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Shukla A, Kumari S, Sankar M, Nair MS. Insights into the mechanism of binding of doxorubicin and a chlorin compound with 22-mer c-Myc G quadruplex. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130482. [PMID: 37821013 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interaction of small molecules with G quadruplexes is in focus due to its role in molecular recognition and therapeutic drug design. Stabilization of G-quadruplex structures in the promoter regions of oncogenes by small molecule binding has been demonstrated as a potential approach for cancer therapy. METHODS In this study, electronic spectroscopy (ultraviolet-visible, fluorescence, circular dichroism), differential scanning calorimetry, and molecular modeling were employed to explore the interactions between the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin and a chlorin compound 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-[2,3]-[bis(carboxy)-methano]chlorin (H2TPC(DAC)), and the c-Myc 22-mer G quadruplex DNA. RESULTS Spectroscopic studies indicated external binding of the compounds with partial stacking at the end quartets. Calorimetric studies and temperature dependent circular dichroism data displayed increased melting temperatures of G quadruplex structure on binding with the compounds. Circular dichroism spectra indicated that the G quadruplex structure is intact upon ligand binding. Both the compounds showed binding affinities of the order of 106 M-1. Fluorescence lifetime studies revealed static quenching as major mechanism for fluorescence quenching. Polymerase chain reaction stop assay hinted that binding of both ligands under study could inhibit the amplification of the DNA sequence. CONCLUSION Results show that doxorubicin and H2TPC(DAC) bind to the 22-mer c-Myc quadruplex structure with good affinity and induce stability. SIGNIFICANCE Doxorubicin and H2TPC(DAC) have demonstrated their affinity towards c-Myc G quadruplex DNA, stabilizing it and inhibiting expression and polymerization. The results can be of practical use in designing new analogs for the two compounds, which can become potent anti-cancer agents targeting the c-Myc GQ structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Shukla
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Soni Kumari
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Muniappan Sankar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Maya S Nair
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India.
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2
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Shi W, Xu X, Huang R, Yu Q, Zhang P, Xie S, Zheng H, Lu R. Plasma C-MYC level manifesting as an indicator in progression of breast cancer. Biomark Med 2019; 13:917-929. [PMID: 31144531 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2019-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To investigate whether plasma C-MYC level could be an indicator in clinical progression of breast cancer. Materials & methods: Plasma level of C-MYC expression was detected by quantitative real time PCR and the level of c-myc protein in breast cancer tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression level of C-MYC mRNA in supernatant of cancer cells culture was measured compared with the nonbreast cancer cells. Results: Plasma C-MYC level was significantly higher in patients with breast cancer than that in the controls, which associated with clinical stages, lymph node status, etc. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the sensitivity and specificity of plasma C-MYC level for diagnosis of breast cancer were 63.6 and 81.8%, respectively. The expression of c-myc protein in breast cancer tissues was associated with plasma C-MYC level, even C-MYC level in supernatant of cancer cells was elevated. Conclusion: Plasma C-MYC level might be a potential indicator in progression of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhong Shi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Proton & Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiaofeng Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Proton & Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Ren Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Proton & Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Qi Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Proton & Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Peiru Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Proton & Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Suhong Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Hui Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Renquan Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
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Dueck AC, Reinholz MM, Geiger XJ, Tenner K, Ballman K, Jenkins RB, Riehle D, Chen B, McCullough AE, Davidson NE, Martino S, Sledge GW, Kaufman PA, Kutteh LA, Gralow J, Harris LN, Ingle JN, Lingle WL, Perez EA. Impact of c-MYC protein expression on outcome of patients with early-stage HER2+ breast cancer treated with adjuvant trastuzumab NCCTG (alliance) N9831. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19:5798-807. [PMID: 23965903 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-0558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study investigated the association between tumor MYC protein expression and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients randomized to receive chemotherapy alone (Arm A) or chemotherapy with sequential (Arm B) or concurrent trastuzumab (Arm C) in the N9831 (Alliance) adjuvant HER2(+) trastuzumab breast cancer trial. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN This analysis included 1,736 patients randomized to Arms A, B, and C on N9831. Nuclear MYC protein expression was determined in tissue microarray sections containing three biopsies per patient or whole tissue sections using standard immunohistochemistry (clone 9E10). A tumor was considered positive for MYC protein overexpression (MYC(+)) if the nuclear 3+ staining percentage was more than 30%. RESULTS Five hundred and seventy-four (33%) tumors were MYC(+). MYC(+) was associated with hormone receptor positivity (χ(2), P = 0.006), tumors 2 cm or more (χ(2), P = 0.02), and a higher rate of nodal positivity (χ(2), P < 0.001). HRs for DFS (median follow-up: 6.1 years) for Arm C versus A were 0.52 (P = 0.006) and 0.65 (P = 0.006) for patients with MYC(+) and MYC(-) tumors, respectively (P(interaction) = 0.40). For Arm B versus A, HRs for patients with MYC(+) and MYC(-) tumors were 0.79 (P = 0.21) and 0.74 (P = 0.04), respectively (P(interaction) = 0.71). For Arm C versus B, HRs for patients with MYC(+) and MYC(-) tumors were 0.56 (P = 0.02) and 0.89 (P = 0.49), respectively (P(interaction) = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS Our data do not support an impact of tumor MYC protein expression on differential benefit from adjuvant trastuzumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amylou C Dueck
- Authors' Affiliations: Section of Biostatistics; Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona; Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology; Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Division of Anatomic Pathology and Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, Santa Monica, California; Indiana University Medical Center Cancer Pavilion, Indianapolis, Indiana; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Oncology Associates of Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington; and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
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Mathad RI, Hatzakis E, Dai J, Yang D. c-MYC promoter G-quadruplex formed at the 5'-end of NHE III1 element: insights into biological relevance and parallel-stranded G-quadruplex stability. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:9023-33. [PMID: 21795379 PMCID: PMC3203601 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the structures and stabilities of G-quadruplexes formed in Myc1234, the region containing the four consecutive 5′ runs of guanines of c-MYC promoter NHE III1, which have recently been shown to form in a supercoiled plasmid system in aqueous solution. We determined the NMR solution structure of the 1:2:1 parallel-stranded loop isomer, one of the two major loop isomers formed in Myc1234 in K+ solution. This major loop isomer, although sharing the same folding structure, appears to be markedly less stable than the major loop isomer formed in the single-stranded c-MYC NHE III1 oligonucleotide, the Myc2345 G-quadruplex. Our NMR structures indicated that the different thermostabilities of the two 1:2:1 parallel c-MYC G-quadruplexes are likely caused by the different base conformations of the single nucleotide loops. The observation of the formation of the Myc1234 G-quadruplex in the supercoiled plasmid thus points to the potential role of supercoiling in the G-quadruplex formation in promoter sequences. We also performed a systematic thermodynamic analysis of modified c-MYC NHE III1 sequences, which provided quantitative measure of the contributions of various loop sequences to the thermostabilities of parallel-stranded G-quadruplexes. This information is important for understanding the equilibrium of promoter G-quadruplex loop isomers and for their drug targeting.
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Hatzakis E, Okamoto K, Yang D. Thermodynamic stability and folding kinetics of the major G-quadruplex and its loop isomers formed in the nuclease hypersensitive element in the human c-Myc promoter: effect of loops and flanking segments on the stability of parallel-stranded intramolecular G-quadruplexes. Biochemistry 2010; 49:9152-60. [PMID: 20849082 DOI: 10.1021/bi100946g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of the c-Myc proto-oncogene is associated with a broad spectrum of human cancers. Nuclease hypersensitivity element III(1) (NHE III(1)) of the c-Myc promoter can form transcriptionally active and silenced forms, and the formation of DNA G-quadruplex structures has been shown to be critical for c-Myc transcriptional silencing. The major G-quadruplex formed in c-Myc NHE III(1) is a mixture of four loop isomers, which have all been shown to be biologically relevant to c-Myc transcriptional control. In this study, we performed a thorough thermodynamic and kinetic study of the four c-Myc loop isomers in a K(+) solution. The four loop isomers all form parallel-stranded G-quadruplexes with short loop lengths. While the parallel-stranded G-quadruplex has been known to favor short loop lengths, our results show that the difference in thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the four loop isomers, and hence between the parallel G-quadruplexes with similar loop lengths, is more significant than previously recognized. At 20 mM K(+), the average difference in the T(m) values between the most stable loop isomer 14/23 and the least stable loop isomer 11/20 is more than 10 °C. In addition, the capping structures formed by the extended flanking segments are shown to contribute to a stabilization of 2-3 °C in T(m) for the c-Myc promoter G-quadruplex. Understanding the intrinsic thermodynamic stability and kinetic properties of the c-Myc G-quadruplex loop isomers can aid in our understanding of their biological roles and drug targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Hatzakis
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, 1703 East Mabel Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Dai J, Hatzakis E, Hurley LH, Yang D. I-motif structures formed in the human c-MYC promoter are highly dynamic--insights into sequence redundancy and I-motif stability. PLoS One 2010; 5:e11647. [PMID: 20657837 PMCID: PMC2906509 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The GC-rich nuclease hypersensitivity element III1 (NHE III1) of the c-MYC promoter largely controls the transcriptional activity of the c-MYC oncogene. The C-rich strand in this region can form I-motif DNA secondary structures. We determined the folding pattern of the major I-motif formed in the NHE III1, which can be formed at near-neutral pH. While we find that the I-motif formed in the four 3′ consecutive runs of cytosines appears to be the most favored, our results demonstrate that the C-rich strand of the c-MYC NHE III1 exhibits a high degree of dynamic equilibration. Using a trisubstituted oligomer of this region, we determined the formation of two equilibrating loop isomers, one of which contains a flipped-out cytosine. Our results indicate that the intercalative cytosine+–cytosine base pairs are not always necessary for an intramolecular I-motif. The dynamic character of the c-MYC I-motif is intrinsic to the NHE III1 sequence and appears to provide stability to the c-MYC I-motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixun Dai
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Emmanuel Hatzakis
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Laurence H. Hurley
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Arizona Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Danzhou Yang
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Arizona Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Cianchi F, Cortesini C, Fantappiè O, Messerini L, Sardi I, Lasagna N, Perna F, Fabbroni V, Di Felice A, Perigli G, Mazzanti R, Masini E. Cyclooxygenase-2 activation mediates the proangiogenic effect of nitric oxide in colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2004; 10:2694-704. [PMID: 15102673 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-03-0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Up-regulation of both inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes has been reported in colorectal cancer. We aimed at evaluating the possible interaction between the nitric oxide and COX-2 pathways, and its effect on promoting tumor angiogenesis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Expression of iNOS, COX-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD31 was analyzed in tumor samples and corresponding normal mucosa obtained from 46 surgical specimens. We also evaluated iNOS activity, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP production in the same specimens. Nitrite/nitrate levels, and PGE(2) and VEGF production were assessed in HCT116 and HT29 colon cancer cell lines after induction and selective inhibition of the two enzyme pathways. RESULTS A significant correlation was found between iNOS and COX-2 immunohistochemical expression. PGE(2) production significantly correlated with iNOS activity and cGMP levels. A significant correlation was also found among PGE(2) production, microvessel density, and VEGF expression. Coinduction of both iNOS and COX-2 activities occurred after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment in HCT116 and HT29 cells. Inhibition of iNOS by 1400W significantly reduced both LPS- and EGF-induced PGE(2) production. Treatment with LPS, EGF, and arachidonic acid significantly increased VEGF production in the iNOS-negative/COX-2-positive HT29 cells. This effect was completely reversed by treatment with the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. CONCLUSIONS Our data showed a prominent role of nitric oxide in stimulating COX-2 activity in colorectal cancer. This interaction is likely to produce a cooperative effect in promoting angiogenesis through PGE(2)-mediated increase in VEGF production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Cianchi
- Department of General Surgery, Medical School, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Cianchi F, Cortesini C, Fantappiè O, Messerini L, Schiavone N, Vannacci A, Nistri S, Sardi I, Baroni G, Marzocca C, Perna F, Mazzanti R, Bechi P, Masini E. Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in human colorectal cancer: correlation with tumor angiogenesis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2003; 162:793-801. [PMID: 12598314 PMCID: PMC1868089 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)63876-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the potential involvement of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway in colorectal carcinogenesis, we correlated the expression and the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) with the degree of tumor angiogenesis in human colorectal cancer. Tumor samples and adjacent normal mucosa were obtained from 46 surgical specimens. Immunohistochemical expression of iNOS, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD31 was analyzed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections. iNOS activity and cyclic GMP levels were assessed by specific biochemical assays. iNOS protein expression was determined by Western blot analysis. iNOS and VEGF mRNA levels were evaluated using Northern blot analysis. Both iNOS and VEGF expressions correlated significantly with intratumor microvessel density (r(s) = 0.31, P = 0.02 and r(s) = 0.67, P < 0.0001, respectively). A significant correlation was also found between iNOS and VEGF expression (P = 0.001). iNOS activity and cyclic GMP production were significantly higher in the cancer specimens than in the normal mucosa (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively), as well as in metastatic tumors than in nonmetastatic ones (P = 0.002 and P = 0.04, respectively). Western and Northern blot analyses confirmed the up-regulation of the iNOS protein and gene in the tumor specimens as compared with normal mucosa. NO seems to play a role in colorectal cancer growth by promoting tumor angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Cianchi
- Department of General Surgery, Medical School, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Fantappiè O, Masini E, Sardi I, Raimondi L, Bani D, Solazzo M, Vannacci A, Mazzanti R. The MDR phenotype is associated with the expression of COX-2 and iNOS in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Hepatology 2002; 35:843-52. [PMID: 11915030 DOI: 10.1053/jhep.2002.32469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The presence of multiple drug resistance (MDR1) and angiogenic phenotypes negatively affect patients' prognosis with cancer even when treated with drugs that are not transported by the MDR1 gene product. It is possible to suggest a link between the MDR1 and angiogenic phenotypes. Because prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO) have been proposed to be involved in angiogenesis in vivo, the production of PGs and NO and the behavior of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), and inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) were studied in parental drug-sensitive (P5) liver cancer cell lines and in P5-derived MDR1 cells P1(0.5). Immunohistochemical evaluation, Northern and Western blot analysis of COX-2 and iNOS, and assessment of cell proliferation were performed in basal conditions and after the exposure to stimulants or to specific inhibitors of COX-2 and iNOS. The messenger RNA and protein levels of COX-2 and iNOS were in basal conditions higher in P1(0.5) cells than the parental P5 cells. The exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) determined an increase of PG and NO production in both cell lines and this increase was strongly reduced by COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib (CLX) and nimesulide (NIME). The inhibition of NO production by COX-2 inhibitors suggests cross-talk between COX-2 and iNOS pathways. CLX and NIME also inhibited cell proliferation, but only in MDR1 cells. A specific inhibitor of iNOS, N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)-L-lysine, had only a mild effect on cell proliferation in both cell lines. In conclusion, these data support the hypothesis that the MDR1 and angiogenic phenotypes are linked to each other in human liver cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornella Fantappiè
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence, Italy
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10
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Pertschuk LP, Axiotis CA, Feldman JG, Kim YD, Karavattayhayyil SJ, Braithwaite L. Marked Intratumoral Heterogeneity of the Proto-Oncogene Her-2/neu Determined by Three Different Detection Systems. Breast J 2002; 5:369-374. [PMID: 11348316 DOI: 10.1046/j.1524-4741.1999.97088.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
It is customary to submit only one portion of a breast cancer to determine if there is amplification or overexpression of the proto-oncogene HER-2/neu. In routine studies of the expression of neu in breast cancer, however, we noted discrepancies in intratumoral positivity. To investigate this phenomenon further, multiple tumor specimens (129 samples) from 41 women with breast cancer were examined. Forty cases were analyzed for neu amplification by slot blot assay and 18 with fluorescent in situ hybridization. Neu overexpression was determined using four different specific antibodies. In more than 50% of cases there were discrepancies in results between the tissue blocks examined. This was evident in both inter- and intra-assay comparisons. It is concluded that intratumoral heterogeneity of neu amplification/overexpression in breast cancer exists to a far greater degree than previously recognized and could be a responsible factor for conflicting published data regarding neu's prognostic significance. Examination of only one tumor sample may not give a true indication of either amplification or overexpression of this oncogene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis P. Pertschuk
- Departments of Pathology and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, State University of New York Health Science Center, and the Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York
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11
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Cianchi F, Cortesini C, Bechi P, Fantappiè O, Messerini L, Vannacci A, Sardi I, Baroni G, Boddi V, Mazzanti R, Masini E. Up-regulation of cyclooxygenase 2 gene expression correlates with tumor angiogenesis in human colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology 2001; 121:1339-47. [PMID: 11729113 DOI: 10.1053/gast.2001.29691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Recent studies have shown that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and its products, prostaglandins (PGs), may be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether COX-2 expression and PGE(2) production correlate with microvessel density, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and tumor metastasis in human colorectal cancer. METHODS Tumor samples and adjacent normal mucosa were obtained from 31 surgical specimens. Immunohistochemical expression of COX-2, VEGF, and CD31 was analyzed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections. COX-2 and COX-1 proteins were determined by Western blot analysis. COX-2 and VEGF messenger RNA expressions were evaluated using Northern blot analysis. PGE(2) production was determined by specific radioimmunoassay. RESULTS The immunohistochemical expressions of both COX-2 and VEGF were significantly correlated with microvessel density (P = 0.02 and P = 0.002, respectively). A significant correlation was found between COX-2 and VEGF expression (P = 0.004). Western analysis confirmed the up-regulation of COX-2 protein expression. COX-2 and VEGF genes were overexpressed in tumor specimens as compared with normal mucosa. PGE(2) levels were significantly higher in metastatic tumors than in nonmetastatic ones (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS COX-2 is related to tumor angiogenesis in colorectal cancer. It is likely that VEGF is one of the most important mediators of the COX-2 angiogenic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cianchi
- Department of General Surgery, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Florence, Italy.
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12
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Chrzan P, Skokowski J, Karmolinski A, Pawelczyk T. Amplification of c-myc gene and overexpression of c-Myc protein in breast cancer and adjacent non-neoplastic tissue. Clin Biochem 2001; 34:557-62. [PMID: 11738392 DOI: 10.1016/s0009-9120(01)00260-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deregulated c-Myc expression and alterations of c-myc oncogene have been reported to play an important role in breast cancer tumorigenesis. We examined the relationship between c-Myc protein level, amplification of c-myc oncogene and commonly used clinical and pathologic factors. METHODS The studies were conducted on 94 ductal and lobular cancers. Amplification of c-Myc was assessed by the semiquantitative multiplex PCR assay. The amount of c-Myc protein was estimated by the densitometry analysis of Western blots. RESULTS Amplification of c-Myc was found in 21% of examined cancers. There was no association of c-myc amplification with established risk factors. Overexpression of c-Myc protein without c-myc amplification was associated with negative status of axillary lymph node. The size of lobular carcinoma displaying overexpression of c-Myc and the normal copy number of c-myc gene was significantly smaller than the size of tumor with elevated c-Myc and amplification of c-myc gene (p < 0.01). Within tumors displaying overexpression of c-Myc protein and c-myc gene amplification the size of ductal carcinoma was smaller than the size of lobular carcinoma (p < 0.007). CONCLUSION Data presented in this study suggest that alterations of c-myc gene and c-Myc protein level might be related to breast cancer progression. The prognostic utility of elevated level of c-Myc protein associated with normal status of c-myc gene for patients with lobular carcinoma requires further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chrzan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk 80-211, Gdansk, Poland
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13
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Mote PA, Johnston JF, Manninen T, Tuohimaa P, Clarke CL. Detection of progesterone receptor forms A and B by immunohistochemical analysis. J Clin Pathol 2001; 54:624-30. [PMID: 11477119 PMCID: PMC1731503 DOI: 10.1136/jcp.54.8.624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AIM The measurement of progesterone receptors (PR) is recommended as part of the clinical management of breast and endometrial cancers, and immunohistochemistry on formalin fixed tissue is now the method of choice. PR is expressed as two isoforms, PRA and PRB, and although both these proteins are expressed in hormone dependent cancers, there is evidence that a large proportion of tumours express a predominance of one isoform. Therefore, it is essential to document the individual detection of PRA and PRB by the presently available anti-PR antibodies. The aim of this study is to investigate the detection of PR isoforms A and B in formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded cell lines and tissue sections by immunohistochemistry, using a panel of commercial and in house antibodies to human PR. METHODS PR negative cell lines stably transfected to express only PRA (MCF-7Mll/PRA) or PRB (MDA-MB-231/PRB), and tissue sections of human breast carcinoma and normal endometrium were stained using an immunoperoxidase method. A panel of primary PR specific antibodies was evaluated for ability to detect both PRA and PRB proteins, and for intensity and distribution of positive staining under optimal conditions. RESULTS Of the 11 antibodies assessed, only four recognised PRA and PRB similarly. Six recognised PRA proteins but were unable to detect PRB expression in the cell lines expressing only PRA or PRB. In tissues expressing high amounts of PRA and PRB, all antibodies tested demonstrated positive PR staining. However, in tissues expressing a predominance of PRB, differential staining patterns were observed, with variations in staining intensity and in the proportion of cells positive for PR. CONCLUSIONS Most PR specific antibodies tested failed to detect PRB in formalin fixed tissue by immunohistochemical techniques, despite their ability to do so by immunoblot analysis. These observations suggest that there are conformational differences between PRA and PRB that mask epitopes on the PRB protein recognised by most anti-PR antibodies. The selection of antibodies that recognise both PRB and PRA in formalin fixed tissue is essential for the accurate evaluation of PR positivity in clinical specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Mote
- Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
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14
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Janocko LE, Brown KA, Smith CA, Gu LP, Pollice AA, Singh SG, Julian T, Wolmark N, Sweeney L, Silverman JF, Shackney SE. Distinctive patterns of Her-2/neu, c-myc, and cyclin D1 gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization in primary human breast cancers. CYTOMETRY 2001; 46:136-49. [PMID: 11449404 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.1098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human solid tumors undergo clonal evolution as they progress, but evidence for specific sequences of genetic changes that occur in individual tumors and are recapitulated in other tumors is difficult to obtain. METHODS Patterns of amplification of Her-2/neu, c-myc, and cyclin D1 were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in relation to the presence of p53 dysfunction and ploidy in 60 primary human breast cancers. RESULTS We show that there are clusters of genophenotypic abnormalities that distinguish lobular breast cancers from nonlobular tumors; that cyclin D1 amplification occurs prior to the divergence of lobular breast cancers from nonlobular cancers; that p53 dysfunction, Her-2/neu amplification, and c-myc amplification are characteristic features of nonlobular breast cancers, but not of lobular breast cancers; and that the frequencies of amplification of all three oncogenes examined increase progressively with increasing aneuploidy, but that each gene exhibits a different profile of increasing amplification in relation to tumor progression. Early amplification of c-myc appears to be an especially prominent feature of hypertetraploid/hypertetrasomic tumors. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that in tumors containing multiple abnormalities, these abnormalities often accumulate in the same cells within each tumor. Furthermore, the same patterns of accumulation of multiple genophenotypic abnormalities are recapitulated in different tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Janocko
- Department of Human Genetics MCP/Hahnemann University, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, USA
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Gallo O, Franchi A, Magnelli L, Sardi I, Vannacci A, Boddi V, Chiarugi V, Masini E. Cyclooxygenase-2 pathway correlates with VEGF expression in head and neck cancer. Implications for tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Neoplasia 2001; 3:53-61. [PMID: 11326316 PMCID: PMC1505025 DOI: 10.1038/sj.neo.7900127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2000] [Accepted: 10/23/2000] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the role of COX-2 pathway in 35 head and neck cancers (HNCs) by analyzing COX-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in relation to tumor angiogenesis and lymph node metastasis. COX-2 activity was also correlated to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein expression. COX-2 mRNA and protein expression was higher in tumor samples than in normal mucosa. PGE2 levels were higher in the tumor front zone in comparison with tumor core and normal mucosa (P<.0001). Specimens from patients with lymph node metastasis exhibited higher COX-2 protein expression (P=.0074), PGE2 levels (P=.0011) and microvessel density (P<.0001) than specimens from patients without metastasis. A significant correlation between COX-2 and tumor vascularization (r(s)=0.450, P=.007) as well as between COX-2 and microvessel density with VEGF expression in tumor tissues was found (r(s)=0.450, P=.007; r(s)=0.620, P=.0001, respectively). The induction of COX-2 mRNA and PGE2 synthesis by EGF and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in A-431 and SCC-9 cell lines, resulted in an increase in VEGF mRNA and protein production. Indomethacin and celecoxib reversed the EGF- and LPS-dependent COX-2, VEGF, and PGE2 increases. This study suggests a central role of COX-2 pathway in HNC angiogenesis by modulating VEGF production and indicates that COX-2 inhibitors may be useful in HNC treatment.
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MESH Headings
- Aged
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Western
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/blood supply
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/enzymology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology
- Celecoxib
- Cyclooxygenase 2
- Dinoprostone/metabolism
- Endothelial Growth Factors/genetics
- Endothelial Growth Factors/metabolism
- Epidermal Growth Factor/pharmacology
- Escherichia coli
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Head and Neck Neoplasms/blood supply
- Head and Neck Neoplasms/enzymology
- Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology
- Humans
- Immunoenzyme Techniques
- Indomethacin/pharmacology
- Isoenzymes/genetics
- Isoenzymes/metabolism
- Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology
- Lymph Nodes/enzymology
- Lymphatic Metastasis
- Lymphokines/genetics
- Lymphokines/metabolism
- Male
- Membrane Proteins
- Middle Aged
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/enzymology
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/pathology
- Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases/genetics
- Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases/metabolism
- Pyrazoles
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Sulfonamides/pharmacology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured/drug effects
- Tumor Cells, Cultured/metabolism
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- O Gallo
- Department of Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmologic Surgery, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy.
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16
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Scorilas A, Trangas T, Yotis J, Pateras C, Talieri M. Determination of c-myc amplification and overexpression in breast cancer patients: evaluation of its prognostic value against c-erbB-2, cathepsin-D and clinicopathological characteristics using univariate and multivariate analysis. Br J Cancer 1999; 81:1385-91. [PMID: 10604737 PMCID: PMC2362965 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6693404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
C-myc and c-erbB-2 amplification and/or overexpression as well as total cathepsin-D (CD) concentration have been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. The prognostic significance, however, remains somewhat controversial, partly because of discrepancies among the different methodologies used. We determined the amplification and overexpression of c-myc oncogene in 152 breast cancer patients and examined its prognostic value in relation to c-erbB-2 amplification and overexpression, high concentration of CD (> or = 60 pmol mg(-1) protein) and standard clinicopathological prognostic factors of the disease. High CD concentration, as well as c-myc amplification and overexpression, proved to be the best of the new variables examined for prediction of early relapse (ER; before 3 years). After multivariate analysis only CD remained significant, which suggests that the prognostic power of these variables is similar. Using univariate analysis we proved that c-myc amplification and overexpression were highly significant for disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.0016 and P = 0.0001 respectively) and overall survival (OS) (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0095 respectively), although by multivariate analysis c-myc overexpression was statistically significant only for DFS (P = 0.0001) and c-myc amplification only for OS (P = 0.0006). With regard to c-erbB-2, only its overexpression appeared to be significant for DFS and OS, although after multivariate analysis its prognostic power was weaker (P = 0.030 and P = 0.024 respectively). c-myc amplification and overexpression exhibited a tendency for locoregional recurrence (LRR) (P = 0.0024 and P = 0.0075 respectively), however, their prognostic value was lower after multivariate analysis and only CD remained significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Scorilas
- Department of Virology, G Papanikolaou Research Center of Oncology, St Savas Hospital, Athens, Greece
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17
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Abstract
c-myc, N-myc and L-myc are the three members of the myc oncoprotein family whose role in the pathogenesis of many human neoplastic diseases has received wide empirical support. In this review, we first summarize data, derived mainly from non-clinical studies, indicating that these oncoproteins actually serve quite different roles in vivo. This concept necessarily lies at the heart of the basis for the observation that the deregulated expression of each MYC gene is reproducibly associated with only certain naturally occurring malignancies in humans and that these genes are not interchangeable with respect to their aberrant functional consequences. We also review evidence implicating each of the above MYC genes in specific neoplastic diseases and have attempted to identify unresolved questions which deserve further basic or clinical investigation. We have made every attempt to review those diseases for which significant and confirmatory evidence, based on studies with primary tumor material, exists to implicate MYC members in their causation and/or progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Nesbit
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
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Sovak MA, Bellas RE, Kim DW, Zanieski GJ, Rogers AE, Traish AM, Sonenshein GE. Aberrant nuclear factor-kappaB/Rel expression and the pathogenesis of breast cancer. J Clin Invest 1997; 100:2952-60. [PMID: 9399940 PMCID: PMC508506 DOI: 10.1172/jci119848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 535] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)/Rel transcription factors has recently been found to promote cell survival, inhibiting the induction of apoptosis. In most cells other than B lymphocytes, NF-kappaB/Rel is inactive, sequestered in the cytoplasm. For example, nuclear extracts from two human untransformed breast epithelial cell lines expressed only very low levels of NF-kappaB. Unexpectedly, nuclear extracts from two human breast tumor cell lines displayed significant levels of NF-kappaB/Rel. Direct inhibition of this NF-kappaB/ Rel activity in breast cancer cells induced apoptosis. High levels of NF-kappaB/Rel binding were also observed in carcinogen-induced primary rat mammary tumors, whereas only expectedly low levels were seen in normal rat mammary glands. Furthermore, multiple human breast cancer specimens contained significant levels of nuclear NF-kappaB/Rel subunits. Thus, aberrant nuclear expression of NF-kappaB/Rel is associated with breast cancer. Given the role of NF-kappaB/Rel factors in cell survival, this aberrant activity may play a role in tumor progression, and represents a possible therapeutic target in the treatment of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Sovak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
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Slovak ML, Wolman SR. Breast Cancer Cytogenetics: Clues to Genetic Complexity of the Disease. Breast J 1996. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4741.1996.tb00084.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Abstract
The American Joint Committee on Cancer proposes the following criteria for evaluating putative prognostic factors: they must be (1) significant, (2) independent, and (3) clinically important. Furthermore, we suggest the criteria for selecting a prognostic system that includes TNM and new prognostic factors. These criteria are: (1) easy for physicians to use; (2) provides predictions for all types of cancer; (3) provides the most accurate relapse and survival predictions at diagnosis and for every year lived for each patient; (4) provides group survival curves, where the grouping can be by any variable including outcome and therapy; (5) accommodates missing data and censored patients and is tolerant of noisy and biased data; (6) makes no a priori assumptions regarding the type of data, the distribution of the variables, or the relationships among the variables; (7) can test putative prognostic factors for significance, independence, and clinical importance; (8) accommodates treatment information in the evaluation of prognostic factors; (9) accommodates new putative prognostic factors without changing the model; (10) accommodates emerging diagnostic techniques; (11) provides information regarding the importance of each predictive variable; and (12) is automatic.
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Affiliation(s)
- H B Burke
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno 89520
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