ERCC1 as predictive biomarker to platinum-based chemotherapy in adrenocortical carcinomas. Issue 2 (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Laufs, Valeria; Altieri, Barbara; Sbiera, Silviu; Kircher, Stefan; Steinhauer, Sonja; Beuschlein, Felix; Quinkler, Marcus; Willenberg, Holger S; Rosenwald, Andreas; Fassnacht, Martin; Ronchi, Cristina L
• Is Part Of: European journal of endocrinology. Volume 178:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 181
• Page End: 188
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Endocrinology -- Periodicals; 616.4005
• DOI: 10.1530/EJE-17-0788
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0804-4643

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) is the most effective cytotoxic treatment for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Excision repair cross complementing group 1 (ERCC1) plays a critical role in the repair of platinum-induced DNA damage. Two studies investigating the role of ERCC1 immunostaining as a predictive marker for the response to PBC in ACC had reported conflicting results. Both studies used the ERCC1-antibody clone 8F1 that later turned out to be not specific. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of ERCC1 with a new specific antibody in a larger series of ACC. Design and methods: 146 ACC patients with available FFPE slides were investigated. All patients underwent PBC (median cycles = 6), including cisplatin ( n = 131) or carboplatin ( n = 15), in most cases combined with etoposide ( n = 144), doxorubicin ( n = 131) and mitotane ( n = 131). Immunostaining was performed with the novel ERCC1-antibody clone 4F9. The relationship between ERCC1 expression and clinicopathological parameters, as well as best objective response to therapy and progression-free survival (PFS) during PBC was evaluated. Results: High ERCC1 expression was observed in 66% of ACC samples. During PBC, 43 patients experienced objective response (29.5%), 49 stable disease (33.6%), 8 mixed response (5.5%) and 46 progressive disease (31.5%) without any relationship with the ERCC1 immunostaining. No significant correlation was also found between ERCC1 expression and progression-free survival (median 6.5 vs 6 months, P = 0.33, HR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.82–2.0). Conclusion: ERCC1 expression is not directly associated with sensitivity to PBC in ACC. Thus, other predictive biomarkers are required to support treatment decisions in patients with ACC.