Expression profiling of T-cell lymphomas differentiates peripheral and lymphoblastic lymphomas and defines survival related genes.

PURPOSE: T-Cell lymphomas constitute heterogeneous and aggressive tumors in which pathogenic alterations remain largely unknown. Expression profiling has demonstrated to be a useful tool for molecular classification of tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Using DNA microarrays (CNIO-OncoChip) containing 6386 cancer-related genes, we established the expression profiling of T-cell lymphomas and compared them to normal lymphocytes and lymph nodes. RESULTS: We found significant differences between the peripheral and lymphoblastic T-cell lymphomas, which include a deregulation of nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway. We also identify differentially expressed genes between peripheral T-cell lymphoma tumors and normal T lymphocytes or reactive lymph nodes, which could represent candidate tumor markers of these lymphomas. Additionally, a close relationship between genes associated to survival and those that differentiate among the stages of disease and responses to therapy was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reflect the value of gene expression profiling to gain insight about the molecular alterations involved in the pathogenesis of T-cell lymphomas.     

Phase II study of neoadjuvant carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by radiotherapy and concurrent cisplatin in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: therapeutic monitoring with plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of neoadjuvant paclitaxel and carboplatin (TC) followed by concurrent cisplatin and radiotherapy (RT) in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to monitor treatment response with plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with International Union Against Cancer stages III and IV undifferentiated NPC had two cycles of paclitaxel (70 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15) and carboplatin (area under the curve 6 mg/mL/min on day 1) on a 3-weekly cycle, followed by 6 to 8 weeks of cisplatin (40 mg/m2 weekly) and RT at 66 Gy in 2-Gy fractions. Plasma EBV DNA was measured serially using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. Results All patients completed planned treatment. Response to neoadjuvant TC was as follows: 12 patients (39%) achieved partial response (PR) and 18 achieved (58%) complete response (CR) in regional nodes; five patients (16%) achieved PR and no patients achieved CR in nasopharynx. At 6 weeks after RT, one patient (3%) achieved PR and 30 patients (97%) achieved CR in regional nodes, and 31 patients (100%) achieved CR in nasopharynx; 29 patients (93%) had EBV DNA level of less than 500 copies/mL. Neoadjuvant TC was well tolerated, and the most common acute toxicity of cisplatin plus RT was grade 3 mucositis (55%). At median follow-up of 33.7 months (range, 7 to 39.3 months), six distant and three locoregional failures occurred. Plasma EBV DNA level increased significantly in eight of nine patients who experienced treatment failure but did not increase in those who did not. The 2-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 91.8% and 78.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION This strategy was feasible and resulted in excellent local tumor control. Serial plasma EBV DNA provides a noninvasive method of monitoring response in NPC.     

Effects of the steroidal aromatase inhibitor exemestane and the nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor letrozole on bone and lipid metabolism in ovariectomized rats.

PURPOSE: Exemestane (EXE) and letrozole (LET) are third-generation aromatase inhibitors currently prescribed for postmenopausal hormone-dependent breast cancer. The impact on end organs of estrogen depletion in menopausal women is of significant clinical importance. We studied the effects of EXE, its principal metabolite, 17-hydroexemestane (17-H-EXE), and LET on bone and lipid metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: OVX rats were treated by weekly intramuscular injection for 16 weeks with 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg EXE, 20 mg/kg 17-H-EXE, and daily oral gavage of 1 mg/kg LET. At the end of the treatment period, bone mineral density (BMD), the bone resorption marker serum pyridinoline, the bone formation marker serum osteocalcin, bone mechanical properties, histomorphometry, and serum lipid concentrations were determined. RESULTS: Lumbar vertebral and femoral BMD, bending strength of the femur, compressive strength of the fifth lumbar vertebra, and trabecular bone volume were significantly higher in OVX animals given EXE and 17-H-EXE than in OVX controls. EXE and 17-H-EXE significantly reduced an ovariectomy-induced increase in serum pyridinoline and serum osteocalcin. EXE and 17-H-EXE given to OVX rats caused significant reductions of serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In contrast, OVX rats treated with LET had BMD, bone biomarkers, mechanical failure properties, and lipid levels similar to those of OVX controls. CONCLUSIONS: EXE and 17-H-EXE significantly prevent bone loss, enhance bone mechanical strength, and lower serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in OVX rats. These protective effects on end-organ function are not seen with the nonsteroidal inhibitor LET.     

Acute effects of oral calcium load on parathyroid function and on bone resorption in young men

AIM: The aim of the present study was to check whether a calcium oral load was able to inhibit bone resorption as assessed by urinary excretion of a new bone marker, type 1 collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide (CrossLaps(TM)), in healthy young male adults. METHODS: Twenty healthy young male adults (age 22 +/- 2 years) were studied. In one series of assays, an oral calcium load of 1 g of elemental calcium as calcium citrate dissolved in 200 ml of low-calcium water was ingested, while in another series of assays the subjects ingested 200 ml of water alone. Blood samples were collected before and 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after the intake of calcium. Urine was collected at 2-hour intervals, i.e. before and for 4 h after the intake of calcium. Serum ionized calcium, phosphate and intact parathormone (iPTH) were measured at each time point. Urinary calcium, phosphate, creatinine and CrossLaps (as a ratio to creatinine) were measured in each urine sample. RESULTS: Calcium intake was associated with very significant (ANOVA, p < 0.001) increases in serum ionized calcium and decreases in PTH. After calcium intake, measurements of urinary CrossLaps showed a progressive statistically significant (ANOVA, p < 0.001) decrease (-20% at 2 h and -55% at 4 h), whereas after ingestion of water, the changes were modest and not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The present results show that bone resorption as assessed by urinary excretion of CrossLaps can be significantly suppressed by the ingestion of a 1-gram calcium load and attest that calcium supplementation has an acute effect on bone metabolism.     

Phase I trial and pharmacokinetics of fenretinide in children with neuroblastoma.

PURPOSE: Fenretinide (4HPR), a synthetic retinoid, induces apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells. A Phase I study in children with neuroblastoma was designed to determine maximum tolerated dose, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Fifty-four patients received oral 4HPR, once daily, for 28 days, followed by a 7-day interruption, for up to 6 courses. The starting dose was 100 mg/m(2)/day. At least 3 patients were entered at each escalating 4HPR dose level. Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed on days 1 and 28 of the first course. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients, of whom 53 were evaluable, received doses between 100 and 4000 mg/m(2)/day for a total of 168 courses. Additional dose escalation was precluded by capsule number intake. A total of 34 of 53 evaluable patients showed manageable, reversible toxicities, which were not dose related. One dose-limiting toxicity (nyctalopia grade 3) occurred after the 1000 mg/m(2)/day dose. Twelve patients showed grade 2 toxicity: skin xerosis (6 cases); nyctalopia (3 cases); hepatic toxicity (1 case); diarrhea (1 case); and headache (1 case). Stable disease was observed in 41 patients for a median period of 23 months (range 2-35+). After first administration, average 4HPR peak plasma levels ranged from 0.6 to 6 micro M (after 100 and 4000 mg/m(2)/day, respectively) and increased 2-fold (to 1.3 and 12.9 micro M, respectively) after the 28-day treatment. 4HPR half-life increased from 17 h after the first administration to 25 h after the 28(th) administration. Incidence of grade 2-3 toxicity was 0 of 12 (0%), 7 of 22 (31%), and 4 of 8 (50%) with peak 4HPR concentrations <3 micro M, 3-10 micro M, and >10 micro M, respectively. After repeated treatment, retinol levels decreased from 20 to 10% of pretreatment levels after all of the doses. CONCLUSIONS: In children, 4HPR administration up to 4000 mg/m(2)/day over 28 days, followed by a 7-day interruption, results in manageable toxicity and in drug plasma concentrations comparable with those that induce apoptosis in neuroblastoma cell lines.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor and p53 expressions in liver and abdominal metastases from colon cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between p53 overexpression and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) upregulation in liver and abdominal metastases from colon cancer. The analysis in the two metastatic sites was carried out to evaluate the potential role of microenvironment in the molecular regulation of VEGF. METHODS: Bioptic specimens of liver and abdominal metastases from colon carcinomas were examined by immunohistochemistry for p53 and VEGF expressions. Consecutive cases with assessable tumor tissue were selected. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 24 cases having liver metastases and 34 cases having abdominal metastases. Abdominal metastases showed a higher number of VEGF-positive cases and a higher intensity of VEGF immunoreactivity than liver metastases did (p = 0.01). The combined analysis of p53 and VEGF showed a strong association between the two markers in the 24 liver metastases; 9 cases were VEGF positive/p53 positive and 15 cases were VEGF negative/p53 negative. This relationship was not found in the 34 abdominal metastases, which showed concordance between the two markers in 9 VEGF-positive/p53-positive cases only. CONCLUSIONS: Microenvironment factors like hypoxia may have a predominant role in inducing VEGF expression and they can override the molecular control of p53 on VEGF.     

Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of CCI-779, an Inhibitor of mTOR, in Cancer Patients.

CCI-779 is an ester of rapamycin and inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) currently in Phase II clinical development for the treatment of patients with cancer. CCI-779 interacts with mTOR and inhibits its kinase activity, resulting in inhibition of the mTOR-regulated translational controllers p70(s6) kinase and 4E-BP1. Ultimately, CCI-779 decreases the translation of mRNAs involved in the control of the cell cycle, resulting in cell cycle arrest. The objective of this study was to develop a method to determine the pharmacodynamic effects of CCI-779 suitable for use in clinical trials. Exposure of Raji lymphoblastoid cells to increasing concentrations of rapamycin resulted in a linear concentration-dependent inhibition of p70(s6) kinase activity, suggesting that p70(s6) kinase activity could be an appropriate marker for mTOR-interacting agents. In subsequent experiments, treatment of nude mice bearing the CCI-779 susceptible breast cancer cell line MDA-468 with a single dose of 10 mg/kg CCI-779 resulted in a >80% inhibition of p70(s6) kinase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) 72 h after treatment. Importantly, the degree of p70(s6) kinase inhibition was identical in PBMCs and simultaneously collected tumor tissue, suggesting that the PBMCs are an adequate surrogate tissue for p70(s6) kinase activity in vivo. The intrasubject coefficient of variation of p70(s6) kinase activity measured in PBMCs collected from five healthy volunteers on days 1, 4, and 8 was 14%, indicating that p70(s6) kinase activity in PBMCs remains relatively stable over time. Finally, p70(s6) kinase activity was measured in PBMCs from nine patients with renal cell cancer treated with a single dose of 25, 75, or 250 mg of CCI-779 i.v. (three patients each). PBMCs were collected on days 2, 4, and 8 after CCI-779 treatment. In this small data set, eight of the nine patients had evidence of p70(s6) kinase activity inhibition after treatment that was independent of the administered dose. There was a significant linear association between time to disease progression and inhibition of p70(s6) kinase activity 24 h after treatment. In conclusion, these results indicate that the pharmacodynamic effects of CCI-779 can be determined using a p70(s6) kinase assay in PBMCs. This assay is currently being incorporated in Phase I and II studies with CCI-779 to determine its relationship with dose and plasma concentration of the agent and its value as a predictor of treatment efficacy.     

Smoking exposure as a risk factor for prevalent and recurrent colorectal adenomas.

Colorectal adenomatous polyps are considered to be the precursor lesion of colorectal cancer (1-3). Greater understanding of the association between smoking and adenoma development enable better detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. This study was conducted in men and women, ages 40-80, participating in a randomized trial testing the effects of wheat bran fiber supplement on adenoma recurrence. First, we investigated smoking exposure (status, cigarettes/day, and years of smoking) and colorectal adenoma characteristics (location, histology, size, and multiplicity) at baseline colonoscopy (n = 1429). Second, we evaluated smoking exposure and adenoma recurrence (n = 1304). The prevalence of distal versus proximal adenomas was greater for < or =30 cigarettes/day [odds ratio (OR), 1.48; 95% CI, 1.02-2.16] and 15 to <25 years of smoking (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.23-3.09) compared with never smokers. Tubular versus villous histology prevalence was increased for > or =30 cigarettes and > or =35 years of smoking (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.21-2.49 and OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.24-2.45, respectively) compared with never-smokers. Years of smoking increased prevalence of multiple versus single adenomas, whereas cigarettes/day and years of smoking were associated with large adenomas (> or =1 cm) prevalence as compared with small lesions (< or =0.5 cm). Greater than 35 years of smoking was significantly associated with an increased risk of adenoma recurrence (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.01-1.98). These results suggest that the association between smoking and adenoma prevalence varies by the characteristic of the lesion. Furthermore, the association between smoking and adenoma recurrence is modest and was only significant after a long duration of exposure. Additional investigations that characterize the genetic changes in specific subgroups of prevalent and recurrent adenomas associated with smoking exposure are needed.