Relationship of Cisplatin-Related Adverse Health Outcomes With Disability and Unemployment Among Testicular Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Few data exist on the relationship of cisplatin-related adverse health outcomes (AHOs) with disability, unemployment, and self-reported health (SRH) among testicular cancer survivors (TCS). METHODS: A total of 1815 TCS at least 1 year postchemotherapy underwent clinical examination and completed questionnaires. Treatment data were abstracted from medical records. A cumulative burden of morbidity score (CBMPt) encompassed the number and severity of platinum-related AHOs (peripheral sensory neuropathy [PSN], hearing loss, tinnitus, renal disease). Multivariable regression assessed the association of AHOs and CBMPt with employment status and SRH, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Unemployment was compared with a male normative population of similar age, race, and ethnicity. RESULTS: Almost 1 in 10 TCS was out of work (2.4%, disability leave; 6.8%, unemployed) at a median age of 37 years (median follow-up = 4 years). PSN (odds ratio [OR] = 2.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01 to 8.26, grade 3 vs 0, P = .048), renal dysfunction defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR = 12.1, 95% CI = 2.06 to 70.8, grade 2 vs 0, P = .01), pain (OR = 10.6, 95% CI = 4.40 to 25.40, grade 2 or 3 vs 0, P < .001), and CBMPt (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.03 to 2.08, P = .03) were associated with disability leave; pain strongly correlated with PSN (r 2 = 0.40, P < .001). Statistically significantly higher percentages of TCS were unemployed vs population norms (age-adjusted OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.49 to 3.02, P < .001). PSN (OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.28 to 4.62, grade 3 vs 0, P = .006), patient-reported hearing loss (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.04 to 3.17, grade 2 or 3 vs 0, P = .04), and pain (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 2.06 to 6.81, grade 2 or 3 vs 0, P < .001) were associated with unemployment. Increasing severity of most cisplatin-related AHOs and pain were associated with statistically significantly worse SRH. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have important implications regarding treatment-associated productivity losses and socioeconomic costs in this young population. Survivorship care strategies should include inquiries about disability and unemployment status, with efforts made to assist affected TCS in returning to the workforce.

Clinical and Genome-Wide Analysis of Serum Platinum Levels after Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Serum platinum is measurable for years after completion of cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CBC). We report the largest investigation of serum platinum levels to date of 1,010 testicular cancer survivors (TCS) assessed 1-35 years after CBC and evaluate genetic contributions to these levels. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Eligible TCS given 300 or 400 (±15) mg/m2 cisplatin underwent extensive audiometric testing, clinical examination, completed questionnaires, and had crude serum platinum levels measured. Associations between serum platinum and various risk factors and toxicities were assessed after fitting a biexponential model adjusted for follow-up time and cumulative cisplatin dose. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using the serum platinum residuals of the dose and time-adjusted model. RESULTS: Serum platinum levels exceeded the reference range for approximately 31 years, with a strong inverse relationship with creatinine clearance at follow-up (age-adjusted P = 2.13 × 10-3). We observed a significant, positive association between residual platinum values and luteinizing hormone (age-adjusted P = 6.58 × 10-3). Patients with high residual platinum levels experienced greater Raynaud phenomenon than those with medium or low levels (age-adjusted ORhigh/low = 1.46; P = 0.04), as well as a higher likelihood of developing tinnitus (age-adjusted ORhigh/low = 1.68, P = 0.07). GWAS identified one single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) meeting genome-wide significance, rs1377817 (P = 4.6 × 10-8, a SNP intronic to MYH14). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that residual platinum values are correlated with several cisplatin-related toxicities. One genetic variant is associated with these levels.

Adverse Health Outcomes in Relationship to Hypogonadism After Chemotherapy: A Multicenter Study of Testicular Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the prevalence of hypogonadism, its clinical and genetic risk factors, and its relationship to adverse health outcomes (AHOs) in North American testicular cancer survivors (TCS) after modern platinum-based chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible TCS were <55 years of age at diagnosis and treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Participants underwent physical examinations and completed questionnaires regarding 15 AHOs and health behaviors. Hypogonadism was defined as serum testosterone levels ≤3.0 ng/mL or use of testosterone replacement therapy. We investigated the role of 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs6258 and rs12150660) in the sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) locus implicated in increased hypogonadism risk in the general population. RESULTS: Of 491 TCS (median age at assessment, 38.2 years; range, 18.7-68.4 years), 38.5% had hypogonadism. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis identified hypogonadism risk factors, including age at clinical evaluation (odds ratio [OR], 1.42 per 10-year increase; P= .006) and body mass index of 25 to <30 kg/m2 (OR, 2.08; P= .011) or ≥30 kg/m2 (OR, 2.36; P= .005) compared with <25 kg/m2. TCS with ≥2 risk alleles for the SHBG SNPs had a marginally significant increased hypogonadism risk (OR, 1.45; P= .09). Vigorous-intensity physical activity appeared protective (OR, 0.66; P= .07). Type of cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimen and socioeconomic factors did not correlate with hypogonadism. Compared with TCS without hypogonadism, those with hypogonadism were more likely to report ≥2 AHOs (65% vs 51%; P= .003), to take medications for hypercholesterolemia (20.1% vs 6.0%; P<.001) or hypertension (18.5% vs 10.6%; P= .013), and to report erectile dysfunction (19.6% vs 11.9%; P= .018) or peripheral neuropathy (30.7% vs 22.5%; P= .041). A marginally significant trend for increased use of prescription medications for either diabetes (5.8% vs 2.6%; P= .07) or anxiety/depression (14.8% vs 9.3%; P= .06) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: At a relatively young median age, more than one-third of TCS have hypogonadism, which is significantly associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk factors, and erectile dysfunction. Providers should screen TCS for hypogonadism and treat symptomatic patients.

Clinical and Genome-wide Analysis of Cisplatin-induced Tinnitus Implicates Novel Ototoxic Mechanisms.

PURPOSE: Cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic, results in tinnitus, the phantom perception of sound. Our purpose was to identify the clinical and genetic determinants of tinnitus among testicular cancer survivors (TCS) following cisplatin-based chemotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: TCS (n = 762) were dichotomized to cases (moderate/severe tinnitus; n = 154) and controls (none; n = 608). Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations with comorbidities and SNP dosages in genome-wide association study (GWAS) following quality control and imputation (covariates: age, noise exposure, cisplatin dose, genetic principal components). Pathway over-representation tests and functional studies in mouse auditory cells were performed. RESULTS: Cisplatin-induced tinnitus (CisIT) significantly associated with age at diagnosis (P = 0.007) and cumulative cisplatin dose (P = 0.007). CisIT prevalence was not significantly greater in 400 mg/m2-treated TCS compared with 300 (P = 0.41), but doses >400 mg/m2 (median 580, range 402-828) increased risk by 2.61-fold (P < 0.0001). CisIT cases had worse hearing at each frequency (0.25-12 kHz, P < 0.0001), and reported more vertigo (OR = 6.47; P < 0.0001) and problems hearing in a crowd (OR = 8.22; P < 0.0001) than controls. Cases reported poorer health (P < 0.0001) and greater psychotropic medication use (OR = 2.4; P = 0.003). GWAS suggested a variant near OTOS (rs7606353, P = 2 × 10-6) and OTOS eQTLs were significantly enriched independently of that SNP (P = 0.018). OTOS overexpression in HEI-OC1, a mouse auditory cell line, resulted in resistance to cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity. Pathway analysis implicated potassium ion transport (q = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: CisIT associated with several neuro-otological symptoms, increased use of psychotropic medication, and poorer health. OTOS, expressed in the cochlear lateral wall, was implicated as protective. Future studies should investigate otoprotective targets in supporting cochlear cells.

Cumulative Burden of Morbidity Among Testicular Cancer Survivors After Standard Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Purpose In this multicenter study, we evaluated the cumulative burden of morbidity (CBM) among > 1,200 testicular cancer survivors and applied factor analysis to determine the co-occurrence of adverse health outcomes (AHOs). Patients and Methods Participants were ≤ 55 years of age at diagnosis, finished first-line chemotherapy ≥ 1 year previously, completed a comprehensive questionnaire, and underwent physical examination. Treatment data were abstracted from medical records. A CBM score encompassed the number and severity of AHOs, with ordinal logistic regression used to assess associations with exposures. Nonlinear factor analysis and the nonparametric dimensionality evaluation to enumerate contributing traits procedure determined which AHOs co-occurred. Results Among 1,214 participants, approximately 20% had a high (15%) or very high/severe (4.1%) CBM score, whereas approximately 80% scored medium (30%) or low/very low (47%). Increased risks of higher scores were associated with four cycles of either ifosfamide, etoposide, and cisplatin (odds ratio [OR], 1.96; 95% CI, 1.04 to 3.71) or bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.98), older attained age (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.26), current disability leave (OR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.57 to 7.95), less than a college education (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.87), and current or former smoking (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.63). CBM score did not differ after either chemotherapy regimen ( P = .36). Asian race (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.72) and vigorous exercise (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.89) were protective. Variable clustering analyses identified six significant AHO clusters (χ2 P < .001): hearing loss/damage, tinnitus (OR, 16.3); hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes (OR, 9.8); neuropathy, pain, Raynaud phenomenon (OR, 5.5); cardiovascular and related conditions (OR, 5.0); thyroid disease, erectile dysfunction (OR, 4.2); and depression/anxiety, hypogonadism (OR, 2.8). Conclusion Factors associated with higher CBM may identify testicular cancer survivors in need of closer monitoring. If confirmed, identified AHO clusters could guide the development of survivorship care strategies.

Toxicities Associated with Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Long-Term Testicular Cancer Survivors.

Testicular cancer has become the paradigm of adult-onset cancer survivorship, due to the young age at diagnosis and 10-year relative survival of 95%. This clinical review presents the current status of various treatment-related complications experienced by long-term testicular cancer survivors (TCS) free of disease for 5 or more years after primary treatment. Cardiovascular disease and second malignant neoplasms represent the most common potentially life-threatening late effects. Other long-term adverse outcomes include neuro- and ototoxicity, pulmonary complications, nephrotoxicity, hypogonadism, infertility, and avascular necrosis. Future research efforts should focus on delineation of the genetic underpinning of these long-term toxicities to understand their biologic basis and etiopathogenetic pathways, with the goal of developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies to optimize risk-based care and minimize chronic morbidities. In the interim, health care providers should advise TCS to adhere to national guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease risk factors, as well as to adopt behaviors consistent with a healthy lifestyle, including smoking cessation, a balanced diet, and a moderate to vigorous intensity exercise program. TCS should also follow national guidelines for cancer screening as currently applied to the general population.

Predicting Cardiovascular Disease Among Testicular Cancer Survivors After Modern Cisplatin-based Chemotherapy: Application of the Framingham Risk Score.

BACKGROUND: Testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) after cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CBCT). Identifying at-risk survivors would allow early intervention, but risk prediction tools such as the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) have not been applied to TCSs given modern chemotherapy. METHODS: TCSs > 1 year post-CBCT were evaluated. Associations between FRS and clinical, socioeconomic, and lifestyle measures and treatment regimen (4 cycles, etoposide and cisplatin [EP × 4]); 3 or 4 cycles, bleomycin plus EP (BEP × 3, BEP × 4) were analyzed with general linear multivariable models. Controls from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were matched 1:1 to TCSs by age, race, and education with differences in mean FRS evaluated with 2-sided t tests. RESULTS: Of 787 TCSs (median age, 37.3 years; median follow-up, 4.2 years), 284, 342, and 161 received EP × 4, BEP × 3, or BEP × 4, respectively. TCSs had higher median systolic blood pressure (126 vs. 119 mm Hg; P < .001), but fewer were smokers (8.4% vs. 28.2%; P < .001) than controls. In multivariable analysis, no significant differences in FRS between EP × 4, BEP × 3, and BEP × 4 were observed, but less than college education (P < .001) and lack of vigorous exercise (P = .006) were associated with higher FRS. Mean FRS did not differ between TCSs and controls (6.8% vs. 7.3%; P = .67). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to apply the office-based FRS to TCSs. Chemotherapy regimen (BEP × 3 vs. EP × 4) was not associated with FRS, but less educated and less vigorously active patients had higher FRS, and present a high-risk subgroup for intense follow-up and counseling.

Clinical and Genetic Risk Factors for Adverse Metabolic Outcomes in North American Testicular Cancer Survivors.

Background: Testicular cancer survivors (TCS) are at significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), with metabolic syndrome (MetS) an established risk factor. No study has addressed clinical and genetic MetS risk factors in North American TCS. Patients and Methods: TCS were aged <55 years at diagnosis and received first-line chemotherapy. Patients underwent physical examination, and had lipid panels, testosterone, and soluble cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) evaluated. A single nucleotide polymorphism in rs523349 (5-α-reductase gene, SRD5A2), recently implicated in MetS risk, was genotyped. Using standard criteria, MetS was defined as ≥3 of the following: hypertension, abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, and diabetes. Matched controls were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: We evaluated 486 TCS (median age, 38.1 years). TCS had a higher prevalence of hypertension versus controls (43.2% vs 30.7%; P<.001) but were less likely to have decreased HDL levels (23.7% vs 34.8%; P<.001) or abdominal obesity (28.2% vs 40.1%; P<.001). Overall MetS frequency was similar in TCS and controls (21.0% vs 22.4%; P=.59), did not differ by treatment (P=.20), and was not related to rs523349 (P=.61). For other CVD risk factors, TCS were significantly more likely to have elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (17.7% vs 9.3%; P<.001), total cholesterol levels (26.3% vs 11.1%; P<.001), and body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 (75.1% vs 69.1%; P=.04). On multivariate analysis, age at evaluation (P<.001), testosterone level ≤3.0 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR], 2.06; P=.005), and elevated sICAM-1 level (ORhighest vs lowest quartile, 3.58; P=.001) were significantly associated with MetS. Conclusions and Recommendations: Metabolic abnormalities in TCS are characterized by hypertension and increased LDL and total cholesterol levels but lower rates of decreased HDL levels and abdominal obesity, signifying possible shifts in fat distribution and fat metabolism. These changes are accompanied by hypogonadism and inflammation. TCS have a high prevalence of CVD risk factors that may not be entirely captured by standard MetS criteria. Cancer treatment-associated MetS requires further characterization.

Clinical and Genome-Wide Analysis of Cisplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Survivors of Adult-Onset Cancer.

Purpose: Our purpose was to characterize the clinical influences, genetic risk factors, and gene mechanisms contributing to persistent cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (CisIPN) in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs).Experimental Design: TCS given cisplatin-based therapy completed the validated EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 questionnaire. An ordinal CisIPN phenotype was derived, and associations with age, smoking, excess drinking, hypertension, body mass index, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, cumulative cisplatin dose, and self-reported health were examined for 680 TCS. Genotyping was performed on the Illumina HumanOmniExpressExome chip. Following quality control and imputation, 5.1 million SNPs in 680 genetically European TCS formed the input set. GWAS and PrediXcan were used to identify genetic variation and genetically determined gene expression traits, respectively, contributing to CisIPN. We evaluated two independent datasets for replication: Vanderbilt's electronic health database (BioVU) and the CALGB 90401 trial.Results: Eight sensory items formed a subscale with good internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.88). Variables significantly associated with CisIPN included age at diagnosis (OR per year, 1.06; P = 2 × 10-9), smoking (OR, 1.54; P = 0.004), excess drinking (OR, 1.83; P = 0.007), and hypertension (OR, 1.61; P = 0.03). CisIPN was correlated with lower self-reported health (OR, 0.56; P = 2.6 × 10-9) and weight gain adjusted for years since treatment (OR per Δkg/m2, 1.05; P = 0.004). PrediXcan identified lower expressions of MIDN and RPRD1B, and higher THEM5 expression as associated with CisIPN (P value for each < 5 × 10-6) with replication of RPRD1B meeting significance criteria (Fisher combined P = 0.0089).Conclusions: CisIPN is associated with age, modifiable risk factors, and genetically determined expression level of RPRD1B Further study of implicated genes could elucidate the pathophysiologic underpinnings of CisIPN. Clin Cancer Res; 23(19); 5757-68. ©2017 AACR.

Multi-Institutional Assessment of Adverse Health Outcomes Among North American Testicular Cancer Survivors After Modern Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy.

Purpose To provide new information on adverse health outcomes (AHOs) in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) after four cycles of etoposide and cisplatin (EPX4) or three or four cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin (BEPX3/BEPX4). Methods Nine hundred fifty-two TCSs > 1 year postchemotherapy underwent physical examination and completed a questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression estimated AHOs odds ratios (ORs) in relation to age, cumulative cisplatin and/or bleomycin dose, time since chemotherapy, sociodemographic factors, and health behaviors. Results Median age at evaluation was 37 years; median time since chemotherapy was 4.3 years. Chemotherapy consisted largely of BEPX3 (38.2%), EPX4 (30.9%), and BEPX4 (17.9%). None, one to two, three to four, or five or more AHOs were reported by 20.4%, 42.0%, 25.1%, and 12.5% of TCSs, respectively. Median number after EPX4 or BEPX3 was two (range, zero to nine and zero to 11, respectively; P > .05) and two (range, zero to 10) after BEPX4. When comparing individual AHOs for EPX4 versus BEPX3, Raynaud phenomenon (11.6% v 21.4%; P < .01), peripheral neuropathy (29.2% v 21.4%; P = .02), and obesity (25.5% v 33.0%; P = .04) differed. Larger cumulative bleomycin doses (OR, 1.44 per 90,000 IU) were significantly associated with five or more AHOs. Increasing age was a significant risk factor for one to two, three to four, or five or more AHOs versus zero AHOs (OR, 1.22, 1.50, and 1.87 per 5 years, respectively; P < .01); vigorous physical activity was protective (OR, 0.62, 0.51, and 0.41, respectively; P < .05). Significant risk factors for three to four and five or more AHOs included current (OR, 3.05 and 3.73) or former (OR, 1.61 and 1.76) smoking ( P < .05). Self-reported health was excellent/very good in 59.9% of TCSs but decreased as AHOs increased ( P < .001). Conclusion Numbers of AHOs after EPX4 or BEPX3 appear similar, with median follow-up of 4.3 years. A healthy lifestyle was associated with reduced number of AHOs.

Variants in WFS1 and Other Mendelian Deafness Genes Are Associated with Cisplatin-Associated Ototoxicity.

Purpose: Cisplatin is one of the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs worldwide and one of the most ototoxic. We sought to identify genetic variants that modulate cisplatin-associated ototoxicity (CAO).Experimental Design: We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of CAO using quantitative audiometry (4-12 kHz) in 511 testicular cancer survivors of European genetic ancestry. We performed polygenic modeling and functional analyses using a variety of publicly available databases. We used an electronic health record cohort to replicate our top mechanistic finding.Results: One SNP, rs62283056, in the first intron of Mendelian deafness gene WFS1 (wolframin ER transmembrane glycoprotein) and an expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) for WFS1 met genome-wide significance for association with CAO (P = 1.4 × 10-8). A significant interaction between cumulative cisplatin dose and rs62283056 genotype was evident, indicating that higher cisplatin doses exacerbate hearing loss in patients with the minor allele (P = 0.035). The association between decreased WFS1 expression and hearing loss was replicated in an independent BioVU cohort (n = 18,620 patients, Bonferroni adjusted P < 0.05). Beyond this top signal, we show CAO is a polygenic trait and that SNPs in and near 84 known Mendelian deafness genes are significantly enriched for low P values in the GWAS (P = 0.048).Conclusions: We show for the first time the role of WFS1 in CAO and document a statistically significant interaction between increasing cumulative cisplatin dose and rs62283056 genotype. Our clinical translational results demonstrate that pretherapy patient genotyping to minimize ototoxicity could be useful when deciding between cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens of comparable efficacy with different cumulative doses. Clin Cancer Res; 23(13); 3325-33. ©2016 AACR.

Comprehensive Audiometric Analysis of Hearing Impairment and Tinnitus After Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy in Survivors of Adult-Onset Cancer.

PURPOSE: Cisplatin is widely used but highly ototoxic. Effects of cumulative cisplatin dose on hearing loss have not been comprehensively evaluated in survivors of adult-onset cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Comprehensive audiological measures were conducted on 488 North American male germ cell tumor (GCT) survivors in relation to cumulative cisplatin dose, including audiograms (0.25 to 12 kHz), tests of middle ear function, and tinnitus. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association criteria defined hearing loss severity. The geometric mean of hearing thresholds (0.25 to 12 kHz) summarized overall hearing status consistent with audiometric guidelines. Patients were sorted into quartiles of hearing thresholds of age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: Increasing cumulative cisplatin dose (median, 400 mg/m(2); range, 200 to 800 mg/m(2)) was significantly related to hearing loss at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 kHz (P trends, .021 to < .001): every 100 mg/m(2) increase resulted in a 3.2-dB impairment in age-adjusted overall hearing threshold (4 to 12 kHz; P < .001). Cumulative cisplatin doses > 300 mg/m(2) were associated with greater American Speech-Language-Hearing Association-defined hearing loss severity (odds ratio, 1.59; P = .0066) and worse normative-matched quartiles (odds ratio, 1.33; P = .093) compared with smaller doses. Almost one in five (18%) patients had severe to profound hearing loss. Tinnitus (40% patients) was significantly correlated with reduced hearing at each frequency (P < .001). Noise-induced damage (10% patients) was unaffected by cisplatin dose (P = .59). Hypertension was significantly related (P = .0066) to overall hearing threshold (4 to 12 kHz) in age- and cisplatin dose-adjusted analyses. Middle ear deficits occurred in 22.3% of patients but, as expected, were not related to cytotoxic drug dosage. CONCLUSION: Follow-up of adult-onset cancer survivors given cisplatin should include routine inquiry for hearing status and tinnitus, referral to audiologists as clinically indicated, and hypertension control. Patients should be urged to avoid noise exposure, ototoxic drugs, and other factors that further damage hearing.

The impact of renin-angiotensin system, angiotensin І converting enzyme (insertion/deletion), and angiotensin ІІ type 1 receptor (A1166C) polymorphisms on breast cancer survival in Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Several proteins of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) have been implicated in the process of growth promotion or inhibition of breast tissue and cancer cells. This study aimed to investigate the association between angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) and angiotensin receptor-1 (AGTR1) A1166C polymorphisms and survival of 110 women with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The I/D and A1166C polymorphisms were evaluated by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) in 110 breast cancer patients who had been treated between 2007 and 2009. Genomic DNA was extracted from a Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue of breast cancer sample blocks. All the potential clinical and pathological prognostic variables were analyzed to establish the impact of I/D and A1166C polymorphisms on disease-free and overall survival rates. Disease-free and overall survival rates were the primary endpoints of the study. RESULTS: The ACE (I/D) polymorphism was associated with 3-year disease-free survival. Disease-free survival in DD carriers was significantly increased compared to ID plus II carriers (HR=4.75; 95% CI, 1.39-16.24; p=0.013). No significant association was found between AGTR1 (A1166C) and 3-year disease-free survival (p=0.233). Also, the ACE (I/D) and AGTR1 (A1166C) polymorphisms were not associated with breast cancer overall survival. CONCLUSION: The ACE (I/D) polymorphism was associated with 3-year disease-free survival of the women with breast cancer. Besides, disease-free survival in DD carriers was significantly increased compared to ID plus II carriers.

Lack of association of genetic polymorphisms of angiotensin converting enzyme 1 and angiotensin II type 1 receptor with breast cancer risk in Iranian population.

We aimed to investigate the association of insertion/deletion (I/D) and A1166C polymorphisms of angiotensin I converting enzyme 1 and angiotensin II type 1 receptor genes, respectively and their combination on breast cancer risk in an Iranian population. A case-control study (70 cases, 70 controls) was performed on an Iranian population. The I/D and A1166C polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR, respectively. The results revealed no significant difference between cases and controls in I/D (p = 0.14) and A1166C (p = 0.94) polymorphisms after adjustment for breast cancer known risk factors. In combined genotype analysis, considering DD and AA genotypes as low-risk genotypes, women with one and two high-risk genotypes (one high-risk genotype: adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.24; two high-risk genotypes: adjusted OR, 1.97) were at higher risk for breast cancer. Also, the highest risk for breast cancer was seen in a subgroup of postmenopausal women carriers of two high-risk genotypes (adjusted OR, 2.41). In conclusion, I/D and A1166C polymorphisms are not significantly associated with breast cancer risk in the Iranian population; however, the combination of these two polymorphisms seems to have a synergic effect on the risk of breast cancer particularly in postmenopausal women, which may deserve consideration in large-scale case-control studies.

The effect of renin angiotensin system on tamoxifen resistance.

Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer observed in women and endogenous estrogens are thought to play a major role in its development. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator which is widely used to treat and prevent breast cancer. Tamoxifen is an ER antagonist in the breast but an ER agonist in cardiovascular system (CVS) and some other tissues. Many patients experience resistance to tamoxifen. Several studies have indicated various mechanisms in tamoxifen resistance. Growth factors and their receptors, extracellular proteins, transcription factors, cell-cycle regulators, and signal-transduction molecules have been identified as being potentially involved in tamoxifen resistance. The aim of the present hypothesis is to provide evidences that may lead to this suggestion that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may have a role in tamoxifen resistance. It has been established in numerous studies that RAS play a role in the progression of various cancers such as breast cancer. Besides, other studies have indicated that estrogen has an inhibitory effect on the RAS components levels in CVS and various tissues such as the adrenal and the pituitary. Therefore, it can be suggested that tamoxifen may increase RAS components levels in the breast tissue by its antagonistic effect on ER and causes resistance. Confirmation of this theory by experimental investigations may lead to this suggestion that combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor-1 blockers with tamoxifen may have a preventive effect on development of acquired tamoxifen resistance.

Association of angiotensin I converting enzyme (insertion/deletion) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (A1166C) polymorphisms with breast cancer prognostic factors in Iranian population.

It has been indicated that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has role in various steps of cancer progression. The presence of RAS components has been shown in normal and breast cancer tissue. insertion/deletion (I/D) is one of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphisms and A1166C is one of angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1R) polymorphisms which have been associated with various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we aimed to substantiate the putative significance of ACE and AT1R on breast cancer biology by investigating the influence of their gene polymorphisms on breast cancer progression. The I/D and A1166C polymorphisms were evaluated by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), respectively in 70 breast cancer patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and 70 healthy women. Breast cancer prognostic factors were obtained from medical and pathology reports of patients. There was no significant difference between cases and controls for ACE (I/D) (P = 0.15) and AT1R (A1166C) genotypes (P = 0.86). In breast cancer patients, when DD genotype was used as reference group, the combination of II and ID genotypes was associated with increased HER-2 expression (P = 0.020; OR, 4.58; 95% CI, 1.26-16.60). Also, when AA genotype was used as reference group, the AC genotype was associated with higher tumor TNM stage (P = 0.024; OR, 4.66; 95% CI, 1.18-18.35). This is the first study indicating that ACE (I/D) polymorphism is associated with HER-2 expression and AT1R (A1166C) polymorphism is associated with tumor TNM stage in breast cancer patients.