Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.3.16 (calcineurin)
 17,112 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Immunosuppressive therapy keeps rejection in check following solid organ transplantation. Drug reactions, inflammatory and infectious skin conditions frequently follow. Specific side effects can be avoided by switching individual agents. In addition to UV light, immunosuppressants are the most important driver for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC). Beyond immunosuppression, cyclosporine A promotes carcinogenesis by TGF beta and VEGF, while mTOR inhibitors are antiproliferative. Azathioprine photosensitizes to UVA and enables UVA to damage DNA directly. To fight skin cancer, global reduction of immunosuppression is the most effective measure. Switching calcineurin inhibitors to mTOR inhibitors is probably to be recommended, while omitting azathioprine may potentially be advisable in recurrent SCC.
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PMID:[Immunosuppressive therapy after transplantation. Dermatologic relevance and pathomechanisms]. 2014 3

Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC) is the most frequent cancer in renal transplant recipients. Conversion to mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors after diagnosis of SCC may reduce the incidence of recurrence of skin cancer. This retrospective study evaluated the outcome of renal transplant recipients followed by the Renal Unit with posttransplant diagnosis of SCC treated with conversion from calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) to Everolimus (EVR) associated with low-dose cyclosporine. Eleven patients developed SCC at a median time from renal transplantation of 107 months (range 36-264). Five patients with creatinine clearance (CCl) below 40 mL/min before conversion developed end stage renal disease (two cases) or further deterioration of renal function (two cases); only one patient in this group maintained a stable renal function. The remaining six patients with a CC1 greater than 40 mL/min and proteinuria below 0.8 g/24 hours maintained a stable renal function after conversion to EVR at a median follow-up of 22 months (range 15-75). Conversion from CNIs to EVR has been proven safe, effective, and associated with low recurrence of SCC in patients with a CCl >40 mL/min. In the case of preexisting deterioration of renal function or significant proteinuria, conversion to EVR should be carefully evaluated.
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PMID:Conversion from calcineurin inhibitors to everolimus with low-dose cyclosporine in renal transplant recipients with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. 2297 73

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents the most important cutaneous complication following organ transplantation. It develops mostly on sun-exposed areas. A recent study showed the role of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in SCC development following treatment with calcineurin inhibitors. It has been reported that ATF3, which may act as an oncogene, is under negative calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) control and is upregulated by calcineurin inhibitors. Still, these findings do not fully explain the preferential appearance of SCC on chronically sun-damaged skin. We analyzed the influence of UV radiation on ATF3 expression and its potential role in SCC development. We found that ATF3 is a specifically induced AP1 member in SCC of transplanted patients. Its expression was strongly potentiated by combination of cyclosporine A and UVA treatment. UVA induced ATF3 expression through reactive oxygen species-mediated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activation independently of calcineurin/NFAT inhibition. Activated NRF2 directly binds to ATF3 promoter, thus inducing its expression. These results demonstrate two mechanisms that independently induce and, when combined together, potentiate the expression of ATF3, which may then force SCC development. Taking into account the previously defined role of ATF3 in the SCC development, these findings may provide an explanation and a mechanism for the frequently observed burden on SCCs on sun-exposed areas of the skin in organ transplant recipients treated by calcineurin inhibitors.
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PMID:The oncogene ATF3 is potentiated by cyclosporine A and ultraviolet light A. 2517 66

Advanced unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCCS) is a rare condition, which is difficult to treat. Because of its rarity, few therapeutic trials are available. Moreover, SCCS often occur in elderly. Conventional treatment options for advanced SCCS are chemotherapy mainly with cisplatin-based regimens. Immunotherapy with interferon alpha and retinoids combination was also shown to be efficient. Toxicity of these treatments limits, however, their use in elderly patients and an initial work up for a global assessment is needed in order to adapt the choice. More recently, epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted therapies have been developed and induced interesting response rates in small series of patients with unresectable SCCS. Their efficacy in SCCS must be confirmed by larger phase III trials and the identification of predictive biological factors of response is warranted. New therapeutic approaches combining EGFR inhibitors either with IGFR inhibitors, or immunomodulators or inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway are currently under evaluation in head and neck carcinomas and might represent valuable therapeutic approaches for unresectable SCCS. Moreover, there are several new molecular candidate treatment targets for unresectable SCCS including somatic NOTCH1 or NOTCH2 inactivating mutations, ALK1, which could be a good candidate for antiangiogenic therapy and matrix metallopeptidase 7, which enhances proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. Organ transplant recipients often develop SCCS and in some patients, SCCS are rapidly progressing. Management of SCCS in this subgroup of patients includes both carcinologic treatment and modification of immunosuppression. Specific treatment is generally the same as in immunocompetent patients. Switching from calcineurin inhibitors to sirolimus or reducing immunosuppression has to be considered.
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PMID:Therapy of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. 2464 78