Extracellular vesicles transmitted miR-31-5p promotes sorafenib resistance by targeting MLH1 in renal cell carcinoma

Sorafenib provides survival benefits in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but its use is hampered by acquired drug resistance. It is important to fully clarify the molecular mechanisms of sorafenib resistance, which can help to avoid, delay or reverse drug resistance. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can mediate intercellular communication by delivering effector molecules between cells. Here, we studied whether EVs are involved in sorafenib resistance of RCC and its possible molecular mechanisms. Using differential centrifugation, EVs were isolated from established sorafenib-resistant RCC cells (786-0 and ACHN), and EVs derived from sorafenib-resistant cells were uptaken by sensitive parental RCC cells and thus promoted drug resistance. Elevated exogenous miR-31-5p within EVs effectively downregulated MutL homolog 1 (MLH1) expression and thus promoted sorafenib resistance in vitro. Mice experiments also confirmed that miR-31-5p could mediate drug sensitivity in vivo. In addition, low expression of MLH1 was observed in sorafenib-resistant RCC cells and upregulation of MLH1 expression restored the sensitivity of resistant cell lines to sorafenib. Finally, miR-31-5p level in circulating EVs of RCC patients with progressive disease (PD) during sorafenib therapy was higher when compared to that in the pretherapy status. In conclusion, EVs shuttled miR-31-5p can transfer resistance information from sorafenib-resistant cells to sensitive cells by directly targeting MLH1, and thus magnify the drug resistance information to the whole tumor. Furthermore, miR-31-5p and MLH1 could be promising predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets to prevent sorafenib resistance.     

索拉非尼联合免疫检查点抑制剂治疗TACE抵抗的中晚期肝癌的疗效及安全性

目的 探讨索拉非尼联合免疫检查点抑制剂（immune checkpoint inhibitors,ICIs）治疗经肝动脉化疗栓塞术（transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,TACE）抵抗的中晚期肝癌的疗效及安全性。方法 回顾性分析2017年1月至2021年3月期间在温州医科大学附属第五医院确诊为TACE抵抗的中晚期肝癌患者的资料,共54例,年龄28～82（56.1±11.8）岁,其中BCLC B期24例,C期30例;Child-Pugh A级34例,B级20例。根据治疗方法不同,分为对照组和联合组,对照组接受单一索拉非尼治疗（n=33）,联合组接受索拉非尼联合ICIs治疗（n=21）;比较两组患者的一般情况、肿瘤反应性、肿瘤无进展生存时间（progression-free survival,PFS）及不良反应的发生情况。结果 联合组（2例CR、11例PR、4例SD和4例PD）的肿瘤反应性明显优于对照组（2例CR、8例PR、10例SD、13例PD）（P=0.041）。联合组的中位PFS明显长于对照组（13.5个月 vs 6.8个月,P=0.010）;多因素分析显示Child-Pugh B级（HR 2.202,95%CI 1.059～4.581,P=0.035）、BCLC C期（HR 4.077,95%CI 1.902～8.742,P<0.001）、AFP≥400 ng/mL（HR 5.728,95%CI 2.227～14.729,P＜0.001）是TACE抵抗肝癌PFS的独立危险因素,索拉非尼联合ICIs（HR 0.180,95%CI 0.082～0.392,P<0.001）是肝癌患者的保护因素。联合组并发皮炎、腹泻的发生率明显多于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 索拉非尼联合ICIs治疗提高TACE抵抗中晚期肝癌的肿瘤反应性,延长患者PFS,是一种有效、安全的治疗方案。     

肝癌索拉非尼敏感性预测模型的构建及临床意义

目的：基于生物信息学方法构建并验证肝细胞癌(以下简称肝癌)对索拉非尼敏感性相关基因的预后风险模型,探究该模型对肝癌患者预后和对索拉非尼敏感性的预测能力。 方法：本研究对GSE109211数据集、TCGA-LIHC队列、ICGC-LIRI队列进行差异基因分析,通过交集筛选出肝癌索拉非尼敏感性相关基因。利用单因素Cox分析和LASSO回归构建预后风险模型并进行验证。通过GDSC数据库分析索拉非尼的IC50值并探索其与风险评分的关系。 结果：筛选出365个与索拉非尼敏感性相关的基因,富集分析显示存在与药物代谢相关的信号通路。单因素Cox回归分析出221个与预后相关的基因,通过LASSO回归构建了一个包含7个关键基因的预后风险模型,与低风险组相比,高风险组具有较短的生存时间。多因素Cox回归分析显示风险评分是独立的预后因素。通过对比高、低风险组患者的索拉非尼IC50值,发现高风险组的索拉非尼IC50值较低,提示高风险组对索拉非尼的治疗可能更敏感。 结论：基于索拉非尼敏感性相关基因构建的预后风险模型对肝癌患者预后具有良好的预测价值,并为评估肝癌患者的索拉非尼敏感性提供理论依据。     

High rate of hematological responses to sorafenib in FLT3‐ITD acute myeloid leukemia relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Relapse represents the most significant cause of failure of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for FLT3‐ITD‐positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and available therapies are largely unsatisfactory. In this study, we retrospectively collected data on the off‐label use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib, either alone or in association with hypomethylating agents and adoptive immunotherapy, in 13 patients with post‐transplantation FLT3‐ITD‐positive AML relapses. Hematological response was documented in 12 of 13 patients (92%), and five of 13 (38%) achieved complete bone marrow remission. Treatment was overall manageable in the outpatient setting, although all patients experienced significant adverse events, especially severe cytopenias (requiring a donor stem cell boost in five patients) and typical hand‐foot syndrome. None of the patients developed graft‐vs.‐host disease following sorafenib alone, whereas this was frequently observed when this was given in association with donor T‐cell infusions. Six patients are alive and in remission at the last follow‐up, and four could be bridged to a second allogeneic HSCT, configuring a 65 ± 14% overall survival at 100 d from relapse. Taken together, our data suggest that sorafenib might represent a valid treatment option for patients with FLT3‐ITD‐positive post‐transplantation relapses, manageable also in combination with other therapeutic strategies.     

Hand‐foot‐skin reaction related to use of the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib and hard orthotics

Hand‐foot‐skin reaction is a distinct clinical condition arising in association with the use of multikinase inhibitors, including sorafenib. Because multikinase inhibitors are increasingly being used in children with cancer, recognition of this previously unfamiliar condition is of importance to pediatric dermatologists. We describe the diagnosis and successful treatment of a case of hand‐foot‐skin reaction in a child taking sorafenib for an unresectable desmoid tumor.     

An investigation of the effect of sorafenib on tumour growth and recurrence after liver cancer resection in nude mice independent of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase levels

Objective: The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of sorafenib on tumor growth, recurrence and metastasis after curative resection of liver cancer.

Research methods: SMMC-7721 and HCCLM3 liver tumors, each with different metastatic potential and basal phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) levels, were orthotopically implanted into 56 nude mice. Mice were divided into a treatment sub study and a prevention sub study.

Results: In the treatment sub study, tumor volumes in the high pERK-expressing HCCLM3 model were 2.58 ± 0.83 and 0.38 ± 0.09 cm³ without and with sorafenib, respectively (p < 0.001). The corresponding volumes in the low pERK-expressing SMMC-7721 model were 1.36 ± 0.24 and 0.24 ± 0.14 cm³ (p < 0.001), respectively. Sorafenib inhibited HCCLM3 cell proliferation and decreased tumor angiogenesis, but did not inhibit proliferation in the SMMC-7721 model. In the prevention sub study, intrahepatic recurrent tumor volumes were 1.96 ± 0.45 and 0.18 ± 0.24 cm³ (p < 0.001); lung metastasis frequencies were 100 and 0% (p = 0.005); and lifespans were 36 ± 3 and 46 ± 5 days (p = 0.002) in the control and sorafenib subgroups, respectively.

Conclusions: Sorafenib inhibits tumor growth and prevents metastatic recurrence after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice. The effect of sorafenib does not exclusively depend on high levels of pERK in tumors.     

Melatonin promotes sorafenib‐induced apoptosis through synergistic activation of JNK/c‐jun pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Melatonin has been shown to exert anticancer activity on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through its antiproliferative and pro‐apoptotic effect in both experimental and clinical studies, and sorafenib is the only approved drug for the systemic treatment of HCC. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the combined effect of melatonin and sorafenib on proliferation, apoptosis, and its possible mechanism in human HCC. Here, we found that both melatonin and sorafenib resulted in a dose‐dependent growth inhibition of HuH‐7 cells after 48 hours treatment, and the combination of them enhanced the growth inhibition in a synergistic manner. Colony formation assay indicated that co‐treatment of HuH‐7 cells with melatonin and sorafenib significantly decreased the clonogenicity compared to the treatment with single agent. Furthermore, FACS and TUNEL assay confirmed that melatonin synergistically augmented the sorafenib‐induced apoptosis after 48 hours incubation, which was in accordance with the activation of caspase‐3 and the JNK/c‐jun pathway. Inhibition of JNK/c‐jun pathway with its inhibitor SP600125 reversed the phosphorylation of c‐jun and the activation of caspase‐3 induced by co‐treatment of HuH‐7 cells with melatonin and sorafenib in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, SP600125 exhibited protective effect against apoptosis induced by the combination of melatonin and sorafenib. This study demonstrates that melatonin in combination with sorafenib synergistically inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human HCC cells; therefore, supplementation of sorafenib with melatonin may serve as a potential therapeutic choice for advanced HCC.