title: Assessment of the topoisomerase I gene copy number as a predictive biomarker of objective response to irinotecan in metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  DNA topoisomerase I is a putative biomarker of irinotecan efficacy with clinical associations previously demonstrated at the protein level. The purpose of the present study was to perform the first clinical investigation of the association between the DNA topoisomerase I gene (TOP1) copy number and objective response following irinotecan treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples from 78 patients, who received irinotecan monotherapy in second line, were included. TOP1 was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization using a technically validated dual-probe combination that hybridizes to TOP1, located at 20q12-q13.1, and to the centromere region of chromosome 20 (CEN-20). In univariate logistic regression models, the TOP1 signal count per cell and the TOP1/CEN-20 ratio were associated with objective response, which was evaluated according to RECIST v.1.1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gain of TOP1 was identified in 52.6% and 37.2% using the following cutoff values: TOP1 signal count per cell ≥3.6 and TOP1/CEN-20 ≥1.5, respectively. A borderline significant association (Odds ratio (OR): 1.62; p = 0.07) between a stepwise increase in the TOP1 signal count and objective response was demonstrated. In relation to the applied cutoff values, nonsignificant associations with objective response were identified for the TOP1 signal count (OR: 2.41; p = 0.23) and for the TOP1/CEN-20 ratio (OR: 2.05; p = 0.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite limitations of the study the positive associations between TOP1 and objective response suggest that further analysis in larger tumor material, preferably in a randomized setting, is highly warranted.
authors.affiliation: Section for Molecular Disease Biology, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen , 49 Strandboulevarden, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø , Denmark.
authors.forename: Sune Boris
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Nygård
authors.forename: Ib Jarle
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Signe Lykke
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Hans Jørgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brünner
authors.forename: Karen-Lise Garm
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Spindler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000077146:Irinotecan; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D002166:Camptothecin