51
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Kalogirou C, Linxweiler J, Schmucker P, Snaebjornsson MT, Schmitz W, Wach S, Krebs M, Hartmann E, Puhr M, Müller A, Spahn M, Seitz AK, Frank T, Marouf H, Büchel G, Eckstein M, Kübler H, Eilers M, Saar M, Junker K, Röhrig F, Kneitz B, Rosenfeldt MT, Schulze A. MiR-205-driven downregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis through SQLE-inhibition identifies therapeutic vulnerability in aggressive prostate cancer. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5066. [PMID: 34417456 PMCID: PMC8379214 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25325-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) shows strong dependence on the androgen receptor (AR) pathway. Here, we show that squalene epoxidase (SQLE), an enzyme of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, is overexpressed in advanced PCa and its expression correlates with poor survival. SQLE expression is controlled by micro-RNA 205 (miR-205), which is significantly downregulated in advanced PCa. Restoration of miR-205 expression or competitive inhibition of SQLE led to inhibition of de novo cholesterol biosynthesis. Furthermore, SQLE was essential for proliferation of AR-positive PCa cell lines, including abiraterone or enzalutamide resistant derivatives, and blocked transactivation of the AR pathway. Inhibition of SQLE with the FDA approved antifungal drug terbinafine also efficiently blocked orthotopic tumour growth in mice. Finally, terbinafine reduced levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in three out of four late-stage PCa patients. These results highlight SQLE as a therapeutic target for the treatment of advanced PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Kalogirou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Urology and Paediatric Urology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - J Linxweiler
- Department of Urology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - P Schmucker
- Department of Urology and Paediatric Urology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - M T Snaebjornsson
- German Cancer Research Center, Division of Tumor Metabolism and Microenvironment, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - W Schmitz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
| | - S Wach
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - M Krebs
- Department of Urology and Paediatric Urology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - E Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, Julius Maximilians University and Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Mainfranken, Würzburg, Germany
| | - M Puhr
- Department of Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - A Müller
- Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - M Spahn
- Center for Urology, Hirslanden Private Hospital Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A K Seitz
- Department of Urology and Paediatric Urology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - T Frank
- Department of Urology and Paediatric Urology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - H Marouf
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
| | - G Büchel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - M Eckstein
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - H Kübler
- Department of Urology and Paediatric Urology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - M Eilers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
| | - M Saar
- Department of Urology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - K Junker
- Department of Urology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - F Röhrig
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
| | - B Kneitz
- Department of Urology and Paediatric Urology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - M T Rosenfeldt
- Institute of Pathology, Julius Maximilians University and Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Mainfranken, Würzburg, Germany
| | - A Schulze
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany.
- German Cancer Research Center, Division of Tumor Metabolism and Microenvironment, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Ershov P, Kaluzhskiy L, Mezentsev Y, Yablokov E, Gnedenko O, Ivanov A. Enzymes in the Cholesterol Synthesis Pathway: Interactomics in the Cancer Context. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9080895. [PMID: 34440098 PMCID: PMC8389681 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9080895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A global protein interactome ensures the maintenance of regulatory, signaling and structural processes in cells, but at the same time, aberrations in the repertoire of protein-protein interactions usually cause a disease onset. Many metabolic enzymes catalyze multistage transformation of cholesterol precursors in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. Cancer-associated deregulation of these enzymes through various molecular mechanisms results in pathological cholesterol accumulation (its precursors) which can be disease risk factors. This work is aimed at systematization and bioinformatic analysis of the available interactomics data on seventeen enzymes in the cholesterol pathway, encoded by HMGCR, MVK, PMVK, MVD, FDPS, FDFT1, SQLE, LSS, DHCR24, CYP51A1, TM7SF2, MSMO1, NSDHL, HSD17B7, EBP, SC5D, DHCR7 genes. The spectrum of 165 unique and 21 common protein partners that physically interact with target enzymes was selected from several interatomic resources. Among them there were 47 modifying proteins from different protein kinases/phosphatases and ubiquitin-protein ligases/deubiquitinases families. A literature search, enrichment and gene co-expression analysis showed that about a quarter of the identified protein partners was associated with cancer hallmarks and over-represented in cancer pathways. Our results allow to update the current fundamental view on protein-protein interactions and regulatory aspects of the cholesterol synthesis enzymes and annotate of their sub-interactomes in term of possible involvement in cancers that will contribute to prioritization of protein targets for future drug development.
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Jiang W, Hu JW, He XR, Jin WL, He XY. Statins: a repurposed drug to fight cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:241. [PMID: 34303383 PMCID: PMC8306262 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02041-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As competitive HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) inhibitors, statins not only reduce cholesterol and improve cardiovascular risk, but also exhibit pleiotropic effects that are independent of their lipid-lowering effects. Among them, the anti-cancer properties of statins have attracted much attention and indicated the potential of statins as repurposed drugs for the treatment of cancer. A large number of clinical and epidemiological studies have described the anticancer properties of statins, but the evidence for anticancer effectiveness of statins is inconsistent. It may be that certain molecular subtypes of cancer are more vulnerable to statin therapy than others. Whether statins have clinical anticancer effects is still an active area of research. Statins appear to enhance the efficacy and address the shortcomings associated with conventional cancer treatments, suggesting that statins should be considered in the context of combined therapies for cancer. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the potential of statins in anti-cancer treatments. We discuss the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer properties of statins and their effects on different malignancies. We also provide recommendations for the design of future well-designed clinical trials of the anti-cancer efficacy of statins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230001, P. R. China
| | - Jin-Wei Hu
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230001, P. R. China
| | - Xu-Ran He
- Department of Finance, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital), Hefei, 230001, P. R. China
| | - Wei-Lin Jin
- Institute of Cancer Neuroscience, Medical Frontier Innovation Research Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China.
| | - Xin-Yang He
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital), Hefei, 230001, P. R. China.
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Xu Z, Huang L, Dai T, Pei X, Xia L, Zeng G, Ye M, Liu K, Zeng F, Han W, Jiang S. SQLE Mediates Metabolic Reprogramming to Promote LN Metastasis in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:4285-4295. [PMID: 34335030 PMCID: PMC8318010 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s315813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Almost all metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancers (mHSPC) will develop into metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The expression level of squalene monooxygenase (SQLE) is increased in CRPC cells and regulates cholesterol metabolism. This study verified the biological function and mechanisms of SQLE in CRPC. Methods The expression of SQLE in human prostate cancer cells was overexpressed or silenced and its efficacy on cell survival was determined by the MTS test. Energy metabolism phenotype test was evaluated by XF real-time ATP rate assay, XF cell mitochondrial stress test, XF glycolysis stress test and XF mito fuel flex test. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by colony formation assays and transwell assays; the expression of mRNA and protein was assessed by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Moreover, BALB/c nude mice model was performed to evaluate the lymph node metastasis. Results In our study, we found that the expression level of SQLE was significantly increased in bicalutamide-resistant-C4-2B cells compared to LNCaP cells. SQLE knockdown partly restored the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to bicalutamide and reduced lymph node metastasis by inhibiting fatty acid oxidation in mitochondria. We also found that terbinafine, the specific inhibitor of SQLE, can enhance the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to bicalutamide. Conclusion Our study revealed that SQLE is involved in the progression of castration resistance in CRPC through mediating metabolic reprogramming, presenting SQLE as a new target for the treatment of mCRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhou Xu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Huang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Dai
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaming Pei
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Longzheng Xia
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Gongqian Zeng
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingji Ye
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Kan Liu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuhua Zeng
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiqing Han
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shusuan Jiang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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55
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He L, Li H, Pan C, Hua Y, Peng J, Zhou Z, Zhao Y, Lin M. Squalene epoxidase promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation through accumulating calcitriol and activating CYP24A1-mediated MAPK signaling. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2021; 41:726-746. [PMID: 34268906 PMCID: PMC8360641 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant tumors with high incidence, yet its molecular mechanism is not fully understood, hindering the development of targeted therapy. Metabolic abnormalities are a hallmark of cancer. Targeting dysregulated metabolic features has become an important direction for modern anticancer therapy. In this study, we aimed to identify a new metabolic enzyme that promotes proliferation of CRC and to examine the related molecular mechanisms. Methods We performed RNA sequencing and tissue microarray analyses of human CRC samples to identify new genes involved in CRC. Squalene epoxidase (SQLE) was identified to be highly upregulated in CRC patients. The regulatory function of SQLE in CRC progression and the therapeutic effect of SQLE inhibitors were determined by measuring CRC cell viability, colony and organoid formation, intracellular cholesterol concentration and xenograft tumor growth. The molecular mechanism of SQLE function was explored by combining transcriptome and untargeted metabolomics analysis. Western blotting and real‐time PCR were used to assess MAPK signaling activation by SQLE. Results SQLE‐related control of cholesterol biosynthesis was highly upregulated in CRC patients and associated with poor prognosis. SQLE promoted CRC growth in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of SQLE reduced the levels of calcitriol (active form of vitamin D3) and CYP24A1, followed by an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Subsequently, MAPK signaling was suppressed, resulting in the inhibition of CRC cell growth. Consistently, terbinafine, an SQLE inhibitor, suppressed CRC cell proliferation and organoid and xenograft tumor growth. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that SQLE promotes CRC through the accumulation of calcitriol and stimulation of CYP24A1‐mediated MAPK signaling, highlighting SQLE as a potential therapeutic target for CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luwei He
- Center for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China.,Institute of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Translational Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China
| | - Huaguang Li
- Center for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China.,Institute of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Translational Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China
| | - Chenyu Pan
- Center for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China.,Institute of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Translational Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China
| | - Yutong Hua
- Center for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China.,Institute of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Translational Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China
| | - Jiayin Peng
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, P. R. China
| | - Zhaocai Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, P. R. China
| | - Yun Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, P. R. China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
| | - Moubin Lin
- Center for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China.,Institute of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Translational Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China.,Department of General Surgery, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200090, P. R. China
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Zembroski AS, Andolino C, Buhman KK, Teegarden D. Proteomic Characterization of Cytoplasmic Lipid Droplets in Human Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 11:576326. [PMID: 34141606 PMCID: PMC8204105 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.576326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the characteristic features of metastatic breast cancer is increased cellular storage of neutral lipid in cytoplasmic lipid droplets (CLDs). CLD accumulation is associated with increased cancer aggressiveness, suggesting CLDs contribute to metastasis. However, how CLDs contribute to metastasis is not clear. CLDs are composed of a neutral lipid core, a phospholipid monolayer, and associated proteins. Proteins that associate with CLDs regulate both cellular and CLD metabolism; however, the proteome of CLDs in metastatic breast cancer and how these proteins may contribute to breast cancer progression is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the proteome and assess the characteristics of CLDs in the MCF10CA1a human metastatic breast cancer cell line. Utilizing shotgun proteomics, we identified over 1500 proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes in the isolated CLD fraction. Interestingly, unlike other cell lines such as adipocytes or enterocytes, the most enriched protein categories were involved in cellular processes outside of lipid metabolism. For example, cell-cell adhesion was the most enriched category of proteins identified, and many of these proteins have been implicated in breast cancer metastasis. In addition, we characterized CLD size and area in MCF10CA1a cells using transmission electron microscopy. Our results provide a hypothesis-generating list of potential players in breast cancer progression and offers a new perspective on the role of CLDs in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa S Zembroski
- Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Chaylen Andolino
- Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Kimberly K Buhman
- Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Dorothy Teegarden
- Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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57
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Giacomini I, Gianfanti F, Desbats MA, Orso G, Berretta M, Prayer-Galetti T, Ragazzi E, Cocetta V. Cholesterol Metabolic Reprogramming in Cancer and Its Pharmacological Modulation as Therapeutic Strategy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:682911. [PMID: 34109128 PMCID: PMC8181394 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.682911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol is a ubiquitous sterol with many biological functions, which are crucial for proper cellular signaling and physiology. Indeed, cholesterol is essential in maintaining membrane physical properties, while its metabolism is involved in bile acid production and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Additionally, isoprenoids metabolites of the mevalonate pathway support protein-prenylation and dolichol, ubiquinone and the heme a biosynthesis. Cancer cells rely on cholesterol to satisfy their increased nutrient demands and to support their uncontrolled growth, thus promoting tumor development and progression. Indeed, transformed cells reprogram cholesterol metabolism either by increasing its uptake and de novo biosynthesis, or deregulating the efflux. Alternatively, tumor can efficiently accumulate cholesterol into lipid droplets and deeply modify the activity of key cholesterol homeostasis regulators. In light of these considerations, altered pathways of cholesterol metabolism might represent intriguing pharmacological targets for the development of exploitable strategies in the context of cancer therapy. Thus, this work aims to discuss the emerging evidence of in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as clinical trials, on the role of cholesterol pathways in the treatment of cancer, starting from already available cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins or fibrates), and moving towards novel potential pharmacological inhibitors or selective target modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Giacomini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Federico Gianfanti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, VIMM, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Genny Orso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Berretta
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Tommaso Prayer-Galetti
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology - Urology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Eugenio Ragazzi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Veronica Cocetta
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Madan B, Virshup DM, Nes WD, Leaver DJ. Unearthing the Janus-face cholesterogenesis pathways in cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 196:114611. [PMID: 34010597 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cholesterol biosynthesis, primarily associated with eukaryotes, occurs as an essential component of human metabolism with biosynthetic deregulation a factor in cancer viability. The segment that partitions between squalene and the C27-end cholesterol yields the main cholesterogenesis branch subdivided into the Bloch and Kandutsch-Russell pathways. Their importance in cell viability, in normal growth and development originates primarily from the amphipathic property and shape of the cholesterol molecule which makes it suitable as a membrane insert. Cholesterol can also convert to variant oxygenated product metabolites of distinct function producing a complex interplay between cholesterol synthesis and overall steroidogenesis. In this review, we disassociate the two sides of cholesterogenesisis affecting the type and amounts of systemic sterols-one which is beneficial to human welfare while the other dysfunctional leading to misery and disease that could result in premature death. Our focus here is first to examine the cholesterol biosynthetic genes, enzymes, and order of biosynthetic intermediates in human cholesterogenesis pathways, then compare the effect of proximal and distal inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis against normal and cancer cell growth and metabolism. Collectively, the inhibitor studies of druggable enzymes and specific biosynthetic steps, suggest a potential role of disrupted cholesterol biosynthesis, in coordination with imported cholesterol, as a factor in cancer development and as discussed some of these inhibitors have chemotherapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babita Madan
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David M Virshup
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - W David Nes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
| | - David J Leaver
- Department of Biology, Geology, and Physical Sciences, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX, USA.
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Targeting epigenetic modulation of cholesterol synthesis as a therapeutic strategy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:482. [PMID: 33986254 PMCID: PMC8119982 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03760-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The histone methyltransferase EZH2 silences gene expression via H3 lysine 27 trimethylation and has been recognized as an important antitumour therapeutic target. However, the clinical application of existing EZH2 inhibitors is not satisfactory for the treatment of solid tumours. To discover novel strategies against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), we performed genomics, metabolomics and RNA omics studies in HNSCC cells treated with EZH2 inhibitors. It was found that EZH2 inhibitors strongly induced the expression of genes in cholesterol synthesis. Through extensive drug screening we found that inhibition of squalene epoxidase (a key enzyme of endogenous cholesterol synthesis) synergistically increased the squalene content and enhanced the sensitivity of HNSCC cells to EZH2 inhibitors. Our findings provide an experimental and theoretical basis for the development of new combinations of EZH2 inhibitors to treat HNSCC.
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60
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Coates HW, Capell-Hattam IM, Brown AJ. The mammalian cholesterol synthesis enzyme squalene monooxygenase is proteasomally truncated to a constitutively active form. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100731. [PMID: 33933449 PMCID: PMC8166775 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Squalene monooxygenase (SM, also known as squalene epoxidase) is a rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis that converts squalene to monooxidosqualene and is oncogenic in numerous cancer types. SM is subject to feedback regulation via cholesterol-induced proteasomal degradation, which depends on its lipid-sensing N-terminal regulatory domain. We previously identified an endogenous truncated form of SM with a similar abundance to full-length SM, but whether this truncated form is functional or subject to the same regulatory mechanisms as full-length SM is not known. Here, we show that truncated SM differs from full-length SM in two major ways: it is cholesterol resistant and adopts a peripheral rather than integral association with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. However, truncated SM retains full SM activity and is therefore constitutively active. Truncation of SM occurs during its endoplasmic reticulum–associated degradation and requires the proteasome, which partially degrades the SM N-terminus and disrupts cholesterol-sensing elements within the regulatory domain. Furthermore, truncation relies on a ubiquitin signal that is distinct from that required for cholesterol-induced degradation. Using mutagenesis, we demonstrate that partial proteasomal degradation of SM depends on both an intrinsically disordered region near the truncation site and the stability of the adjacent catalytic domain, which escapes degradation. These findings uncover an additional layer of complexity in the post-translational regulation of cholesterol synthesis and establish SM as the first eukaryotic enzyme found to undergo proteasomal truncation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudson W Coates
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Andrew J Brown
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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61
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Yang F, Kou J, Liu Z, Li W, Du W. MYC Enhances Cholesterol Biosynthesis and Supports Cell Proliferation Through SQLE. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:655889. [PMID: 33791309 PMCID: PMC8006431 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.655889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogene c-Myc (referred in this report as MYC) promotes tumorigenesis in multiple human cancers. MYC regulates numerous cellular programs involved in cell growth and cell metabolism. Tumor cells exhibit obligatory dependence on cholesterol metabolism, which provides essential membrane components and metabolites to support cell growth. To date, how cholesterol biosynthesis is delicately regulated to promote tumorigenesis remains unclear. Here, we show that MYC enhances cholesterol biosynthesis and promotes cell proliferation. Through transcriptional upregulation of SQLE, a rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis pathway, MYC increases cholesterol production and promotes tumor cell growth. SQLE overexpression restores the cellular cholesterol levels in MYC-knockdown cells. More importantly, in SQLE-depleted cells, enforced expression of MYC has no effect on cholesterol levels. Therefore, our findings reveal that SQLE is critical for MYC-mediated cholesterol synthesis, and further demonstrate that SQLE may be a potential therapeutic target in MYC-amplified cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Junjie Kou
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zizhao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Du
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Jun SY, Brown AJ, Chua NK, Yoon JY, Lee JJ, Yang JO, Jang I, Jeon SJ, Choi TI, Kim CH, Kim NS. Reduction of Squalene Epoxidase by Cholesterol Accumulation Accelerates Colorectal Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Gastroenterology 2021; 160:1194-1207.e28. [PMID: 32946903 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Squalene epoxidase (SQLE), a rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, is suggested as a proto-oncogene. Paradoxically, SQLE is degraded by excess cholesterol, and low SQLE is associated with aggressive colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, we studied the functional consequences of SQLE reduction in CRC progression. METHODS Gene and protein expression data and clinical features of CRCs were obtained from public databases and 293 human tissues, analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In vitro studies showed underlying mechanisms of CRC progression mediated by SQLE reduction. Mice were fed a 2% high-cholesterol or a control diet before and after cecum implantation of SQLE genetic knockdown/control CRC cells. Metastatic dissemination and circulating cancer stem cells were demonstrated by in vivo tracking and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. RESULTS In vitro studies showed that SQLE reduction helped cancer cells overcome constraints by inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition required to generate cancer stem cells. Surprisingly, SQLE interacted with GSK3β and p53. Active GSK3β contributes to the stability of SQLE, thereby increasing cell cholesterol content, whereas SQLE depletion disrupted the GSK3β/p53 complex, resulting in a metastatic phenotype. This was confirmed in a spontaneous CRC metastasis mice model, where SQLE reduction, by a high-cholesterol regimen or genetic knockdown, strikingly promoted CRC aggressiveness through the production of migratory cancer stem cells. CONCLUSIONS We showed that SQLE reduction caused by cholesterol accumulation aggravates CRC progression via the activation of the β-catenin oncogenic pathway and deactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor pathway. Our findings provide new insights into the link between cholesterol and CRC, identifying SQLE as a key regulator in CRC aggressiveness and a prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Young Jun
- Medical Genomics Research Center, Daejon, Korea; Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Andrew J Brown
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ngee Kiat Chua
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | - Jin Ok Yang
- Korean Bioinformation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - InSu Jang
- Korean Bioinformation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Su-Jin Jeon
- Medical Genomics Research Center, Daejon, Korea; Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Tae-Ik Choi
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Nam-Soon Kim
- Medical Genomics Research Center, Daejon, Korea; Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea.
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Kim NI, Park MH, Kweon SS, Cho N, Lee JS. Squalene epoxidase expression is associated with breast tumor progression and with a poor prognosis in breast cancer. Oncol Lett 2021; 21:259. [PMID: 33664822 PMCID: PMC7882892 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) have been previously identified using massive parallel RNA sequencing in matched normal, breast cancer (BC) and nodal metastatic tissues. Squalene epoxidase (SQLE), one of these DEGs, is a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential involvement of SQLE in the tumorigenic process of BC and to determine its association with the clinical outcome of BC. SQLE mRNA expression was measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in 10 pairs of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and BC tissues and their adjacent normal tissues. Immunohistochemical staining of SQLE on tissue microarray was performed in 26 normal breast, 79 DCIS and 198 BC samples. The role of SQLE as a prognostic biomarker in patients with BC has been verified using BreastMark. SQLE mRNA expression was significantly increased in DCIS and BC tissues compared with that in their adjacent normal tissues. High SQLE expression was detected in 0, 48.1 and 40.4% of normal breast, DCIS and BC tissues, respectively. SQLE expression in DCIS and BC tissues was significantly higher than that in normal breast tissues. High SQLE expression was observed in DCIS with higher nuclear grade, comedo-type necrosis and HER2 positivity. High SQLE expression in BC was associated with larger tumor size, nodal metastases, higher stage, HER2 subtype and distant metastatic relapse. High SQLE expression was associated with poor disease-free and overall survival, and independently predicted poor disease-free survival in patients with BC. Following BreastMark analysis, high SQLE mRNA expression in BC was significantly associated with a poor prognosis in the ‘all’, lymph node negative, lymph node positive, luminal A subtype and luminal B subtype groups. Therefore, SQLE expression may be upregulated during the tumorigenic process of BC, and high SQLE expression may be a useful biomarker for predicting a poor prognosis in patients with BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nah Ihm Kim
- Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ho Park
- Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Seog Kweon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Namki Cho
- College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Shin Lee
- Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea
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Zuo L, Su H, Zhang Q, Wu WY, Zeng Y, Li XM, Xiong J, Chen LF, Zhou Y. Comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs N 6-methyladenosine modification in colorectal cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:4182-4198. [PMID: 33493136 PMCID: PMC7906145 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their N6-methyladenosine (M6A) modifications are involved in cancer occurrence and development. METHODS lncRNA M6A modification in colorectal cancer (CRC) was comprehensively analyzed for the first time. RESULTS M6A levels of lnRNAs in CRC tissues were higher than those in tumor-adjacent normal tissues. A total of 8,332 M6A peaks were detected in 6,690 lncRNAs in CRC tissues. Approximately 91% of the modified lncRNAs had unique M6A modification peaks. A total of 383 lncRNAs were differentially methylated in CRC, of which 48.24% had a length of 1-1,000 bp. Most of these were located on chromosomes 1, 2, 7, 11, 16 and 19; 42.3% were within a sense-overlapping exon. RNA sequencing identified 163 differentially expressed lncRNAs in CRC. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that genes near differentially-methylated or -expressed lncRNAs were associated with CRC occurrence and development. Methylation was positively correlated with lncRNA expression levels in CRC and tumor-adjacent normal tissues. More unmethylated than M6A methylated lncRNA molecules were detected. A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and lncRNA-mRNA expression-regulation network revealed a regulatory relationship between lncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs. CONCLUSIONS The findings may help improve our understanding of lncRNA function in colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luo Zuo
- The Gastroenterology Tumor and Microenvironment Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Hui Su
- The Gastroenterology Tumor and Microenvironment Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Qiao Zhang
- The Gastroenterology Tumor and Microenvironment Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Wei-Yu Wu
- The Gastroenterology Tumor and Microenvironment Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yan Zeng
- The Gastroenterology Tumor and Microenvironment Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xue-Mei Li
- The Gastroenterology Tumor and Microenvironment Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Jing Xiong
- The Gastroenterology Tumor and Microenvironment Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Lan-Fang Chen
- The Gastroenterology Tumor and Microenvironment Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yan Zhou
- The Gastroenterology Tumor and Microenvironment Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
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Qin Y, Hou Y, Liu S, Zhu P, Wan X, Zhao M, Peng M, Zeng H, Li Q, Jin T, Cui X, Liu M. A Novel Long Non-Coding RNA lnc030 Maintains Breast Cancer Stem Cell Stemness by Stabilizing SQLE mRNA and Increasing Cholesterol Synthesis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2002232. [PMID: 33511005 PMCID: PMC7816696 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202002232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered the roots of cancer metastasis and recurrence (CSCs), due in part to their self-renewal and therapy resistance properties. However, the underlying mechanisms for the regulation of CSC stemness are poorly understood. Recently, increasing evidence shows that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical regulators for cancer cell function in various malignancies including breast cancer, but how lncRNAs regulate the function of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) remains to be determined. Herein, using lncRNA/mRNA microarray assays, a novel lncRNA (named lnc030) is identified, which is highly expressed in BCSCs in vitro and in vivo, as a pivotal regulator in maintaining BCSC stemness and promoting tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, lnc030 cooperates with poly(rC) binding protein 2(PCBP2) to stabilize squalene epoxidase (SQLE) mRNA, resulting in an increase of cholesterol synthesis. The increased cholesterol in turn actives PI3K/Akt signaling, which governs BCSC stemness. In summary, these findings demonstrate that a new, lnc030-based mechanism for regulating cholesterol synthesis and stemness properties of BCSCs. The lnc030-SQLE-cholesterol synthesis pathway may serve as an effective therapeutic target for BCSC elimination and breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilu Qin
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Yixuan Hou
- Experimental Teaching Center of Basic Medicine ScienceChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Shuiqing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Pengpeng Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Xueying Wan
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Maojia Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Meixi Peng
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Huan Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Qiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Ting Jin
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Xiaojiang Cui
- Department of SurgerySamuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer InstituteCedars‐Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesCA90048USA
| | - Manran Liu
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical DiagnosticsChinese Ministry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
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66
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Feltrin S, Ravera F, Traversone N, Ferrando L, Bedognetti D, Ballestrero A, Zoppoli G. Sterol synthesis pathway inhibition as a target for cancer treatment. Cancer Lett 2020; 493:19-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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67
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Shen T, Lu Y, Zhang Q. High Squalene Epoxidase in Tumors Predicts Worse Survival in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Integrated Bioinformatic Analysis on NAFLD and HCC. Cancer Control 2020; 27:1073274820914663. [PMID: 32216563 PMCID: PMC7137641 DOI: 10.1177/1073274820914663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify candidate biomarkers for predicting outcomes in
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Using Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, we
identified common upregulated differential expressed genes (DEGs) in patients
with NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and HCC and conducted survival
analysis of these upregulated DEGs with HCC outcomes. Two common upregulated
DEGs including squalene epoxidase (SQLE) and EPPK1 messenger RNA (mRNA) were
significantly upregulated in NAFLD, NASH, and HCC tissues, both in GSE45436
(P < .001) and TCGA profile (P <
.001). Both SQLE and EPPK1 mRNA were upregulated in 15.56% and 8.06% patients
with HCC in TCGA profile. Overexpression of SQLE in tumors was significantly
associated with worse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in
patients with HCC (log-rank P = .027 and log-rank
P = .048, respectively), while no statistical significances
of OS and DFS were found in EPPK1 groups (both log-rank P >
.05). For validation, SQLE upregulation contributed to significantly worse OS in
patients wih HCC using Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis (hazard ratio = 1.43, 95%
confidence interval: 1.01-2.02, log-rank P = .043). In
addition, high level of SQLE significantly associated with advanced neoplasm
histologic grade, advanced AJCC stage, and α-fetoprotein elevation
(P = .036, .045, and .029, respectively). Squalene
epoxidase is associated with OS and DFS and serves as a novel prognostic
biomarker for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Shen
- Department of Infectious Disease, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunfei Lu
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
Background: Gene expression profiles from early-onset breast cancer and normal tissues were
analyzed to explore the genes and prognostic factors associated with breast cancer. Methods: GSE109169 and GSE89116 were obtained from the database of Gene Expression Omnibus. We
firstly screened the differentially expressed genes between tumor samples and normal
samples from patients with early-onset breast cancer. Based on database for annotation,
visualization and intergrated discovery (DAVID) tool, functional analysis was
calculated. Transcription factor-target regulation and microRNA-target gene network were
constructed using the tool of transcriptional regulatory relatitionships unraveled by
sentence-based text mining (TRRUST) and miRWalk2.0, respectively. The prognosis-related
survival information was compiled based on The Cancer Genome Atlas breast cancer
clinical data. Results: A total of 708 differentially expressed genes from GSE109169 data sets and 358
differentially expressed genes from GSE89116 data sets were obtained, of which 122
common differentially expressed genes including 102 uniformly downregulated genes and 20
uniformly upregulated genes were screened. Protein–protein interaction network with a
total of 83 nodes and 157 relationship pairs was obtained, and genes in protein–protein
interaction, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ,
FGF2, adiponectin, and PCK1, were recognized as key
nodes in protein–protein interaction. In total, 66 transcription factor–target
relationship pairs were obtained, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ was
the only one downregulated transcription factor. MicroRNA-target gene network contained
368 microRNA-target relationship pairs. Moreover, 16 differentially expressed genes,
including 2 upregulations and 14 downregulations, were related to a significant
correlation with the prognosis, including SQLE and peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor γ. Conclusions: SQLE and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ might be
important prognostic factors in breast cancers, and adiponectin might be important in
breast cancer pathogenesis regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
γ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhun Yu
- Department of Breast, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi He
- Department of Breast, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoping Xu
- Department of Breast, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai, China
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Butler LM, Perone Y, Dehairs J, Lupien LE, de Laat V, Talebi A, Loda M, Kinlaw WB, Swinnen JV. Lipids and cancer: Emerging roles in pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 159:245-293. [PMID: 32711004 PMCID: PMC7736102 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 303] [Impact Index Per Article: 75.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
With the advent of effective tools to study lipids, including mass spectrometry-based lipidomics, lipids are emerging as central players in cancer biology. Lipids function as essential building blocks for membranes, serve as fuel to drive energy-demanding processes and play a key role as signaling molecules and as regulators of numerous cellular functions. Not unexpectedly, cancer cells, as well as other cell types in the tumor microenvironment, exploit various ways to acquire lipids and extensively rewire their metabolism as part of a plastic and context-dependent metabolic reprogramming that is driven by both oncogenic and environmental cues. The resulting changes in the fate and composition of lipids help cancer cells to thrive in a changing microenvironment by supporting key oncogenic functions and cancer hallmarks, including cellular energetics, promoting feedforward oncogenic signaling, resisting oxidative and other stresses, regulating intercellular communication and immune responses. Supported by the close connection between altered lipid metabolism and the pathogenic process, specific lipid profiles are emerging as unique disease biomarkers, with diagnostic, prognostic and predictive potential. Multiple preclinical studies illustrate the translational promise of exploiting lipid metabolism in cancer, and critically, have shown context dependent actionable vulnerabilities that can be rationally targeted, particularly in combinatorial approaches. Moreover, lipids themselves can be used as membrane disrupting agents or as key components of nanocarriers of various therapeutics. With a number of preclinical compounds and strategies that are approaching clinical trials, we are at the doorstep of exploiting a hitherto underappreciated hallmark of cancer and promising target in the oncologist's strategy to combat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Butler
- Adelaide Medical School and Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Ylenia Perone
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jonas Dehairs
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, KU Leuven Cancer Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leslie E Lupien
- Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 037560, USA
| | - Vincent de Laat
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, KU Leuven Cancer Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ali Talebi
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, KU Leuven Cancer Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Massimo Loda
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - William B Kinlaw
- The Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Johannes V Swinnen
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, KU Leuven Cancer Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Dattilo R, Mottini C, Camera E, Lamolinara A, Auslander N, Doglioni G, Muscolini M, Tang W, Planque M, Ercolani C, Buglioni S, Manni I, Trisciuoglio D, Boe A, Grande S, Luciani AM, Iezzi M, Ciliberto G, Ambs S, De Maria R, Fendt SM, Ruppin E, Cardone L. Pyrvinium Pamoate Induces Death of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells and Reduces Metastases through Effects on Lipid Anabolism. Cancer Res 2020; 80:4087-4102. [PMID: 32718996 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-1184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem-like cells (CSC) induce aggressive tumor phenotypes such as metastasis formation, which is associated with poor prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Repurposing of FDA-approved drugs that can eradicate the CSC subcompartment in primary tumors may prevent metastatic disease, thus representing an effective strategy to improve the prognosis of TNBC. Here, we investigated spheroid-forming cells in a metastatic TNBC model. This strategy enabled us to specifically study a population of long-lived tumor cells enriched in CSCs, which show stem-like characteristics and induce metastases. To repurpose FDA-approved drugs potentially toxic for CSCs, we focused on pyrvinium pamoate (PP), an anthelmintic drug with documented anticancer activity in preclinical models. PP induced cytotoxic effects in CSCs and prevented metastasis formation. Mechanistically, the cell killing effects of PP were a result of inhibition of lipid anabolism and, more specifically, the impairment of anabolic flux from glucose to cholesterol and fatty acids. CSCs were strongly dependent upon activation of lipid biosynthetic pathways; activation of these pathways exhibited an unfavorable prognostic value in a cohort of breast cancer patients, where it predicted high probability of metastatic dissemination and tumor relapse. Overall, this work describes a new approach to target aggressive CSCs that may substantially improve clinical outcomes for patients with TNBC, who currently lack effective targeted therapeutic options. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings provide preclinical evidence that a drug repurposing approach to prevent metastatic disease in TNBC exploits lipid anabolism as a metabolic vulnerability against CSCs in primary tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Dattilo
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovations, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Mottini
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovations, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Camera
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center for Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute (ISG)-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Lamolinara
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, CAST, "G. D'Annunzio" University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Noam Auslander
- Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ginevra Doglioni
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Wei Tang
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Melanie Planque
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cristiana Ercolani
- S.C. Anatomia Patologica, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Buglioni
- S.C. Anatomia Patologica, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Manni
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovations, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Trisciuoglio
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovations, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, CNR National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Boe
- Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Sveva Grande
- Centro Nazionale per le Tecnologie Innovative in Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare INFN Sez. di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Luciani
- Centro Nazionale per le Tecnologie Innovative in Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare INFN Sez. di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Iezzi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, CAST, "G. D'Annunzio" University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Directorate, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefan Ambs
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sarah-Maria Fendt
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eytan Ruppin
- Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - Luca Cardone
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovations, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, CNR National Research Council, Rome, Italy
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71
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Cholesterol metabolism: New functions and therapeutic approaches in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1874:188394. [PMID: 32698040 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Cholesterol and its metabolites (precursors and derivatives) play an important role in cancer. In recent years, numerous studies have reported the functions of cholesterol metabolism in the regulation of tumor biological processes, especially oncogenic signaling pathways, ferroptosis, and tumor microenvironment. Preclinical studies have over the years indicated the inhibitory effects of blocking cholesterol synthesis and uptake on tumor formation and growth. Besides, some new cholesterol metabolic molecules such as SOAT1, SQLE, and NPC1 have recently emerged as promising drug targets for cancer treatment. Here, we systematically review the roles of cholesterol and its metabolites, and the latest advances in cancer therapy targeting cholesterol metabolism.
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72
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Chua NK, Coates HW, Brown AJ. Squalene monooxygenase: a journey to the heart of cholesterol synthesis. Prog Lipid Res 2020; 79:101033. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2020.101033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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73
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Nagaraja R, Olaharski A, Narayanaswamy R, Mahoney C, Pirman D, Gross S, Roddy TP, Popovici-Muller J, Smolen GA, Silverman L. Preclinical toxicology profile of squalene epoxidase inhibitors. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 401:115103. [PMID: 32522582 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a particularly aggressive subset of lung cancer, and identification of new therapeutic options is of significant interest. We recently reported that SCLC cell lines display a specific vulnerability to inhibition of squalene epoxidase (SQLE), an enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway that catalyzes the conversion of squalene to 2,3-oxidosqualene. Since it has been reported that SQLE inhibition can result in dermatitis in dogs, we conducted a series of experiments to determine if SQLE inhibitors would be tolerated at exposures predicted to drive maximal efficacy in SCLC tumors. Detailed profiling of the SQLE inhibitor NB-598 showed that dogs did not tolerate predicted efficacious exposures, with dose-limiting toxicity due to gastrointestinal clinical observations, although skin toxicities were also observed. To extend these studies, two SQLE inhibitors, NB-598 and Cmpd-4″, and their structurally inactive analogs, NB-598.ia and Cmpd-4″.ia, were profiled in monkeys. While both active SQLE inhibitors resulted in dose-limiting gastrointestinal toxicity, the structurally similar inactive analogs did not. Collectively, our data demonstrate that significant toxicities arise at exposures well below the predicted levels needed for anti-tumor activity. The on-target nature of the toxicities identified is likely to limit the potential therapeutic utility of SQLE inhibition for the treatment of SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Nagaraja
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 88 Sidney St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Andrew Olaharski
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 88 Sidney St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | | | - David Pirman
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 88 Sidney St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Stefan Gross
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 88 Sidney St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Thomas P Roddy
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 88 Sidney St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | | | | | - Lee Silverman
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 88 Sidney St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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74
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Wahdan-Alaswad R, Liu B, Thor AD. Targeted lapatinib anti-HER2/ErbB2 therapy resistance in breast cancer: opportunities to overcome a difficult problem. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2020; 3:179-198. [PMID: 35582612 PMCID: PMC9090587 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2019.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 20% of invasive breast cancers have upregulation/gene amplification of the oncogene human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2/ErbB2). Of these, some also express steroid receptors (the so-called Luminal B subtype), whereas others do not (the HER2 subtype). HER2 abnormal breast cancers are associated with a worse prognosis, chemotherapy resistance, and sensitivity to selected anti-HER2 targeted therapeutics. Transcriptional data from over 3000 invasive breast cancers suggest that this approach is overly simplistic; rather, the upregulation of HER2 expression resulting from gene amplification is a driver event that causes major transcriptional changes involving numerous genes and pathways in breast cancer cells. Most notably, this includes a shift from estrogenic dependence to regulatory controls driven by other nuclear receptors, particularly the androgen receptor. We discuss members of the HER receptor tyrosine kinase family, heterodimer formation, and downstream signaling, with a focus on HER2 associated pathology in breast carcinogenesis. The development and application of anti-HER2 drugs, including selected clinical trials, are discussed. In light of the many excellent reviews in the clinical literature, our emphasis is on recently developed and successful strategies to overcome targeted therapy resistance. These include combining anti-HER2 agents with programmed cell death-1 ligand or cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors, targeting crosstalk between HER2 and other nuclear receptors, lipid/cholesterol synthesis to inhibit receptor tyrosine kinase activation, and metformin, a broadly inhibitory drug. We seek to facilitate a better understanding of new approaches to overcome anti-HER2 drug resistance and encourage exploration of two other therapeutic interventions that may be clinically useful for HER+ invasive breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reema Wahdan-Alaswad
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO 80014, USA
| | - Bolin Liu
- Department of Genetics, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Ann D Thor
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO 80014, USA
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75
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Ferrando L, Cirmena G, Garuti A, Scabini S, Grillo F, Mastracci L, Isnaldi E, Marrone C, Gonella R, Murialdo R, Fiocca R, Romairone E, Ballestrero A, Zoppoli G. Development of a long non-coding RNA signature for prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0226595. [PMID: 32023246 PMCID: PMC7001901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Standard treatment for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC) includes a combination of chemotherapy with pyrimidine analogues, such as capecitabine, and radiation therapy, followed by surgery. Currently no clinically useful genomic predictors of benefit from neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) exist for LARC. In this study we assessed the expression of 8,127 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), poorly studied in LARC, to infer their ability in classifying patients’ pathological complete response (pCR). We collected and analyzed, using lncRNA-specific Agilent microarrays a consecutive series of 61 LARC cases undergoing nCRT. Potential lncRNA predictors in responders and non-responders to nCRT were identified with LASSO regression, and a model was optimized using k-fold cross-validation after selection of the three most informative lncRNA. 11 lncRNAs were differentially expressed with false discovery rate < 0.01 between responders and non-responders to NACT. We identified lnc-KLF7-1, lnc-MAB21L2-1, and LINC00324 as the most promising variable subset for classification building. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 0.91 and 0.94 respectively, with an AUC of our ROC curve = 0.93. Our study shows for the first time that lncRNAs can accurately predict response in LARC undergoing nCRT. Our three-lncRNA based signature must be independently validated and further analyses must be conducted to fully understand the biological role of the identified signature, but our results suggest lncRNAs may be an ideal biomarker for response prediction in the studied setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Ferrando
- Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Gabriella Cirmena
- Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Garuti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Federica Grillo
- IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Department of Integrated Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Luca Mastracci
- IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Department of Integrated Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Edoardo Isnaldi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Ciro Marrone
- IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Roberta Gonella
- Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
- IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Fiocca
- IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Department of Integrated Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Ballestrero
- Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
- IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- * E-mail: (AB); (GZ)
| | - Gabriele Zoppoli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
- IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- * E-mail: (AB); (GZ)
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76
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Cholesterol and beyond - The role of the mevalonate pathway in cancer biology. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1873:188351. [PMID: 32007596 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a multifaceted global disease. Transformation of a normal to a malignant cell takes several steps, including somatic mutations, epigenetic alterations, metabolic reprogramming and loss of cell growth control. Recently, the mevalonate pathway has emerged as a crucial regulator of tumor biology and a potential therapeutic target. This pathway controls cholesterol production and posttranslational modifications of Rho-GTPases, both of which are linked to several key steps of tumor progression. Inhibitors of the mevalonate pathway induce pleiotropic antitumor-effects in several human malignancies, identifying the pathway as an attractive candidate for novel therapies. In this review, we will provide an overview about the role and regulation of the mevalonate pathway in certain aspects of cancer initiation and progression and its potential for therapeutic intervention in oncology.
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77
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Yang J, Wang L, Jia R. Role of de novo cholesterol synthesis enzymes in cancer. J Cancer 2020; 11:1761-1767. [PMID: 32194787 PMCID: PMC7052851 DOI: 10.7150/jca.38598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research in the cancer field, cancer remains one of the most prevalent diseases. There is an urgent need to identify specific targets that are safe and effective for the treatment of cancer. In recent years, cancer metabolism has come into the spotlight in cancer research. Lipid metabolism, especially cholesterol metabolism, plays a critical role in membrane synthesis as well as lipid signaling in cancer. This review focuses on the contribution of the de novo cholesterol synthesis pathway to tumorigenesis, cancer progression and metastasis. In conclusion, cholesterol metabolism could be an effective target for novel anticancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Lihua Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
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78
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Coates HW, Chua NK, Brown AJ. Consulting prostate cancer cohort data uncovers transcriptional control: Regulation of the MARCH6 gene. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2019; 1864:1656-1668. [PMID: 31422115 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2019.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cholesterol accumulation is a hallmark of prostate cancer (PCa) enabled by the upregulation of its synthesis, which presents a potential therapeutic target. This pathway is suppressed by the E3 ubiquitin ligase membrane-associated RING-CH-type finger 6 (MARCH6); however, little is known of MARCH6 regulation, particularly at the transcriptional level. Here, we consulted large transcriptomic PCa datasets to investigate transcription factors and DNA sequence elements that regulate the MARCH6 gene. Amongst 498 primary PCa tissues of The Cancer Genome Atlas, we identified a striking positive correlation between MARCH6 and androgen receptor (AR) gene expression (r = 0.81, p < 1 × 10-117) that held in other primary tumour datasets. Two putative androgen response elements were identified in the MARCH6 gene using motif prediction and mining of publicly accessible chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing data. However, MARCH6 expression was not androgen-responsive in luciferase reporter and qRT-PCR assays. Instead, we established that the MARCH6-AR correlation in primary PCa is due to common regulation by the transcription factor Sp1. We located a region 100 bp downstream of the MARCH6 transcriptional start site that contains three Sp1 binding sites and strongly upregulates promoter activity. The functionality of this region, and Sp1-mediated upregulation of MARCH6, was confirmed using pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Sp1. Moreover, modulation of Sp1 activity affected the stability of squalene monooxygenase, a cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme and MARCH6 substrate. We thus establish Sp1 as the first known regulator of the MARCH6 gene and demonstrate that interrogation of transcriptomic datasets can assist in the de novo inference of transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudson W Coates
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ngee Kiat Chua
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew J Brown
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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79
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Liu D, Wong CC, Fu L, Chen H, Zhao L, Li C, Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Xu W, Yang Y, Wu B, Cheng G, Lai PBS, Wong N, Sung JJY, Yu J. Squalene epoxidase drives NAFLD-induced hepatocellular carcinoma and is a pharmaceutical target. Sci Transl Med 2019; 10:10/437/eaap9840. [PMID: 29669855 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aap9840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an emerging malignancy in the developed world; however, mechanisms that contribute to its formation are largely unknown, and targeted therapy is currently not available. Our RNA sequencing analysis of NAFLD-HCC samples revealed squalene epoxidase (SQLE) as the top outlier metabolic gene overexpressed in NAFLD-HCC patients. Hepatocyte-specific Sqle transgenic expression in mice accelerated the development of high-fat, high-cholesterol diet-induced HCC. SQLE exerts its oncogenic effect via its metabolites, cholesteryl ester and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+). Increased SQLE expression promotes the biosynthesis of cholesteryl ester, which induces NAFLD-HCC cell growth. SQLE increased the NADP+/NADPH (reduced form of NADP+) ratio, which triggered a cascade of events involving oxidative stress-induced DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) expression, DNMT3A-mediated epigenetic silencing of PTEN, and activation of AKT-mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). In human NAFLD-HCC and HCC, SQLE is overexpressed and its expression is associated with poor patient outcomes. Terbinafine, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved antifungal drug targeting SQLE, markedly inhibited SQLE-induced NAFLD-HCC cell growth in NAFLD-HCC and HCC cells and attenuated tumor development in xenograft models and in Sqle transgenic mice. Suppression of tumor growth by terbinafine is associated with decreased cholesteryl ester concentrations, restoration of PTEN expression, and inhibition of AKT-mTOR, consistent with blockade of SQLE function. Collectively, we established SQLE as an oncogene in NAFLD-HCC and propose that repurposing SQLE inhibitors may be a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD-HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dabin Liu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Chun Wong
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Li Fu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong.,Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Research Centre, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Huarong Chen
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Liuyang Zhao
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Chuangen Li
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Yunfei Zhou
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Yanquan Zhang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Weiqi Xu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Yidong Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China
| | - Bin Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China
| | - Gong Cheng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Paul Bo-San Lai
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Nathalie Wong
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Joseph J Y Sung
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong.
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80
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Chua NK, Coates HW, Brown AJ. Cholesterol, cancer, and rebooting a treatment for athlete's foot. Sci Transl Med 2019; 10:10/437/eaat3741. [PMID: 29669852 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aat3741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
A key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis is placed firmly on the oncogenic map and demonstrated to be a potential therapeutic target in liver cancer by repurposing a common antifungal agent (Liu et al, this issue).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngee Kiat Chua
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Hudson W Coates
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Andrew J Brown
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
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81
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Valosin-containing protein mediates the ERAD of squalene monooxygenase and its cholesterol-responsive degron. Biochem J 2019; 476:2545-2560. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20190418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSqualene monooxygenase (SM) is an essential rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. SM degradation is accelerated by excess cholesterol, and this requires the first 100 amino acids of SM (SM N100). This process is part of a protein quality control pathway called endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). In ERAD, SM is ubiquitinated by MARCH6, an E3 ubiquitin ligase located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, several details of the ERAD process for SM remain elusive, such as the extraction mechanism from the ER membrane. Here, we used SM N100 fused to GFP (SM N100-GFP) as a model degron to investigate the extraction process of SM in ERAD. We showed that valosin-containing protein (VCP) is important for the cholesterol-accelerated degradation of SM N100-GFP and SM. In addition, we revealed that VCP acts following ubiquitination of SM N100-GFP by MARCH6. We demonstrated that the amphipathic helix (Gln62–Leu73) of SM N100-GFP is critical for regulation by VCP and MARCH6. Replacing this amphipathic helix with hydrophobic re-entrant loops promoted degradation in a VCP-dependent manner. Finally, we showed that inhibiting VCP increases cellular squalene and cholesterol levels, indicating a functional consequence for VCP in regulating the cholesterol synthesis pathway. Collectively, we established VCP plays a key role in ERAD that contributes to the cholesterol-mediated regulation of SM.
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82
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Chen X, Zhu X, Wei Z, Lv Q. Integrated mRNA‐Seq and miRNA‐Seq analysis of PLCγ2‐overexpressing hepatocarcinoma cells and identification of the associated miRNA‐mRNA network. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:19878-19890. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoguang Chen
- Animal Science and Technology School Henan University of Science and Technology Luoyang China
| | - Xuemin Zhu
- Animal Science and Technology School Henan University of Science and Technology Luoyang China
| | - Zhiguo Wei
- Animal Science and Technology School Henan University of Science and Technology Luoyang China
| | - Qiongxia Lv
- Animal Science and Technology School Henan University of Science and Technology Luoyang China
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83
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Identifying and targeting cancer-specific metabolism with network-based drug target prediction. EBioMedicine 2019; 43:98-106. [PMID: 31126892 PMCID: PMC6558238 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.04.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Metabolic rewiring allows cancer cells to sustain high proliferation rates. Thus, targeting only the cancer-specific cellular metabolism will safeguard healthy tissues. Methods We developed the very efficient FASTCORMICS RNA-seq workflow (rFASTCORMICS) to build 10,005 high-resolution metabolic models from the TCGA dataset to capture metabolic rewiring strategies in cancer cells. Colorectal cancer (CRC) was used as a test case for a repurposing workflow based on rFASTCORMICS. Findings Alternative pathways that are not required for proliferation or survival tend to be shut down and, therefore, tumours display cancer-specific essential genes that are significantly enriched for known drug targets. We identified naftifine, ketoconazole, and mimosine as new potential CRC drugs, which were experimentally validated. Interpretation The here presented rFASTCORMICS workflow successfully reconstructs a metabolic model based on RNA-seq data and successfully predicted drug targets and drugs not yet indicted for colorectal cancer. Fund This study was supported by the University of Luxembourg (IRP grant scheme; R-AGR-0755-12), the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR PRIDE PRIDE15/10675146/CANBIO), the Fondation Cancer (Luxembourg), the European Union‘s Horizon2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska- Curie grant agreement No 642295 (MEL-PLEX), and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the project MelanomSensitivity (BMBF/BM/7643621).
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84
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Squalene Epoxidase Correlates E-Cadherin Expression and Overall Survival in Colorectal Cancer Patients: The Impact on Prognosis and Correlation to Clinicopathologic Features. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8050632. [PMID: 31072053 PMCID: PMC6572612 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8050632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Squalene epoxidase (SE), coded by SQLE, is an important rate-limiting enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Recently, the aberrant expression of SQLE, which is responsible for epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), has been reported in various types of cancer. This study was undertaken to clarify the clinicopathologic implications of SE in patients with stage I to IV colorectal cancer (CRC). We also analyzed the expression patterns of SE in association with E-cadherin in a series of CRCs. We detected the cytoplasmic expression of SE in 59.4% of carcinoma samples by immunohistochemistry (IHC). There was a significant correlation between a high level of SE expression and lymphovascular (LV) invasion (p < 0.001), tumor budding (p < 0.001), invasion depth (p = 0.002), regional lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001), and pathologic TNM stage (p < 0.001). SE is more abundantly expressed at the invasive front, and reversely correlated with E-cadherin expression. Patients with SE-positive CRC had shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) and poor overall survival (OS) than those with SE-negative CRC in multivariate analysis (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). These data suggest that SE can serve as a valuable biomarker for unfavorable prognosis, and as a possible therapeutic target in CRCs.
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85
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Drug Screening in Human PSC-Cardiac Organoids Identifies Pro-proliferative Compounds Acting via the Mevalonate Pathway. Cell Stem Cell 2019; 24:895-907.e6. [PMID: 30930147 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We have previously developed a high-throughput bioengineered human cardiac organoid (hCO) platform, which provides functional contractile tissue with biological properties similar to native heart tissue, including mature, cell-cycle-arrested cardiomyocytes. In this study, we perform functional screening of 105 small molecules with pro-regenerative potential. Our findings reveal surprising discordance between our hCO system and traditional 2D assays. In addition, functional analyses uncovered detrimental effects of many hit compounds. Two pro-proliferative small molecules without detrimental impacts on cardiac function were identified. High-throughput proteomics in hCO revealed synergistic activation of the mevalonate pathway and a cell-cycle network by the pro-proliferative compounds. Cell-cycle reentry in hCO and in vivo required the mevalonate pathway as inhibition of the mevalonate pathway with a statin attenuated pro-proliferative effects. This study highlights the utility of human cardiac organoids for pro-regenerative drug development, including identification of underlying biological mechanisms and minimization of adverse side effects.
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86
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Ge H, Zhao Y, Shi X, Tan Z, Chi X, He M, Jiang G, Ji L, Li H. Squalene epoxidase promotes the proliferation and metastasis of lung squamous cell carcinoma cells though extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling. Thorac Cancer 2019; 10:428-436. [PMID: 30734525 PMCID: PMC6397918 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.12944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The biological function of squalene epoxidase (SQLE), an important rate‐limiting enzyme in downstream cholesterol synthesis, is to convert squalene to 2‐3 oxacin squalene. The expression of SQLE in lung cancer is abnormal. We conducted this study to investigate the effect of SQLE expression on lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) proliferation, migration, and invasion and its role in extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Methods Cell Counting Kit 8, wound healing, and Transwell assays; Western blotting; and quantitative real‐time PCR were used to investigate the effect of SQLE in a lung SCC H520 cell line. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to identify the prognostic significance of SQLE. Results Overexpression of SQLE promoted lung SCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas knockdown of SQLE expression showed the opposite effect. SQLE can interact with ERK to enhance its phosphorylation. SQLE may contribute to the pathogenesis of lung cancer by modulating ERK signaling. Further survival analysis indicated that high expression of SQLE indicated poor prognosis in lung SCC. Conclusion Our study presents novel evidence of potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for lung SCC therapy and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ge
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yamei Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Hanting District People's Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Xinyan Shi
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhen Tan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaorui Chi
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Man He
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Guohui Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lixia Ji
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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87
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Ding X, Zhang W, Li S, Yang H. The role of cholesterol metabolism in cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:219-227. [PMID: 30906624 PMCID: PMC6405981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol plays an important role in cancer development. Both clinical and experimental studies have found that hypercholesterolemia and a high-fat high-cholesterol diet can affect cancer development. External cholesterol can directly activate the oncogenic Hedgehog pathway, and internal cholesterol can induce mTORC1 signaling. Cholesterol is a key component of lipid rafts, which are the major platforms for signaling regulation in cancer, and chelating membrane cholesterol is an effective anti-cancer strategy that disrupts the functions of lipid rafts. Cholesterol metabolism is often reprogrammed in cancer cells. Targeting cholesterol metabolism as a new therapeutic approach has received increasing attention. Here, we summarize some key molecular mechanisms supporting the use of anti-cholesterol therapy for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ding
- Multidisciplinary Center for Pituitary Adenomas of Chongqing, Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical UniversityChongqing, China
| | - Weihua Zhang
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of HoustonTX, USA
| | - Song Li
- Multidisciplinary Center for Pituitary Adenomas of Chongqing, Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical UniversityChongqing, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Multidisciplinary Center for Pituitary Adenomas of Chongqing, Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical UniversityChongqing, China
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88
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Mahoney CE, Pirman D, Chubukov V, Sleger T, Hayes S, Fan ZP, Allen EL, Chen Y, Huang L, Liu M, Zhang Y, McDonald G, Narayanaswamy R, Choe S, Chen Y, Gross S, Cianchetta G, Padyana AK, Murray S, Liu W, Marks KM, Murtie J, Dorsch M, Jin S, Nagaraja N, Biller SA, Roddy T, Popovici-Muller J, Smolen GA. A chemical biology screen identifies a vulnerability of neuroendocrine cancer cells to SQLE inhibition. Nat Commun 2019; 10:96. [PMID: 30626880 PMCID: PMC6327044 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07959-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant metabolism of cancer cells is well appreciated, but the identification of cancer subsets with specific metabolic vulnerabilities remains challenging. We conducted a chemical biology screen and identified a subset of neuroendocrine tumors displaying a striking pattern of sensitivity to inhibition of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway enzyme squalene epoxidase (SQLE). Using a variety of orthogonal approaches, we demonstrate that sensitivity to SQLE inhibition results not from cholesterol biosynthesis pathway inhibition, but rather surprisingly from the specific and toxic accumulation of the SQLE substrate, squalene. These findings highlight SQLE as a potential therapeutic target in a subset of neuroendocrine tumors, particularly small cell lung cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Pirman
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Victor Chubukov
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Taryn Sleger
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sebastian Hayes
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Zi Peng Fan
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Eric L Allen
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ying Chen
- Shanghai ChemPartner Co. Ltd., 998 Halei Road, Pudong, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingling Huang
- Shanghai ChemPartner Co. Ltd., 998 Halei Road, Pudong, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Meina Liu
- Shanghai ChemPartner Co. Ltd., 998 Halei Road, Pudong, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingjia Zhang
- Shanghai ChemPartner Co. Ltd., 998 Halei Road, Pudong, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | | | | | - Sung Choe
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Yue Chen
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Stefan Gross
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | | | - Anil K Padyana
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Stuart Murray
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Wei Liu
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Kevin M Marks
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Joshua Murtie
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Marion Dorsch
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Shengfang Jin
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | | | - Scott A Biller
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Thomas Roddy
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Janeta Popovici-Muller
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Decibel Therapeutics, 1325 Boylston Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Gromoslaw A Smolen
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Celsius Therapeutics, 215 First Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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89
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Padyana AK, Gross S, Jin L, Cianchetta G, Narayanaswamy R, Wang F, Wang R, Fang C, Lv X, Biller SA, Dang L, Mahoney CE, Nagaraja N, Pirman D, Sui Z, Popovici-Muller J, Smolen GA. Structure and inhibition mechanism of the catalytic domain of human squalene epoxidase. Nat Commun 2019; 10:97. [PMID: 30626872 PMCID: PMC6327030 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07928-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Squalene epoxidase (SQLE), also known as squalene monooxygenase, catalyzes the stereospecific conversion of squalene to 2,3(S)-oxidosqualene, a key step in cholesterol biosynthesis. SQLE inhibition is targeted for the treatment of hypercholesteremia, cancer, and fungal infections. However, lack of structure-function understanding has hindered further progression of its inhibitors. We have determined the first three-dimensional high-resolution crystal structures of human SQLE catalytic domain with small molecule inhibitors (2.3 Å and 2.5 Å). Comparison with its unliganded state (3.0 Å) reveals conformational rearrangements upon inhibitor binding, thus allowing deeper interpretation of known structure-activity relationships. We use the human SQLE structure to further understand the specificity of terbinafine, an approved agent targeting fungal SQLE, and to provide the structural insights into terbinafine-resistant mutants encountered in the clinic. Collectively, these findings elucidate the structural basis for the specificity of the epoxidation reaction catalyzed by SQLE and enable further rational development of next-generation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil K Padyana
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - Stefan Gross
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Lei Jin
- Agile Biostructure Solutions Consulting, LLC, 8 Harris Ave, Wellesley, MA, 02481, USA
| | - Giovanni Cianchetta
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- KSQ Therapeutics, 610 Main St, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | | | - Feng Wang
- Wuxi Biortus Biosciences Co. Ltd., 6 Dongsheng West Road, Jiangyin, 214437, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Wuxi Biortus Biosciences Co. Ltd., 6 Dongsheng West Road, Jiangyin, 214437, China
- Department of Stomatology, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, China
| | - Cheng Fang
- Shanghai ChemPartner Co. Ltd., 998 Halei Road, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaobing Lv
- Shanghai ChemPartner Co. Ltd., 998 Halei Road, 201203, Shanghai, China
- Sundia MediTech Company, Ltd., 917 Halei Road, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Scott A Biller
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Lenny Dang
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | | | | | - David Pirman
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Zhihua Sui
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Janeta Popovici-Muller
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Decibel Therapeutics, 1325 Boylston St Suite 500, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Gromoslaw A Smolen
- Agios Pharmaceuticals, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Celsius Therapeutics, 215 First Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
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90
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Sahoo S, Ravi Kumar RK, Nicolay B, Mohite O, Sivaraman K, Khetan V, Rishi P, Ganesan S, Subramanyan K, Raman K, Miles W, Elchuri SV. Metabolite systems profiling identifies exploitable weaknesses in retinoblastoma. FEBS Lett 2018; 593:23-41. [PMID: 30417337 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood eye cancer. Currently, chemotherapy, local therapy, and enucleation are the main ways in which these tumors are managed. The present work is the first study that uses constraint-based reconstruction and analysis approaches to identify and explain RB-specific survival strategies, which are RB tumor specific. Importantly, our model-specific secretion profile is also found in RB1-depleted human retinal cells in vitro and suggests that novel biomarkers involved in lipid metabolism may be important. Finally, RB-specific synthetic lethals have been predicted as lipid and nucleoside transport proteins that can aid in novel drug target development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swagatika Sahoo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.,Initiative for Biological Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | | | - Brandon Nicolay
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Agios Pharmaceutical, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Omkar Mohite
- Initiative for Biological Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.,The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Vikas Khetan
- Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services and Ocular Oncology Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India
| | - Pukhraj Rishi
- Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services and Ocular Oncology Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India
| | - Suganeswari Ganesan
- Department of Histopathology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India
| | | | - Karthik Raman
- Initiative for Biological Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.,Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBC-DSAI), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Wayne Miles
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sailaja V Elchuri
- Department of Nanotechnology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India
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91
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Dietary cholesterol promotes steatohepatitis related hepatocellular carcinoma through dysregulated metabolism and calcium signaling. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4490. [PMID: 30367044 PMCID: PMC6203711 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06931-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The underlining mechanisms of dietary cholesterol and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in contributing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain undefined. Here we demonstrated that high-fat-non-cholesterol-fed mice developed simple steatosis, whilst high-fat-high-cholesterol-fed mice developed NASH. Moreover, dietary cholesterol induced larger and more numerous NASH-HCCs than non-cholesterol-induced steatosis-HCCs in diethylnitrosamine-treated mice. NASH-HCCs displayed significantly more aberrant gene expression-enriched signaling pathways and more non-synonymous somatic mutations than steatosis-HCCs (335 ± 84/sample vs 43 ± 13/sample). Integrated genetic and expressional alterations in NASH-HCCs affected distinct genes pertinent to five pathways: calcium, insulin, cell adhesion, axon guidance and metabolism. Some of the novel aberrant gene expression, mutations and core oncogenic pathways identified in cholesterol-associated NASH-HCCs in mice were confirmed in human NASH-HCCs, which included metabolism-related genes (ALDH18A1, CAD, CHKA, POLD4, PSPH and SQLE) and recurrently mutated genes (RYR1, MTOR, SDK1, CACNA1H and RYR2). These findings add insights into the link of cholesterol to NASH and NASH-HCC and provide potential therapeutic targets.
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92
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Deng SP, Guo WL. Identifying Key Genes of Liver Cancer by Networking of Multiple Data Sets. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2018; 16:792-800. [PMID: 30296239 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2018.2874238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. To find effective therapies for this cancer, it is indispensable to identify key genes, which may play critical roles in the incidence of the liver cancer. To identify key genes of the liver cancer with high accuracy, we integrated multiple microarray gene expression data sets to compute common differentially expressed genes, which will result more accurate than those from individual data set. To find the main functions or pathways that these genes are involved in, some enrichment analyses were performed including functional enrichment analysis, pathway enrichment analysis, and disease association study. Based on these genes, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed and analyzed to identify key genes of the liver cancer by combining the local and global influence of nodes in the network. The identified key genes, such as TOP2A, ESR1, and KMO, have been demonstrated to be key biomarkers of the liver cancer in many publications. All the results suggest that our method can effectively identify key genes of the liver cancer. Moreover, our method can be applied to other types of data sets to select key genes of other complex diseases.
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93
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Condorelli DF, Spampinato G, Valenti G, Musso N, Castorina S, Barresi V. Positive Caricature Transcriptomic Effects Associated with Broad Genomic Aberrations in Colorectal Cancer. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14826. [PMID: 30287863 PMCID: PMC6172234 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32884-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We re-examined the correlation between Broad Genomic Aberrations (BGAs) and transcriptomic profiles in Colorectal Cancer (CRC). Two types of BGAs have been examined: Broad Copy-Number Abnormal regions (BCNAs), distinguished in gain- and loss-type, and Copy-Neutral Loss of Heterozygosities (CNLOHs). Transcripts are classified as “OverT” or “UnderT” if overexpressed or underexpressed comparing CRCs bearing a specific BGA to CRCs not bearing it and as “UpT” or “DownT” if upregulated or downregulated in cancer compared to normal tissue. BGA-associated effects were evaluated by changes in the “Chromosomal Distribution Index” (CDI) of different transcript classes. Data show that UpT are more sensitive than DownT to BCNA-associated gene dosage effects. “Over-UpT” genes are upregulated in cancer and further overexpressed by gene dosage, defining the so called “positive caricature transcriptomic effect”. When Over-UpT genes are ranked according to overexpression, top positions are occupied by genes implicated at the functional and therapeutic level in CRC. We show that cancer-upregulated transcripts are sensitive markers of BCNA-induced effects and suggest that analysis of positive caricature transcriptomic effects can provide clues toward the identification of BCNA-associated cancer driver genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele F Condorelli
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, (95123), Italy.
| | - Giorgia Spampinato
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, (95123), Italy
| | - Giovanna Valenti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, (95123), Italy
| | - Nicolò Musso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, (95123), Italy
| | - Sergio Castorina
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies, University of Catania, Catania, (95123), Italy
| | - Vincenza Barresi
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, (95123), Italy.
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94
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Poulose N, Mills IG, Steele RE. The impact of transcription on metabolism in prostate and breast cancers. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:R435-R452. [PMID: 29760165 DOI: 10.1530/erc-18-0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic dysregulation is regarded as an important driver in cancer development and progression. The impact of transcriptional changes on metabolism has been intensively studied in hormone-dependent cancers, and in particular, in prostate and breast cancer. These cancers have strong similarities in the function of important transcriptional drivers, such as the oestrogen and androgen receptors, at the level of dietary risk and epidemiology, genetics and therapeutically. In this review, we will focus on the function of these nuclear hormone receptors and their downstream impact on metabolism, with a particular focus on lipid metabolism. We go on to discuss how lipid metabolism remains dysregulated as the cancers progress. We conclude by discussing the opportunities that this presents for drug repurposing, imaging and the development and testing of new therapeutics and treatment combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ninu Poulose
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell BiologyQueen's University of Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Ian G Mills
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell BiologyQueen's University of Belfast, Belfast, UK
- Nuffield Department of Surgical SciencesJohn Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rebecca E Steele
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell BiologyQueen's University of Belfast, Belfast, UK
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95
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Zhao K, Zhao Y, Zhu JY, Dong H, Cong WM, Yu Y, Wang H, Zhu ZZ, Xu Q. A Panel of Genes Identified as Targets for 8q24.13-24.3 Gain Contributing to Unfavorable Overall Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Curr Med Sci 2018; 38:590-596. [PMID: 30128866 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-018-1918-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Copy number aberrations (CNAs) in chromosome arm 8q have been associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes of several cancers and progressive tumor characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was to identify correlation of CNAs in 8q with clinical outcomes of HCC patients, and further screen for differentially expressed genes in outcome-related CNAs. Array comparative genomic hybridization and expression arrays were performed to detect CNAs and expression levels, respectively. The correlations between CNAs in 8q and outcomes were analyzed in 66 patients, with a median follow-up time of 45.0 months (range, 2.6-108.6 months). One hundred and nine cases were further evaluated to identify differentially expressed genes in the potential outcome-related CNAs. Copy number gain in 8q was observed in 22 (33.3%) of the 66 HCC cases. The most recurrent gains (with frequencies >20%) were 8q13.3-21.3,8q21.3-23.3,8q23.3-24.13,8q24.13-24.3, and 8q24.3. Survival analysis showed that 8q24.13-24.3 gain was significantly associated with reduced overall survival (jP=0.010). Multivariate Cox analysis identified 8q24.13-24.3 gain as an independent prognostic factor for poor overall survival (HR=2.47; 95% CI=1.16-5.26; Р=0.019). Apanel of 17 genes within the 8q24.13-24.3 region, including ATAD2,SQLE,PVT1,ASAP1, and NDRG1 were significantly upregulated in HCCs with 8q24.13-24.3 gain compared to those without. These results suggest that copy number gain at 8q24.13-24.3 is an unfavorable prognostic marker for HCC patients, and the potential oncogenes ATAD2,SQLE, PVT1, ASAP1,and NDRG1 within the regional gain, may contribute coordinately to the 8q24.13-24.3 gain-related poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People' s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China.,Shanghai Clinical College of Anhui Medical University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People' s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jia-Yi Zhu
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hui Dong
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Wen-Ming Cong
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yi Yu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People' s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People' s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Zhong-Zheng Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People' s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China.
| | - Qing Xu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People' s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China.
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96
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Jiang R, Zhao C, Gao B, Xu J, Song W, Shi P. Mixomics analysis of breast cancer: Long non-coding RNA linc01561 acts as ceRNA involved in the progression of breast cancer. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 102:1-9. [PMID: 29890225 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed at finding the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), miRNA and mRNA which played critical roles in breast cancer (BrCa) by using mixOmics R package. METHOD The BrCa dataset were obtained from TCGA and then analyzed using "DESeq2" R package. Multivariate analyses were performed with the "mixOmics" R package and the first component of the stacked partial least-Squares discriminant analysis results were used for searching the interested lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA. qRT-PCR was applied to identify the bioinformatics results in four BrCa cell lines (MCF7, BT-20, ZR-75-1, and MX-1) and the breast epithelial cell line MCF-10 A. Then cells (MCF-1 and MX-1) were transfected with si-linc01561, miR-145-5p mimics and si-MMP11 to further investigate the effects of linc01561, miR-145-5p and MMP11 on the BrCa cells proliferation and apoptosis. RESULTS MixOmics results showed that linc01561, miR-145-5p and MMP11 might play important roles in BrCa. qRT-PCR results identified that in BrCa cell lines, linc01561 and MMP11 were higher expressed while miR-145-5p was lower expressed compared with those in epithelial cell line. The linc01561 inhibition elevated miR-145-5p expression and then suppressed MMP11 expression. Moreover, linc01561 inhibition suppressed the BrCa cells proliferation and promoted the apoptosis, which was realized by up-regulating expression of miR-145-5p and down-regulating expression of MMP11. CONCLUSION In summary, the findings of this study, based on ceRNA theory, combining the research foundation of miR-145-5p and MMP11, and taking linc01561 as a new study point, provide new insight into molecular-level reversing proliferation and apoptosis of BrCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Chunming Zhao
- Department of Opthalmology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Binbin Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Jiawen Xu
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Song
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Peng Shi
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
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97
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The cancer-associated microprotein CASIMO1 controls cell proliferation and interacts with squalene epoxidase modulating lipid droplet formation. Oncogene 2018; 37:4750-4768. [DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0281-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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98
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Cigarette smoke and chewing tobacco alter expression of different sets of miRNAs in oral keratinocytes. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7040. [PMID: 29728663 PMCID: PMC5935709 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25498-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Carcinogenic effect of tobacco in oral cancer is through chewing and/or smoking. Significant differences exist in development of oral cancer between tobacco users and non-users. However, molecular alterations induced by different forms of tobacco are yet to be fully elucidated. We developed cellular models of chronic exposure to chewing tobacco and cigarette smoke using immortalized oral keratinocytes. Chronic exposure to tobacco resulted in increased cell scattering and invasiveness in immortalized oral keratinocytes. miRNA sequencing using Illumina HiSeq 2500 resulted in the identification of 10 significantly dysregulated miRNAs (4 fold; p ≤ 0.05) in chewing tobacco treated cells and 6 in cigarette smoke exposed cells. We integrated this data with global proteomic data and identified 36 protein targets that showed inverse expression pattern in chewing tobacco treated cells and 16 protein targets that showed inverse expression in smoke exposed cells. In addition, we identified 6 novel miRNAs in chewing tobacco treated cells and 18 novel miRNAs in smoke exposed cells. Integrative analysis of dysregulated miRNAs and their targets indicates that signaling mechanisms leading to oncogenic transformation are distinct between both forms of tobacco. Our study demonstrates alterations in miRNA expression in oral cells in response to two frequently used forms of tobacco.
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99
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James NE, Chichester C, Ribeiro JR. Beyond the Biomarker: Understanding the Diverse Roles of Human Epididymis Protein 4 in the Pathogenesis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Front Oncol 2018; 8:124. [PMID: 29740539 PMCID: PMC5928211 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is an important clinical biomarker used for the detection of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). While much is known about the predictive power of HE4 clinically, less has been reported regarding its molecular role in the progression of EOC. A deeper understanding of HE4’s mechanistic functions may help contribute to the development of novel targeted therapies. Thus far, it has been difficult to recommend HE4 as a therapeutic target owing to the fact that its role in the progression of EOC has not been extensively evaluated. This review summarizes what is collectively known about HE4 signaling and how it functions to promote tumorigenesis, chemoresistance, and metastasis in EOC, with the goal of providing valuable insights that will have the potential to aide in the development of new HE4-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E James
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Program in Women's Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI, United States.,Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Clinton Chichester
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Jennifer R Ribeiro
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Program in Women's Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
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100
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Cirmena G, Franceschelli P, Isnaldi E, Ferrando L, De Mariano M, Ballestrero A, Zoppoli G. Squalene epoxidase as a promising metabolic target in cancer treatment. Cancer Lett 2018; 425:13-20. [PMID: 29596888 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic alteration of the cholesterol synthesis pathway is a recognized mechanism of metabolic adaptation. In the present review, we focus on squalene epoxidase (SE), one of the two rate-limiting enzymes in cholesterol synthesis, retracing its history since its discovery as an antimycotic target to its description as an emerging metabolic oncogene by amplification with clinical relevance in cancer. We review the published literature assessing the association between SE over-expression and poor prognosis in this disease. We assess the works demonstrating how SE promotes tumor cell proliferation and migration, and displaying evidence of cancer cell demise in presence of human SE inhibitors in in vitro and in vivo models. Taken together, robust scientific evidence has by now accumulated pointing out SE as a promising novel therapeutic target in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Alberto Ballestrero
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Zoppoli
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
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