Predictive and prognostic biomarkers for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer

S H Lim; W Chua; C Henderson; W Ng; J-S Shin; L Chantrill; R Asghari; C S Lee; K J Spring; P de Souza

doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.05.003

Predictive and prognostic biomarkers for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2015 Oct;96(1):67-80. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.05.003. Epub 2015 May 15.

Authors

S H Lim¹, W Chua², C Henderson³, W Ng², J-S Shin⁴, L Chantrill⁵, R Asghari⁶, C S Lee⁷, K J Spring⁸, P de Souza⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia; University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia. Electronic address: stephanie.lim@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.
² Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia.
³ University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia; University of Western Sydney, Liverpool, Australia; Department of Anatomical Pathology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, Australia.
⁴ Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia; University of Western Sydney, Liverpool, Australia; Department of Anatomical Pathology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, Australia.
⁵ Department of Medical Oncology, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, Campbelltown, Australia; Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia.
⁶ Department of Medical Oncology, Bankstown Cancer Therapy Centre, Bankstown, Australia.
⁷ Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia; University of Western Sydney, Liverpool, Australia; Department of Anatomical Pathology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, Australia; University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
⁸ Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia; University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia; University of Western Sydney, Liverpool, Australia.
⁹ Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia; University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia; University of Western Sydney, Liverpool, Australia.

PMID: 26032919
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.05.003

Abstract

Locally advanced rectal cancer is regularly treated with trimodality therapy consisting of neoadjuvant chemoradiation, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. There is a need for biomarkers to assess treatment response, and aid in stratification of patient risk to adapt and personalise components of the therapy. Currently, pathological stage and tumour regression grade are used to assess response. Experimental markers include proteins involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and microsatellite instability. As yet, no single marker is sufficiently robust to have clinical utility. Microarrays that screen a tumour for multiple promising candidate markers, gene expression and microRNA profiling will likely have higher yield and it is expected that a combination or panel of markers would prove most useful. Moving forward, utilising serial samples of circulating tumour cells or circulating nucleic acids can potentially allow us to demonstrate tumour heterogeneity, document mutational changes and subsequently measure treatment response.

Keywords: Biomarker; Chemoradiation; Neoadjuvant; Rectal cancer.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
Chemoradiotherapy*
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Humans
MicroRNAs / analysis
Microsatellite Instability
Neoadjuvant Therapy*
Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
Prognosis
Rectal Neoplasms / genetics
Rectal Neoplasms / pathology
Rectal Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

Biomarkers, Tumor
MicroRNAs