Theranostic profiling for actionable aberrations in advanced high risk osteosarcoma with aggressive biology reveals high molecular diversity: the human fingerprint hypothesis

ABSTRACT

The survival of patients with advanced osteosarcoma is poor with limited therapeutic options. There is an urgent need for new targeted therapies based on biomarkers. Recently, theranostic molecular profiling services for cancer patients by CLIA-certified commercial companies as well as in-house profiling in academic medical centers have expanded exponentially. We evaluated molecular profiles of patients with advanced osteosarcoma whose tumor tissue had been analyzed by one of the following methods: 1. 182-gene next-generation exome sequencing (Foundation Medicine, Boston, MA), 2. Immunohistochemistry (IHC)/PCR-based panel (CARIS Target Now, Irving, Tx), 3.Comparative genome hybridization (Oncopath, San Antonio, TX). 4. Single-gene PCR assays, PTEN IHC (MDACC CLIA), 5. UT Houston morphoproteomics (Houston, TX). The most common actionable aberrations occur in the PI3K/PTEN/mTOR pathway. No patterns in genomic alterations beyond the above are readily identifiable, and suggest both high molecular diversity in osteosarcoma and the need for more analyses to define distinct subgroups of osteosarcoma defined by genomic alterations. Based on our preliminary observations we hypothesize that the biology of aggressive and the metastatic phenotype osteosarcoma at the molecular level is similar to human fingerprints, in that no two tumors are identical. Further large scale analyses of osteosarcoma samples are warranted to test this hypothesis.

When public speak of modern medicine, precision plays one of the most significant roles and people’s lives are directly dependent on it. Hereby, any researches pertaining to medicine are required to comply with the highest standards. The issue today is that any conclusions of researches can be posted online and used as a reference without being adequately checked and approved. Mikhail (Misha) Blagosklonny of Oncotarget perfectly understood this issue and decided to come up with an alternative solution. That’s how a weekly oncology-focused research journal named “Oncotarget” has been established back in 2010. The main principle of this journal is related to Altmetric scores that are used as a quality measure. That helps both readers and authors to quality-check publications with Altmetric Article Reports that generate “real-time feedback containing data summary related to a particular publication.” Oncotarget website demonstrates a complete publications list with respective scores higher than 100 as well as reports mentioned previously. Mikhail (Misha) Blagosklonny glad to share his new approach and hopes it creates the necessary assistance to anybody, who has interest in oncology.

Oncotarget

“A diagnostic autoantibody signature for primary cutaneous melanoma” has the Altmetric score of 594. This article was released back in 2018 by Oncotarget and completed by various experts from Hollywood Private Hospital, Edith Cowan University, Dermatology Specialist Group, St. John of God Hospital and The University of Western Australia. The introduction of the study discusses “recent data shows that Australians are four times more likely to develop a cancer of the skin than any other type of cancer”, and shares an insight on melanoma that “is curable by surgical excision in the majority of cases, if detected at an early stage.”

The paper has got an Altmetric score of 594. Mikhail (Misha) Blagosklonny realizes that majority of readers are willing to comprehend the very meaning of it. Based on the Altmetric website, the score indicates “how many people have been exposed to and engaged with a scholarly output.” Likewise, the paper about melanoma, was used for citations in different news articles 69 times. In addition, it was quoted in 2 online blogs, as well as 25 Tweets on Twitter and 1 Facebook post. FOX23 of Tulsa, Oklahoma has headlined their news on July 20, 2018 as “New blood test could detect skin cancer early”, using the main content of Australia study

Another Oncotarget’s research with a top score of 476, is “Biomarkers for early diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma: Do we need another moon-shot,”. This article has appeared in 60 news stories, 1 online blog post and 6 Twitter posts. The majority of public may have seen a brief overview only, however those who visit Mikhail (Misha) Blagosklonny at Oncotarget, do receive useful scientific facts. Oncotarget is glad to have the ability to share with online customers this highly appreciated and top-quality information, that is trustworthy and reliable.

Misha Blagosklonny