Predictive cancer genomics--what do we need?
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Carlos Caldas.
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BACKGROUND: We previously identified eight known and novel genes differentially expressed in the small intestines of wild type and W/WV mice, which have greatly reduced populations of the interstitial cells of Cajal, that are responsible for the generation of electrical slow waves, by using a differential gene display method. METHODS: By using the same method we isolated additional candidate genes that were specifically down- or up-regulated in W/WV mice. Novel transcripts were designated as DDWMEST. RESULTS: We isolated seven candidates that were specifically down- or up-regulated in W/WV mice. Two novel transcripts, DDWMEST 1 and -91 were increased in both fed and fasted W/WV mice. Expression of another five genes was suppressed in W/WV mice: ARG2 (Arginase II), ONZIN (encoding leukemia inhibitory factor regulated protein), and three novel transcripts: DDWMEST62, -84, and -100. Together with the previous report, we identified fifteen differentially expressed genes in total in the small intestines of W/WV mice. Eight of these genes were reduced in the jejunums of W/WV mice compared to age matched wild type mice, whereas the other seven genes showed an increase in expression. Differential expression was the same in fasted and fed animals, suggesting that the differences were independent of the dietetic state of the animal. CONCLUSIONS: Several known and novel genes are differentially expressed in the small intestines of W/WV mice. Differential gene comparison might contribute to our understanding of motility disorders associated with the loss of the interstitial cells of Cajal.
BACKGROUND: The muscle layers of murine gastric fundus have no interstitial cells of Cajal at the level of the myenteric plexus and only possess intramuscular interstitial cells and this tissue does not generate electric slow waves. The absence of intramuscular interstitial cells in W/WV mutants provides a unique opportunity to study the molecular changes that are associated with the loss of these intercalating cells. METHOD: The gene expression profile of the gastric fundus of wild type and W/WV mice was assayed by murine microarray analysis displaying a total of 8734 elements. Queried genes from the microarray analysis were confirmed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Twenty-one genes were differentially expressed in wild type and W/WV mice. Eleven transcripts had 2.0-2.5 fold higher mRNA expression in W/WV gastric fundus when compared to wild type tissues. Ten transcripts had 2.1-3.9 fold lower expression in W/WV mutants in comparison with wild type animals. None of these genes have ever been implicated in any bowel motility function. CONCLUSIONS: These data provides evidence that several important genes have significantly changed in the murine fundus of W/WV mutants that lack intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal and have reduced enteric motor neurotransmission.
E-cadherin is involved in the formation of cell-junctions and the maintenance of epithelial integrity. Direct evidence of E-cadherin mutations triggering tumorigenesis has come from the finding of inactivating germline mutations of the gene (CDH1) in hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). We screened a series of 66 young gastric cancer probands for germline CDH1 mutations, and two novel missense alterations together with an intronic variant were identified. We then analysed the functional significance of the two exonic missense variants found here as well as a third germline missense variant that we previously identified in a HGDC family. cDNAs encoding either the wild-type protein or mutant forms of E-cadherin were stably transfected into CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) E-cadherin-negative cells. Transfected cell-lines were characterized in terms of aggregation, motility and invasion. We show that a proportion of apparently sporadic early-onset diffuse gastric carcinomas are associated with germline alterations of the E-cadherin gene. We also demonstrate that a proportion of missense variants are associated with significant functional consequences, suggesting that our cell model can be used as an adjunct in deciding on the potential pathogenic role of identified E-cadherin germline alterations.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pro-inflammatory polymorphisms within the genes interleukin (IL)-1B and IL-1RN are associated with risk for gastric carcinoma (GC) in Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals. We aimed to determine the association between variation of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha gene and the risk for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and GC. We also investigated the extent to which the combined effect of proinflammatory genetic polymorphisms (IL-1B, IL-1RN, and TNF-alpha), and the combined effect of TNF-alpha and bacterial genotypes each influence such a risk. METHODS: In a case-control study including 306 controls, 221 individuals with chronic gastritis, and 287 GC patients, the TNF-alpha-308 and IL-1B-511 bi-allelic polymorphisms, the IL-1RN variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR), and the H. pylori genes vacA (s and m regions) and cagA were genotyped. RESULTS: We found that carriers of the TNF-alpha-308*A allele are at increased risk for GC development with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-2.7). For both CAG and GC, the odds of developing disease increased with the number of high-risk genotypes. Individuals carrying high-risk genotypes at the 3 loci are at increased risk for CAG and GC with an OR of 5.8 (95% CI, 1.1-31.0) and 9.7 (95% CI, 2.6-36.0), respectively. The risk for GC was not affected significantly by the combination of bacterial and TNF-alpha-308 genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that a proinflammatory polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene is associated with increased risk for GC, and that it is possible to define a specific genetic profile associated with highest risk for CAG and GC.
The histopathologic classification of breast cancer stratifies tumors based on tumor grade, stage, and type. Despite an overall correlation with survival, this classification is poorly predictive and tumors with identical grade and stage can have markedly contrasting outcomes. Recently, breast carcinomas have been classified by their gene expression profiles on frozen material. The validation of such a classification on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor archives linked to clinical information in a high-throughput fashion would have a major impact on clinical practice. The authors tested the ability of tumor tissue microarrays (TMAs) to sub-classify breast cancers using a TMA containing 107 breast cancers. The pattern of expression of 13 different protein biomarkers was assessed by immunohistochemistry and the multidimensional data was analyzed using an unsupervised two-dimensional clustering algorithm. This revealed distinct tumor clusters which divided into two main groups correlating with tumor grade (P<0.001) and nodal status (P = 0.04). None of the protein biomarkers tested could individually identify these groups. The biological significance of this classification is supported by its similarity with one derived from gene expression microarray analysis. Thus, molecular profiling of breast cancer using a limited number of protein biomarkers in TMAs can sub-classify tumors into clinically and biologically relevant subgroups.
Knowledge regarding the genetic basis of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer has greatly increased in the past 4 years, namely due to the discovery of segregating germline mutations in the gene coding for E-cadherin, within families with this cancer predisposing syndrome. Members of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer families have predominantly high predisposition to develop diffuse carcinomas of the stomach but can also be associated with an elevate risk for other types of cancer, namely lobular breast carcinoma. In this review, we focus on the epidemiology, pathology and genetics of gastric cancer, describe families, E-cadherin mutations, and suggest alternative candidate genes underlying the hereditary diffuse gastric cancer syndrome. This knowledge is a fundamental step towards accurate genetic counselling, in which a highly specialized presymptomatic therapeutic intervention should be offered.
BACKGROUND: Both Helicobacter pylori genotype and host genetic polymorphisms play a role in determining the clinical consequences of H. pylori infection. We investigated whether there are any combinations of bacterial and host genotypes that are particularly associated with the occurrence of gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Genotypic variations in virulence-associated genes of H. pylori vacA (s and m regions) and cagA were determined in 221 subjects with chronic gastritis and 222 patients with gastric carcinoma by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-line probe assay. Polymorphisms in the human interleukin 1 beta (IL-1B) gene (IL-1B-511*C or IL-1B-511*T) and in the IL-1 receptor antagonist gene (IL-1RN intron 2 variable number of tandem repeats) were evaluated by PCR and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Infection with vacAs1-, vacAm1-, and cagA-positive strains of H. pylori was associated with an increased risk for gastric carcinoma, with odds ratios (ORs) of 17 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.8 to 38), 6.7 (95% CI = 3.6 to 12), and 15 (95% CI = 7.4 to 29), respectively. IL-1B-511*T carriers (IL-1B-511*T/*T or IL-1B-511*T/*C) homozygous for the short allele of IL-1RN (IL-1RN*2/*2) had an increased gastric carcinoma risk (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.3 to 8.2). For each combination of bacterial/host genotype, the odds of having gastric carcinoma were greatest in those with both bacterial and host high-risk genotypes: vacAs1/IL-1B-511*T carrier (OR = 87, 95% CI = 11 to 679), vacAm1/IL-1B-511*T carrier (OR = 7.4, 95% CI = 3.2 to 17), cagA-positive/IL-1B-511*T carrier (OR = 25, 95% CI = 8.2 to 77), vacAs1/IL-1RN*2/*2 (OR = 32, 95% CI = 7.8 to 134), vacAm1/IL-1RN*2/*2 (OR = 8.8, 95% CI = 2.2 to 35), and cagA-positive/IL-1RN*2/*2 (OR = 23, 95% CI = 7.0 to 72). CONCLUSION: Combined bacterial/host genotyping may provide an important tool in defining disease risk and targeting H. pylori eradication to high-risk individuals.
We have combined data from case control studies designed to test the hypothesis that the c-160a promotor polymorphism in the gene coding for the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin (CDH1) is associated with stomach cancer. A total of 899 individuals (433 patients and 466 controls) were analyzed. The genotype frequencies did not differ significantly between cases and controls, and the genotype-specific risks were not significantly different from unity, with an odds ratio for heterozygotes compared with the common homozygote of 1.3 (95% CI 0.98-1.8) and 1.2 (0.68-2.0) for rare homozygotes compared with common homozygotes. We found no evidence for differences in risk for the intestinal- and diffuse-type histopathologic subgroups.
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The International Gastric Cancer Linkage Consortium (IGCLC) predicted that up to 25% of families fulfilling the criteria for hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) would harbor CDH1 germline mutations. This was based on observations from the low number of diffuse gastric cancer families described at the time, and its validation would require analysis of larger numbers. Here we report the results of germline CDH1 mutation screening in 39 kindred with familial aggregation of gastric cancer, a subset of which fulfills the criteria defined by the IGCLC for HDGC. CDH1 germline mutations were detected in four of 11 (36.4%) HDGC families. No mutations were identified in 63.6% of HDGC families or in kindred with familial aggregation of gastric cancer not fulfilling criteria for HDGC. These results add support to the evidence that only HDGC families harbor germline mutations in CDH1 and that genes other than CDH1 remain to be identified.