Quantitation of GD2 synthase mRNA by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction: clinical utility in evaluating adjuvant therapy in neuroblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
Minimal residual disease (MRD) is one of the final hurdles to cancer cure. Because therapy (myeloablation, immunotherapy, or differentiation) for MRD is applied at the time of clinical remission, objective surrogate markers are needed to gauge treatment efficacy.


METHODS
Using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of GD2 synthase (beta1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.92) mRNA, we evaluated MRD response to anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody 3F8 adjuvant therapy, namely, one cycle of radioimmunotherapy using iodine-131 ((131)I)-3F8 plus one cycle of unlabeled 3F8 in 45 stage 4 neuroblastoma patients (newly diagnosed or without prior relapse) on the N7 protocol at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The prognostic effect of MRD in their bone marrows before and after this phase of adjuvant therapy on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was also analyzed.


RESULTS
Before 3F8 treatment, 24 of 45 patients were in complete remission (CR), 12 were in very good partial remission (VGPR), and nine were in partial remission (PR), according to criteria from International Neuroblastoma Staging System plus (131)I-3F8 scan; 71% had detectable tumor cells in marrow by real-time RT-PCR. Of the 32 positive patients, 20 became negative after therapy, with a 63% efficacy. When patients were stratified by CR/VGPR versus PR, GD2 synthase positivity was prognostic when detected before 3F8-targeted therapy (PFS, P =.045 and OS, P =.010). Persistent marker positivity was also predictive of PFS (P =.035) and OS (P =.027). Patients who succumbed to the disease had transcript levels four times higher than those who remain alive.


CONCLUSIONS
GD2 synthase mRNA is a useful surrogate marker for evaluating adjuvant treatment efficacy in neuroblastoma with prognostic potential.
Cheung
Irene Y
IY
Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. cheungi@mskcc.org
Lo Piccolo
M Serena
MS
Kushner
Brian H
BH
Kramer
Kim
K
Cheung
Nai-Kong V
NK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000528:radiation effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017350:N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000201:enzymology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016499:Radioimmunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012074:Remission Induction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
C419226:3F8 antibody; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017350:N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases; C023220:(N-acetylneuraminyl)-galactosylglucosylceramide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase