Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare malignant disease, and the understanding of molecular pathogenesis has lagged behind other malignancies. A series of 53 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples with clinical annotations were retrospectively tested for BAP1 and PI3K mutations and for mRNA expression of TS and EGFR. Immunohistochemistry staining for CD26 (dipeptidyl-peptidase IV, DPP-IV) and Fibulin3 (Fib3) proteins were also performed. Outcomes like progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and response rate (ORR) were recorded and evaluated according to biomarkers. Cox model was applied to determine variables associated with survival. Median age was 58 years (range 36-76), 27 (51%) were men, 89% were current or former smokers, and six patients had previous contact with asbestos. 77% had a baseline ECOG 0-1 and almost all patients (n=52/98%) received cisplatin or carboplatin plus pemetrexed (Pem) as first line; 58% of them were treated with Pem as maintenance for a mean of 4.7 +/-2.8 cycles. 53.5% and 41.5% of patients were positive for CD26 and fibulin-3, while 49% and 43.4% had low levels of EGFR and TS mRNA, respectively. The majority of epithelioid and biphasic types expressed CD26 (p=0.008), Fibulin3 (0.013) and had lower levels of TS mRNA (p=0.008). Mutations in PI3K (c.1173A> G, c.32G> C and c.32G> T) were found in 5 patients and only one patient had a mutation in BAP1 (c.241T> G). First line PFS were significantly longer in CD26+ (p=0.0001), in those with low EGFR mRNA expression (p=0.001), in patients with positive Fib3 (p=0.006) and lower TS mRNA expression (p=0.0001). OS were significantly higher in patients with CD26+ (p=0.0001), EGFR- (p=0.001), Fib3 + (p=0.0002) and low TS mRNA expression level (p=0.0001). Multivariate analysis found that CD26+ (p=0.012), Fib3 (p=0.020) and TS mRNA levels (p=0.05) were independent prognostic factors. CD26, Fib3 and TS were prognostic factors significantly associated with improved survival in patients with advanced MPM.
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