing DSF in cancer treatment.

Pooled analyses of randomized controlled trials onpyrotinib plus capecitabine and a rethink of the first-line options for HER2-positive relapsed or metastatic breast cancer

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-positive breast cancer,which accounts for 15%-20% of breast cancers,is associated with aggressive tumor behavior and conferred a poor outcome before the era of HER2-targeted therapy.The advent of anti-HER2 antibodies(trastuzumab and pertuzumab),antibody-drug conjugates(ADCs,ado-trastuzumab emtansine and trastuzumab deruxtecan),and HER2‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs,neratinib and lapatinib),have dramatically improved the treatment response and survival of this aggressive subtype.