PBRM1 presents a potential ctDNA marker to monitor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical cancer
Wenhan Li,
Yuhui Huang,
Man Xiao,
Jing Zhao,
Shi Du,
Zehua Wang,
Sha Hu,
Lu Yang,
Jing Cai
Affiliations
Wenhan Li
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Yuhui Huang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Man Xiao
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Jing Zhao
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Shi Du
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Zehua Wang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Sha Hu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Lu Yang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Corresponding author
Jing Cai
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Corresponding author
Summary: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is a therapeutic option for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients. This study was aimed to identify potential liquid biopsy biomarkers to monitor the NACT response. Through targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and tumor tissue DNA (ttDNA) taken from LACC patients undergoing platinum-based NACT, 64 genes with mutations emerge during NACT in the non-responders but none in the responders. Among them, the PBRM1, SETD2, and ROS1 mutations were frequently detected in the ctDNA and ttDNA of the non-responders, and mutant PBRM1 was associated with poorer survival of patients. In vitro, PBRM1 knockdown promoted resistance to cisplatin through boosting STAT3 signaling in cervical cancer cells, while it sensitized tumor cells to poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase inhibitor olaparib. These findings suggest that mutant PBRM1 is a potential ctDNA marker of emerging resistance to NACT and of increased sensitivity to olaparib, which warrants further clinical validation.
