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Biomedical subjects

Asad Umar

Publications and source records attributed to Asad Umar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Gene expression analysis of tumor infiltrating lymphocyte markers in endometrial cancers indicates no significant increases in those cases with microsatellite instability.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is seen in many cancers and is the result of either a germline or somatic defect in the DNA mismatch repair system. Microsatellite instability is common in endometrial cancers occurring in about 25% of cases with endometrioid histology. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are more prominent in colorectal cancer cases with MSI. The presence of increased TIL is associated with increased survival in these colorectal cancers, and is suggested as one possible mechanism to explain the increased survival rates in colorectal cancer patients with MSI positive cancers. Some degree of evidence indicates that increased TIL is also predictive of increased survival in endometrial cancer. The relative levels and states of activation of TIL in endometrial cancers with and without MSI has not been explored. Our previous data indicates that global gene expression patterns from MSI and non-MSI endometrial cancers are distinct, however TIL markers were not over-represented on statistically relevant gene lists that distinguish these groups. We further examined these pre-existing microarray data by directly querying transcripts present in the T-cell gene ontology (GO) group. No significant differences were observed between MSI and microsatellite stable (MSS) groups. Finally we directly examined a set of T-cell marker transcripts previously utilized to define increased activated and cytotoxic TIL in MSI positive colorectal cancers. Whereas colorectal cancers with MSI have been previously demonstrated to contain higher ratios of CD8/CD3 message levels we observed no difference in endometrial cancers. In addition, levels of CD3 indicated no increases in TIL in MSI positive cases and 2 markers of activation, granzyme B and IL-2R were not different in MSI positive and negative cancers. These data indicate that significant differences in TIL derived transcripts do not occur between endometrioid endometrial cancers with and without microsatellite instability.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2005

Gene expression profiling of microsatellite unstable and microsatellite stable endometrial cancers indicates distinct pathways of aberrant signaling.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a molecular phenotype present in approximately 25% of endometrial cancers. We examined the global gene expression profiles of early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancers with and without the MSI phenotype to test the hypothesis that MSI phenotype may determine a unique molecular signature among otherwise similar cancers. Unsupervised principal component analysis of the expression data from these cases indicated two distinct groupings of cancers based on MSI phenotype. A relatively small number of array features (392) at high statistical value (P < 0.001) were identified that drive the instability signature in these cancers; 109 of these transcripts differed by at least 2-fold. These data identify distinct gene expression profiles for MSI and microsatellite stable (MSS) cancers, which suggest that cancers with MSI develop in part by different mechanisms from their similar stable counterparts. In particular, we found evidence that two members of the secreted frizzled related protein family (SFRP1 and SFRP4) were more frequently down-regulated in MSI cancers as compared with MSS cancers. Down-regulation was accompanied by promoter hypermethylation for SFRP1. SFRP1 was hypermethylated in 8 of 12 MSI cancers whereas only 3 of 16 MSS cancers were methylated. The WNT target fibroblast growth factor 18 was found to be up-regulated in MSI cancers. These data classify histologically similar endometrioid endometrial cancers into two distinct groupings with implications affecting therapy and prevention.

Carcinoma, Endometrioid↗
PubMed2005

Can animal models help us select specific compounds for cancer prevention trials?

Animal models provide unparalleled mechanistic insights into cancer development and potential opportunity for cancer prevention. Nevertheless, species differ markedly with regard to dietary exposures, cancer development, drug effects, and toxicity thresholds; therefore, testing in a single animal system may not predict human responses. Although replication of human cancer in animal models remains inexact, more than two decades of research have clearly yielded significant gains, as is evident in agents tested--and in certain cases, approved--for the prevention of epithelial cancers. Research efficiencies achievable through preliminary testing in genetically engineered and carcinogen-induced animal models enable us to probe genetic and signaling pathways that drive normal and neoplastic processes, and thereby figure prominently in decision trees for agent development.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Prevention and therapy of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is expected to affect more than 146,000 and kill more than 57,000 Americans in 2004. Increased understanding of carcinogenesis is transforming clinical approaches to all stages of this disease. During the last 5 years, four new drugs have been approved for colorectal cancer treatment, and substantial progress has been made in identifying and developing agents that prevent or delay carcinogenesis. These advances substantiate target-driven approaches to cancer prevention and treatment, and provide fruitful opportunities for future investigations.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗
PubMed2004

Modulation by celecoxib and difluoromethylornithine of the methylation of DNA and the estrogen receptor-alpha gene in rat colon tumors.

The ability of celecoxib and alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) to modulate the DNA hypomethylation and the hypermethylation of the estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha gene in colon tumors was evaluated as potential biomarkers for chemoprevention. Colon tumors were induced in rats by azoxymethane. Celecoxib (500 mg/kg), DFMO (100, 1000 and 3000 mg/kg) or celecoxib + 1000 mg/kg DFMO were administered in the diet for 7 or 28 days prior to death at week 37. Relative to the normal colon mucosa, colon tumors contained global hypomethylated DNA but simultaneous hypermethylation of the promoter plus exon-1 region of the ER-alpha gene. Limited treatment with celecoxib (500 p.p.m. in diet) or DFMO (1000 or 3000 p.p.m. in diet) reversed the DNA hypomethylation. Administering 1000 and 3000 p.p.m. DFMO for 7-days decreased the number of methylated CpG sites in the ER-alpha gene from 5.00 +/- 0.95 to 3.83 +/- 0.75 and 1.75 +/- 0.49 these levels were further reduced to 0.50 +/- 0.26 following administration of 1000 mg/kg for 28 days. Celecoxib administered for 7 and 28 days reduced the number of methylated sites to 4.25 +/- 0.48 and 1.5 +/- 0.50. The combination containing celecoxib and DFMO reduced the number of methylated sites to 0.20 +/- 0.20 at both 7 and 28 days. In parallel with the hypermethylation of the ER-alpha gene, the mRNA expression of the gene was decreased in colon tumors and was increased by celecoxib, DFMO or the combination. Celecoxib and DFMO reversed DNA hypomethylation and the hypermethylation of the ER-alpha gene in colon tumors supporting the hypothesis that modulation of methylation is a biomarker of chemoprevention.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Serum proteomic profiles suggest celecoxib-modulated targets and response predictors.

Cyclooxygenase-2 is a valid target for cancer prevention and treatment. This has been shown in preclinical and clinical cancer prevention studies by using a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, celecoxib. When used in a randomized cancer prevention clinical trial on patients with the inherited autosomal dominant condition, familial adenomatous polyposis, celecoxib proved efficacious. However, a remarkable heterogeneity in patients' responses to the chemopreventive effects of celecoxib was observed. Proteomic profiling of sera from these patients identified several markers, the expression of which was specifically modulated after treatment with celecoxib. A decision tree algorithm identified classifiers for response to celecoxib with relatively high sensitivity but moderate to low specificity. In particular, a spectral feature at m/z 16,961.4 was identified as a strong discriminator between response and nonresponse to celecoxib at the highest dose.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMed2004

Revised Bethesda Guidelines for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome) and microsatellite instability.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also known as Lynch syndrome, is a common autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by early age at onset, neoplastic lesions, and microsatellite instability (MSI). Because cancers with MSI account for approximately 15% of all colorectal cancers and because of the need for a better understanding of the clinical and histologic manifestations of HNPCC, the National Cancer Institute hosted an international workshop on HNPCC in 1996, which led to the development of the Bethesda Guidelines for the identification of individuals with HNPCC who should be tested for MSI. To consider revision and improvement of the Bethesda Guidelines, another HNPCC workshop was held at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD, in 2002. In this commentary, we summarize the Workshop presentations on HNPCC and MSI testing; present the issues relating to the performance, sensitivity, and specificity of the Bethesda Guidelines; outline the revised Bethesda Guidelines for identifying individuals at risk for HNPCC; and recommend criteria for MSI testing.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed2004

Zn2+-chelating motif-tethered short-chain fatty acids as a novel class of histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Among various classes of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, short-chain fatty acids exhibit the least potency, with IC(50) in the millimolar range. We rationalized that this weak potency was, in part, attributable to their inability to access the zinc cation in the HDAC active-site pocket, which is pivotal to the deacetylation catalysis. We thus explored the structural optimization of valproate, butyrate, phenylacetate, and phenylbutyrate by coupling them with Zn(2+)-chelating motifs (hydroxamic acid and o-phenylenediamine) through aromatic omega-amino acid linkers. This strategy has led to a novel class of Zn(2+)-chelating, motif-tethered, short-chain fatty acids that exhibited varying degrees of HDAC inhibitory potency. One hydroxamate-tethered phenylbutyrate compound, N-hydroxy-4-(4-phenylbutyrylamino)benzamide (HTPB), displayed nanomolar potency in inhibiting HDAC activity. Exposure of several cancer cell lines to HTPB at the submicromolar level showed reduced cell proliferation accompanied by histone hyperacetylation and elevated p21(WAF/CIP1) expression, which are hallmark features associated with intracellular HDAC inhibition.

Acetylation↗
PubMed2004

An Msh2 point mutation uncouples DNA mismatch repair and apoptosis.

Mutations in the human DNA mismatch repair gene MSH2 are associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer as well as a significant proportion of sporadic colorectal cancer. The inactivation of MSH2 results in the accumulation of somatic mutations in the genome of tumor cells and resistance to the genotoxic effects of a variety of chemotherapeutic agents. Here we show that the DNA repair and DNA damage-induced apoptosis functions of Msh2 can be uncoupled using mice that carry the G674A missense mutation in the conserved ATPase domain. As a consequence, although Msh2(G674A) homozygous mutant mice are highly tumor prone, the onset of tumorigenesis is delayed as compared with Msh2-null mice. In addition, tumors that carry the mutant allele remain responsive to treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent. Our results indicate that Msh2-mediated apoptosis is an important component of tumor suppression and that certain MSH2 missense mutations can cause mismatch repair deficiency while retaining the signaling functions that confer sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents.

Alanine↗
PubMed2004

Colorectal cancer chemoprevention--an overview of the science.

The development and dissemination of sophisticated detection technologies have recently exposed the high prevalence of preinvasive colorectal neoplasia in the adult U.S. population. Although cancer screening and surveillance provide opportunities for risk stratification, they achieve risk reduction only when coupled with effective interventions. This review surveys the lead compounds for colorectal cancer prevention and the measures by which they may be prioritized for clinical testing. Clinical trials remain the rate-limiting step in agent development, and novel trial designs are needed to hasten agent identification and testing for cancer prevention. Innovative research models include the nesting of prevention end points within cancer treatment trials and within trials testing promising preventive compounds intended for nononcologic indications.

Chemoprevention↗
PubMed2004

Proceedings: the Applications of Bioinformatics in Cancer Detection Workshop.

The Division of Cancer Prevention of the National Cancer Institute sponsored and organized the Applications of Bioinformatics in Cancer Detection Workshop on August 6-7, 2002. The goal of the workshop was to evaluate the state of the science of bioinformatics and determine how it may be used to assist early cancer detection, risk identification, risk assessment, and risk reduction. This paper summarizes the proceedings of this conference and points out future directions for research.

Computational Biology↗
PubMed2003

Colorectal carcinoma in black and white race.

Worldwide, colorectal carcinoma (CRC) varies by race-ethnicity. The highest incidence occurs in whites of European descent. Rates in blacks of South Africa are much lower, but rise with migration to westernized countries, i.e. African Americans (blacks) in the US. In the US, CRC age-specific incidence rates increased dramatically with biologic aging for black and white men and women. For all ages, rates were slightly higher for black than for whites. Among whites, overall annual rates peaked in the 1980s then declined. Stage- and subsite-specific rate shifts suggested earlier detection of cancers through screening, particularly in the distal colon. Blacks have not experienced the same stage- and subsite temporal shifts, which were observed in whites. CRC racial differences have been attributed to biologic and/or non-biologic factors as well as to routine screening patterns. Racial variations demonstrate the need for a more comprehensive understanding of colorectal carcinogenesis, epidemiology, and colorectal screening patterns for low- and high-risk populations.

Black People↗