BRAF,KRAS and PIK3CA Mutation and Sensitivity to Trastuzumab in Breast Cancer Cell Line Model

Studies show that approximately 20% of all breast cancer patients have a breast tumor that tests positive for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2, otherwise known as the HER2 gene. As such, treatments for breast cancer usually include drugs that target HER2. The drug Trastuzumab is a recombinant antibody that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of these HER2 positive breast cancers. However, researchers have found that mutations in associated genes, PIK3CA and KRAS, can cause the tumor to become resistant to Trastuzumab. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the sensitivity of the cancer cell lines to the drug Trastuzumab and investigate how this sensitivity is compromised by the PIK3CA, KRAS and BRAF gene mutations. Trastuzumab responsiveness was evaluated in breast cancer cell lines by treating the lines with an optimal concentration of the drug followed by a proliferation assay of the cell lines in the presence of monoclonal antibodies. We determined the optimum concentration of Trastuzumab to be 7 μg/well. The BRAF and KRAS mutated cell line, MDA-MB-231, showed the least sensitivity after being treated with trastuzumab when compared to the sensitivity of the PIK3CA mutated cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-361, and the KRAS/ BRAF/ PIK3CA cell line, MDA-MB-453. Clinical observations show that mutations in BRAF and KRAS genes in breast cancer cells do lower the responsiveness of Trastuzumab drug treatments.     

Analysis of KRAS,NRAS, BRAF,PIK3CA and TP53 mutations in a large prospective series of locally advanced rectal cancer patients

Little information is available on the clinical significance of cancer-related genes such as KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA and TP53 in nonmetastatic rectal cancer. We investigated mutations of these genes in a large prospective series of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients who were recruited into two phase II trials. Mutational analyses were performed with diagnostically validated methods including polymerase chain reaction, capillary electrophoresis single-strand conformational analysis, Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing. Associations between single or multiple gene mutations and clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes were explored. Of these 269, 210 (78%) patients were assessable. Mutations of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA and TP53 occurred in 43, 9, 4, 9 and 60% of patients, respectively. Concordance between paired biopsy and resection specimens was 82% for KRAS, 95% for NRAS, 99% for BRAF, 96% for PIK3CA and 63% for TP53. TP53 mutations were associated with extramural venous invasion on baseline MRI (78% vs. 65%, p = 0.04), poor pathological tumour regression (23% vs. 36%, p = 0.05) and a trend toward a worse 5-year progression-free survival (PFS; 60% vs. 74%, HR 1.59, p = 0.06). Patients with tumours harbouring mutation of TP53 and either KRAS or NRAS (32%) had a worse 5-year PFS than those with TP53/KRAS/NRAS wild-type tumours (54% vs. 72%, HR 1.75, p = 0.02). In univariate analysis, BRAF mutation predicted poor 5-year overall survival only among patients treated without cetuximab (20% vs. 73%, HR 3.29, p = 0.03). This is one of the largest biomarker studies in a prospective, largely homogeneous, LARC population. Our findings are hypothesis generating and require validation in independent series.     

原发小细胞肺癌中BRAF/KRAS以及PIK3CA突变的基因特征及临床特征

目的 在中国人群小细胞肺癌(SCLC)标本中检测BRAF/KRAS以及PIK3CA基因突变频率,分析这些基因突变的基因特征和临床特征。方法 2009-2014年共收集557例单纯SCLC患者组织样本。利用双脱氧测序法进行BRAF、KRAS、PIK3CA、NRAS、MEK1基因突变检测。χ²检验分析临床因素与基因突变的相关性,Kaplan-Meier法生存分析,Cox模型多因素预后分析。结果 在557例标本中检测到13例BRAF突变,突变类型包括V600E (n=5)、V600A (n=2)、V600M (n=1)、D594G (n=1)、G464E (n=1)、K601R (n=2)、S605N (n=1)。6例KRAS突变,突变类型包括G12C (n=3)、G12A (n=1)、G12D (n=1)、G13D (n=1)。4例PIK3CA突变,突变类型包括E545G (n=2)、H1047R (n=2)。另外1例NRAS突变(Q61R)和1例MEK1突变(D61Y)。这些突变基因与患者年龄、性别、吸烟状态、临床分期均无相关性。单因素生存分析结果显示基因突变组患者的生存时间比无此类突变者生存时间差,中位生存时间分别为(10.30±0.75)个月(95%CI为8.83~11.77个月)和(12.80±0.54)个月(95%CI为11.74~13.86)(P=0.011)。结论 在单纯SCLC中存在小比例的BRAF/KRAS、PIK3CA基因突变群体,这些基因突变与患者的临床特征无明显统计学相关性,但单因素生存分析显示与患者生存预后呈负相关。     

结直肠癌Ras、BRAF和PIK3CA基因突变分析及与临床病理特征的关系

目的 分析结直肠癌患者中Ras（K-Ras／N-Ras）、BRAF和PIK3CA基因突变情况及其与临床病理特征的关系。方法 回顾性分析2013年12月至2014年10月于北京大学肿瘤医院消化肿瘤内科接受诊治的200例结直肠癌患者的肿瘤组织标本,采用PCR扩增-直接测序法检测Ras,包括K-Ras（第2、3、4外显子）、N-Ras（第2、3、4外显子）、BRAF（第15外显子）及PIK3CA（第9、20外显子）基因的突变状态,分析其与结直肠癌临床病理特征的关系。结果 200例患者中存在Ras基因突变92例（46.0％）,其中K-Ras基因突变87例（43.5％）,主要发生在外显子2,N-Ras基因突变5例（2.5％）;其中1例患者存在K-Ras、N-Ras基因同时突变。存在BRAF基因突变15例（7.5％）,突变类型均为V600E,且与K-Ras突变存在排他性。存在PIK3CA基因突变9例（4.5％）,可与Ras或BRAF基因突变共存。Ras（K-Ras／N-Ras）基因在年龄≥65岁患者中的突变率明显高于＜65岁者（P＜0.05）,其表达与性别、原发部位、组织学类型、分化程度、TNM分期、区域淋巴结转移、远处转移、术后复发转移均无关（P均＞0.05）。BRAF、PIK3CA基因在原发部位为右半结肠患者中的突变率明显升高（P＜0.05）,但与年龄、性别、组织学类型、分化程度、TNM分期、区域淋巴结转移、远处转移、术后复发转移均无关（P＞0.05）。结论 N-Ras、PIK3CA基因在中国结直肠癌患者中的突变率较低。K-Ras、N-Ras基因突变与年龄相关,BRAF、PIK3CA基因与肿瘤原发部位相关;对结直肠癌患者进行Ras（K-Ras／N-Ras）、BRAF及PIK3CA基因的联合检测将会为提高临床靶向治疗的疗效提供更加可靠的依据。     

Oncogenic PIK3CA mutations in colorectal cancers and polyps

Oncogenic PIK3CA mutations contribute to colorectal tumorigenesis by activating AKT signaling to decrease apoptosis and increase tumor invasion. A synergistic association of PIK3CA mutation with KRAS mutation has been suggested to increase AKT signaling and resistance to antiepidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor therapy for advanced colorectal cancer, although studies have been conflicting. We sought to clarify this by examining PIK3CA mutation frequency in relation to other key molecular features of defined pathways of tumorigenesis. PIK3CA mutation was assessed by high resolution melt analysis in 829 colorectal cancer samples and 426 colorectal polyps. Mutations were independently correlated with clinicopathological features including patient age, sex and tumor location as well as molecular features including microsatellite instability, KRAS and BRAF mutation, MGMT methylation and the CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP). Mutation of the helical (Exon 9) and catalytic (Exon 20) domain mutation hotspots were also examined independently. Overall, PIK3CA mutation was positively correlated with KRAS mutation (p < 0.001), MGMT methylation (p = 0.007) and CIMP (p < 0.001). Novel, exon-specific associations linked Exon 9 mutations to a subgroup of cancers characterized by KRAS mutation, MGMT methylation and CIMP-Low, whilst Exon 20 mutations were more closely linked to features of serrated pathway tumors including BRAF mutation, microsatellite instability and CIMP-High or Low. PIK3CA mutations were uncommonly, but exclusively, seen in tubulovillous adenomas (4/124, 3.2%) and 1/4 (25.0%) tubulovillous adenomas with a focus of cancer. These data provide insight into the molecular events driving traditional versus serrated pathway tumorigenesis.     

Mutations of the PIK3CA gene in hereditary colorectal cancers

Somatic mutations of the PIK3CA gene have recently been detected in various human cancers, including sporadic colorectal cancer. However, mutations of the PIK3CA gene in hereditary colorectal cancers have not been clarified. To elucidate the mutation status in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), which are the most common hereditary colorectal cancers, we investigated PIK3CA mutations in 163 colorectal tumors, including adenomas, intramucosal carcinomas and invasive carcinomas. For comparison, we also analyzed mutations of the same gene in 160 sporadic colorectal tumors at various histopathological stages. Analysis at exons 1, 7, 9 and 20 of the PIK3CA gene revealed somatic mutations in 21% (8 of 39) of FAP invasive carcinomas, 21% (7 of 34) of HNPCC invasive carcinomas, 15% (8 of 52) of sporadic invasive carcinomas, and 14% (7 of 50) of sporadic colorectal metastases in the liver. Mutations in FAP and HNPCC carcinomas predominantly occurred in the kinase domain (exon 20), while the majority of mutations in sporadic cases occurred in the helical domain (exon 9). Adenomas and intramucosal carcinomas from all patients exhibited no mutations (0 of 148). Our data suggest that PIK3CA mutations contribute to the invasion step from intramucosal carcinoma to invasive carcinoma in colorectal carcinogenesis in FAP and HNPCC patients at a similar extent to that seen in sporadic patients.     

Patterns of PIK3CA alterations in familial colorectal and endometrial carcinoma

While the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway is known to be activated in multiple sporadic cancers, the role of this pathway in familial tumors is mostly unknown. We searched for alterations in the catalytic domain of PI3K (PIK3CA), PTEN and KRAS, all of which may contribute to PI3K/AKT pathway activation, in a total of 160-familial colorectal (CRC) and endometrial carcinomas (EC), stratified by the presence vs. absence of germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. PIK3CA alterations (consisting of point mutations or low-level amplification, which were mutually exclusive with 1 exception) occurred in 10/70 (14%) of CRCs and 19/90 (21%) of ECs. Within ECs, amplification was significantly associated with the subgroup lacking germline mutations in MMR genes (familial site-specific endometrial cancer) (p = 0.015). Decreased or lost PTEN expression was characteristic of endometrial tumourigenesis (51/81, 63%, in EC compared with 24/62, 39%, in CRC, p = 0.004) and KRAS mutations of colorectal tumourigenesis (19/70, 27% in CRC vs. 9/89, 10%, in EC, p = 0.006) regardless of the MMR gene mutation status. PIK3CA alterations frequently coexisted with PTEN or KRAS changes. Combined with published studies on sporadic tumors, our data broaden the understanding of the role for PI3K pathway genes in human tumorigenesis.     

中国人群结直肠癌中PIK3CA基因突变分析

目的:PIK3CA基因编码ⅠA型磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶(PI3Ks)的p110催化亚基,致癌性的PIK3CA突变可通过激活P13K通路参与结直肠癌的发生发展。PIK3CA在西方结直肠癌患者中有较高的突变频率,但其在中国人结直肠癌中的突变情况尚不明确。本研究旨在探讨中国人结直肠癌中PIK3CA基因的突变频率、分布特点及其与结直肠癌的关系。方法:采用PCR产物直接测序法,对79例中国结直肠癌患者肿瘤标本中PIK3CA基因外显子9和外显子20中的突变进行检测分析。结果:在79例肿瘤标本中检出PIK3CA基因突变率为8.9%(7/79),其中外显子9突变率为6.3%(5/79),外显子20突变率为2.5%(2/79),其突变热点分布与既往文献报道基本相符。结论:中国人结直肠癌中存在一个PIK3CA基因突变的亚群,其E542K、E545K和H1047R突变,与以往报道的该基因的致癌性突变相一致,可能是这部分结直肠癌中PI3K信号通路激活的原因。     

Association between PIK3CA Mutations in Blood and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Peruvian Breast Cancer Patients

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) presence and tumor features including tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels in Peruvian breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted at the Instituto Nacional de Enfemedades Neoplasicas, Peru. We evaluated level of TIL and PIK3CA mutations in ctDNA. Clinical characteristics, including outcome data, were collected from the patient file. Survival was calculated from the date of blood sample drawn to the event time. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS software version 25. Results: We analyzed plasma samples from 183 breast cancer patients. most cases were of Luminal-B (44.8%) phenotype and stage II (41.5%), and median stromal TIL was 30%. PIK3CA mutation in ctDNA was detected in 35% cases (most with E545K) and was associated with lower TIL level (p=0.04). PIK3CA in ctDNA tended to be associated with advanced stages (p=0.09) in the whole series and with higher recurrence rates (p=0.053) in the non-metastatic setting. Patients with presence of PIK3CA in ctDNA tended to have shorter survival (p=0.083). Conclusion: Presence of PIK3CA mutation in ctDNA was frequently found in our Peruvian breast cancer series, was associated with lower TIL levels and tended to predict poor outcomes.     

PIK3CA Mutations in Advanced Cancers: Characteristics and Outcomes

PIK3CA mutations are frequently diagnosed in diverse cancers and may predict response to PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors. It remains unclear whether they are associated with other characteristics. We analyzed characteristics and outcome of 90 consecutive patients with diverse advanced tumors and PIK3CA mutations and 180 wild-type PIK3CA controls matched by tumor type, gender, and age referred to the Clinical Center for Targeted Therapy. PIK3CA and MAPK mutations (KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-based DNA sequencing. The most frequent PIK3CA mutations were E545K (31/90, 34%), E542K (16/90, 18%) in exon 9, and H1047R (20/90, 22%) in exon 20. PIK3CA mutations compared to wild-type PIK3CA were associated with simultaneous KRAS (p=0.047) and MAPK mutations (p=0.03), but only MAPK mutations were confirmed as having an independent association in multivariate analysis. Rates of lung, bone, liver and brain metastases were similar in PIK3CA-mutant and wild-type patients. Patients with PIK3CA mutations treated on trials with PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors had a higher partial/complete response (PR/CR) rate than wild-type PIK3CA patients treated with their best phase I therapy (10/56, 18% vs. 12/152, 8%; p=0.045), but not a prolonged progression-free survival. Patients with H1047R PIK3CA mutations had a higher PR/CR rate with PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors compared to wild-type PIK3CA patients treated with their best phase I therapy (6/16, 38% vs. 12/152, 8%; p=0.003). In conclusion, PIK3CA mutations in diverse cancers were not associated with clinical characteristics, but were correlated with MAPK mutations. PIK3CA mutations, especially, H1047R, were associated with attaining a PR/CR to PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors.     

Somatic Mutations of K-Ras and BRAF in Thai Colorectal Cancer and their Prognostic Value

Background: The study aimed to determine the incidence of K-ras and BRAF mutations in colorectal cancers(CRCs) in Thai patients and evaluate association with clinicopathological parameters including treatmentoutcomes in terms of event free survival (EFS). Materials and Methods: Two-hundred colorectal cancer specimenswere collected for studies of K-Ras codon 12, 13 and 61, and BRAF codon 600 by polymerase chain reaction anddirect nucleotide sequencing. Results: The overall incidence of K-Ras mutations in our patients was 23%. K-rasmutation frequencies in CRC stages (AJCC) I, II, III and IV were 6.7%, 16.1%, 23.3% and 26.6%, respectively(p-value>0.05). The three most common mutation forms were G12D, G12V and G13D. K-Ras mutation status wasassociated with poorer EFS in stage I-III CRCs (p-value 0.03). Conclusions: The study found a lower mutationfrequency of K-Ras and BRAF compared to reports involving other ethnic groups. However, K-Ras mutationsdid have a negative prognostic value in early-stage CRCs.     

PIK3CA基因突变在结直肠癌中的研究进展

结直肠癌是较常见的恶性肿瘤,发病率在我国呈逐年上升趋势.肿瘤的发生是多因素、多阶段、多基因改变的结果,包括原癌基因的激活与抑癌基因的失活.PIK3 CA基因是近年发现的除KRAS突变之外的结直肠癌常见的突变基因,PI3K下游信号通路的异常活化在结直肠癌的发生过程中发挥着重要的作用.本文就PIK3CA基因的生物学作用,参与肿瘤不同阶段的发展,以及PIK3CA作为肿瘤标志物和分子靶点的潜在临床价值简要作一综述.     

腹腔热灌注化疗在胃癌腹膜转移治疗中的作用

胃癌发生腹膜转移预后极差,中位生存期小于6个月.全身化疗并没有明显增加这些患者的生存期.腹腔热灌注化疗是目前常用的治疗腹膜转移的方法.全文系统回顾分析了腹腔热灌注化疗在胃癌腹膜转移治疗、进展期胃癌术后辅助治疗以及术前新辅助治疗的疗效.     

Mutation Analysis of KRAS and BRAF Genes in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: a First Large Scale Study from Iran

Background: The investigation of mutation patterns in oncogenes potentially can make available a reliable mechanism for management and treatment decisions for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study concerns the rate of KRAS and BRAF genes mutations in Iranian metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, as well as associations of genotypes with clinicopathological features. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,000 mCRC specimens collected from 2008 to 2012 that referred to the Mehr Hospital and Partolab center, Tehran, Iran enrolled in this cross sectional study. Using HRM, Dxs Therascreen and Pyrosequencing methods, we analyzed the mutational status of KRAS and BRAF genes in these. Results: KRAS mutations were present in 33.6% cases (n=336). Of KRAS mutation positive cases, 85.1% were in codon 12 and 14.9% were in codon 13. The most frequent mutation at KRAS codon 12 was Gly12Asp; BRAF mutations were not found in any mCRC patients (n=242). In addition, we observed a strong correlation of KRAS mutations with some clinicopathological characteristics. Conclusions: KRAS mutations are frequent in mCRCs while presence of BRAF mutations in these patients is rare. Moreover, associations of KRAS genotypes with non mucinous adenocarcinoma and depth of invasion (pT3) were remarkable.     

Colorectal serrated adenocarcinoma shows a different profile of oncogene mutations, MSI status and DNA repair protein expression compared to conventional and sporadic MSI-H carcinomas

Molecular characterization has been extensively studied in serrated polyps but very little is known in serrated adenocarcinomas (SACs). We analyzed the incidence of KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA mutations, microsatellite instability (MSI) status and loss of the DNA repair proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and MGMT in a series of 89 SAC, 81 matched conventional carcinomas (CC) and 13 sporadic colorectal cancer showing histological and molecular features of high-level MSI (sMSI-H). Our results demonstrate that KRAS are more prevalent than BRAF mutations in SAC (42.7% vs. 25.8%; p = 0.011) being the KRAS-mutated cases even more abundant in SAC displaying adjacent serrated adenomas (51%). G12D and E545K are the most common KRAS and PIK3CA mutations found in SAC, respectively. SAC show higher frequency of MGMT loss compared to CC (50.6% vs. 25.3%; p = 0.001) especially in distal colon/rectum (60.0% vs. 21.6%; p = 0.0009). SAC differ from sMSI-H in terms of KRAS and BRAF mutation prevalence, MSI status and MLH1 expression (p = 0.0003, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.001, respectively). SACs are more often KRAS-mutated and microsatellite stable and display different molecular and immunohistochemical characteristics compared to CC and sMSI-H.     

PIK3CA and PTEN Genes Expressions in Breast Cancer

Background: The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) intracellular signaling pathway plays an importantrole in breast cancer. The current study aimed to evaluate the expressions of two main regulators of PI3K pathway;phosphatidylinositol-3- kinase catalytic subunit alpha as activator (PIK3CA), and phosphatase and tensin-homologas inhibitor (PTEN), in breast carcinoma tissue, and compare with their expressions in adjacent normal breast tissue.Methods: A total of fifty female patients with breast carcinoma from surgical oncology unit of Alexandria-MainUniversity Hospital were included in this study. The Quantitative Real Time PCR was used to quantify expressions ofPIK3CA and PTEN. Results: PIK3CA mRNA expression was significantly increased in breast cancer tissues comparedto normal breast tissues (P<0.001, Z=5.700), also PTEN mRNA expression was significantly higher in breast carcinomatissue compared to normal breast tissue (P<0.001, Z=5.362). Conclusion: Increased the expressions of PIK3CA andPTEN mRNA in breast cancer tissue compared to normal breast tissue.     

上海地区妇女乳腺癌组织PIK3CA基因热点突变区域研究

目的:探讨乳腺癌组织中磷脂酰肌醇一3-激酶催化亚单位α(PIK3CA)基因2个热点突变区域第9和第20外显子的突变,以及该突变与乳腺癌临床病理特征之间的关系.方法:45例乳腺癌标本提取DNA后.对第9及第20外显子进行PCR扩增,产物纯化后测序.另取10例乳腺良性肿瘤组织标本作为对照.结果:在45例乳腺癌组织标本中共发现14例(31%)PIK3CA基因突变,其中第9外显子8例(57%),第20外显子6例(43%),在第9外显子突变中,1例为C1616G(P539R),1例为G1633A(E545K),6例为A1634C(E545A).第20外显子的6例突变均为A3140G(H1047R).10例良性肿瘤对照中均未发现突变.第9与第20外显子突变在浸润性导管癌和浸润性小叶癌中的分布差异无统计学意叉,P>0.05.PIK3CA基因突变与患者年龄、肿瘤大小、淋巴结状态、ER/PR状态、HER-2表达和p53表达之间无明显相关性,P>0.05.结论:PIK3CA基因可能与乳腺癌的发生、发展及预后相关.但PIK3CA基因突变与乳腺癌临床病理特征之间无明显相关性.