Publications by year
2022
Green H, Merriel SWD, Oram R, Ruth K, Tyrrell J, Jones S, Thirlwell C, Gillings M, Weedon M, Bailey SER, et al (2022). Applying a genetic risk score for prostate cancer to men with lower urinary tract symptoms in primary care to predict prostate cancer diagnosis: a cohort study in the UK Biobank.
Abstract:
Applying a genetic risk score for prostate cancer to men with lower urinary tract symptoms in primary care to predict prostate cancer diagnosis: a cohort study in the UK Biobank
Objectives to assess how accurately a genetic risk score (GRS) can identify incident prostate cancer in men seeing their general practitioner with lower urinary tract symptoms. Design Cohort study. Setting UK Biobank data linked to primary care records. Participants Men registered with the UK Biobank, eligible for the primary care data linkage, with a record showing that they consulted their general practitioner with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that could indicate possible undiagnosed prostate cancer. Main outcome measures a diagnosis of prostate cancer within two years of the patient’s first consultation with their general practitioner for LUTS. Results a GRS is associated with prostate cancer in men with symptoms (OR=2.54 [2.16 to 2.99] p=5e-29). An integrated risk model including age and GRS applied to symptomatic men predicted prostate cancer with an AUC of 0.768 (0.739 to 0.796). Men aged 40 years and under in the bottom four GRS quintiles, aged 50 years and under in the bottom two GRS quintiles, and aged 50 to 60 years in the bottom GRS quintile had a two-year prostate cancer incidence below 1%, despite the presence of symptoms. The negative predictive value of the combined model exceeded 99%. Conclusions This study is the first to apply a genetic risk score in a clinical setting to improve the triage of men with symptoms of prostate cancer. It demonstrates the added benefit of incorporating an estimate of genetic risk of prostate cancer into the clinical assessment of symptomatic men in primary care. Assessment of prostate cancer risk in men with LUTS is currently based on presenting clinical features alone. Men with the lowest genetic risk of developing prostate cancer could safely avoid invasive investigation, with adequate safety netting, whilst those identified with the greatest risk could be fast-tracked for further investigation.
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2020
Pennycuick A, Teixeira VH, AbdulJabbar K, Raza SEA, Lund T, Akarca AU, Rosenthal R, Kalinke L, Chandrasekharan DP, Pipinikas CP, et al (2020). Immune Surveillance in Clinical Regression of Preinvasive Squamous Cell Lung Cancer.
Cancer Discov,
10(10), 1489-1499.
Abstract:
Immune Surveillance in Clinical Regression of Preinvasive Squamous Cell Lung Cancer.
Before squamous cell lung cancer develops, precancerous lesions can be found in the airways. From longitudinal monitoring, we know that only half of such lesions become cancer, whereas a third spontaneously regress. Although recent studies have described the presence of an active immune response in high-grade lesions, the mechanisms underpinning clinical regression of precancerous lesions remain unknown. Here, we show that host immune surveillance is strongly implicated in lesion regression. Using bronchoscopic biopsies from human subjects, we find that regressive carcinoma in situ lesions harbor more infiltrating immune cells than those that progress to cancer. Moreover, molecular profiling of these lesions identifies potential immune escape mechanisms specifically in those that progress to cancer: antigen presentation is impaired by genomic and epigenetic changes, CCL27-CCR10 signaling is upregulated, and the immunomodulator TNFSF9 is downregulated. Changes appear intrinsic to the carcinoma in situ lesions, as the adjacent stroma of progressive and regressive lesions are transcriptomically similar. SIGNIFICANCE: Immune evasion is a hallmark of cancer. For the first time, this study identifies mechanisms by which precancerous lesions evade immune detection during the earliest stages of carcinogenesis and forms a basis for new therapeutic strategies that treat or prevent early-stage lung cancer.See related commentary by Krysan et al. p. 1442.This article is highlighted in the in This Issue feature, p. 1426.
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2019
Rizzo FM, Vesely C, Childs A, Marafioti T, Khan MS, Mandair D, Cives M, Ensell L, Lowe H, Akarca AU, et al (2019). Circulating tumour cells and their association with bone metastases in patients with neuroendocrine tumours.
Br J Cancer,
120(3), 294-300.
Abstract:
Circulating tumour cells and their association with bone metastases in patients with neuroendocrine tumours.
BACKGROUND: Bone metastases are associated with a worse outcome in patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). Tumour overexpression of C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) appears predictive of skeletal involvement. We investigated the role of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and CXCR4 expression on CTCs as potential predictors of skeleton invasion. METHODS: Blood from patients with metastatic bronchial, midgut or pancreatic NET (pNET) was analysed by CellSearch. CXCR4 immunohistochemistry was performed on matched formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-four patients were recruited with 121 midgut and 119 pNETs, of which 51 and 36% had detectable CTCs, respectively. Bone metastases were reported in 30% of midgut and 23% of pNET patients and were significantly associated with CTC presence (p = 0.003 and p
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Teixeira VH, Pipinikas CP, Pennycuick A, Lee-Six H, Chandrasekharan D, Beane J, Morris TJ, Karpathakis A, Feber A, Breeze CE, et al (2019). Deciphering the genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic landscapes of pre-invasive lung cancer lesions.
Nat Med,
25(3), 517-525.
Abstract:
Deciphering the genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic landscapes of pre-invasive lung cancer lesions.
The molecular alterations that occur in cells before cancer is manifest are largely uncharted. Lung carcinoma in situ (CIS) lesions are the pre-invasive precursor to squamous cell carcinoma. Although microscopically identical, their future is in equipoise, with half progressing to invasive cancer and half regressing or remaining static. The cellular basis of this clinical observation is unknown. Here, we profile the genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic landscape of CIS in a unique patient cohort with longitudinally monitored pre-invasive disease. Predictive modeling identifies which lesions will progress with remarkable accuracy. We identify progression-specific methylation changes on a background of widespread heterogeneity, alongside a strong chromosomal instability signature. We observed mutations and copy number changes characteristic of cancer and chart their emergence, offering a window into early carcinogenesis. We anticipate that this new understanding of cancer precursor biology will improve early detection, reduce overtreatment, and foster preventative therapies targeting early clonal events in lung cancer.
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Pipinikas CP, Berner AM, Sposito T, Thirlwell C (2019). The evolving (epi)genetic landscape of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.
Endocr Relat Cancer,
26(9), R519-R544.
Abstract:
The evolving (epi)genetic landscape of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a relatively rare group of heterogeneous tumours originating from neuroendocrine cells found throughout the body. Pancreatic NENs (PanNENs) are the second most common pancreatic malignancy accounting for 1-3% of all neoplasms developing in the pancreas. Despite having a low background mutation rate, driver mutations in MEN1, DAXX/ATRX and mTOR pathway genes (PTEN, TSC1/2) are implicated in disease development and progression. Their increased incidence coupled with advances in sequencing technologies has reignited the interest in PanNEN research and has accelerated the acquisition of molecular data. Studies utilising such technological advances have further enriched our knowledge of PanNENs' biology through novel findings, including higher-than-expected presence of germline mutations in 17% of sporadic tumours of no familial background, identification of novel mutational signatures and complex chromosomal rearrangements and a dysregulated epigenetic machinery. Integrated genomic studies have progressed the field by identifying the synergistic action between different molecular mechanisms, while holding the promise for deciphering disease heterogeneity. Although our understanding is far from being complete, these novel findings have provided the optimism of shaping the future of PanNEN research, ultimately leading to an era of precision medicine for NETs. Here, we recapitulate the existing knowledge on pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PanNETs) and discuss how recent, novel findings have furthered our understanding of these complex tumours.
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2018
Pericleous M, Karpathakis A, Toumpanakis C, Lumgair H, Reiner J, Marelli L, Thirlwell C, Caplin ME (2018). Well-differentiated bronchial neuroendocrine tumors: Clinical management and outcomes in 105 patients.
Clin Respir J,
12(3), 904-914.
Abstract:
Well-differentiated bronchial neuroendocrine tumors: Clinical management and outcomes in 105 patients.
INTRODUCTION: Bronchial neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors representing approximately 20%-30% of all neuroendocrine tumors and 2%-3% of all adult lung cancers. Here, they present a large case series of well-differentiated bronchial NETs with the aim of investigating the behavior of these tumors and long-term outcomes. METHODS: a retrospective review was performed of 105 patients with bronchial NETs managed in a tertiary referral center in the period between January 1998 and January 2012. RESULTS: Bronchial NETs are commoner in females and the commonest presenting symptoms were cough (13.9%) and dyspnoea (11.6%). OctreoscanTM and Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET were found to have similar diagnostic sensitivity and FDG PET was more sensitive for higher-grade tumors. Over a median follow-up period of 35.5 months mortality rate was 5.7%. The 5-year survival was 76% and the 10-year survival was 62%. Female patients survived longer but this difference was not statistically significant (P =. 59). Older age greater than 50 years (P = .027), higher levels of Chromogranin a (CgA) (P = .034), first-line treatment with surgery (P = .005), ki67 over 10% (P = .037), and tumor stage (P =. 036) but not tumor grade (P =. 22), were significantly associated with survival. DISCUSSION: Several factors have been identified which are independently associated with survival including CgA levels greater than 100 pmol/L, tumor stage, age greater than 50, ki67 over 10% and having surgery as first-line treatment. There was no difference in survival between typical and atypical carcinoids.
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2017
Laskaratos F-M, Rombouts K, Caplin M, Toumpanakis C, Thirlwell C, Mandair D (2017). Neuroendocrine tumors and fibrosis: an unsolved mystery?.
Cancer,
123(24), 4770-4790.
Abstract:
Neuroendocrine tumors and fibrosis: an unsolved mystery?
Neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of slow-growing neoplasms arising mainly from the enterochromaffin cells of the digestive and respiratory tract. Although they are relatively rare, their incidence is rising. It has long been observed that they often are associated with the development of fibrosis, both local and distant. Fibrotic complications, such as carcinoid heart disease and mesenteric desmoplasia, may lead to considerable morbidity or even affect prognosis. The elucidation of the pathophysiology of fibrosis would be of critical importance for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. In this article, the authors review the available evidence regarding the biological basis of fibrosis in neuroendocrine tumors. They explore the role of the tumor microenvironment and the interplay between tumor cells and fibroblasts as a key factor in fibrogenesis and tumor development/progression. They also review the role of serotonin, growth factors, and other peptides in the development of carcinoid-related fibrotic reactions. Cancer 2017;123:4770-90. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
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Karpathakis A, Dibra H, Pipinikas C, Feber A, Morris T, Francis J, Oukrif D, Mandair D, Pericleous M, Mohmaduvesh M, et al (2017). Progressive epigenetic dysregulation in neuroendocrine tumour liver metastases. Endocrine-Related Cancer, 24(2), L21-L25.
2016
Childs A, Vesely C, Ensell L, Lowe H, Luong TV, Caplin ME, Toumpanakis C, Thirlwell C, Hartley JA, Meyer T, et al (2016). Expression of somatostatin receptors 2 and 5 in circulating tumour cells from patients with neuroendocrine tumours.
Br J Cancer,
115(12), 1540-1547.
Abstract:
Expression of somatostatin receptors 2 and 5 in circulating tumour cells from patients with neuroendocrine tumours.
BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) overexpress somatostatin receptors (SSTR) that can be targeted for therapy. Somatostatin receptor expression is routinely measured by molecular imaging but the resolution is insufficient to define heterogeneity. We hypothesised that SSTR expression could be measured on circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and used to investigate heterogeneity of expression and track changes during therapy. METHODS: MCF-7 cells were transfected with SSTR2 or 5 and spiked into donor blood for analysis by CellSearch. Optimum anti-SSTR antibody concentration and exposure time were determined, and flow cytometry was used to evaluate assay sensitivity. For clinical evaluation, blood was analysed by CellSearch, and SSTR2/5 immunohistochemistry was performed on matched tissue samples. RESULTS: Flow cytometry confirmed CellSearch was sensitive and that detection of SSTR was unaffected by the presence of somatostatin analogue up to a concentration of 100 ng ml-l. Thirty-one NET patients were recruited: grade; G1 (29%), G2 (45%), G3 (13%), primary site; midgut (58%), pancreatic (39%). Overall, 87% had SSTR-positive tumours according to somatostatin receptor scintigraphy or 68-Ga-DOTATE PET/CT. Circulating tumour cells were detected in 21 out of 31 patients (68%), of which 33% had evidence of heterogeneous expression of either SSTR2 (n=5) or SSTR5 (n=2). CONCLUSIONS: Somatostatin receptors 2 and 5 are detectable on CTCs from NET patients and may be a useful biomarker for evaluating SSTR-targeted therapies and this is being prospectively evaluated in the Phase IV CALMNET trial (NCT02075606).
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Stålberg P, Westin G, Thirlwell C (2016). Genetics and epigenetics in small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours.
J Intern Med,
280(6), 584-594.
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Genetics and epigenetics in small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours.
Neuroendocrine tumour of the small intestine (SI-NET), formerly known as midgut carcinoid tumour, is the most common small intestinal malignancy. The incidence is rising, with recent reports of 0.67 per 100 000 in the USA and 1.12 per 100 000 in Sweden. SI-NETs often present a challenge in terms of diagnosis and treatment, as patients often have widespread disease and are beyond cure by surgery. Somatostatin analogues provide the mainstay of medical treatment to control hormonal excess and increase the time to progression. Despite overall favourable prognosis (5-year overall survival of 65%), there is a need to find markers to identify both patients with worse outcome and new targets for therapy. Loss on chromosome 18 has been reported in 60-90% of SI-NETs, but mutated genes on this chromosome have failed detection. Recently, a putative tumour suppressor role has been suggested for TCEB3C occurring at 18q21 (encoding elongin A3), which may undergo epigenetic repression. CDKN1B has recently been revealed as the only recurrently mutated gene in SI-NETs but, with a frequency as low as 8%, its role as a driver in SI-NET development may be questioned. Integrated genomewide analysis including exome and whole-genome sequencing, gene expression, DNA methylation and copy number analysis has identified three novel molecular subtypes of SI-NET with differing clinical outcome. DNA methylation analysis has demonstrated that SI-NETs have significant epigenetic dysregulation in 70-80% of tumours. In this review, we focus on understanding of the genetic, epigenetic and molecular events that lead to development and progression of SI-NETs.
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Karpathakis A, Dibra H, Pipinikas C, Feber A, Morris T, Francis J, Oukrif D, Mandair D, Pericleous M, Mohmaduvesh M, et al (2016). Prognostic Impact of Novel Molecular Subtypes of Small Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumor.
Clin Cancer Res,
22(1), 250-258.
Abstract:
Prognostic Impact of Novel Molecular Subtypes of Small Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumor.
PURPOSE: Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SINET) are the commonest malignancy of the small intestine; however, underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Whole-genome and -exome sequencing has demonstrated that SINETs are mutationally quiet, with the most frequent known mutation in the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B gene (CDKN1B) occurring in only ∼8% of tumors, suggesting that alternative mechanisms may drive tumorigenesis. The aim of this study is to perform genome-wide molecular profiling of SINETs in order to identify pathogenic drivers based on molecular profiling. This study represents the largest unbiased integrated genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic analysis undertaken in this tumor type. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Here, we present data from integrated molecular analysis of SINETs (n = 97), including whole-exome or targeted CDKN1B sequencing (n = 29), HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (Illumina) array profiling (n = 69), methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (n = 16), copy-number variance analysis (n = 47), and Whole-Genome DASL (Illumina) expression array profiling (n = 43). RESULTS: Based on molecular profiling, SINETs can be classified into three groups, which demonstrate significantly different progression-free survival after resection of primary tumor (not reached at 10 years vs. 56 months vs. 21 months, P = 0.04). Epimutations were found at a recurrence rate of up to 85%, and 21 epigenetically dysregulated genes were identified, including CDX1 (86%), CELSR3 (84%), FBP1 (84%), and GIPR (74%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first comprehensive integrated molecular analysis of SINETs. We have demonstrated that these tumors are highly epigenetically dysregulated. Furthermore, we have identified novel molecular subtypes with significant impact on progression-free survival.
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2015
Rossi RE, Garcia-Hernandez J, Meyer T, Thirlwell C, Watkins J, Martin NG, Caplin ME, Toumpanakis C (2015). Chromogranin a as a predictor of radiological disease progression in neuroendocrine tumours.
Ann Transl Med,
3(9).
Abstract:
Chromogranin a as a predictor of radiological disease progression in neuroendocrine tumours.
BACKGROUND: Chromogranin a (CgA) is the best established neuroendocrine biomarker. This study was aimed at investigating the prognostic value of CgA as a predictor of radiological disease progression in neuroendocrine tumour (NET) patients. METHODS: Patients with metastatic NETs and evidence of radiological progression (RP) according to RECIST 1.1 were identified from a NET database. Plasma CgA levels were measured 6 and 12 months before RP and at the event of RP. CgA was measured with the Supra-regional-Assay-Service radioimmunoassay (Hammersmith Hospital). RESULTS: a total of 152 patients were evaluated including 91 midgut NETs and 61 pancreatic NETs (PNETs). of these, 56 were G1 NETs, 65 G2, 10 G3, 21 of unknown histology. For all NETs, there was a positive trend in terms of increase of CgA values 6 months prior to RP compared to 12 months before RP. Subgroup analysis at first episode of RP showed that for PNETs there was evidence of a difference in the median CgA levels. CgA 6 months before RP was 100 pmol/L [interquartile 1 (Q1) =53 and Q3 =286.25 pmol/L) and 12 months before was 52 pmol/L (Q1 =36.25 and Q3 =128 pmol/L), W=52, P=0.48. This observation was not confirmed in midgut NETs, where median CgA 6 months before RP was 389.5 pmol/L (Q1 =131.5 and Q3 =791.5 pmol/L) and 12 months before was 319 pmol/L (Q1 =158 and Q3 =753 pmol/L), W=191, P=0.39]. Low grade tumours (G1) had a median CgA value at 6 months significantly higher than at 12 months [181 (Q1 =56.25, Q3 =624) vs. 149.5 (Q1 =44, Q3 =247.25) pmol/L, W=70, P=0.48]. CONCLUSIONS: CgA seems to have predictive value 6 months prior to RP for PNETs and G1 tumours. Further prospective analyses are needed to enable more definitive conclusions.
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Teschendorff AE, Yang Z, Wong A, Pipinikas CP, Jiao Y, Jones A, Anjum S, Hardy R, Salvesen HB, Thirlwell C, et al (2015). Correlation of Smoking-Associated DNA Methylation Changes in Buccal Cells with DNA Methylation Changes in Epithelial Cancer.
JAMA Oncol,
1(4), 476-485.
Abstract:
Correlation of Smoking-Associated DNA Methylation Changes in Buccal Cells with DNA Methylation Changes in Epithelial Cancer.
IMPORTANCE: the utility of buccal cells as an epithelial source tissue for epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs) remains to be demonstrated. Given the direct exposure of buccal cells to potent carcinogens such as smoke, epigenetic changes in these cells may provide insights into the development of smoke-related cancers. OBJECTIVE: to perform an EWAS in buccal and blood cells to assess the relative effect of smoking on the DNA methylation (DNAme) patterns in these cell types and to test whether these DNAme changes are also seen in epithelial cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: in 2013, we measured DNAme at more than 480,000 CpG sites in buccal samples provided in 1999 by 790 women (all aged 53 years in 1999) from the United Kingdom Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development. This included matched blood samples from 152 women. We constructed a DNAme-based smoking index and tested its sensitivity and specificity to discriminate normal from cancer tissue in more than 5000 samples. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: CpG sites whose DNAme level correlates with smoking pack-years, and construction of an associated sample-specific smoking index, which measures the mean deviation of DNAme at smoking-associated CpG sites from a normal reference. RESULTS: in a discovery set of 400 women, we identified 1501 smoking-associated CpG sites at a genome-wide significance level of P
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Pipinikas CP, Dibra H, Karpathakis A, Feber A, Novelli M, Oukrif D, Fusai G, Valente R, Caplin M, Meyer T, et al (2015). Epigenetic dysregulation and poorer prognosis in DAXX-deficient pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.
Endocr Relat Cancer,
22(3), L13-L18.
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Rossi RE, Luong T-V, Caplin ME, Thirlwell C, Meyer T, Garcia-Hernandez J, Baneke A, Conte D, Toumpanakis C (2015). Goblet cell appendiceal tumors--management dilemmas and long-term outcomes.
Surg Oncol,
24(1), 47-53.
Abstract:
Goblet cell appendiceal tumors--management dilemmas and long-term outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Appendiceal Goblet cell tumors (GCTs) are clinically more aggressive, and have a worse outcome than midgut neuroendocrine tumors (mNETs). Guidelines for management of GCTs are limited. METHODS: a retrospective case-study analysis was performed in patients with a diagnosis of GCT, confirmed on histological review. Patients were evaluated clinically, biochemically, and radiologically. RESULTS: 48 patients were identified (TNM stage I-II: 27, stage III: 15, stage IV: 6). Median follow-up was 44 months and was complete in all patients. 68.8% presented with acute appendicitis. 44/48 patients had initial appendectomy, followed by prophylactic right hemicolectomy in 41. 10/48 patients had recurrent disease [median time to recurrence 28 months (range 4-159)]. of those, 9 received systemic chemotherapy (FOLFOX/FOLFIRI), which was also given in 5/48 patients with disseminated disease at diagnosis. Partial response, stable disease and disease progression was noted in 22%, 22% and 56%, respectively. Adjuvant chemotherapy was also administered in 9/48 patients with stage III disease after right hemicolectomy, however in 3/9 the disease recurred. Median progression/disease-free-survival was 44 months (range 3-159) and overall 5-year survival rate was 41.6%. CONCLUSIONS: the clinical behaviour of GCTs is more similar to colorectal adenocarcinomas than to NETs. A prophylactic right hemicolectomy is recommended to reduce the risk of recurrence. Systemic chemotherapy, using colorectal adenocarcinoma regimens, is indicated for advanced or recurrent disease and has encouraging results. Prospective studies are needed to define the role of adjuvant chemotherapy and the optimal chemotherapy regimen.
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Partelli S, Inama M, Rinke A, Begum N, Valente R, Fendrich V, Tamburrino D, Keck T, Caplin ME, Bartsch D, et al (2015). Long-term outcomes of surgical management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with synchronous liver metastases.
Neuroendocrinology,
102, 68-76.
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Long-term outcomes of surgical management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with synchronous liver metastases
Background: the value of surgical resection in the management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) with liver metastases (LM) is still debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of surgery of PNET with LM. Methods: Patients with PNET with synchronous LM between 2000 and 2011 from 4 high-volume institutions were included. The patients were divided into 3 groups: curative resection, palliative resection, and no resection. Results: Overall, 166 patients were included. Eighteen patients (11%) underwent curative resection, 73 patients (43%) underwent palliative resection, and 75 patients (46%) underwent conservative treatment. The median overall survival (OS) from the time of diagnosis was 73 months. Patients who underwent curative resection had a significantly better median OS from the initial diagnosis compared with those who underwent palliative resection and those who were conservatively treated (97 vs. 89 vs. 36 months, p = 0.0001). The median OS from the time of diagnosis in those patients who underwent radical or palliative resection was 97 months, with a 5-year survival rate of 76%. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with OS from the time of diagnosis were the presence of bilobar metastases, tumor grading, and curative resection in a first model. On a second model, curative or palliative surgery was an independent predictor of OS. Among 91 patients who underwent surgery, the presence of pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma G3 was the only factor independently associated with a poorer survival after surgery (median OS: 35 vs. 97 months, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Patients with LM from PNET benefit from surgical resection, although surgery should be reserved to well- or moderately differentiated forms.
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2014
Paul DS, Guilhamon P, Karpathakis A, Butcher LM, Thirlwell C, Feber A, Beck S (2014). Assessment of RainDrop BS-seq as a method for large-scale, targeted bisulfite sequencing.
Epigenetics,
9(5), 678-684.
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Assessment of RainDrop BS-seq as a method for large-scale, targeted bisulfite sequencing.
We present a systematic assessment of RainDrop BS-seq, a novel method for large-scale, targeted bisulfite sequencing using microdroplet-based PCR amplification coupled with next-generation sequencing. We compared DNA methylation levels at 498 target loci (1001 PCR amplicons) in human whole blood, osteosarcoma cells and an archived tumor tissue sample. We assessed the ability of RainDrop BS-seq to accurately measure DNA methylation over a range of DNA quantities (from 10 to 1500 ng), both with and without whole-genome amplification (WGA) following bisulfite conversion. DNA methylation profiles generated using at least 100 ng correlated well (median R = 0.92) with those generated on Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips, currently the platform of choice for epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). WGA allowed for testing of samples with a starting DNA amount of 10 and 50 ng, although a reduced correlation was observed (median R = 0.79). We conclude that RainDrop BS-seq is suitable for measuring DNA methylation levels using nanogram quantities of DNA, and can be used to study candidate epigenetic biomarker loci in an accurate and high-throughput manner, paving the way for its application to routine clinical diagnostics.
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Toumpanakis C, Kim MK, Rinke A, Bergestuen DS, Thirlwell C, Khan MS, Salazar R, Oberg K (2014). Combination of cross-sectional and molecular imaging studies in the localization of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
Neuroendocrinology,
99(2), 63-74.
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Combination of cross-sectional and molecular imaging studies in the localization of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
Molecular imaging modalities exploit aspects of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) pathophysiology for both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic purposes. The characteristic metabolic pathways of NET determine which tracers are useful for their visualization. In this review, we summarize the diagnostic value of all available molecular imaging studies, present data about their use in daily practice in NET centers globally, and finally make recommendations about the appropriate use of those modalities in specific clinical scenarios. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) continues to have a central role in the diagnostic workup of patients with NET, as it is also widely available. However, and despite the lack of prospective randomized studies, many NET experts predict that Gallium-68 ((68)Ga)-DOTA positron emission tomography (PET) techniques may replace SRS in the future, not only because of their technical advantages, but also because they are superior in patients with small-volume disease, in patients with skeletal metastases, and in those with occult primary tumors. Carbon-11 ((11)C)-5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) PET and (18)F-dihydroxyphenylalanine ((18)F-DOPA) PET are new molecular imaging techniques of limited availability, and based on retrospective data, their sensitivities seem to be inferior to that of (68)Ga-DOTA PET. Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor imaging seems promising for localization of the primary in benign insulinomas, but is currently available only in a few centers. Fluorine-18 ((18)F)-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) PET was initially thought to be of limited value in NET, due to their usually slow-growing nature. However, according to subsequent data, (18)F-FDG PET is particularly helpful for visualizing the more aggressive NET, such as poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas, and well-differentiated tumors with Ki67 values >10%. According to limited data, (18)F-FDG-avid tumor lesions, even in slow-growing NET, may indicate a more aggressive disease course. When a secondary malignancy has already been established or is strongly suspected, combining molecular imaging techniques (e.g. (18)F-FDG PET and (68)Ga-DOTA PET) takes advantage of the diverse avidities of different tumor types to differentiate lesions of different origins. All the above-mentioned molecular imaging studies should always be reviewed and interpreted in a multidisciplinary (tumor board) meeting in combination with the conventional cross-sectional imaging, as the latter remains the imaging of choice for the evaluation of treatment response and disease follow-up.
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Goldstein R, Yu D, Gillmore R, Thirlwell C, O'Donoghue P, Mayer A, Meyer T (2014). Oxaliplatin/5-fluorouracil in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: case report and single-center retrospective review.
Future Oncol,
10(13), 2007-2014.
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Oxaliplatin/5-fluorouracil in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: case report and single-center retrospective review.
AIMS: Sorafenib is the only standard therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, but has a low response rate. Leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) has a superior response rate versus doxorubicin among Asian sorafenib-naive patients. We aimed to retrospectively review the outcome of 20 consecutive patients treated with FOLFOX at a single European center. MATERIALS & METHODS: Patients had symptomatic disease burdens unlikely to regress with sorafenib or had no proven treatment options (sorafenib-refractory or recurrence post liver transplantation). RESULTS: One sorafenib-refractory patient had a complete response and two liver transplant patients experienced partial responses. Median overall survival was 6.3 months. There was one chemotherapy death due to neutropenic sepsis. CONCLUSION: in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, FOLFOX can induce clinically relevant responses, but needs prospective validation.
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Feber A, Guilhamon P, Lechner M, Fenton T, Wilson GA, Thirlwell C, Morris TJ, Flanagan AM, Teschendorff AE, Kelly JD, et al (2014). Using high-density DNA methylation arrays to profile copy number alterations.
Genome Biology,
15(2).
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Using high-density DNA methylation arrays to profile copy number alterations
The integration of genomic and epigenomic data is an increasingly popular approach for studying the complex mechanisms driving cancer development. We have developed a method for evaluating both methylation and copy number from high-density DNA methylation arrays. Comparing copy number data from Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips and SNP arrays, we demonstrate that Infinium arrays detect copy number alterations with the sensitivity of SNP platforms. These results show that high-density methylation arrays provide a robust and economic platform for detecting copy number and methylation changes in a single experiment. Our method is available in the ChAMP Bioconductor package: http://www.bioconductor.org/packages/2.13/bioc/html/ChAMP.html.
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2012
Pericleous M, Lumgair H, Baneke A, Morgan-Rowe L, Caplin ME, Luong TV, Thirlwell C, Gillmore R, Toumpanakis C (2012). Appendiceal goblet cell carcinoid tumour: a case of unexpected lung metastasis.
Case Reports in Oncology,
5(2), 332-338.
Abstract:
Appendiceal goblet cell carcinoid tumour: a case of unexpected lung metastasis
Goblet cell carcinoid tumours are often considered a subset of appendiceal neuroendocrine tumours which behave more aggressively. They usually metastasize through transcoelomic/peritoneal invasion and common sites include the ovaries, peritoneum, and liver. Metastases may have goblet cell carcinoid, signet ring cell carcinoma or classic carcinoid histology. We report the first case in the literature of a patient with a goblet cell carcinoid with lung metastasis, which was associated with unfavourable outcome. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Abstract.
2007
Jones AM, Thirlwell C, Howarth KM, Graham T, Chambers W, Segditsas S, Page KM, Phillips RKS, Thomas HJW, Sieber OM, et al (2007). Analysis of copy number changes suggests chromosomal instability in a minority of large colorectal adenomas.
J Pathol,
213(3), 249-256.
Abstract:
Analysis of copy number changes suggests chromosomal instability in a minority of large colorectal adenomas.
We have examined chromosomal-scale mutations in 34 large colorectal adenomas (CRAs). A small number of changes (median = 2, IQR = 0-4) were found by array-comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) in most tumours. The most common changes were deletions of chromosomes 1p, 9q, 17, 19, and 22, and gains of chromosomes 13 and 21. SNP-LOH analysis and pseudo-digital SNP-PCR analysis detected occasional copy-neutral LOH. Some aCGH changes found frequently in colorectal carcinomas, such as deletions of chromosomes 4q and 18q, were very infrequent in the adenomas. Almost all copy number changes were of small magnitude, far below the predicted levels even for single copy gain/loss; investigation suggested that these changes were either artefactual or occurred in sub-clones within the tumours. In some cases, these sub-clones may have represented progression towards carcinoma, but comparison with aCGH data from carcinomas showed this to be unlikely in most cases. In two adenomas, there was evidence of a large, outlying number of copy number changes, mostly resulting from part-chromosome deletions. Overall, moreover, there was evidence of a tendency towards part-chromosome deletions-consistent with chromosomal instability (CIN)--in about one-sixth of all tumours. However, there was no evidence of CIN in the form of whole-chromosome copy number changes. Our data did not support previous contentions that CRAs tend to show chromosome breakage at fragile sites owing to CIN associated with an elevated DNA damage response. Chromosomal-scale mutations occur in some CRAs; although CIN is not the norm in these lesions, it probably affects a minority of cases.
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