Maintenance and Consolidation Therapy in Patients with Unresectable Stage III/IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Despite continuing improvements in chemoradiotherapy regimens and the recent clinical validation of particular agents as maintenance treatments in advanced disease, there remains an unmet need for new therapies with clinically proven value in the treatment of unresectable stage III NSCLC. Studies are under way to determine whether the use of anticancer vaccines may be an effective strategy in the treatment of NSCLC

Cyclin D1 in non-small cell lung cancer: a key driver of malignant transformation

PURPOSE: To review the evidence implicating the deregulation of cyclin D1 in the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to discuss the opportunities for targeted clinical intervention. METHODS: Data published until June 2006 are summarized, and previously unpublished results from our own research are included. RESULTS: In normal cells, cyclin D1 complexes with and activates cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) and acts as a transcriptional regulator. The protein is frequently overexpressed in a wide range of cancers, sometimes coincident with CCND1 (cyclin D1) gene amplification (5-20% of tumours). A low level of somatic mutations have been seen in certain tumours. CCND1 is amplified in NSCLC and cyclin D1 is frequently overexpressed in tumours and pre-invasive bronchial lesions, generally from one parental allele. Mutation analyses revealed a frequent CCND1 gene polymorphism (A870G) that modulates alternative splicing and allows expression of an alternative cyclin D1 transcript (transcript cyclin D1b). The encoded cyclin D1b protein lacks a specific phosphorylation site required for nuclear export. Genotype has been correlated with the risk and/or severity of disease or drug response across a range of malignancies, including lung cancer. Together, these findings suggest a strong pathological role for cyclin D1 deregulation in bronchial neoplasia. CONCLUSION: Current data indicate that cyclin D1 overexpression is not a consequence of, but rather a pivotal element in the process of malignant transformation in the lung and other tissues. This understanding may open new avenues for lung cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention

Glutathione-S-Transferase P1 Isoenzyme Polymorphisms, Platinum-Based Chemotherapy, and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

BackgroundPolymorphisms within the P1 isoenzyme of GST (GSTP1) are associated with alterations in enzyme activity and may change sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy. We investigated the relationship between exon 5 and exon 6 GSTP1 gene polymorphisms and treatment response, hematological, and nonhematological toxicity and overall survival for patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsBetween 2001 and 2002, 108 patients with chemotherapy-naïve advanced NSCLC were recruited. Associations between the GSTP1 polymorphisms (Ile105Val, Thr110Ser, Ala114Val, and Asp 147Tyr) and GSTP1*A, *B, and *C haplotypes and treatment response and toxicity were evaluated using the Pearson χ2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests, respectively. Associations with survival were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard ratios.ResultsNo significant associations were noted between GSTP1 polymorphisms and treatment response or survival. Significantly less neutropenic toxicity was demonstrated for patients possessing the 105Val allele (p = 0.020) or the GSTP1*B haplotype (p = 0.038). However, the variant allele GSTP1 105Val, and patients possessing a GSTP1*B allele demonstrated notable trends toward inferior response and survival.ConclusionsGSTP1 haplotype can be used to stratify hematological toxicity after platinum-based chemotherapy, but the lack of significant associations with response or survival suggests that GSTP1 polymorphisms may not be strong pharmacogenomic markers in this population. Additional large prospective studies incorporating the GSTP1 haplotype may clarify the reported discrepancies

Aurora kinases as anticancer drug targets

The human aurora family of serine-threonine kinases comprises three members, which act in concert with many other proteins to control chromosome assembly and segregation during mitosis. Aurora dysfunction can cause aneuploidy, mitotic arrest, and cell death. Aurora kinases are strongly expressed in a broad range of cancer types. Aurora A expression in tumors is often associated with gene amplification, genetic instability, poor histologic differentiation, and poor prognosis. Aurora B is frequently expressed at high levels in a variety of tumors, often coincidently with aurora A, and expression level has also been associated with increased genetic instability and clinical outcome. Further, aurora kinase gene polymorphisms are associated with increased risk or early onset of cancer. The expression of aurora C in cancer is less well studied. In recent years, several small-molecule aurora kinase inhibitors have been developed that exhibit preclinical activity against a wide range of solid tumors. Preliminary clinical data from phase I trials have largely been consistent with cytostatic effects, with disease stabilization as the best response achieved in solid tumors. Objective responses have been noted in leukemia patients, although this might conceivably be due to inhibition of the Abl kinase. Current challenges include the optimization of drug administration, the identification of potential biomarkers of tumor sensitivity, and combination studies with cytotoxic drugs. Here, we summarize the most recent preclinical and clinical data and discuss new directions in the development of aurora kinase inhibitors as antineoplastic agents

Cyclin D1 (CCND1) A870G gene polymorphism modulates smoking-induced lung cancer risk and response to platinum-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients

PURPOSE: The cyclin D1 (CCND1) A870G gene polymorphism is linked to the outcome in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we investigated the impact of this polymorphism on smoking-induced cancer risk and clinical outcome in patients with NSCLC stages I-IV. METHODS: CCND1 A870G genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) of DNA extracted from blood. The study included 244 NSCLC patients and 187 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were: 70% male, 77% smokers, 43% adenocarcinoma, and 27% squamous cell carcinoma. Eighty-one percent of the patients had stages III-IV disease. Median age at diagnosis was 60 years and median survival was 13 months. Genotype frequencies of patients and controls both conformed to the Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. The GG genotype significantly correlated with a history of heavy smoking (>or=40 py, P=0.02), and patients with this genotype had a significantly higher cigarette consumption than patients with AA/AG genotypes (P=0.007). The GG genotype also significantly correlated with tumor response or stabilization after a platinum-based first-line chemotherapy (P=0.04). Survival analysis revealed no significant differences among the genotypes. CONCLUSION: Evidence was obtained that the CCND1 A870G gene polymorphism modulates smoking-induced lung cancer risk. Further studies are required to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms and to test the value of this gene polymorphism as a predictor for platinum-sensitivity in NSCLC patients