Induction of circulating ABCB1 transcripts under platinum-based chemotherapy indicates poor prognosis and a bone micrometastatic phenotype in ovarian cancer patients

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Franziska Maria Schwarz - , Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Dresden (Author)
  • Jan Dominik Kuhlmann - , Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Dresden (Author)
  • Jorrin Kämpfer - , Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Anna Klimova - , National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry (Author)
  • Daniel Martin Klotz - , Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Dresden (Author)
  • Lisa Freitag - , Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Pia Herrmann - , Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) (Author)
  • Viktoria Zinnow - , Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) (Author)
  • Janice Smith - , Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) (Author)
  • Theresia Scheller - , EPO Experimentelle Pharmakologie & Onkologie Berlin-Buch GmbH (Author)
  • Wolfgang Walther - , Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) (Author)
  • Pauline Wimberger - , Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Dresden (Author)
  • Ulrike Stein - , Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)

Abstract

The drug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein, encoded by the ABCB1 gene, promotes acquired chemoresistance. We explored the presence and clinical relevance of circulating cell-free ABCB1 transcripts (cfABCB1tx) in ovarian cancer patients (173 longitudinal serum samples from 79 cancer patients) using digital droplet PCR. cfABCB1tx were readily detectable at primary diagnosis (median 354 mRNA copies/20 µl serum), paralleled FIGO-stage and predicted surgical outcome (p = 0.023, p=0.022, respectively). Increased cfABCB1tx levels at primary diagnosis indicated poor PFS (HR = 2.329, 95%CI:1.374–3.947, p = 0.0017) and OS (HR = 2.074, 95%CI:1.194–3.601, p = 0.0096). cfABCB1tx induction under platinum-based chemotherapy was an independent predictor for poor OS (HR = 2.597, 95%CI: 1.218–5.538, p = 0.013) and paralelled a micrometastatic phenotype, shaped by the presence of disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow. A strong correlation was observed between cfABCB1tx and circulating transcripts of the metastasis-inducer MACC1, which is the transcriptional activator of ABCB1. Combined assessment of cfABCB1tx and circulating cell-free MACC1 transcripts (cfMACC1tx) resulted in an improved prognostic prediction, with the cfABCB1tx-high/cfMACC1tx-high phenotype bearing the highest risk for relapse and death. Conclusively, we provide proof of principle, that ABCB1 transcripts are readily traceable in the liquid-biopsy of ovarian cancer patients, advancing a new dimension for systemic monitoring of ABCB1/P-glycoprotein expression dynamics.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number174
JournalMolecular cancer
Volume23
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 39180062

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • ABCB1, Liquid biopsy, Ovarian cancer, Platinum-resistance