Evaluating predictive pharmacogenetic signatures of adverse events in colorectal cancer patients treated with fluoropyrimidines

The potential clinical utility of genetic markers associated with response to fluoropyrimidine treatment in colorectal cancer patients remains controversial despite extensive study. Our aim was to test the clinical validity of both novel and previously identified markers of adverse events in a broad clinical setting. We have conducted an observational pharmacogenetic study of early adverse events in a cohort study of 254 colorectal cancer patients treated with 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine. Sixteen variants of nine key folate (pharmacodynamic) and drug metabolising (pharmacokinetic) enzymes have been analysed as individual markers and/or signatures of markers. We found a significant association between TYMP S471L (rs11479) and early dose modifications and/or severe adverse events (adjusted OR = 2.02 [1.03; 4.00], p = 0.042, adjusted OR = 2.70 [1.23; 5.92], p = 0.01 respectively). There was also a significant association between these phenotypes and a signature of DPYD mutations (Adjusted OR = 3.96 [1.17; 13.33], p = 0.03, adjusted OR = 6.76 [1.99; 22.96], p = 0.002 respectively). We did not identify any significant associations between the individual candidate pharmacodynamic markers and toxicity. If a predictive test for early adverse events analysed the TYMP and DPYD variants as a signature, the sensitivity would be 45.5 %, with a positive predictive value of just 33.9 % and thus poor clinical validity. Most studies to date have been under-powered to consider multiple pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variants simultaneously but this and similar individualised data sets could be pooled in meta-analyses to resolve uncertainties about the potential clinical utility of these markers

Detection of Invasive Borrelia burgdorferi Strains in North-Eastern Piedmont, Italy.

SummaryFollowing reports of human cases of Lyme borreliosis from the Ossola Valley, a mountainous area of Piemonte, north‐western Italy, the abundance and altitudinal distribution of ticks, and infection of these vectors with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were evaluated. A total of 1662 host‐seeking Ixodes ricinus were collected by dragging from April to September 2011 at locations between 400 and 1450 m above sea level. Additional 104 I. ricinus were collected from 35 hunted wild animals (4 chamois, 8 roe deer, 23 red deer). Tick density, expressed as the number of ticks per 100 m2, resulted highly variable among different areas, ranging from 0 to 105 larvae and from 0 to 22 nymphs. A sample of 352 ticks (327 from dragging and 25 from wild animals) was screened by a PCR assay targeting a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene of B. burgdorferi s.l. Positive samples were confirmed with a PCR assay specific for the 5S‐23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and sequenced. Four genospecies were found: B. afzelii (prevalence 4.0%), B. lusitaniae (4.0%), B. garinii (1.5%) and B. valaisiana (0.3%). Phylogenetic analysis based on the ospC gene showed that most of the Borrelia strains from pathogenic genospecies had the potential for human infection and for invasion of secondary body sites

Liver-only metastatic colorectal cancer patients and thymidylate synthase polymorphisms for predicting response to 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy

We investigated the association between thymidylate synthase (TS) germline polymorphisms and response to 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy in 80 patients with liver-only metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). The tandem repeat polymorphism (VNTR) in TS 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR), which consists of two (2R) or three (3R) 28-bp repeated sequences, with or without a G/C nucleotide change in 3R carriers (3G or 3C) and a 6-bp insertion/deletion (6+/6−) in the TS 3′-UTR, was studied. The distinction between high (2R/3G, 3C/3G and 3G/3G) and low (2R/2R, 2R/3C and 3C/3C) TS expression genotypes according to the 5′-UTR VNTR+G/C nucleotide change showed significant association with tumour response (P=0.01). In particular, high TS expression genotypes were found in 8 out of 34 patients (23.5%) with complete or partial response and in 24 out of 46 patients (52%) with stable disease and disease progression. Liver-only MCRC patients are a homogeneous and clinical relevant subgroup that may represent an ideal setting for studying the actual influence of TS polymorphisms

Thymidylate synthase polymorphisms, folate and B-vitamin intake, and risk of colorectal adenoma

The effects of polymorphisms in genes coding for key folate metabolism enzymes such as thymidylate synthetase (TS) on colorectal neoplasia risk are likely to be influenced by gene–gene and gene–nutrient interactions. We investigated the combined effects of three polymorphisms in the TS gene region, TSER, TS 3R G>C, and TS 1494del6, dietary intakes of folate and other B vitamins, and genotype for other folate metabolism variants, in a colorectal adenoma (CRA) case–control study. Individuals homozygous for TS 1494del6 del/del were at significantly reduced CRA risk compared to those with either ins/del or ins/ins genotypes (odds ratio 0.52; 95% confidence interval: 0.31–0.85, P=0.009). We also observed evidence of interactions between TS 1494del6 genotype and intake of folate, and vitamins B6 and B12, and MTHFR C677T genotype, with the reduction in risk in del/del homozygotes being largely confined to individuals with high nutrient intakes and MTHFR 677CC genotype (Pinteraction=0.01, 0.006, 0.03, and 0.07, respectively). TSER genotype, when considered either alone or in combination with TS 3R G>C genotype, did not significantly influence CRA risk. These findings support a role for TS in colorectal carcinogenesis, and provide further evidence that functional polymorphisms in folate metabolism genes act as low-risk alleles for colorectal neoplasia and participate in complex gene–gene and gene–nutrient interactions

Predictors of survival and toxicity in patients on adjuvant therapy with 5-fluorouracil for colorectal cancer

The present study aimed at investigating whether the simultaneous evaluation of pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenetic and demographic factors could improve prediction on toxicity and survival in colorectal cancer patients treated with adjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5FU)/leucovorin therapy. One hundred and thirty consecutive, B2 and C Duke's stage colorectal cancer patients were prospectively enrolled. 5FU pharmacokinetics was evaluated at the first cycle. Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) 5′UTR and 3′UTR polymorphisms and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C polymorphisms were assessed in peripheral leukocytes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to evaluate which variables could predict chemotherapy-induced toxicity, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis showed that: (a) low 5FU clearance was an independent predictive factor for severe toxicity (OR=7.32; P<0.0001); (b) high-5FU clearance predicted poorer DFS (HR=1.96; P=0.041) and OS (HR=3.37; P=0.011); (c) advanced age was associated with shorter DFS (HR=3.34; P=0.0008) and OS (HR=2.66; P=0.024); (d) the C/C genotype of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism was protective against grade 3–4 toxicity (P=0.040); (e) none of the TYMS polymorphisms could explain 5FU toxicity or clinical outcome

UGT1A and TYMS genetic variants predict toxicity and response of colorectal cancer patients treated with first-line irinotecan and fluorouracil combination therapy

BACKGROUND: The impact of thymidylate synthase (TYMS) and UDP-glucoronosyltransferase 1A (UGT1A) germline polymorphisms on the outcome of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients treated with irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil (irinotecan/5FU) is still controversial. Our objective was to define a genetic-based algorithm to select patients to be treated with irinotecan/5FU. METHODS: Genotyping of TYMS (5'TRP and 3'UTR), UGT1A1*28, UGT1A9*22 and UGT1A7*3 was performed in 149 metastatic CRC patients treated with irinotecan/5FU as first-line chemotherapy enrolled in a randomised phase 3 study. Their association with response, toxicity and survival was investigated by univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: TYMS 3TRP/3TRP genotype was the only independent predictor of tumour response (OR=5.87, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.68-20.45; P=0.005). UGT1A1*28/*28 was predictive for haematologic toxicity (OR=6.27, 95% CI=1.09-36.12; P=0.04), specifically for neutropenia alone (OR=6.40, 95% CI=1.11-37.03; P=0.038) or together with diarrhoea (OR=18.87, 95% CI=2.14-166.67; P=0.008). UGT1A9*1/*1 was associated with non-haematologic toxicity (OR=2.70, 95% CI=1.07-6.82; P=0.035). Haplotype VII (all non-favourable alleles) was associated with non-haematologic toxicity (OR=2.11, 95% CI-1.12-3.98; P-0.02). CONCLUSION: TYMS and UGT1A polymorphisms influence on tumour response and toxicities derived from irinotecan/5FU treatment in CRC patients. A genetic-based algorithm to optimise treatment individualisation is proposed. British Journal of Cancer (2010) 103, 581-589. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605776 www.bjcancer.com Published online 13 July 2010 (C) 2010 Cancer Research U

Polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GST) and thymidylate synthase (TS) – novel predictors for response and survival in gastric cancer patients

To evaluate the predictive value of a panel of gene polymorphisms involved in metabolism of 5-FU and cisplatin on clinical outcome in advanced gastric cancer patients. A total of 52 patients were enrolled in this study. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tumour specimen. Genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP. Median survival time was 6.0 months (95% CI 3.9;8.1). Overall response rate was 26%. Patients possessing the glutathione S-transferase P1-105 Valine/Valine (GSTP1-105VV) genotype showed a response rate of 67% compared to 21% in patients harbouring at least one GSTP1-105 Isoleucine (GSTP1-105I) allele (P=0.038). GSTP1-105VV patients demonstrated a significant superior median survival time of 15.0 months (95% CI 7.8;22.0) compared to 6.0 months (95% CI 5.1;7.0) in patients with at least one GSTP1-105I allele (P=0.037). Patients possessing a favourable thymidylate synthase (TS) genotype (2R/2R, 2R/3RC, 3RC/3RC) experienced a superior survival time of 10.2 months (95% CI 5.1;15.3) compared to 6.0 months (95% CI 5.0;7.0) in patients with unfavourable TS genotypes (P=0.099). Patients harbouring the GSTP1-105II genotype and one of the unfavourable TS genotypes showed an inferior median survival time of 6.0 months (95% CI 3.9;8.1) compared to 11 months (95% CI 6,23;15,77) in patients with either GSTP1-105VV or a favourable TS genotype (P=0.044). Testing for TS and GSTP1 polymorphisms may allow identification of gastric cancer patients who will benefit from 5-FU/cisplatin chemotherapy, sparing others the side effects of this chemotherapy

Polymorphisms in thymidylate synthase gene and susceptibility to breast cancer in a Chinese population: a case-control analysis

BACKGROUND: Accumulative evidence suggests that low folate intake is associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Polymorphisms in genes involved in folate metabolism may influence DNA methylation, nucleotide synthesis, and thus individual susceptibility to cancer. Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) is a key enzyme that participates in folate metabolism and catalyzes the conversion of dUMP to dTMP in the process of DNA synthesis. Two potentially functional polymorphisms [a 28-bp tandem repeat in the TYMS 5'-untranslated enhanced region (TSER) and a 6-bp deletion/insertion in the TYMS 3'-untranslated region (TS 3'-UTR)] were suggested to be correlated with alteration of thymidylate synthase expression and associated with cancer risk. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that polymorphisms of the TYMS gene are associated with risk of breast cancer, we genotyped these two polymorphisms in a case-control study of 432 incident cases with invasive breast cancer and 473 cancer-free controls in a Chinese population. RESULTS: We found that the distribution of TS3'-UTR (1494del6) genotype frequencies were significantly different between the cases and controls (P = 0.026). Compared with the TS3'-UTR del6/del6 wild-type genotype, a significantly reduced risk was associated with the ins6/ins6 homozygous variant genotype (adjusted OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.35–0.97) but not the del6/ins6 genotype (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.82–1.46). Furthermore, breast cancer risks associated with the TS3'-UTR del6/del6 genotype were more evident in older women, postmenopausal subjects, individuals with a younger age at first-live birth and individuals with an older age at menarche. However, there was no evidence for an association between the TSER polymorphism and breast cancer risks. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the TS3'-UTR del6 polymorphism may play a role in the etiology of breast cancer. Further larger population-based studies as well as functional evaluation of the variants are warranted to confirm our findings

Oxaliplatin, irinotecan and capecitabine as first-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): a dose-finding study and pharmacogenomic analysis

A dose-finding study was performed to evaluate the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and the recommended dose (RD) of escalating the doses of capecitabine and fixed doses of irinotecan and oxaliplatin on a biweekly schedule for metastatic colorectal cancer patients (mCRC). A pharmacogenomic analysis was performed to investigate the association between SNPs and treatment outcome. METHODS: Eighty-seven chemotherapy-naive mCRC patients were recruited through a two-step study design; 27 were included in the dose-finding study and 60 in the pharmacogenomic analysis. Oxaliplatin (85 mg m(-2)) and CPT-11 (150 mg m(-2)), both on day 1, and capecitabine doses ranging from 850 to 1500 mg m(-2) bid on days 1-7 were explored. Peripheral blood samples were used to genotype 13 SNPs in 10 genes related to drug metabolism or efficacy. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis was performed to examine associations between SNPs, ORR and PFS. RESULTS: The capecitabine RD was 1000 mg m(-2) bid. Diarrhoea and neutropenia were the DLTs. After a median follow-up of 52.5 months, the median PFS and OS were 12 (95% CI; 10.6-13.4) and 27 months (95% CI; 17.2-36.8), respectively.The GSTP1-G genotype, the Kohne low-risk category and use of a consolidation approach strongly correlated with decreased risk of progression. Patients with all favourable variables showed a median PFS of 42 months vs 3.4 months in the group with all adverse factors. A superior clinical response was obtained in patients with one GSTP1-G allele as compared with GSTP1-AA carriers (P=0.004). CONCLUSION: First-line therapy with oxaliplatin, irinotecan and capecitabine is efficient and well-tolerated. The GSTP1 polymorphism A>G status was significantly associated with ORR and PFS in mCRC treated with this triplet therapy