1281. Medullary thyroid carcinoma and associated endocrinopathies in Slovenia from 1995 to 2021Sara Milićević, Mateja Krajc, Ana Blatnik, Barbara Perić, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare endocrine tumour that is sporadic in 75% of cases and occurs as a part of inherited cancer syndromes in approximately 25% of cases. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and type of RET pathogenic variants (PVs) in the Slovenian MTC patient population diagnosed between 1995 and 2021 and to elucidate the full range of associated endocrinopathies. Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of 266 MTC patients and their relatives seen in a tertiary centre between 1995 and 2021 was performed. Sequence analysis of exons 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16 of the RET gene was analysed in most patients using Sanger sequencing. From 2017, the entire sequence of RET gene was analysed in most patients using targeted next-generation sequencing. Results: Germline PVs in the RET proto-oncogene were identified in 21.6% probands from 21 different MTC families. Of their tested relatives, 65% (67/103) were RET-positive and 35% (36/103) were RET-negative. PVs were detected in codon 618 and codon 634 in 28.6%, and in codon 790 in 23.8%. The RET-positive group consisted of 52 MTC patients, 13 patients with C cell hyperplasia and 2 individuals with neither. Associated endocrinopathies were diagnosed in 8/21 families: primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in six families and pheochromocytoma (PHEO) in five families. In 62% of RET-positive families (13/21), no associated endocrinopathies were diagnosed. PHEO was most commonly associated with C634R (6/13) and PHPT with C634R (4/7). Hirschsprung’s disease appeared in one patient with RET PV in codon 618. Based on data from the Cancer Registry of Republic of Slovenia, only individual cases of common cancers with well understood environmental risk factors were discovered; lung cancer in 2/21 of families, papillary thyroid cancer in 3/21 of families, cutaneous melanoma in 2/21 of families, cervical cancer in 1/21 families, and lymphoma in 1/21 families. Conclusions: Analysis of prospectively collected MTC cases during a 27-year period revealed that 21.6% of Slovenian patients are RET PV carriers. Sixty-two percent of families had none of the associated endocrinopathies, confirming the thesis that FMTC is the most common presentation. This could suggest using risk-stratified management approaches when screening for PHEO and PHPT in RET PV carriers. However, more studies are needed to evaluate potential genetic risk modifiers as well as safety, improved quality of life, and medical cost reduction in the case of a patient-oriented approach.
Keywords: medullary thyroid carcinoma, multiple endocrine neoplasia, primary hyperparathyroidism
Published in DiRROS: 23.09.2022; Views: 557; Downloads: 258
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1282. Gene electrotransfer of IL-2 and IL-12 plasmids effectively eradicated murine B16.F10 melanomaTilen Komel, Maša Omerzel, Simona Kranjc Brezar, Mariangela De Robertis, M. Mastrodonato, G. Scillitani, G. Pesole, Emanuella Signori, Gregor Serša, Maja Čemažar, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Gene therapy has become an important approach for treating cancer, and electroporation represents a technology for introducing therapeutic genes into a cell. An example of cancer gene therapy relying on gene electrotransfer is the use of immunomodulatory cytokines, such as interleukin 2 (IL-2) and 12 (IL-12), which directly stimulate immune cells at the tumour site. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of gene electrotransfer with two plasmids encoding IL-2 and IL-12 in vitro and in vivo. Two different pulse protocols, known as EP1 (600 V/cm, 5 ms, 1 Hz, 8 pulses) and EP2 (1300 V/cm, 100 %s, 1 Hz, 8 pulses), were assessed in vitro for application in subsequent in vivo experiments. In the in vivo experiment, gene electrotransfer of pIL-2 and pIL-12 using the EP1 protocol was performed in B16.F10 murine melanoma. Combined treatment of tumours using pIL2 and pIL12 induced significant tumour growth delay and 71% complete tumour regression. Furthermore, in tumours coexpressing IL-2 and IL-12, increased accumulation of dendritic cells and M1 macrophages was obtained along with the activation of proinflammatory signals, resulting in CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte recruitment and immune memory development in the mice. In conclusion, we demonstrated high antitumour efficacy of combined IL-2 and IL-12 gene electrotransfer protocols in low-immunogenicity murine B16.F10 melanoma.
Keywords: gene therapy, gene electrotransfer, IL-12, immunotherapy, melanoma
Published in DiRROS: 23.09.2022; Views: 643; Downloads: 188
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1283. Biological factors of the tumour response to electrochemotherapy : review of the evidence and a research roadmapGregor Serša, Katja Uršič Valentinuzzi, Maja Čemažar, Richard Heller, Maša Omerzel, Luca Giovanni Campana, 2021, review article Abstract: The beneficial effects of electrochemotherapy (ECT) for superficial tumours and, more recently, deepseated malignancies in terms of local control and quality of life are widely accepted. However, the variability in responses across histotypes needs to be explored. Currently, patient selection for ECT is based on clinical factors (tumour size, histotype, and exposure to previous oncological treatments), whereas there are no biomarkers to predict the response to treatment. In this field, two major areas of investigation can be identified, i.e., tumour cell characteristics and the tumour microenvironment (vasculature, extracellular matrix, and immune infiltrate). For each of these areas, we describe the current knowledge and discuss how to foster further investigation. This review aims to provide a summary of the currently used guiding clinical factors and delineates a research roadmap for future studies to identify putative biomarkers of response to ECT. These biomarkers may allow researchers to improve ECT practice by customising treatment parameters, manipulating the tumour and its microenvironment, and exploring novel therapeutic combinations.
Keywords: biological factors, biomarkers, electrochemotherapy, bleomycin, cisplatin
Published in DiRROS: 23.09.2022; Views: 558; Downloads: 169
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1284. Electrochemotherapy in mucosal cancer of the head and neck : a systematic reviewPrimož Strojan, Aleš Grošelj, Gregor Serša, Christina Caroline Plaschke, Jan B. Vermorken, Sandra Nuyts, Remco De Bree, Avraham Eisbruch, William M. Mendenhall, Robert Smee, Alfio Ferlito, 2021, review article Abstract: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a local ablative treatment that is based on the reversible electroporation and intracellular accumulation of hydrophilic drug molecules, which greatly increases their cytotoxicity. In mucosal head and neck cancer (HNC), experience with ECT is limited due to the poor accessibility of tumors. In order to review the experience with ECT in mucosal HNC, we undertook a systematic review of the literature. In 22 articles, published between 1998 and 2020, 16 studies with 164 patients were described. Curative and palliative intent treatment were given to 36 (22%) and 128 patients (78%), respectively. The majority of tumors were squamous cell carcinomas (79.3%) and located in the oral cavity (62.8%). In the curative intent group, complete response after one ECT treatment was achieved in 80.5% of the patients, and in the palliative intent group, the objective (complete and partial) response rate was 73.1% (31.2% and 41.9%). No serious adverse events were reported during or soon after ECT and late effects were rare (19 events in 17 patients). The quality-of-life assessments did not show a significant deterioration at 12 months post-ECT. Provided these preliminary data are confirmed in randomized controlled trials, ECT may be an interesting treatment option in selected patients with HNC not amenable to standard local treatment.
Keywords: electrochemotherapy, head and neck cancer, mucosal cancer
Published in DiRROS: 23.09.2022; Views: 579; Downloads: 270
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1285. |
1286. Maintenance and gene electrotransfer efficiency of antibiotic resistance gene-free plasmids encoding mouse, canine and human interleukin-12 orthologuesUrška Kamenšek, Andrej Renčelj, Tanja Jesenko, Tinkara Remic, Gregor Serša, Maja Čemažar, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a cytokine used as a therapeutic molecule in cancer immunotherapy. Gene electrotransfer mediated delivery of IL-12 gene has reached clinical evaluation in the USA using a plasmid that in addition to IL- 12 gene also carry an antibiotic resistance gene needed for its production in bacteria. In Europe however, Eu- ropean Medicines Agency recommends against the use of antibiotics during the production of clinical grade plasmids. We have prepared several antibiotic resistance gene-free plasmids using an antibiotic-free selection strategy called operator-repressor titration, including plasmids encoding mouse, canine and human IL-12 orthologues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the maintenance of these plasmids in bacterial culture and test their transfection efficiency using gene electrotransfer. Plasmid maintenance was evaluated by determining plasmid yields and topologies after subculturing transformed bacteria. Transfection efficiency was evaluated by determining the plasmid copy number, expression and cytotoxicity after gene electrotransfer to mouse, canine and human melanoma cells. The results demonstrated that our IL-12 plasmids without an antibiotic resistance gene are stably maintained in bacteria and provide sufficient IL-12 expression after in vitro gene electrotransfer; therefore, they have the potential to proceed to further in vivo evaluation studies.
Keywords: electrotransfer, interleukin-12, immunotherapy, mammals
Published in DiRROS: 23.09.2022; Views: 592; Downloads: 268
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1287. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for evaluation of tumor perfusion and outcome following treatment in a murine melanoma modelMaja Brložnik, Nina Boc, Maja Čemažar, Maša Omerzel, Monika Savarin, Nataša Kejžar, Gregor Serša, Darja Pavlin, Simona Kranjc Brezar, 2021, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 23.09.2022; Views: 505; Downloads: 305
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1288. Potentiation of electrochemotherapy effectiveness by immunostimulation with IL-12 gene electrotransfer in mice is dependent on tumor immune statusKatja Uršič Valentinuzzi, Špela Kos, Urška Kamenšek, Maja Čemažar, Simona Miceska, Boštjan Markelc, Simon Buček, Barbara Starešinič, Veronika Kloboves-Prevodnik, Richard Heller, Gregor Serša, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) exhibits high therapeutic effectiveness in the clinic, achieving up to 80% local tumor control but without a systemic (abscopal) effect. Therefore, we designed a combination therapy consisting of ECT via intratumoral application of bleomycin, oxaliplatin or cisplatin with peritumoral gene electrotransfer of a plasmid encoding interleukin-12 (p. t. IL-12 GET). Our hypothesis was that p. t. IL-12 GET potentiates the effect of ECT on local and systemic levels and that the potentiation varies depending on tumor immune status. Therefore, the combination therapy was tested in three immunologically different murine tumor models. In poorly immunogenic B16F10 melanoma, IL-12 potentiated the antitumor effect of ECT with biologically equivalent low doses of cisplatin, oxaliplatin or bleomycin. The most pronounced potentiation was observed after ECT using cisplatin, resulting in a complete response rate of 38% and an abscopal effect. Compared to B16F10 melanoma, better responsiveness to ECT was observed in more immunogenic 4%T1 mammary carcinoma and CT26 colorectal carcinoma. In both models, p. t. IL-12 GET did not significantly improve the therapeutic outcome of ECT using any of the chemotherapeutic drugs. Collectively, the effectiveness of the combination therapy depends on tumor immune status. ECT was more effective in more immunogenic tumors, but GET exhibited greater contribution in less immunogenic tumors. Thus, the selection of the therapy, namely, either ECT alone or combination therapy with p. t. IL-12, should be predominantly based on tumor immune status.
Keywords: electrochemotherapy, gene electrotransfer, interleukin-12
Published in DiRROS: 21.09.2022; Views: 607; Downloads: 205
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1289. Evaluation of a novel plasmid for simultaneous gene electrotransfer-mediated silencing of CD105 and CD146 in combination with irradiationMonika Savarin, Urška Kamenšek, Katarina Žnidar, Vesna Todorović, Gregor Serša, Maja Čemažar, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Targeting tumor vasculature through specific endothelial cell markers represents a promising approach for cancer treatment. Here our aim was to construct an antibiotic resistance gene-free plasmid encoding shRNAs to simultaneously target two endothelial cell markers, CD105 and CD146, and to test its functionality and therapeutic potential in vitro when delivered by gene electrotransfer (GET) and combined with irradiation (IR). Functionality of the plasmid was evaluated by determining the silencing of the targeted genes using qRT-PCR. Antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects were determined by the cytotoxicity assay tube formation assay and wound healing assay in murine endothelial cells 2H-11. The functionality of the plasmid construct was also evaluated in malignant melanoma tumor cell line B16F10. Additionally, potential activation of immune response was measured by induction of DNA sensor STING and proinflammatory cytokines by qRT-PCR in endothelial cells 2H-11. We demonstrated that the plasmid construction was successful and can efficiently silence the expression of the two targeted genes. As a consequence of silencing, reduced migration rate and angiogenic potential was confirmed in 2H-11 endothelial cells. Furthermore, induction of DNA sensor STING and proinflammatory cytokines were determined, which could add to the therapeutic effectiveness when used in vivo. To conclude, we successfully constructed a novel plasmid DNA with two shRNAs, which holds a great promise for further in vivo testing.
Keywords: CD105, CD146, plasmid, gene electrotransfer
Published in DiRROS: 21.09.2022; Views: 546; Downloads: 315
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1290. |
