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Genetic biomarkers of sorafenib response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
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  • Giuseppa Augello,
  • Lydia Giannitrapani,
  • Francesca Di Gaudio,
  • Francesca Scionti,
  • Domenico Ciliberto,
  • Nicoletta Straropoli,
  • Giuseppe Agapito,
  • Mario Cannataro,
  • Pierfrancesco Tassone,
  • Pierosandro Tagliaferri,
  • Aurelio Seidita,
  • Maurizio Soresi,
  • Marco Affronti,
  • Gaetano Bertino,
  • Maurizio Russello,
  • Rosaria Ciriminna,
  • Claudia Lino,
  • Francesca Spinnato,
  • Francesca Verderame,
  • Melchiorre Cervello,
  • Mariamena Arbitrio
Giuseppa Augello
Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation National Research Council

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Lydia Giannitrapani
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Francesca Di Gaudio
University of Palermo
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Francesca Scionti
Università degli Studi Magna Graecia di Catanzaro
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Domenico Ciliberto
Università degli Studi Magna Graecia di Catanzaro
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Nicoletta Straropoli
Università degli Studi Magna Graecia di Catanzaro
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Giuseppe Agapito
Università degli Studi Magna Graecia di Catanzaro
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Mario Cannataro
Università degli Studi Magna Graecia di Catanzaro
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Pierfrancesco Tassone
Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro
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Pierosandro Tagliaferri
Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro
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Aurelio Seidita
University of Palermo
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Maurizio Soresi
University of Palermo
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Marco Affronti
Policlinico di Palermo
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Gaetano Bertino
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele Catania
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Maurizio Russello
Azienda Ospedaliera ARNAS Garibaldi
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Rosaria Ciriminna
CNR
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Claudia Lino
CNR
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Francesca Spinnato
Villa Sofia Cervello United Hospitals
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Francesca Verderame
Villa Sofia Cervello United Hospitals
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Melchiorre Cervello
Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation National Research Council
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Mariamena Arbitrio
Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation National Research Council
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Abstract

Purpose: The identification of biomarkers for predicting inter-individual sorafenib response variability could allow hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients stratification. SNPs in angiogenesis- and drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME)-related genes were evaluated to identify new potential predictive biomarkers of sorafenib response in HCC patients. Methods: Five known SNPs in angiogenesis-related genes, including VEGF-A, VEGF-C, HIF-1a, ANGPT2 and NOS3, were investigated in 34 HCC patients (9 sorafenib responders and 25 non-responders). A subgroup of 23 patients was genotyped for SNPs in ADME genes. A machine learning classifier method was used to discover classification rules for our dataset. Results: We found that only VEGF-A (rs2010963) C allele and CC genotype were significantly associated with sorafenib response. ADME-related gene analysis identified 10 polymorphic variants in ADH1A (rs6811453), ADH6 (rs10008281), SULT1A2/CCDC101 (rs11401), CYP26A1 (rs7905939), DPYD (rs2297595 and rs1801265), FMO2 (rs2020863) and SLC22A14 (rs149738, rs171248 and rs183574) significantly associated with sorafenib response. We have identified a genetic signature of predictive response which could permit non-responder/responder patient stratification. Angiogenesis- and ADME-related genes correlation was confirmed by cumulative genetic risk score and network and pathway enrichment analysis. Conclusions: Our findings provide a proof of concept that need further validation in follow-up studies for HCC patient stratification for sorafenib prescription.