EGFR-GRB2 protein colocalization is a prognostic factor unrelated to overall EGFR expression or EGFR mutation in lung adenocarcinoma

Introduction: EGFR is a therapeutic target in NSCLC for EGFR-mutant patients. Proximity ligation assay (PLA) is a method to detect functional signaling associated protein complexes. Growth factor receptor bound protein 2 (GRB2) is an adaptor protein that binds to the phosphorylated residues of active EGFR. Interaction of EGFR and GRB2 correlates with active EGFR signaling and leads to activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway. Methods: A PLA developed to detect EGFR-GRB2 interaction was measured by quantitative immunofluorescence using Automated Quantitative Analysis technology. EGFR pathway activation was assessed in patients with NSCLC with different mutation status along with overall EGFR expression. Additionally, the PLA to detect EGFR-GRB2 interaction was evaluated as a prognostic marker in two cohorts of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Results: The PLA to detect EGFR-GRB2 interaction was unrelated to overall EGFR expression or mutation in a series of patients with NSCLC with known mutation status. EGFRmutant (p = 0.04) and EGFR/KRAS wild-type tumors (p = 0.0049) had significantly higher EGFR pathway activation compared with KRAS-mutant cases, with no significant difference shown between mutation sites. In two series of patients with lung adenocarcinoma, the PLA to detect EGFR-GRB2 interaction was independently associated with longer survival (hazard ratio = 0.46, 95% confidence interval: 0.2-0.78, p = 0.0085 and hazard ratio = 0.48, 95% confidence interval: 0.2-0.85, p = 0.017). Total EGFR protein expression alone was not correlated with outcome. Conclusions: EGFR colocalization with GRB2 as assessed by PLA is not correlated with EGFR expression levels or mutation status, defining a patient group that may show EGFR pathway activation, as illustrated by its prognostic value. Future studies may determine whether this group is more likely to respond to EGFR-targeted therapies. © 2016 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Identification of circulating lncRNAs associated with gallbladder cancer risk by tissue-based preselection, cis-eQTL validation, and analysis of association with genotype-based expression.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in cell processes and are good candi-dates for cancer risk prediction. Few studies have investigated the association between individual genotypes and lncRNA expression. Here we integrate three separate datasets with information on lncRNA expression only, both lncRNA expression and genotype, and genotype information only to identify circulating lncRNAs associated with the risk of gallbladder cancer (GBC) using robust linear and logistic regression techniques. In the first dataset, we preselect lncRNAs based on expression changes along the sequence “gallstones → dysplasia → GBC”. In the second dataset, we validate associations between genetic variants and serum expression levels of the preselected lncR-NAs (cis-lncRNA-eQTLs) and build lncRNA expression prediction models. In the third dataset, we predict serum lncRNA expression based on individual genotypes and assess the association between genotype-based expression and GBC risk. AC084082.3 and LINC00662 showed increasing expression levels (p-value = 0.009), while C22orf34 expression decreased in the sequence from gallstones to GBC (p-value = 0.04). We identified and validated two cis-LINC00662-eQTLs (r2 = 0.26) and three cis-C22orf34-eQTLs (r2 = 0.24). Only LINC00662 showed a genotyped-based serum expression associated with GBC risk (OR = 1.25 per log2 expression unit, 95% CI 1.04–1.52, p-value = 0.02). Our results suggest that preselection of lncRNAs based on tissue samples and exploitation of cis-lncRNA-eQTLs may facilitate the identification of circulating noncoding RNAs linked to cancer risk

ESCAPE pain trial - The effects of Curcumin in pain relief in women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea: A triple blinded, placebo-controlled, phase II, randomized clinical trial protocol

ntroduction: Primary dysmenorrhea affects many women, being a major cause of absenteeism and reduced productivity at work and at school. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a good treatment option, up to 18% of women show no response or present allergic reactions and adverse events. Curcumin has antispasmodic, antinociceptive and both specific and nonspecific anti-inflammatory effects, with good tolerability and safety. To date, no previous trial involving curcumin and dysmenorrhea pain has been performed. Therefore, our main goal is to assess the efficacy of curcumin for pain relief among women with primary dysmenorrhea, along with determining curcumin\u2019s adverse effects and tolerability profile. Methods:A phase II, single-center, randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, superiority trial to evaluate the effect of curcumin (500 mg/12h) in pain reduction in women (18 to 35-year-old) with primary dysmenorrhea. A first cycle will be used for a passive, observational run-in phase. A sample of 108 participants (54 per group) is necessary to detect a 30% difference in pain sensitivity between groups assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes include side effects, Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS), and use of rescue drugs for pain relief. Discussion: Clinical evidence has shown analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin and in view of dysmenorrhea\u2019s physiopathology being related to those mechanisms targeted by curcumin, we hypothesize its use could represent an innovative and effective therapy to reduce the severity of this disease and its symptoms.Keywords:primary dysmenorrhea, Curcumin, pain relief, Visual Analogue Scale, Cox Menstrual Sympto