Background & Aims
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) affects both sexes and all age groups. However, very few studies have focused specifically on the characteristics and outcome of AIH in patients aged 70 y or older.
Methods
25/234 patients with well‐established AIH and disease onset at ≥70‐y (median: 73‐y) were analysed and compared to the rest patients (median: 47 y). Treatment response was assessed in all patients from both groups who were eligible for treatment (n = 202).
Results
Disease presentation was mainly insidious in both groups (19/25, 76% vs. 134/209, 64.1%; P = .313). At diagnosis, older patients had lower alaninoaminotrasferase (101[433] vs. 199[441] IU/L, P < .05) but were more frequently cirrhotic (12/25, 48% vs. 57/209, 27.3%; P = .03). Importantly, similar rates of on‐treatment response (16/18, 89% vs. 154/184, 84%; P = .565), corticosteroid withdrawal (10/16, 62.5% vs. 113/154, 73.4%; P = .355) and complete withdrawal of immunosuppression (1/16, 6.3% vs. 40/154, 26%; P = .122) were achieved in both groups. Treatment‐related adverse events were evenly observed between groups (6/18, 33% vs. 54/184, 29%; P = .724). In treated patients, the age ≥70 y was only associated with the overall mortality (HR 8.3 [95% CI: 2.1‐36.4], P = .003), but not with the liver‐related mortality (HR 3.4 [95% CI: 0.4‐30.0], P = .268).
Conclusion
AIH should be seriously considered in patients ≥70 y with unexplained impaired liver function tests as the disease is not infrequent in this group and seems to bear an increased risk for advanced disease stage at diagnosis. However, if immunosuppression is started promptly, it seems as safe and effective as in younger patients.
Background/Aims: Reports regarding the role of androgen in breast cancer (BC) are conflicting. Some studies suggest that androgen could lead to undesirable responses in the presence of certain BC tumor characteristics. We have shown that androgen induces C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) in BC cell lines. Our aim was to identify the mechanisms regulating the phenotypic effects of androgen-induced CXCL12 on Androgen Receptor (AR) positive BC cell lines. Methods: We analyzed the expression of CXCL12 and its receptors with qPCR and ELISA and the role of Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 1 (NCOA1) in this effect. AR effects on the CXCL12 promoter was studied via Chromatin-immunoprecipitation. We also analyzed publically available data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to verify AR-CXCL12 interactions and to identify the effect or Aromatase Inhibitors (AI) therapy on CXCL12 expression and disease progression in AR positive cases. Results: CXCL12 induction occurs only in AR-positive BC cell lines, possibly via an Androgen Response Element, upstream of the CXCL12 promoter. The steroid receptor co-regulator NCOA1 is critical for this effect. Androgen only induced the motility of p53-mutant BC cells T47D cells via upregulation of CXCR4 expression while they had no effect on wild-type p53 MCF-7 cells. Loss of CXCR4 expression and depletion of CXCL12 abolished the effect of androgen in T47D cells while inhibition of p53 expression in MCF-7 cells made them responsive to androgen and increased their motility in the presence to androgen. Patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+)/AR+ BC treated with AIs were at increased risk of disease progression compared to ER+/AR+ non-AI treated and ER+/AR- AI treated cases. Conclusion: AIs may lead to unfavorable responses in some ER/AR positive BC cases, especially in patients with AR+, p53 mutant tumors.
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