Frequent PD-L1 expression in testicular germ cell tumors

Background:

Many testicular germ cell cancers are curable despite metastatic disease, but about 10–15% of patients fail cisplatin-based first-line treatment. Immunotherapy is considered as additional treatment approach for these patients. Inhibition of the interaction between Programmed Death Receptor 1 (PD-1) and Programmed Death Receptor Ligand 1 (PD-L1) enhances T-cell responses in vitro and mediates clinical antitumour activity. We analysed the expression of PD-L1 in testicular germ cell tumours to evaluate its potential as target for immunotherapeutic strategies.

Methods:

Immunohistochemistry was performed in 479 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens using a rabbit monoclonal antibody (E1L3N). The tissue microarray consisted of 208 pure seminomas, 121 non-seminomas, 20 intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified (IGCNU) and 20 specimens of non-neoplastic testicular tissue.

Results:

Programmed Death Receptor Ligand-1 expression was found in 73% of all seminomas and in 64% of all non-seminomas. None of 20 IGCNU and none of 20 normal tissue specimens exhibited PD-L1 expression. PD-L1 positive stromal cells were only detected in seminomas, but not in non-seminomas. The anti PD-L1 antibody showed a pre-dominantly membranous staining pattern in testicular tumour cells, as well as expression in stromal cells.

Conclusions:

This frequent expression of PD-L1 in human testicular germ cell tumours suggests that patients with testicular germ cell tumours could profit from immunotherapeutic strategies using anti-PD1 and anti-PDL1 antibodies.     

程序性死亡受体1及程序性死亡受体配体1抑制剂在小细胞肺癌治疗中的进展

小细胞肺癌(SCLC)约占肺癌的15%,是一种神经内分泌肿瘤,生长迅速、极具侵袭性,容易早期发生远处转移。尽管SCLC对一线化疗敏感,但容易短时间内复发。在过去的5年间,免疫治疗在SCLC中取得了一定的成果,特别是在程序性死亡受体1和程序性死亡受体配体1方面,SCLC治疗模式已经发生改变。文章对免疫检查点抑制剂在SCLC中的探索研究做一综述,以期为广大临床工作者提供参考。     

水通道蛋白在人肺腺癌细胞株中的表达和意义

目的　探讨水通道蛋白在人肺腺癌细胞株SPC A 1中的表达及其意义。方法　利用半定量逆转录PCR和免疫组织化学染色分析水通道蛋白 1、3、4、5在SPC A 1细胞中的表达。结果　免疫组化染色显示水通道蛋白 3和水通道蛋白 5在SPC A 1细胞膜上呈阳性染色 ,而水通道蛋白 1和水通道蛋白 4未见阳性染色。半定量逆转录PCR结果显示SPC A 1细胞水通道蛋白 3和水通道蛋白 5mRNA表达阳性 ,后者表达水平显著高于前者 (P <0 .0 1) ;水通道蛋白 1和水通道蛋白 4mRNA未见表达。结论　人肺腺癌细胞株SPC A 1中有水通道蛋白 3和水通道蛋白 5表达 ,二者在肺腺癌细胞株水转运中的作用有待进一步探讨     

食管鳞状细胞癌患者外周血PD-1和PD-L1的表达及其临床意义

目的:检测食管鳞癌患者外周血中程序性死亡分子1 (programmed cell death 1,PD-1)、程序性死亡分子1配体(pro-grammed cell death ligand 1,PD-L1)及IFN-γ表达情况,并分析其临床意义.方法选取2016年6月至2017年4月河北医科大学第四医院胸外科90例食管鳞状细胞癌患者(其中50例患者行手术治疗)和40例健康对照者为研究对象,收集研究其外周血液标本,采用酶联免疫吸附方法检测血清中可溶性PD-1 (sPD-1)、可溶性PD-L1 (sPD-L1)及IFN-γ的表达水平.采用SPSS 24.0软件对数据进行检验和相关性分析.结果:食管鳞癌组血清中sPD-l、sPD-L1及IFN-γ水平均明显高于正常对照组(P＜0.05);食管鳞癌组手术前血清sPD-L1、IFN-γ水平均明显高于术后(P＜0.05),而sPD-1水平两组比较无明显差异(P＞0.05).sPD-1、sPD-L1的表达水平与临床病理特征无明显相关(P＞0.05),IFN-γ的表达水平与淋巴结转移情况相关(P＜0.05),与T分期、TNM分期、肿瘤体积大小、肿瘤部位、组织分化程度、性别、年龄无明显相关(P＞0.05).血清中sPD-L1表达水平与IFN-γ无明显相关(P＞0.05).结论:食管鳞癌患者血清中sPD-L1较正常人表达升高,且术后表达较术前减少,说明血清中sPD-L1表达水平与病情发展变化有一定相关性.     

非小细胞肺癌患者血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1水平的临床意义

目的:探讨血清sICAM-1,sVCAM-1水平测定在非小细胞肺癌中的临床意义。方法:应用ELISA法测定43例非小细胞肺癌患者(其中14例为化疗后患者)血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1的浓度,并与正常人比较。结果:Ⅰ+Ⅱ期、Ⅲ+Ⅳ期肺癌患者sICAM-1的浓度分别为370.65±78.63ng/ml、550.88±343.31ng/ml均明显高于正常组(P<0.01),且Ⅲ+Ⅳ期患者的sICAMV-1与Ⅰ+Ⅱ期比较具有显著性差异(P<0.05),Ⅰ+Ⅱ期、Ⅲ+Ⅳ期肺癌患者sVCAM-1的浓度分别为543.92±142.37ng/ml、885.12±892.12ng/ml均明显高于正常组(P<0.01),且二者之间也存在差异(P<0.05)。14例化疗后的患者sICAM-1、sVCAM-1分别为351.78±161.80ng/ml、418.64±251.64ng/ml均明显低于化疗前(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:血清sICAM-1,sVCAM-1水平与肺癌的病情发展相关,并有可能作为肺癌化疗评价疗效的血清学指标之一。     

长链非编码RNA ARAP1-AS1在肾透明细胞癌中的表达及作用研究

背景与目的：长链非编码RNA（long non-coding RNA,lncRNA）ARAP1-AS1在多种肿瘤中异常表达,但其在肾透明细胞癌（clear cell renal cell carcinoma,ccRCC）中的作用尚不清楚。探讨ARAP1-AS1在ccRCC中的生物学作用。方法：通过GEPIA数据库分析ARAP1-AS1在ccRCC组织中的表达及其与临床病理学特征及患者生存率的关系。采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RTFQ-PCR）检测ccRCC组织及邻近的非肿瘤组织中ARAP1-AS1的表达水平。将患者分为ARAP1-AS1高表达组和低表达组,分析ARAP1-AS1的表达水平与患者临床病理学特征之间的关系,并进行生存分析。通过细胞计数试剂盒-8（cell counting kit-8,CCK-8）实验、transwell迁移实验及侵袭实验检测ARAP1-AS1对ccRCC细胞体外增殖、迁移及侵袭能力的影响。采用蛋白质印迹法（Western blot）检测Wnt/β-catenin信号通路相关蛋白表达变化。采用BALB/c裸小鼠移植瘤模型分析ARAP1-AS1对ccRCC细胞体内成瘤能力的影响。结果：GEPIA数据库分析结果显示,ARAP1-AS1在ccRCC中高表达,且与患者肿瘤高分期及较差的生存率相关（P均<0.05）。RTFQ-PCR显示,ARAP1-AS1在ccRCC组织及细胞系中高表达,ARAP1-AS1的高表达与肿瘤大小和分期相关（P均<0.05）。ARAP1-AS1高表达患者的总生存率较差（P<0.05）。沉默ARAP1-AS1的表达可以抑制ccRCC细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭（P均<0.05）。沉默ARAP1-AS1可以降低Wnt/β-catenin信号通路相关蛋白的表达水平（P均<0.05）。沉默ARAP1-AS1可使ccRCC细胞体内成瘤能力减弱,并使Ki-67增殖指数降低。结论：ARAP1-AS1可通过激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路促进ccRCC的进展。     

头颈部肿瘤组织中PD-L1的表达及临床意义分析

目的 探讨头颈部肿瘤组织中细胞程序性死亡配体-1（PD-L1）的表达情况及临床意义。方法 将2015 年1 月至2016年6月收治的40例头颈部恶性肿瘤组织及20例头颈部囊肿组织的手术标本经包埋制作成蜡块,采用免疫组织化学SP二步法检测以上组织中的PD-L1蛋白表达情况,分析PD-L1表达水平与临床病理参数（年龄、性别、病理分化程度和临床分期）的关系。结果PD-L1在头颈部囊肿组织中不表达,头颈部肿瘤组织中的阳性表达率为65.0%（26/40）,高于头颈部囊肿组织,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。PD-L1表达与年龄、性别及病理分化程度无关（P>0.05）,而与患者的临床分期有关（P<0.05）。结论 PD-L1在头颈部恶性肿瘤组织中表达升高,可为头颈部恶性肿瘤的免疫靶向治疗提供参考。     

Phenotypic effects of overexpression of the MMAC1 gene in prostate epithelial cells

The prostate cancer cell lines PC3 and LNCaP have been shown to lack expression of the tumour suppressor gene MMAC1/PTEN, in contrast to the immortalized non-tumorigenic epithelial lines PNT1a and PNT2. We have measured the effects of reintroduction of wild type (wt) and mutant MMAC1 genes on to these genetic backgrounds, using gene constructs expressing either wt MMAC1 or various mutants deficient in the dual specificity phosphatase domain of the protein. Over-expression of wild type PTEN protein induced cell shrinkage and rounding, but did not result in increased levels of classical apoptosis. Permanently transfected lines containing the MMAC1 gene could only be obtained from the PNT cells, as PTEN expression resulted in rapid loss of both tumour lines. In contrast, mutation of the phosphatase domain resulted in partial attenuation of the phenotypic effects of MMAC1 after transient transfection, and also allowed the derivation of permanent tumour cell lines containing the mutated MMAC1 gene. The results suggest that re-expression of wt PTEN is incompatible with survival of human prostate cancer cells in vitro, and that the full biological activity of this common tumour suppressor requires functions additional to the established protein and lipid phosphatase activities in epithelial systems.     

Chk1-induced CCNB1 overexpression promotes cell proliferation and tumor growth in human colorectal cancer

The high morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer pose a significant public health problem worldwide. Here we assessed the pro-cancer efficacy and mechanism of action of CCNB1 in different colorectal cancer cells. We provided evidence that CCNB1 mRNA and protein level were upregulated in a subset of human colorectal tumors, and positively correlated with Chk1 expression. Repression of Chk1 caused a significant decrease in cell proliferation and CCNB1 protein expression in colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, downregulation of CCNB1 impaired colorectal cancer proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Specifically, suppression of CCNB1 caused a strong G₂/M phase arrest in both HCT116 and SW480 cells, interfering with the expression of cdc25c and CDK1. Additionally, CCNB1 inhibition induced apoptotic death in certain colorectal cancer cells. Together, these results suggest that CCNB1 is activated by Chk1, exerts its oncogenic role in colorectal cancer cells, and may play a key role in the development of a novel therapeutic approach against colorectal cancer.     

PD-1/PD-L1在食管鳞癌中的研究进展

食管癌的发病率和死亡率均较高,也是最难治疗和治愈的恶性肿瘤之一。当前,免疫检查点抑制剂在肿瘤治疗中取得了突破进展,相关研究已成为热点,针对免疫检查点“程序性死亡分子1”(PD-1)及其配体PD-L1抗体的临床研究也正在广泛开展,本文就PD-1/PD-L1在食管鳞癌中的研究进展做一综述。     

Ras activation contributes to the maintenance and expansion of Sca-1 cells in a mouse model of breast cancer

The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis proposes that CSCs are the root of cancer and cause cancer metastasis and recurrence. In this study, we examined whether Ras signaling is associated with stemness of the CSCs population characterized by the stem cell antigen (Sca-1) phenotype in a 4T1 syngeneic mouse model of breast cancer. The Sca-1^pos putative CSCs had high levels of activated Ras and phosphorylated MEK (p-MEK), compared with counterparts. The Ras farnesylation inhibitor (FTI-277) suppressed the maintenance and expansion of CSCs. Therefore, selective inhibition of Ras activation may be useful for stem-specific cancer therapy.     

Characterization of PD-1 and PD-L1 Expression in Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results of a Large Multicenter Study

BackgroundProgrammed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) play a decisive role as prognostic markers in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). To date, the role of PD-1/PD-L1 as a prognostic marker in papillary RCC (pRCC) remains scarce.Patients and MethodsPatients’ sample collection was a joint collaboration of the nationwide PANZAR consortium – a multicenter study. Medical history and tumor specimens were collected from 245 and 129 patients with pRCC types 1 and 2, respectively. Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 was determined by immunohistochemistry in pRCC and tumor-infiltrating mononuclear cells.ResultsOf 374 pRCC specimens, 204 type 1 and 97 type 2 were evaluable for PD-1 and PD-L1 expression analysis. In total, PD-1 and PD-L1 expression were found in 8 (4.9%) of 162 and 12 (7.2%) of 166 evaluable pRCC type 1 specimens. Comparably, PD-1 and PD-L1 expression were found in 2 (2.4%) of 83 and 5 (6.2%) of 81 evaluable pRCC type 2 specimens. Hardly any clinically relevant associations between PD-1 and PD-L1 positivity and clinicopathologic or clinical courses were observed, neither in pRCC type 1 nor type 2.ConclusionThe analysis of a large pRCC cohort from a multicenter consortium revealed no impact of PD-1/PD-L1 expression on prognosis in patients with pRCC with predominantly limited disease status, neither for type 1 nor type 2. However, the impact of PD-1 and PD-L1 in more advanced pRCC disease needs further elucidation.     

Programmed cell death-ligand 1 expression in surgically resected stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma and its correlation with driver mutations and clinical outcomes

BackgroundProgrammed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed in a group of cancers that may be suitable targets for specific immunotherapy. This study investigated the expression of PD-L1 in surgically resected stage I adenocarcinomas and correlated this with known major driver mutations and clinical outcomes.Materials and methodsOne hundred and sixty-three patients with surgically resected stage I adenocarcinomas were explored. Paraffin-embedded tumour sections were stained with PD-L1 antibody. Tumours with moderate-to-strong membrane staining in ⩾5% of tumour cells were scored as positive for PD-L1 overexpression. The driver mutation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), and v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) were examined by direct sequencing and anaplastic lymphoma kinsase (ALK) by immunohistochemistry. The correlations of PD-L1 expression with major driver mutations and clinicopathologic parameters were analysed.ResultsThe overall frequency of PD-L1 overexpression was 39.9% (65/163). PD-L1 had higher positive results in tumours with higher grade differentiation and vascular invasion and PD-L1 expression was not associated with the expressions of EGFR, KRAS, BRAF and ALK. Multivariate analysis revealed that abnormal carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and higher grade of differentiation were risk factors for poor relapse-free survival (RFS) and PD-L1 expression correlated with better RFS. Advanced pathologic stage was the independent risk for poor overall survival (OS).ConclusionsThe PD-L1 expression can be used as a prognostic indicator predictive of RFS in patients with surgically resected stage I lung adenocarcinomas. There may be a possibility for immunotherapy targeting the PD-L1 pathway in patients with lung adenocarcinoma in the future.     

Downregulation and growth inhibitory role of FHL1 in lung cancer

Four and a half Lin-11, Isl-1, Mac-3 (LIM) protein 1 (FHL1) has been linked to carcinogenesis. However, the role of FHL1 in lung cancer remains unclear and the detailed mechanism underlying its tumor suppressive role is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine FHL1 expression in lung cancer patients and to investigate how it was associated with lung cancer cell growth. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry showed that FHL1 protein was downregulated in over 90% of 80 lung cancer patients. FHL1 expression was strongly correlated with tumor histological types (p < 10(-4) ) and the differentiation of the tumor (p = 0.002). FHL1 inhibited anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of human lung cancer cell lines. The inhibitory effects of FHL1 on lung cancer cell growth were associated with both the G1 and the G2/M cell cycle arrest concomitant with a marked inhibition of cyclin A, cyclin B1 and cyclin D as well as the induction of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors p21 (WAF1/CIP1) and p27 (Kip1). Direct intratumoral injection of an adenovirus expressing FHL1 dramatically suppressed the growth of A549 lung cancer cells in nude mice. Our data suggest that reduced expression of FHL1 may play an important role in the development and progression of lung cancer and that FHL1 may be a useful target for lung cancer gene therapy.     

The IGF-1 receptor in cancer biology

The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) plays an important role in the establishment and maintenance of the transformed phenotype. It also has a strong antiapoptotic activity and has a significant influence on the control of cell and body size. Downregulation of the IGF-1R leads to massive apoptosis of cancer cells. These characteristics make it an attractive target for anticancer therapy.     

急性髓系白血病细胞中 DICER1 基因的表达及其功能研究简

目的：检测急性髓系白血病细胞株HL-60、KG-1细胞中DICER1基因的表达水平,研究DICER1基因沉默对HL-60、KG-1细胞增殖、凋亡的影响,探寻DICER1在白血病发病机制中的作用。方法：应用Real-time PCR和Western blot检测DICER1在白血病细胞株HL-60、KG-1中mRNA和蛋白的相对表达水平。用Lipofectamine TM LTX 将DICER-shRNA载体转染HL-60、KG-1细胞,Real-time PCR和Western blot的方法从mRNA和蛋白水平检测DICER1的干扰效率。CCK-8法检测DICER1干扰后对白血病细胞增殖的影响,流式细胞仪检测DICER1干扰后白血病细胞凋亡率。结果：以正常HEK293细胞为对照,白血病细胞株HL-60、KG-1中DICER1 mRNA和蛋白的表达水平显著高于正常HEK293细胞（P＜0.05）。DICER1-shRNA转染HL-60、KG-1细胞5天后,DICER1 mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著下降,干扰效果显著（P＜0.05）;CCK-8实验结果表明：与对照组细胞相比,DICER1干扰后白血病细胞增殖力显著降低（P＜0.05）;流式细胞分析表明：与正常细胞和对照组细胞比较,DICER1干扰后白血病细胞凋亡显著增加（P＜0.01）。结论：DICER1在白血病细胞株HL-60、KG-1中高表达,具有促进白血病细胞增殖,抑制凋亡的作用。     

GOLM1在肺腺癌组织中的表达及对A549细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭能力的影响

目的:探讨高尔基磷蛋白2（Golgi phosphoprotein 2,GOLPH2,又称为GP73 或GOLM1）在肺腺癌组织中的表达及对A549细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭能力的影响。方法:从GEPIA数据库分析肺腺癌组织中GOLM1 mRNA表达情况及与肺腺癌患者预后的相关性;利用慢病毒siRNA技术下调人肺腺癌A549细胞中GOLM1的表达,通过Real-time PCR验证沉默效果,CCK-8、细胞划痕实验及Transwell实验检测细胞的增殖、迁移、侵袭能力。结果:GOLM1 mRNA在肺腺癌组织中高表达(P＜0.05);GOLM1 mRNA高表达的肺腺癌患者的总生存期明显低于GOLM1低表达患者(P＜0.05);沉默GOLM1表达后A549细胞的增殖、迁移及侵袭能力显著被抑制(P＜0．05)。结论:GOLM1在肺腺癌组织中高表达,沉默其表达可抑制肺腺癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭能力,可以作为潜在的评估肺腺癌患者预后的标志物和治疗靶标。     

PD-1 and PD-L1 Protein Expression Predict Survival in Completely Resected Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

We assessed the prognostic value of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in patients with completely resected lung adenocarcinoma.