Project description:The objective of this work was to identify potential cancer biomarkers by analyzing microarray and protein expression data from platinum-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer patient samples. The gene expression profiles of the samples were ompared based on platinum sensitivity status and PARP levels.
Project description:Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of ESRD worldwide, but its molecular pathogenesis is not well-defined and there are no specific treatments. In humans, there is a strong genetic component determining susceptibility to DN. However, specific genes controlling DN susceptibility in humans have not been identified. Here we describe a new mouse model, combining type 1 diabetes with activation of the renin angiotensin system (RAS), which develops robust kidney disease with features resembling human DN: heavy albuminuria, hypertension and glomerulosclerosis. Additionally, there is a powerful effect of genetic background regulating susceptibility to nephropathy. The 129 strain is susceptible to kidney disease, whereas the C57BL/6 strain is resistant. To examine the molecular basis of this differential susceptibility, we analyzed the glomerular transcriptome of young mice with albuminuria but without detectable alterations in glomerular structure. We find dramatic difference in regulation of immune and inflammatory pathways with up-regulation of pro-inflammatory pathways in the susceptible (129) strain and coordinate down-regulation in the resistant (C57BL/6) strain, compared to their respective baselines. Many of these pathways were also up-regulated in a rat model and in humans with DN. Our studies suggest that genes controlling inflammatory responses, triggered by hyperglycemia and hypertension, may be critical early determinants of susceptibility to DN. The analysis was carried out on 2 strains of mice (129/SvEv and C57BL/6), each involving 2 genotypes (wild-type and RenTg/Ins2Akita mutations). Four replicates were used for each strain-genotype (with the exception of 129/SvEv wild-type mice, which had 3 replicates).
Project description:Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of ESRD worldwide, but its molecular pathogenesis is not well-defined and there are no specific treatments. In humans, there is a strong genetic component determining susceptibility to DN. However, specific genes controlling DN susceptibility in humans have not been identified. Here we describe a new mouse model, combining type 1 diabetes with activation of the renin angiotensin system (RAS), which develops robust kidney disease with features resembling human DN: heavy albuminuria, hypertension and glomerulosclerosis. Additionally, there is a powerful effect of genetic background regulating susceptibility to nephropathy. The 129 strain is susceptible to kidney disease, whereas the C57BL/6 strain is resistant. To examine the molecular basis of this differential susceptibility, we analyzed the glomerular transcriptome of young mice with albuminuria but without detectable alterations in glomerular structure . We find dramatic difference in regulation of immune and inflammatory pathways with up-regulation of pro-inflammatory pathways in the susceptible (129) strain and coordinate down-regulation in the resistant (C57BL/6) strain, compared to their respective baselines. Many of these pathways were also up-regulated in a rat model and in humans with DN. Our studies suggest that genes controlling inflammatory responses, triggered by hyperglycemia and hypertension, may be critical early determinants of susceptibility to DN.
Project description:Purpose: Despite advances in radical surgery and chemotherapy delivery, ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Most of these patients are treated with platinum-based chemotherapies, but there is no biomarker model to guide their responses to these therapeutic agents. We have developed and independently tested our novel multivariate molecular predictors for forecasting patients' responses to individual drugs on a cohort of 58 ovarian cancer patients. Experimental Design: We adapted and applied the previously-published COXEN algorithm to develop molecular predictors for therapeutic responses of patients' tumors based on expression signatures derived from the NCI-60 in vitro drug activities and genomic expression data. Genome-wide candidate biomarkers were first triaged by examining expression patterns of frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. We then identify initial drug sensitivity biomarkers for carboplatin and paclitaxel, respectively. These biomarkers were further narrowed by examining concordant expression patterns between cell lines and a historical set of ovarian cancer patients. Multivariate predictors were obtained from the NCI-60 cell lines and refined using historical patient cohorts. To independent validate these molecular predictors, we performed genome-wide profiling on FFPE samples of 58 ovarian cancer patients obtained prior to adjuvant chemotherapy. Results: Carboplatin predictor significantly stratified platinum sensitive and resistant patients (p = 0.019) with sensitivity = 93%, specificity = 33%, PPV = 65%, and NPV = 78%. Paclitaxel predictor also significantly stratified patients' responses (p = 0.033) with sensitivity = 96%, specificity = 26%, PPV = 61%, and NPV = 86%. The combination predictor for platinum-taxane combination demonstrated a significant survival difference between the predicted responders and nonresponders with median survival of 12.9 months vs. 8.1 months (p = 0.045). Conclusions: COXEN predictors successfully stratified platinum resistance and taxane response in this retrospective cohort, especially based on their FFPE tumor samples. Accurate prediction of chemotherapeutic response, especially to platinum agents is highly clinically relevant and could alter primary management of ovarian cancer. Gene expression data from 58 stage III-IV ovarian cancer patients treated with Carboplatin and Taxol agents
Project description:Resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy is a clinical challenge in the treatment of ovarian cancer (OC) and limits survival. Therefore, innovative drugs against platinum-resistance are urgently needed. Our therapeutic concept is based on the conjugation of two chemotherapeutic compounds to a monotherapeutic pro-drug, which is taken up by cancer cells and cleaved into active cytostatic metabolites. Here, we explore the activity of the duplex-prodrug 5-FdU-ECyd, covalently linking 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5-FdU) and 3'-C-ethynylcytidine (ECyd), on platinum-resistant OC cells. RNA-Sequencing was used for characterization of 5-FdU-ECyd treated platinum-sensitive A2780 and isogenic platinum-resistant A2780cis.
Project description:Purpose: Despite advances in radical surgery and chemotherapy delivery, ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Most of these patients are treated with platinum-based chemotherapies, but there is no biomarker model to guide their responses to these therapeutic agents. We have developed and independently tested our novel multivariate molecular predictors for forecasting patients' responses to individual drugs on a cohort of 58 ovarian cancer patients. Experimental Design: We adapted and applied the previously-published COXEN algorithm to develop molecular predictors for therapeutic responses of patients' tumors based on expression signatures derived from the NCI-60 in vitro drug activities and genomic expression data. Genome-wide candidate biomarkers were first triaged by examining expression patterns of frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. We then identify initial drug sensitivity biomarkers for carboplatin and paclitaxel, respectively. These biomarkers were further narrowed by examining concordant expression patterns between cell lines and a historical set of ovarian cancer patients. Multivariate predictors were obtained from the NCI-60 cell lines and refined using historical patient cohorts. To independent validate these molecular predictors, we performed genome-wide profiling on FFPE samples of 58 ovarian cancer patients obtained prior to adjuvant chemotherapy. Results: Carboplatin predictor significantly stratified platinum sensitive and resistant patients (p = 0.019) with sensitivity = 93%, specificity = 33%, PPV = 65%, and NPV = 78%. Paclitaxel predictor also significantly stratified patients' responses (p = 0.033) with sensitivity = 96%, specificity = 26%, PPV = 61%, and NPV = 86%. The combination predictor for platinum-taxane combination demonstrated a significant survival difference between the predicted responders and nonresponders with median survival of 12.9 months vs. 8.1 months (p = 0.045). Conclusions: COXEN predictors successfully stratified platinum resistance and taxane response in this retrospective cohort, especially based on their FFPE tumor samples. Accurate prediction of chemotherapeutic response, especially to platinum agents is highly clinically relevant and could alter primary management of ovarian cancer.