朱文良,李 靖,梁新強(qiáng),賴 林,梁艷艷,陸運(yùn)鑫,侯恩存
1.廣西中醫(yī)藥大學(xué)附屬瑞康醫(yī)院腫瘤內(nèi)科二病區(qū),廣西 南寧 530011;2.鄭州大學(xué)附屬腫瘤醫(yī)院微創(chuàng)介入科,河南 鄭州 450008;3.廣西醫(yī)科大學(xué)附屬腫瘤醫(yī)院基礎(chǔ)實(shí)驗(yàn)部,廣西 南寧 530021
非小細(xì)胞肺癌患者血清TGF-α與EGFR-TKI治療敏感性和預(yù)后的關(guān)系
朱文良1,李 靖2,梁新強(qiáng)3,賴 林1,梁艷艷1,陸運(yùn)鑫1,侯恩存1
1.廣西中醫(yī)藥大學(xué)附屬瑞康醫(yī)院腫瘤內(nèi)科二病區(qū),廣西 南寧 530011;2.鄭州大學(xué)附屬腫瘤醫(yī)院微創(chuàng)介入科,河南 鄭州 450008;3.廣西醫(yī)科大學(xué)附屬腫瘤醫(yī)院基礎(chǔ)實(shí)驗(yàn)部,廣西 南寧 530021
背景與目的:表皮生長(zhǎng)因子受體酪氨酸激酶抑制劑(epidermal growth factor receptortyrosine kinase inhibitor,EGFR-TKI)是EGFR陽性突變非小細(xì)胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)患者的優(yōu)勢(shì)治療方案,但其療效存在較大個(gè)體差異。該研究將探討血清中EGFR的配體轉(zhuǎn)化生長(zhǎng)因子(transforming growth factorα,TGF-α)水平是否可作為EGFR基因突變陽性NSCLC患者EGFR-TKI療效的預(yù)測(cè)指標(biāo),并探討TGF-α水平與患者預(yù)后的關(guān)系。方法:收集2012年5月—2014年7月就診于廣西中醫(yī)藥大學(xué)附屬瑞康醫(yī)院腫瘤內(nèi)科門診及住院部EGFR陽性突變的NSCLC患者75例。在行EGFR-TKI治療周期前,利用酶聯(lián)免疫吸附反應(yīng)(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)檢測(cè)試劑盒檢測(cè)各入選患者血清中TGF-α的水平。治療2個(gè)月后行影像學(xué)檢查,評(píng)定治療效果。探討TGF-α水平與治療效果的關(guān)系及其預(yù)測(cè)效能,進(jìn)一步分析其與患者總生存期(overall survival,OS)和無進(jìn)展生存期(progression-free survival,PFS)的關(guān)系。結(jié)果:75例EGFR陽性突變NSCLC患者經(jīng)EGFR-TKI治療后,病情部分緩解(partial response,PR)20例,穩(wěn)定(stable disease,SD)25例,進(jìn)展(progression disease,PD)30例,疾病控制(disease control,DC)率達(dá)到60%(45例)。PD組患者治療前血清TGF-α水平高于DC組,差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(P<0.01)。多因素COX回歸顯示,患者吸煙狀態(tài)、淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移程度及TGF-α水平是預(yù)后的獨(dú)立影響因素。ROC分析顯示,血清TGF-α水平對(duì)患者EGFR-TKI療效具有良好的預(yù)測(cè)效能[曲線下面積(area under the curve,AUC)=0.926]且16.75 pg/mL為TGF-α的最佳分界點(diǎn)濃度。血清高濃度TGF-α(≥16.75 pg/mL)與患者吸煙史比例、臨床分期、淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移及治療效果有關(guān)(P<0.05)。TGF-α高濃度較低濃度組患者的OS和PFS中位生存時(shí)間縮短,差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(log-rank P<0.05)。結(jié)論:高水平血清TGF-α(≥16.75 pg/mL)對(duì)NSCLC患者EGFR-TKI治療抵抗和不良預(yù)后有指示作用。
轉(zhuǎn)化生長(zhǎng)因子;表皮生長(zhǎng)因子受體酪氨酸激酶抑制劑;非小細(xì)胞肺癌;預(yù)后
肺癌是當(dāng)今世界范圍內(nèi)威脅人類健康和生存的惡性腫瘤之一,非小細(xì)胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)是最常見的臨床病理類型,占肺癌患者的80%~85%,其預(yù)后差,早期診斷和治療較為困難[1]。目前,作為新型的靶向治療藥物,表皮生長(zhǎng)因子受體酪氨酸激酶抑制劑(epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor,EGFR-TKI)對(duì)EGFR基因陽性突變患者的治療效果明顯優(yōu)于化療,使該療法成為EGFR陽性突變患者的一線治療方案。然而,EGFR-TKI的治療效果存在較大的個(gè)體差異,且治療后頻繁出現(xiàn)的耐藥現(xiàn)象限制了該療法的進(jìn)一步深入發(fā)展和應(yīng)用[2]。因此,科學(xué)地預(yù)測(cè)和評(píng)估EGFR-TKI治療敏感性并盡早地預(yù)防和緩解該療法可能導(dǎo)致的耐藥性成為亟待解決的問題。轉(zhuǎn)化生長(zhǎng)因子(transforming growth factor α,TGF-α)是EGFR的配體,有研究發(fā)現(xiàn),TGF-α水平與小分子TKI藥物吉非替尼治療后的不良預(yù)后有關(guān),但是血清中TGF-α的水平對(duì)EGFR-TKI治療敏感性和患者預(yù)后的預(yù)測(cè)作用關(guān)系尚未明確[3]。本研究旨在探討NSCLC血清中TGF-α的水平與TKI治療敏感性的關(guān)系,以評(píng)估TGF-α對(duì)EGFR陽性突變患者預(yù)后的預(yù)測(cè)價(jià)值。
1.1 一般資料
選取2012年5月—2014年7月就診于廣西中醫(yī)藥大學(xué)附屬瑞康醫(yī)院腫瘤內(nèi)科門診及住院部的EGFR突變陽性的NSCLC患者75例為研究對(duì)象,其中男性43例,女性32例,平均年齡54歲(18~75歲)。根據(jù)美國(guó)癌癥聯(lián)合委員會(huì)肺癌分期標(biāo)準(zhǔn)(第七版)進(jìn)行分期。納入標(biāo)準(zhǔn):① 組織病理學(xué)以及基因檢測(cè)確診的EGFR突變陽性NSCLC患者;② 接受EGFR-TKI一線治療方案;③ 年齡18~75歲;④ 至少具有1個(gè)可測(cè)量病灶。排除標(biāo)準(zhǔn):① 有EGFR-TKI類藥物服用史或此類藥物過敏或不耐受者;② 合并其他部位腫瘤者;③ 同時(shí)應(yīng)用其他化療藥物治療者。所有患者在入組時(shí)簽訂知情同意書并知悉研究目的。
1.2 治療方法與療效評(píng)價(jià)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)
治療方案:入選患者均行一線EGFR-TKI治療,給予口服吉非替尼250 mg/d或厄洛替尼150 mg/d。
療效評(píng)價(jià):患者口服EGFR-TKI 2個(gè)月后進(jìn)行療效評(píng)價(jià)。按照實(shí)體瘤療效評(píng)價(jià)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)(Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors,RECIST)進(jìn)行:完全緩解(complete response,CR)、部分緩解(partial response,PR)、病情穩(wěn)定(stable disease,SD)和疾病進(jìn)展(progression disease,PD)。治療有效包括CR和PR,疾病控制包括CR、PR和SD。所有患者治療效果均進(jìn)行胸腹部、顱腦CT掃描、骨掃描和MRI證實(shí)。
1.3 血清TGF-α水平測(cè)定
EGFR突變陽性患者在行TKI治療前測(cè)定血清中TGF-α的濃度。治療前于清晨空腹采集受試者靜脈血4~6 mL,肝素鈉抗凝,應(yīng)用人TGF-α酶聯(lián)免疫吸附反應(yīng)(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)檢測(cè)試劑盒(購自美國(guó)Thermal Fisher公司)測(cè)定血清中TGF-α的濃度。
1.4 EGFR基因突變檢測(cè)
NSCLC患者手術(shù)或穿刺、支氣管鏡活檢組織標(biāo)本由廣西中醫(yī)藥大學(xué)附屬瑞康醫(yī)院分子病理學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)室進(jìn)行EGFR基因突變和位點(diǎn)檢測(cè)。提取石蠟切片或冷凍切片中組織樣本基因組DNA,測(cè)定其純度和濃度。利用實(shí)時(shí)熒光定量聚合酶鏈反應(yīng)(real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RTFQ-PCR)Taqman探針技術(shù)擴(kuò)增EGFR基因19和21外顯子,分析其突變狀態(tài)。
1.5 統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)處理
采用SPSS 19.0進(jìn)行數(shù)據(jù)統(tǒng)計(jì)和分析。血清TGF-α水平與EGFR-TKI療效及與患者臨床特征之間的關(guān)系采用χ2或Fisher’s 檢驗(yàn)分析,P<0.05為差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義。靈敏度和特異度比較采用McNemar’s檢驗(yàn),以受試者工作特征(receiver operating characteristic,ROC)曲線評(píng)價(jià)診斷價(jià)值。Youden指數(shù)定義為:靈敏度+特異度-1。患者生存分析采用Kaplan-Meier方法進(jìn)行評(píng)價(jià)?;颊呖偵嫫?overall survival,OS)為首次用藥到發(fā)生全因死亡的時(shí)間,無進(jìn)展生存期(progression-free survival,PFS)為首次用藥時(shí)間到出現(xiàn)疾病發(fā)展或全因死亡的時(shí)間。COX比例風(fēng)險(xiǎn)模型(向后法)分析預(yù)后相關(guān)因素。
2.1 EGFR-TKI療效與臨床病理特征的關(guān)系
本研究共收集滿足納入排除標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的EGFR突變陽性NSCLC患者75例,其中男性43例,女性32例。年齡在60歲以下患者52例(69.3%),60歲以上23例(30.7%),有吸煙史患者39例(52.0%)。其中腺癌患者66例,鱗癌9例,有36例發(fā)生淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移。納入患者全部接受EGFR-TKI治療,其中口服吉非替尼的患者43例,口服厄洛替尼的患者32例。治療3個(gè)月后,20例患者PR,25例SD,30例PD或死亡。達(dá)到疾病控制(disease control,DC)者45例(60%,表1)。根據(jù)治療效果將納入人群分為DC組和疾病進(jìn)展(disease progress,DP)組并進(jìn)一步分析了EGFR-TKI療效與患者臨床特征的關(guān)系,結(jié)果顯示,兩組患者吸煙史、淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移及EGFR突變位點(diǎn)差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(P<0.05)。此外,TKI治療耐受患者(DP組) TGF-α水平顯著高于對(duì)TKI治療響應(yīng)的患者(DC組),差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(P<0.05)。利用多因素COX回歸對(duì)接受EGFR-TKI治療NSCLC患者進(jìn)行多因素分析,結(jié)果顯示,患者吸煙狀態(tài)、淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移程度及TGF-α水平對(duì)患者總生存率有顯著影響(P<0.05),是患者預(yù)后的獨(dú)立影響因素(表2)。
2.2 血清TGF-α水平與EGFR-TKI治療效果的關(guān)系
在EGFR-TKI藥物治療前我們檢測(cè)了患者血清中TGF-α的水平,其中DC組中位TGF-α濃度為12.3(9.8~18.2) pg/mL,DP組為21.0 (13.6~32.7) pg/mL,兩組相比,差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(P<0.01,圖1A)。此外,PR組患者與SD組患者中位血清TGF-α水平差異無統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(11.5 pg/mL vs 13.7 pg/mL,P>0.05),兩組TGF-α水平均明顯低于PD組,差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(P<0.01,圖1B)。
表1 EGFR突變型非小細(xì)胞肺癌患者EGFR-TKI療效與臨床病理特征的關(guān)系Tab. 1 Association between EGFR-TKI treatment ef ficiency and clinical characteristics in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations
表2 NSCLC患者EGFR-TKI治療預(yù)后多因素COX回歸分析Tab. 2 Multivariate COX regression analysis of overall survival in NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKI
圖1 不同治療結(jié)果組患者血清TGF-α水平比較Fig. 1 Plasma TGF-α of patients in each group with di ff erent clinical outcome
2.3 NSCLC患者血清TGF-α水平預(yù)測(cè)TKI療效的ROC分析
本研究對(duì)NSCLC患者血清TGF-α水平對(duì)患者接受TKI治療后3個(gè)月療效的預(yù)測(cè)價(jià)值的靈敏度和特異度進(jìn)行評(píng)估,ROC分析顯示,曲線下面積(area under the curve,AUC)為0.926 (圖2)。根據(jù)ROC曲線的靈敏度和特異度計(jì)算得到:Youden指數(shù)為16.75 pg/mL,以該濃度分界,血清TGF-α水平對(duì)EGFR-TKI治療效果具有最高的診斷準(zhǔn)確度和區(qū)分度。
2.4 血清TGF-α水平與臨床特征的關(guān)系
本研究以Youden指數(shù)為界,將納入患者分為血清TGF-α濃度大于等于及小于16.75 pg/mL兩組,并分析了其與患者臨床特征的關(guān)系。41例患者TGF-α濃度低于16.75 pg/mL,34例高于16.75 pg/mL(表3)。分析結(jié)果表明,患者性別、年齡及EGFR基因突變位點(diǎn)的差異與血清TGF-α濃度無關(guān),差異無統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(P>0.05)?;颊呶鼰熓繁壤⒛[瘤分期及淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移狀態(tài)與患者血清TGF-α濃度有關(guān),同時(shí)TKI治療效果與血清TGF-α濃度有關(guān),差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(P<0.05)。
圖2 NSCLC患者血清TGF-α水平預(yù)測(cè)EGFR-TKIs療效的ROC分析Fig. 2 ROC analysis of predicting capability of plasma TGF-α to EGFR-TKIs treatment ef ficiency in NSCLC patients
表3 NSCLC患者TGF-α水平與臨床特征的關(guān)系Tab. 3 Association between plasma TGF-α levels and clinical characteristics in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations
2.5 NSCLC患者血清中TGF-α濃度與對(duì)預(yù)后的影響
以TGF-α濃度16.75 pg/mL為界,該研究分析了NSCLC患者血清TGF-α濃度對(duì)OS和PFS的影響。TGF-α高濃度和低濃度組患者的中位OS分別為9和12個(gè)月,差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(P=0.049)。TGF-α高濃度和低濃度組患者的中位PFS分別為8和11個(gè)月,差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(P=0.041,圖3)。
圖3 EGFR-TKIs治療后NSCLC患者血清中TGF-α濃度對(duì)預(yù)后的影響Fig. 3 E ff ects of plasma TGF-α concentration on the prognosis in NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs
EGFR-TKI是一種可與ATP競(jìng)爭(zhēng)性結(jié)合于EGFR受體酪氨酸區(qū)域從而抑制酪氨酸磷酸化的小分子藥物,其在抑制腫瘤生長(zhǎng)、改善NSCLC患者癥狀和生活質(zhì)量方面顯示出良好的應(yīng)用前景[1]。目前,EGFR-TKI已逐漸成為EGFR陽性突變肺癌患者的一線治療藥物[4]。但是,EGFR-TKI治療的個(gè)體差異性及獲得耐藥性的產(chǎn)生成為限制其發(fā)展的重要因素。因此,簡(jiǎn)單有效的監(jiān)測(cè)標(biāo)志物水平變化對(duì)輔助評(píng)估EGFR-TKI療效和腫瘤復(fù)發(fā)預(yù)警具有重要意義。該研究發(fā)現(xiàn),EGFR配體TGF-α的濃度對(duì)EGFR-TKI的治療效果和預(yù)后具有潛在的預(yù)測(cè)價(jià)值。
正常細(xì)胞中EGFR信號(hào)受到嚴(yán)格的調(diào)控,而在腫瘤細(xì)胞中EGFR過表達(dá)、酪氨酸激酶結(jié)構(gòu)域的激活突變及EGFR配體異常表達(dá)均會(huì)導(dǎo)致EGFR的過度活化。EGFR高表達(dá)與人類腫瘤的發(fā)生和不良預(yù)后有關(guān)[5]。近幾年來,以EGFR為靶標(biāo)的酪氨酸酶特異度抑制劑,吉非替尼和厄洛替尼,已被逐漸應(yīng)用于晚期NSCLC的治療中。一項(xiàng)大型臨床研究IPASS中發(fā)現(xiàn),與常規(guī)卡鉑/紫杉醇的治療相比,吉非替尼可以顯著提高EGFR陽性突變患者的PFS,改善生活質(zhì)量及延緩疾病惡化癥狀的發(fā)生[6-7]。但是TKI耐藥性的產(chǎn)生已成為較為普遍的現(xiàn)象。據(jù)報(bào)道,在非選擇性統(tǒng)計(jì)人群中,TKI治療的客觀緩解率僅為10%[8]。但是亞洲人群來源、女性、無吸煙史、腺癌患者的治療緩解率則較高[9]。在本研究的納入患者中,33%左右的患者表現(xiàn)出癥狀的部分緩解,緩解率略高于前述研究,可能與選擇研究患者的臨床特征相關(guān)。同時(shí),具有吸煙史及淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移特征的患者發(fā)生TKI治療抵抗,NSCLC疾病進(jìn)展的比例較高,與其他研究結(jié)論基本一致。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)多種分子機(jī)制參與了EGFR-TKI 獲得性耐藥過程,其中包括EGFR二次突變、旁路信號(hào)激活和表型改變等[10]。
當(dāng)EGFR的配體,如表皮生長(zhǎng)因子EGF和轉(zhuǎn)化生長(zhǎng)因子TGF-α結(jié)合于其細(xì)胞外結(jié)構(gòu)域上,EGFR會(huì)與其他EGFR和HER家族成員形成二聚體而在酪氨酸殘基上發(fā)生自磷酸化。磷酸化的EGFR進(jìn)一步激活PI3K/AKT/mTOR、MAPK等信號(hào)通路,進(jìn)而在調(diào)節(jié)癌細(xì)胞的多種細(xì)胞學(xué)行為中發(fā)揮重要功能[11]。本研究探討了EGFR配體TGF-α對(duì)NSCLC患者TKI治療敏感性和預(yù)后的預(yù)測(cè)作用。一項(xiàng)最新研究表明,血清中TGF-α水平可選擇性地預(yù)測(cè)慢性髓系白血病患者化療一年內(nèi)早期分子響應(yīng)的失敗率[12]。另外,一項(xiàng)患者對(duì)照研究發(fā)現(xiàn),EGFR的配體,如TGF-α、雙向調(diào)節(jié)素(amphiregulin,ARG)及胰島素樣生長(zhǎng)因子(insulin-like growth factors,IGF)與晚期NSCLC患者EGFR-TKIs的耐藥性有關(guān)。與對(duì)照組相比,低濃度TGF-α及高濃度ARG與患者疾病特異度生存時(shí)間有關(guān)[13]。本研究也發(fā)現(xiàn),血清中TGF-α濃度在TKIs治療后肺癌進(jìn)展患者中表達(dá)顯著升高,推測(cè)其具有作為TKIs治療敏感性血清標(biāo)志物的潛能。同時(shí)通過ROC曲線分析顯示,高基線水平血清TGF-α對(duì)預(yù)測(cè)TKIs療效具有良好的特異度和靈敏度,最佳分界濃度為16.75 pg/mL。以該濃度分組,高水平TGF-α則與NSCLC患者縮短的總生存期和無進(jìn)展生存期相關(guān)。
綜上,本研究中EGFR陽性突變NSCLC患者經(jīng)EGFR-TKI治療后DC率達(dá)到60%。TKIs治療抵抗患者治療前血清TGF-α水平較高。患者血清TGF-α水平對(duì)EGFR-TKI治療耐藥性具有良好的預(yù)測(cè)診斷效能,且高水平TGF-α與患者較低的總生存期和無進(jìn)展生存期有關(guān)。
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The association between plasma TGF-α levels and EGFR-TKI treatment sensitivity and prognosis in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation
ZHU Wenliang1, LI Jing2, LIANG Xinqiang3, LAI Lin1,LIANG Yanyan1, LU Yunxin1, HOU Encun1
(1. Department of Medical Oncology, the Second Ward, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 2. Department of Minimally-invasive Interventional Radiology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450008, Henan Province, China; 3. Basic Experiment Department, Guangxi Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China)
ZHU Wenliang E-mail: zhuwenlianggz@163.com
Background and purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) is of advantage in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations. However, their clinical effects vary individually. This study aimed to evaluate whether the EGFR ligand, plasma transforming growth factor α(TGF-α), could act as a predictor for the EGFR-TKI treatment efficiency in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations and the association between TGF-α and prognosis in these patients. Methods: Seventy-five NSCLC patients with EGFR gene positive mutation were included in the current study from May 2012 to Jul. 2014 in Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine. Plasma TGF-α was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in all of the patients before EGFR-TKI treatment. The radiographic evaluation was performed 2 months after the therapy. The association between TGF-α and clinical outcome and its prediction efficiency were determined, followed by the further analysis of the association between TGF-α and overall survival (OS) as well as progression-free survival (PFS). Results: After EGFR-TKI treatment, there were 20 patients with partial response (PR), 25 with stable disease (SD) and 30 with progression disease (PD) in all 75 NSCLC patients harboring EGFR positive mutation. The disease control (DC) rate reached 60%. Patients in PD group presented statistically significant higher plasma TGF-α than patients in the DC group (P<0.01). Multivariate COX model indicated that smoking status, lymph node metastasis and plasma TGF-α levels were independent risk factors for prognosis in these patients. The ROC analysis revealed that baseline plasma TGF-α showed good prediction efficiency [area under the curve (AUC)=0.926] and the cut-offpoint of TGF-α was 16.75 pg/mL. Higher level of TGF-α (≥16.75 pg/mL) was associated with smoking history, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and clinical outcome of the patients (P<0.05). In comparison to patients with low TGF-α, the patients with high TGF-α concentration presented significantly reduced median OS and PFS (log-rank P<0.05). Conclusion: Higher plasma TGF-α (≥16.75 pg/mL) had a predictive role in EGFR-TKI resistance and poor prognosis.
Transforming growth factor α; Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor; Nonsmall cell lung cancer; Prognosis
10.19401/j.cnki.1007-3639.2017.05.011
R734.2
A
1007-3639(2017)05-0389-07
2016-12-01
2017-02-20)
朱文良 E-mail:zhuwenlianggz@163.com