1.
Mutational Profiles Reveal an Aberrant TGF-β-CEA Regulated Pathway in Colon Adenomas.
Chen, J, Raju, GS, Jogunoori, W, Menon, V, Majumdar, A, Chen, JS, Gi, YJ, Jeong, YS, Phan, L, Belkin, M, et al
PloS one. 2016;(4):e0153933
Abstract
Mutational processes and signatures that drive early tumorigenesis are centrally important for early cancer prevention. Yet, to date, biomarkers and risk factors for polyps (adenomas) that inordinately and rapidly develop into colon cancer remain poorly defined. Here, we describe surprisingly high mutational profiles through whole-genome sequence (WGS) analysis in 2 of 4 pairs of benign colorectal adenoma tissue samples. Unsupervised hierarchical clustered transcriptomic analysis of a further 7 pairs of adenomas reveals distinct mutational signatures regardless of adenoma size. Transitional single nucleotide substitutions of C:G>T:A predominate in the adenoma mutational spectrum. Strikingly, we observe mutations in the TGF-β pathway and CEA-associated genes in 4 out of 11 adenomas, overlapping with the Wnt pathway. Immunohistochemical labeling reveals a nearly 5-fold increase in CEA levels in 23% of adenoma samples with a concomitant loss of TGF-β signaling. We also define a functional role by which the CEA B3 domain interacts with TGFBR1, potentially inactivating the tumor suppressor function of TGF-β signaling. Our study uncovers diverse mutational processes underlying the transition from early adenoma to cancer. This has broad implications for biomarker-driven targeting of CEA/TGF-β in high-risk adenomas and may lead to early detection of aggressive adenoma to CRC progression.
2.
Interferon-α combined with lamivudine versus lamivudine monotherapy for the emergence of YMDD mutations in chronic hepatitis B infection: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Zhang, YL, Zhang, J, Cui, LY
Hepato-gastroenterology. 2015;(137):133-9
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate (YMDD) mutations were the main limitation of lamivudine (LAM) for treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether LAM combined with IFN-α offer advantage over lamivudine monotherapy for the occurrence of YMDD mutations in CHB using a meta-analysis. METHODOLOGY We searched electronic databases and calculated the odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) and pooled the results. RESULTS Our meta-analysis indicated that the difference of YMDD mutation rates between the combination therapy of IFN-α2b, IFN-α2a and Peg-IFN-α2a respectively plus LAM and LAM monotherapy (95% CI, 3.25-9.70, 95% CI, 5.77-17.51, 95% CI, 6.79-26.13, respectively). The rate of YMDD mutations in LAM monotherapy was increased when compared with combination and sequential combination group (95% CI, 6.79-22.16, and 95% CI, 2.69-7.75, respectively). The YMDD mutation rate in combination therapy was lower than that of LAM monotherapy in HBeAg positive patients (95% CI, 4.98-13.23). CONCLUSIONS Our present meta-analysis suggests that different types of IFN-a in combination with LAM can significantly reduce the rate of YMDD mutation compared to LAM monotherapy.