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Carbonic anhydrase IX: a regulator of pH and participant in carcinogenesis
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  1. Alessandro Pietro Aldera1,2,
  2. Dhirendra Govender1,3
  1. 1 Division of Anatomical Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
  2. 2 JDW Pathology Inc, Cape Town, South Africa
  3. 3 Anatomical Pathology, Pathcare Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
  1. Correspondence to Dr Alessandro Pietro Aldera, JDW Pathology, 19 Upper Camp Road, Maitland 7405, South Africa; aldera{at}jdwpathology.co.za

Abstract

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a transmembrane metalloenzyme which is upregulated in tumour cells under hypoxic conditions. CAIX expression is induced by the accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and has several downstream effects, including acidification of the extracellular pH, loss of cellular adhesion and increased tumour cell migration. CAIX is upregulated in a variety of solid organ tumours and has prognostic implications. High CAIX protein expression is a marker of poor prognosis in breast, lung, ovarian and bladder carcinomas. Conversely, low expression is an indicator of poor prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). CAIX immunohistochemistry is useful diagnostically to identify metastatic CCRCC, and the recently recognised clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma. There is much interest in targeting CAIX with monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors. There are several small molecule inhibitors under development which have shown promising results in clinical trials. In this paper, we provide an overview of the role of CAIX in tumourigenesis and outline its use as a prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker.

  • immunohistochemistry
  • kidney neoplasms
  • molecular biology

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Introduction

Rapid cell division and growth in solid tumours leads to spatial and flow-based disruption of the microcirculation, and ultimately tissue hypoxia.1 This leads to activation of a series of adaptive cellular responses, central to which is activation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). The accumulation of HIF-1α causes transcription of downstream effectors, which include vascular endothelial growth factor, erythropoietin, glycolytic enzymes and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX).2 The carbonic anhydrases are a family of metalloenzymes which are involved with the regulation of intracellular and extracellular pH. Sixteen isoforms have been identified and show different subcellular localisation, catalytic activity and tissue distribution.3

CAIX has been shown to be overexpressed in a variety of solid tumours. Since the identification of CAIX in 1986 (then called G250-antigen), several studies have emerged in the literature exploring its utility as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, as well as a potential therapeutic target.4 In this paper, we provide an overview of the role of CAIX in the pathogenesis of solid tumours and an update for the practising pathologist of its current role as a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarker.

CAIX structure, function and normal state

Carbonic anhydrases are a family of 16 distinct, highly conserved and ubiquitous zinc metalloenzymes involved in the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and a proton. CAIX belongs to the alpha class of carbonic anhydrases, together with CAXII.5 CAIX is an integral transmembrane glycoprotein with an extracellular-facing catalytic site and shows the highest hydrogen ion transfer rate among the carbonic anhydrases.6 The protein comprises 459 amino acids with the following structure: N-terminal single peptide extracellular region, transmembrane region and intracellular C-terminal region (figure 1). There is a proteoglycan (PG)-like domain adjacent to the extracellular catalytic domain which permits the enzyme to remain active at more acidic pH values.7 8 The intracellular tail contains three potential phosphorylation sites, 443T, 448S and 449Y. Activation of protein kinase A leads to phosphorylation on 443T of CAIX, which results in increased catalytic activity.9 Interestingly, dephosphorylation of 448S seems to be required for full activation of CAIX.9

Figure 1

Carbonic anhydrase IX is a transmembrane glycoprotein which comprises an extracellular catalytic domain with attached PG-like domain, a transmembrane region, and a short intracellular tail containing phosphorylation sites. PG, proteoglycan.

The chief function of the carbonic anhydrases is the regulation of intracellular pH. The extracellular positioning of the active site allows CAIX to contribute to acidification of the extracellular microenvironment while shuttling bicarbonate into the cytoplasm. The CAIX promotor contains a hypoxia responsive element that binds HIF-1α, which is the exclusive regulator of its activity.2 10

CAIX expression is limited in normal tissues. In human tissue, expression of CAIX is restricted to the basolateral aspect of proliferating small bowel crypt epithelium,11 efferent ducts in the testis12 and occasional small foci in pancreatic acini.13

Role of CAIX in tumour pathogenesis

Maintaining a slightly alkaline intracellular pH has been shown to favour tumour cell growth.14 Inhibition of CAIX results in decreased intracellular pH and negatively influences tumour cell survival.15 16 Acidification of the extracellular pH is associated with tumour migration and invasion, extracellular matrix breakdown, chromosomal rearrangements and growth factor production (figure 2).15 17 CAIX also appears to contribute to cellular adhesion and migration, both of which are important for metastatic progression in cancer. Svastová et al 18 showed in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells that CAIX may modulate E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion by competing with E-cadherin for binding to β-catenin. CAIX expression has also been linked to tumour-associated cell migration by inactivation of rho in a group of cervical carcinoma cells.19

Figure 2

Under normoxic conditions, VHL protein binds HIF-1α, which leads to degradation. Hypoxic conditions cause inactivation of VHL and accumulation of HIF-1α in the cytoplasm. This causes transcription of CAIX, which is then inserted into the plasma membrane, leading to downstream effects. CAIX, carbonic anhydrase IX; HIF-1α, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α; VHL, von Hippel-Lindau.

Tumour suppressors, oncogenes and microenvironmental conditions also appear to play a role in specific circumstances. Mutation of the tumour suppressor gene VHL results in stabilisation of HIF-1α and promotes hypoxia-independent expression of the HIF-1α-regulated genes, including CAIX.20 TP53 has also been shown to regulate CAIX expression via HIF-1α.21

Role of CAIX as a prognostic biomarker

CAIX is upregulated in a variety of solid tumours, and there is a relationship between CAIX protein expression and prognosis. High protein expression of CAIX detected by immunohistochemistry is a marker of poor prognosis in breast,22 lung,23 ovarian24 and bladder25 cancers. High stromal CAIX expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma is associated with increased nodal metastases and decreased survival.26 Haapasalo et al 27 demonstrated that expression of CAIX predicts poor prognosis in astrocytic tumours. Srivastava et al 28 recently showed high expression of CAIX to be an independent predictor of poor prognosis in a cohort of 179 hepatocellular carcinoma cases. Conversely, low protein expression of CAIX in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) has been shown to be an independent predictor of poor outcome.29 30 de Martino et al 31 examined 54 metastatic CCRCCs and found the CAIX single nucleotide polymorphism rs12553173 to have an overall improved median survival and greater likelihood of response to interleukin therapy.

Diagnostic utility of CAIX

CAIX is expressed in 94%–97% of CCRCC and is also detectable in sarcomatoid CCRCC.29 32 The pattern of expression is membranous (figure 3) and is typically strong and present in the majority of tumour cells.33 Expression is comparable using both the M75 and NB100-417 antibody clones.33 Diffuse CAIX expression is much less frequent in papillary renal cell carcinomas and is not observed in chromophobe carcinoma, collecting duct carcinoma and renal oncocytoma.34 In a study of 366 primary renal tumours, Genega et al 34 showed that high expression (>85% tumour cells positive) of CAIX occurred in 72.1% (131/184) of CCRCC, and only 8% (4/51) of papillary renal cell carcinoma. Therefore, diffuse CAIX expression is a useful diagnostic marker to separate CCRCC from its morphological mimics, as well as to confirm the diagnosis of metastatic CCRCC.

Figure 3

Diffuse complete membranous ‘box-like’ staining with carbonic anhydrase IX is seen in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC) is a distinctive low-grade renal epithelial neoplasm which has been recognised in the most recent WHO classification of renal tumours. Tumour cells express CAIX in a diffuse membranous pattern with absent staining along the luminal border, so-called cup-like staining (figure 4).35 36 This pattern of CAIX staining is not observed in conventional CCRCC.37 Two other markers of HIF pathway activation—GLUT1 and HIF-1α—are typically also overexpressed in CCPRCC. These tumours do not harbour mutations of the VHL gene or the typical chromosomal aberrations seen in clear cell or papillary RCC.37

Figure 4

Basolateral ‘cup-like’ staining with carbonic anhydrase IX immunohistochemistry is diagnostic of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Strong membranous expression of CAIX occurs in haemangioblastoma and can aid in the recognition of this tumour but does not distinguish it from metastatic CCRCC.38

In a recent paper, Nakada et al 39 showed that CAIX mean protein expression intensity was significantly (p<0.05) upregulated in ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal carcinoma (1.55/3) compared with sporadic colorectal carcinoma (0.9/3). CAIX may therefore become a potentially useful marker in distinguishing these.

There has been interest in the use of soluble plasma CAIX for the early detection of cancer. Low levels of serum CAIX are found in patients with CCRCC. Zhou et al 40 showed the serum level of CAIX to be significantly higher in patients with CCRCC compared with patients with non-CCRCC renal tumours.32 High-serum CAIX has also been shown to correlate with tumour size, likelihood of recurrence and the presence of metastatic disease in patients with CCRCC.40 41 Ilie et al 23 found elevated plasma CAIX to be an independent prognostic biomarker in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung carcinoma.

CAIX as a potential therapeutic target

Several factors make CAIX a desirable potential target for inhibition. CAIX is selectively expressed in the cell membrane of tumour cells and has an extracellular domain, which makes it amenable to targeting by antibodies and small molecule inhibitors. In vitro studies have shown that carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors, such as acetazolamide, may reduce invasiveness in mouse xenograft models of kidney cancer.42

Two monoclonal antibodies, M75 and G250, are the most well established and studied. M75 targets the PG-like domain of CAIX and is widely used for detection of CAIX in human tumour cells.43 cG250 (a chimeric form of G250) has been developed for immunotherapy (girentuximab) and acts by eliciting antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.44 Development of this antibody as a stand-alone therapy was discontinued in phase III trials due to lack of efficacy.

Small molecule inhibitors that are in development, which appear most promising are SLC-0111 (4-(4-fluorophenylureido)-benzenesulfonamide) and E7070, also known as indisulam (N-(3-chloro-7-indolyl)−1,4-benzenedisulfonamide). SLC-0111 recently completed phase I clinical trials in Vancouver, Canada, for the treatment of solid tumours overexpressing CAIX, and is scheduled to enter phase II clinical trials.45 E7070/indisulam showed promise in four phase I clinical trials and is currently in phase II trials in the USA and Europe. In addition to binding CAIX, E7070/indisulam also inhibits the cyclin-dependent kinases leading to cell cycle arrest in the G1/S phase.46 47 E7070/indisulam specifically inhibits CA isoforms IX and XII.

The major setback in using small molecules to inhibit CAIX is possible toxicities associated with inhibitors due to their lack of isoform selectivity and specificity. Designing and developing small molecules that specifically target CAIX is of great interest in anticancer therapeutics. Despite the promising results from drug discovery thus far, CA inhibitors are yet to be clinically approved for the treatment of cancer.

Take home messages

  • Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a transmembrane metalloenzyme, which is responsible for maintenance of intracellular pH.

  • Hypoxia causes upregulation of CAIX via activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α pathway.

  • CAIX promotes tumour cell survival and growth by creating an alkaline intracellular pH and also facilitating extracellular matrix breakdown and tumour cell migration.

  • CAIX immunohistochemistry has diagnostic utility in recognising clear cell renal cell carcinoma (complete membranous staining) and clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (cup-shaped staining).

  • CAIX has also emerged as a predictive biomarker in cancer of the lung, colon, breast, cervix, bladder, ovary, brain, head and neck and oral cavity.

  • There has been interest in CAIX as a potential target for personalised therapies; however, there are currently no clinically approved therapies.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Dr Hue-Tsi (Tony) Wu for providing the clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma case for immunohistochemical staining.

References

Footnotes

  • Handling editor Des Richardson.

  • Contributors Both authors contributed equally.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.