TRIP13 promotes metastasis of colorectal cancer regardless of p53 and microsatellite instability status

TRIP13 - a potential drug target in cancer pharmacotherapy

ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activity (AAA+ATPases) are important enzymatic functional proteins in human cells. Thyroid Hormone Receptor Interacting Protein-13 (TRIP13) is a member of this protein superfamily, that partly regulates DNA repair pathways and spindle assembly checkpoints during mitosis. TRIP13 is reported as an oncogene involving multiple pathways in many human malignancies, including multiple myeloma, brain tumors, etc. The structure of TRIP13 reveals the mechanisms for ATP binding and how TRIP13 recognizes the Mitotic Arrest Deficiency-2 (MAD2) protein, with p31comet acting as an adapter protein. DCZ0415, TI17, DCZ5417, and DCZ5418 are the reported small-molecule inhibitors of TRIP13, which have been demonstrated to inhibit TRIP13's biological functions significantly and effective in suppressing various types of malignant cells, indicating that TRIP13 is a significant anticancer drug target. Currently, no systematic reviews are cutting across the functions, structure, and novel inhibitors of TRIP13. This review provides a comprehensive overview of TRIP13's biological functions, its roles in eighteen different cancers, four small molecule inhibitors, different underlying molecular mechanisms, and its functionality as a potential anticancer drug target.

Single-cell analysis identified POSTN+ cells associated with the aggressive phenotype and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Tumors are intricate and heterogeneous systems characterized by mosaic cancer cell populations with diverse expression profiles. Leveraging single-cell technologies, we employed the Scissor algorithm to delineate an epithelial subpopulation associated with the aggressive phenotype in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This identified subpopulation exhibited elevated expression of genes involved in critical pathways, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition and PI3K-Akt. Key signature genes within this subpopulation, namely CAV1, COL3A1, COL6A1, POSTN, and TAGLN, demonstrated significant upregulation concomitant with both tumorigenesis and tumor progression across independent single-cell datasets. Furthermore, we selected 1,450 expression quantitative trait loci of the top 62 signature genes of this cell subpopulation to investigate their potential in predicting ESCC risk. The results showed that the POSTN loci were predominantly associated with ESCC susceptibility. Through functional annotation and replication analyses, we identified that the rs1028728 in the POSTN promoter was significantly associated with increased ESCC risk in 7,049 ESCC cases and 8,063 controls (odds ratio = 1.29, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-1.42, p = 4.03 × 10-8). Subsequent biochemical experiments showed that the rs1028728[T] allele enhanced POSTN expression by affecting the binding of PRRX1 in the POSTN promoter. In summary, our meticulous single-cell analysis delineates an invasive epithelial subpopulation in ESCC, with POSTN emerging as an important marker for the aggressive phenotype. These findings offer more insights into potential strategies for the prevention and intervention of ESCC, enriching our understanding of this complex cancer landscape.

Genome-wide methylation profiling of Peripheral T-cell lymphomas identifies TRIP13 as a critical driver of tumor proliferation and survival

Cytosine methylation of genomic DNA contributes to the regulation of gene expression and is involved in normal development including hematopoiesis in mammals. It is catalyzed by the family of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) that include DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B. Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) represent a diverse group of aggressive mature T-cell malignancies accounting for approximately 10-15% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases in the US. PTCLs exhibit a broad spectrum of clinical, histological, and immunophenotypic features with poor prognosis and inadequately understood molecular pathobiology. To better understand the molecular landscape and identify candidate genes involved in disease maintenance, we used high-resolution Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS) and RNA-seq to profile DNA methylation and gene expression of PTCLs and normal T-cells. We found that the methylation patterns in PTCLs are deregulated and heterogeneous but share 767 hypo- and 567 hypermethylated differentially methylated regions (DMRs) along with 231 genes up- and 91 genes downregulated in all samples suggesting a potential association with tumor development. We further identified 39 hypomethylated promoters associated with increased gene expression in the majority of PTCLs. This putative oncogenic signature included the TRIP13 (thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13) gene whose both genetic and pharmacologic inactivation, inhibited cellular growth of PTCL cell lines by inducing G2-M arrest accompanied by apoptosis suggesting that such an approach might be beneficial in human lymphoma treatment. Altogether we show that human PTCLs are characterized by a large number of recurrent methylation alterations, and demonstrated that TRIP13 is critical for PTCL maintenance in vitro .

TRIP13 Activates Glycolysis to Promote Cell Stemness and Strengthen Doxorubicin Resistance of Colorectal Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy resistance is one of the main causes of clinical chemotherapy failure. Current cancer research explores the drug resistance mechanism and new therapeutic targets. This work aims to elucidate the mechanism of thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13) affecting doxorubicin (DOX) resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

Bioinformatics analyses were employed to clarify TRIP13 expression in CRC tissues and predict the correlation of the TRIP13 enrichment pathway with glycolysis-related genes and stemness index mRNAsi. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were adopted to analyze the expression of TRIP13 and glycolysis- related genes. Cell Counting Kit-8 was utilized to determine the cell viability and IC50 value. Western blot was employed to measure the expression of stemness-related factors. Cell function assays were performed to detect cells' sphere-forming ability and glycolysis level. Animal models were constructed to determine the effects of TRIP13 expression on CRC tumor growth.

RESULTS

TRIP13 was significantly overexpressed in CRC, concentrated in the glycolysis signaling pathway, and positively correlated with stemness index mRNAsi. High expression of TRIP13 facilitated DOX resistance in CRC. Further mechanistic studies revealed that overexpression of TRIP13 could promote cell stemness through glycolysis, which was also confirmed in animal experiments.

CONCLUSION

TRIP13 was highly expressed in CRC, which enhanced the DOX resistance of CRC cells by activating glycolysis to promote cell stemness. These findings offer new insights into the pathogenesis of DOX resistance in CRC and suggest that TRIP13 may be a new target for reversing DOX resistance in CRC.

Targeting of oncogenic AAA-ATPase TRIP13 reduces progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Thyroid hormone receptor-interacting protein 13 (TRIP13) is involved in cancer progression, but its role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is unknown. Thus, we assessed the expression, functional role, and mechanism of action of TRIP13 in PDAC. We further examined the efficacy of TRIP13 inhibitor, DCZ0415, alone or in combination with gemcitabine on malignant phenotypes, tumor progression, and immune response. We found that TRIP13 was overexpressed in human PDACs relative to corresponding normal pancreatic tissues. TRIP13 knockdown or treatment of PDAC cells with DCZ0415 reduced proliferation and colony formation, and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Additionally, TRIP13 knockdown or targeting with DCZ0415 reduced the migration and invasion of PDAC cells by increasing E-cadherin and decreasing N-cadherin and vimentin. Pharmacologic targeting or silencing of TRIP13 also resulted in reduce expression of FGFR4 and STAT3 phosphorylation, and downregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In immunocompromised mouse models of PDAC, knockdown of TRIP13 or treatment with DCZ0415 reduced tumor growth and metastasis. In an immunocompetent syngeneic PDAC model, DCZ0415 treatment enhanced the immune response by lowering expression of PD1/PDL1, increasing granzyme B/perforin expression, and facilitating infiltration of CD3/CD4 T-cells. Further, DCZ0415 potentiated the anti-metastatic and anti-tumorigenic activities of gemcitabine by reducing proliferation and angiogenesis and by inducing apoptosis and the immune response. These preclinical findings show that TRIP13 is involved in PDAC progression and targeting of TRIP13 augments the anticancer effect of gemcitabine.

High expression of TRIP13 is associated with tumor progression in H. pylori infection induced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

H. pylori is a recognized bacterial carcinogen in the world to cause gastric cancer (GC). However, the molecular mechanism of H. pylori infection-induced GC is not completely clear. Thus, there is an urgent need to reveal the precise mechanisms regulating cancer development due to H. pylori infection.

METHODS

GEO microarray databases and TCGA databases were extracted for the analysis of different expression genes (DEGs). Then, Kaplan-Meier Plotter was used for prognostic analysis. Functional enrichment analysis of TRIP13 was performed by metascape database and TIMER database. Specific role of TRIP13 in GC with H. pylori infection was confirmed by CCK8, cell cycle analysis and WB.

RESULTS

A total 10 DEGs were substantially elevated in GC and H. pylori+ tissues and might be associated with H. pylori infection in GC and only the highly expressed TRIP13 was statistically associated with poor prognosis in GC patients. Meanwhile, TRIP13 were upregulated in both CagA-transfected epithelial cells and GC cells. And TRIP13 deficiency inhibited cell proliferation and arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggested that high expression of TRIP13 can promote the proliferation, cell cycle in GC cells, which could be used as a biomarker for H. pylori infection GC.

Targeting TRIP13 for overcoming anticancer drug resistance (Review)

Cancer is one of the greatest dangers to human wellbeing and survival. A key barrier to effective cancer therapy is development of resistance to anti‑cancer medications. In cancer cells, the AAA+ ATPase family member thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13) is key in promoting treatment resistance. Nonetheless, knowledge of the molecular processes underlying TRIP13‑based resistance to anticancer therapies is lacking. The present study evaluated the function of TRIP13 expression in anticancer drug resistance and potential methods to overcome this resistance. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms by which TRIP13 promotes resistance to anticancer drugs were explored, including induction of mitotic checkpoint complex surveillance system malfunction, promotion of DNA repair, the enhancement of autophagy and the prevention of immunological clearance. The effects of combination treatment, which include a TRIP13 inhibitor in addition to other inhibitors, were discussed. The present study evaluated the literature on TRIP13 as a possible target and its association with anticancer drug resistance, which may facilitate improvements in current anticancer therapeutic options.

BZW2 Inhibition Reduces Colorectal Cancer Growth and Metastasis

Because survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer remain poor, there is an urgent need to identify potential novel druggable targets that are associated with colorectal cancer progression. One such target, basic leucine zipper and W2 domains 2 (BZW2), is involved in regulation of protein translation, and its overexpression is associated with human malignancy. Thus, we investigated the expression and regulation of BZW2, assessed its role in activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling, identified its downstream molecules, and demonstrated its involvement in metastasis of colorectal cancer. In human colorectal cancers, high mRNA and protein expression levels of BZW2 were associated with tumor progression. BZW2-knockdown reduced malignant phenotypes, including cell proliferation, invasion, and spheroid and colony formation. BZW2-knockdown also reduced tumor growth and metastasis; conversely, transfection of BZW2 into BZW2 low-expressing colorectal cancer cells promoted malignant features, including tumor growth and metastasis. BZW2 expression was coordinately regulated by microRNA-98, c-Myc, and histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). RNA sequencing analyses of colorectal cancer cells modulated for BZW2 identified P4HA1 and the long noncoding RNAs, MALAT1 and NEAT1, as its downstream targets. Further, BZW2 activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in colorectal cancers expressing wild-type β-catenin. In sum, our study suggests the possibility of targeting BZW2 expression by inhibiting EZH2 and/or c-Myc.

IMPLICATIONS

FDA-approved small-molecule inhibitors of EZH2 can indirectly target BZW2 and because BZW2 functions as an oncogene, these inhibitors could serve as therapeutic agents for colorectal cancer.

Gastric Cancer Biomarker Candidates Identified by Machine Learning and Integrative Bioinformatics: Toward Personalized Medicine

Gastric cancer (GC) is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The discovery of robust diagnostic biomarkers for GC remains a challenge. This study sought to identify biomarker candidates for GC by integrating machine learning (ML) and bioinformatics approaches. Transcriptome profiles of patients with GC were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes between the tumor and adjacent normal tissues. Subsequently, we constructed protein-protein interaction networks so as to find the significant hub genes. Along with the bioinformatics integration of ML methods such as support vector machine, the recursive feature elimination was used to select the most informative genes. The analysis unraveled 160 significant genes, with 88 upregulated and 72 downregulated, 10 hub genes, and 12 features from the variable selection method. The integrated analyses found that EXO1, DTL, KIF14, and TRIP13 genes are significant and poised as potential diagnostic biomarkers in relation to GC. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis found KIF14 and TRIP13 are strongly associated with diagnosis of GC. We suggest KIF14 and TRIP13 are considered as biomarker candidates that might potentially inform future research on diagnosis, prognosis, or therapeutic targets for GC. These findings collectively offer new future possibilities for precision/personalized medicine research and development for patients with GC.

TRIP13/FLNA Complex Promotes Tumor Progression and Is Associated with Unfavorable Outcomes in Melanoma

Cutaneous melanoma is a high-grade malignant tumor originating from skin melanocytes with high risk of recurrence and metastasis. Further study on the mechanism of melanoma development is urgently needed. Here, we performed a bioinformatic analysis to identify critical genes in melanoma using public datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Among these differentially expressed genes, thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13) has been reported to exert an important role in the development of various tumors, while its role in melanoma remains unclear. We selected TRIP13 as a candidate gene for further study. TRIP13 expression in clinical specimens was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and its association with patient prognosis was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. MV3 and A2058 melanoma cells were transfected with lentiviral vector to overexpress or knockdown TRIP13 expression level, and then, its biological function was studied using a series of in vitro and in vivo assays. RNA sequencing, co-immunoprecipitation, and mass spectrometry were used to identify the underlying mechanism of TRIP13. The results of this study exhibited that TRIP13 expression was upregulated in melanoma tissue compared with normal tissues, and high levels of TRIP13 were closely correlated with poor prognoses of melanoma patients. Elevated TRIP13 promoted the invasion and migration of melanoma cells in vitro and enhanced lung metastasis in vivo, without an influence on tumor growth. Importantly, elevated TRIP13 promoted the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of melanoma cells, indicating a higher metastatic potential of these cells. Mechanically, TRIP13 physically interacted with filamin A (FLNA) and then activated the PI3K/AKT pathway to transcriptional activation of EMT-related genes. The present study revealed that TRIP13 is a novel prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for melanoma treatment.

Promotion or remission: a role of noncoding RNAs in colorectal cancer resistance to anti-EGFR therapy

Anti-epidermal-growth-factor-receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are of great significance for RAS and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. However, the generation of primary and secondary resistance to anti-EGFR mAbs has become an important factor restricting its efficacy. Recent studies have revealed that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are implicated in anti-EGFR antibodies resistance, affecting the sensitivity of CRC cells to Cetuximab and Panitumumab. This paper briefly reviewed the research advance of the expression, signaling network and functional mechanism of ncRNAs related to anti-EGFR mAbs resistance in CRC, as well as their relationship with clinical prognosis and the possibility of therapeutic targets. In addition, some ncRNAs that are involved in the regulation of signaling pathways or genes related to anti-EGFR resistance, but need to be further verified by resistance experiments were also included in this review, thereby providing more ideas and basis for ncRNAs as CRC prognostic markers and anti-EGFR therapy sensitizers. Video Abstract.

Four-gene signature predicting overall survival and immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma by bioinformatics analysis with RT‒qPCR validation

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal cancers, with a poor prognosis. Prognostic biomarkers for HCC patients are urgently needed. We aimed to establish a nomogram prediction system that combines a gene signature to predict HCC prognosis.

Methods

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort and International Cancer Genomics Consortium (ICGC) cohort were regarded as the training cohort and testing cohort, respectively. First, univariate and multivariate Cox analyses and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression Cox analysis were performed to construct a predictive risk score signature. Furthermore, a nomogram system containing a risk score and other prognostic factors was developed. In addition, a correlation analysis of risk group and immune infiltration was performed. Finally, we validated the expression levels using real-time PCR.

Results

Ninety-five overlapping DEGs were identified from four GEO datasets, and we constructed a four-gene-based risk score predictive model (risk score = EZH2 * 0.075 + FLVCR1 * 0.086 + PTTG1 * 0.015 + TRIP13 * 0.020). Moreover, this signature was an independent prognostic factor. Next, the nomogram system containing risk score, sex and TNM stage indicated better predictive performance than independent prognostic factors alone. Moreover, this signature was significantly associated with immune cells, such as regulatory T cells, resting NK cells and M2 macrophages. Finally, RT‒PCR confirmed that the mRNA expressions of four genes were upregulated in most HCC cell lines.

Conclusion

We developed and validated a nomogram system containing the four-gene risk score, sex, and TNM stage to predict prognosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09934-1.

Inducing Synergistic DNA Damage by TRIP13 and PARP1 Inhibitors Provides a Potential Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13), an AAA-ATPase, participates in the development of many cancers. This study explores the function of TRIP13 and synergistic effects of TRIP13 and PARP1 inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The dose-dependent effects of TRIP13 and PARP1 inhibitors on HCC cells proliferation or migration were investigated by the CCK-8 and Transwell assays. Using siRNA or lentivirus to knock down TRIP13, we tested HCC cell and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. The DNA damage caused by TRIP13 and PARP1 inhibitors was measured by the phosphorylation of H2AX, one of the DNA damage biomarkers. The phosphorylation of H2AX was increased after treatment with DCZ0415 or TRIP13 knockdown. Combining DCZ0415 with PARP1 inhibitor, Olaparib induced synergistic anti-HCC activity. We also found that the overexpression of TRIP13 is significantly associated with early recurrent HCC and poor survival. Up-regulation of TRIP13 in HCC was regulated by transcription factor SP1. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that DCZ0415 targeting TRIP13 impaired non-homologous end-joining repair to inhibit HCC progression and had a synergistic effect with PARP1 inhibitor Olaparib in HCC, suggesting a potential treatment of HCC.

DCZ0415, a small-molecule inhibitor targeting TRIP13, inhibits EMT and metastasis via inactivation of the FGFR4/STAT3 axis and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer

Thyroid receptor-interacting protein 13 (TRIP13), a protein of the AAA-ATPase family, is upregulated in various human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). This study focused on the inhibition of TRIP13-induced CRC progression and signalling by DCZ0415, a small molecule targeting TRIP13. It demonstrated potent antitumour activity in TRIP13-deregulated cancer cell lines, regardless of their p53, KRAS, BRAF, epidermal growth factor receptor or microsatellite instability status. The treatment of CRC cells with DCZ0415 resulted in decreased cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest in the G2-M phase and increased apoptosis. DCZ0415 diminished xenograft tumour growth and metastasis of CRC in immunocompromised mice. DCZ0415 reduced expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and proteins associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways in cells and xenografts exhibiting high expression of TRIP13. Additionally, DCZ0415 decreased cyclin D1, β-catenin and T-cell factor 1, leading to the inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In a syngeneic CRC model, DCZ0415 treatment induced an immune response by decreasing PD1 and CTLA4 levels and increasing granzyme B, perforin and interferon gamma. In sum, DCZ04145 inhibits the TRIP13-FGFR4-STAT3 axis, inactivates NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signalling, activates antitumour immune response and reduces the progression and metastasis of CRC. This study provides a rationale to evaluate DCZ0415 clinically for the treatment of a subset of CRCs that exhibit dysregulated TRIP13 and FGFR4.

KIF18B promotes breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting TRIP13 and activating the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway

Kinesin superfamily member 18B (KIF18B) has previously been reported to be upregulated in breast cancer (BC) and is involved in BC tumorigenesis. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of KIF18B in BC. Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was performed, using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. KIF18B knockdown and thyroid hormone receptor-interacting protein 13 (TRIP13) overexpression in BC cells were induced via transfection, by using the short hairpin RNA-KIF18B and overexpression-TRIP13 vectors, respectively. Cellular processes, including proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed using colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. mRNA and protein expression levels were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Protein-protein interactions were determined using co-immunoprecipitation. The results demonstrated that the KIF18B expression levels were upregulated in BC, particularly in triple-negative BC (TNBC) tissues and cell lines. KIF18B knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC-1937 TNBC cells. Furthermore, MMP12 and MMP9 protein expression levels were decreased by KIF18B knockdown. TRIP13 expression was also demonstrated to be upregulated in BC, particularly in TNBC tissues and cell lines. TRIP13 expression levels positively correlated with those of KIF18B in BC tissues and cells, and further analysis verified that TRIP13 and KIF14B were able to directly bind to each other. However, TRIP13 overexpression abolished the effects of KIF18B knockdown on HCC-1937 cells. Furthermore, KIF18B knockdown decreased β-catenin, c-Myc and cyclin D1 protein expression levels; however, TRIP13 overexpression resulted in the recovery of all respective protein expression levels. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that KIF18B promotes BC malignant events, including the proliferation, migration and invasion of TNBC cells. These results indicate that KIF18B may play an oncogenic role in BC by upregulating TRIP13 expression, thereby activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Identification of Prognostic lncRNA Related to the Immune Microenvironment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Background. Soft tissue sarcoma is a malignant tumor with high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis, originating from mesenchymal tissue. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various biological and pathological processes in the body. They perform preprocessing, splicing, transport, degradation, and translation of mRNA to achieve posttranscriptional level regulation, resulting in the occurrence, invasion, and metastasis of tumors. Therefore, they are highly relevant with regard to early diagnoses and as prognostic indicators. Objective. The objective of the present study was to identify immune microenvironment-related lncRNAs that can be used to predict soft tissue sarcomas. Methods. Clinical data and follow-up data were obtained from the cBioPortal database, and RNA sequencing data used for the model structure can be accessed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. LncRNAs were screened by differential expression analysis and coexpression analysis. The Cox regression model and Kaplan–Meier analysis were used to study the association between lncRNAs and soft tissue sarcoma prognosis in the immune microenvironment. Unsupervised cluster analysis was then completed to discover the impact of screening lncRNAs on disease. We constructed an mRNA-lncRNA network by Cytoscape software. Finally, qRT-PCR was used to verify the difference in the expression of the lncRNAs in normal cells and sarcoma cells. Results. Unsupervised cluster analysis revealed that the 210 lncRNAs screened showed strong correlation with the tumor immune microenvironment. Two signatures containing seven and five lncRNAs related to the tumor microenvironment were constructed and used to predict overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The Kaplan–Meier (K-M) survival curve showed that the prognoses of patients in the high-risk and low-risk groups differed significantly, and the prognosis associated with the low-risk group was better than that associated with the high-risk group. Two nomograms with predictive capabilities were established. qRT-PCR results showed that the expression of AC108134.3 and AL031717.1 was significantly different in normal and sarcoma cells. Conclusion. In summary, the experimental results showed that lncrnA associated with immune microenvironment was related to tumor, which may provide a new idea for immunotherapy of STS.

TRIP13, identified as a hub gene of tumor progression, is the target of microRNA-4693-5p and a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the digestive tract malignancies whose early symptoms are not obvious. This study aimed to identify novel targets for CRC therapy, especially early-stage CRC, by reanalyzing the publicly available GEO and TCGA databases. Thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13) correlated with tumor progression and prognosis of patients after several rounds of analysis, including weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA), and further chosen for experimental validation in cancer cell lines and patient samples. We identified that mRNA and protein levels of TRIP13 increased in CRC cells and tumor tissues with tumor progression. miR-4693-5p was significantly downregulated in CRC tumor tissues and bound to the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of TRIP13, downregulating TRIP13 expression. DCZ0415, a small molecule inhibitor targeting TRIP13, induced anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. DCZ0415 markedly suppressed CRC cell proliferation, migration, and tumor growth, promoted cell apoptosis, and resulted in the arrest of the cell cycle. Our research suggests that TRIP13 might play a crucial role in CRC progression and could be a potential target for CRC therapy.

Phosphorylation of TRIP13 at Y56 induces radiation resistance but sensitizes head and neck cancer to cetuximab

Radiation therapy, a mainstay of treatment for head and neck cancer, is not always curative due to the development of treatment resistance; additionally, multi-institutional trials have questioned the efficacy of concurrent radiation with cetuximab, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor. We unraveled a mechanism for radiation resistance; that is, radiation induces EGFR, which phosphorylates TRIP13 (thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13) on tyrosine 56. Phosphorylated (phospho-)TRIP13 promotes non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair to induce radiation resistance. NHEJ is the main repair pathway for radiation-induced DNA damage. Tumors expressing high TRIP13 do not respond to radiation but are sensitive to cetuximab or cetuximab combined with radiation. Suppression of phosphorylation of TRIP13 at Y56 abrogates these effects. These findings show that EGFR-mediated phosphorylation of TRIP13 at Y56 is a vital mechanism of radiation resistance. Notably, TRIP13-pY56 could be used to predict the response to radiation or cetuximab and could be explored as an actionable target.

TSHZ3 functions as a tumor suppressor by DNA methylation in colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

Teashirt zinc finger homeobox 3 (TSHZ3) is currently reported to be aberrantly expressed in several tumors, but the detailed functions and epigenetic mechanisms of TSHZ3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the TSHZ3 expression in 118 CRC and normal adjacent tissues (NATs) was evaluated, and the methylation status of the TSZH3 promoter region in CRC tissues and cell lines was also analyzed.

RESULTS

The results of PCR analysis showed that TSHZ3 was significantly down-regulated in CRC tissues, and patients with low TSHZ3 levels had a poorer 5-year overall survival (OS) rate. Analyzing the promoter sequence (-1000∼0) by MethPrimer, TSHZ3 promoter was found to harbor abundant of CpG islands. The methylation specific PCR (MSP) analysis presented a relatively hypermethylated status of THSZ3 promoter in CRC samples. The data of MSP and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) also confirmed that CpG sites of TSHZ3 promoter were methylated in CRC cells, and the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza) could effectively restored the TSHZ3 expression in vitro. Functionally, the proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis of CRC cells were regulated by TSZH3 over-expression, and the suppressing effects of TSHZ3 in CRC were also confirmed in a xenograft mouse model.

CONLUSIONS

Our results indicated that promoter methylation was one of the mechanisms contributing to the down-regulation of TSHZ3 in CRC, and TSZH3 might served as a potential tumor suppressor gene in the development and progression of CRC.

Wnt Signaling Pathway Is among the Drivers of Liver Metastasis

Liver metastasis, originating either from a primary liver or other cancer types, represent a large cancer-related burden. Therefore, studies that add to better understanding of its molecular basis are needed. Herein, the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in liver metastasis is outlined. Its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), motility, migration, metastasis formation, and other steps of the metastatic cascade are presented. Additionally, the roles of the Wnt signaling pathway in the liver metastasis formation of colorectal, breast, gastric, lung, melanoma, pancreatic, and prostate cancer are explored. The special emphasis is given to the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in the communication between the many of the components of the primary and secondary cancer microenvironment that contribute to the metastatic outgrowth in the liver. The data presented herein are a review of the most recent publications and advances in the field that add to the idea that the Wnt pathway is among the drivers of liver metastasis and that its targeting could potentially relieve liver metastasis–related complications.

microRNAs: Small molecules with a large impact on colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for one of the main cancer-related mortality and morbidity worldwide. The molecular mechanisms of CRC development have been broadly investigated and, over the last decade, it has become evident that aberrant transcription of microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small, noncoding RNA molecules, has a significant role in the inception and promotion of CRC. In the involved tissues of CRC, the transcription profile of miRNAs is modulated, and their expression templates are related with prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes. Here, in the current review, we attempted to discuss the latest information regarding the aberrantly expressed miRNAs in CRC and the advantages of utilizing miRNAs as biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of CRC as well as potential therapeutic application. The effect of miRNAs involved in various signaling pathways, primarily p53, EGFR, Wnt, and TGF-β pathways, was clarified.

TRIP13 exerts a cancer-promoting role in cervical cancer by enhancing Wnt/β-catenin signaling via ACTN4

Increasing evidence has indicated that thyroid hormone receptor interacting protein 13 (TRIP13) exerts a cancer-promoting role in a broad spectrum of cancers. However, the detailed relevance and function of TRIP13 in cervical cancer remain undefined. The goal of this work was to evaluate the functional significance and mechanism of TRIP13 in cervical cancer. Our data demonstrated that TRIP13 expression was markedly increased in cervical cancer tissue, and high expression of TRIP13 predicted a low survival rate in cervical cancer patients. Knockdown of TRIP13 caused a significant reduction in the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells. By contrast, over-expression of TRIP13 accelerated the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells. Further data revealed that TRIP13 enhanced the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling associated with modulation of α-Actinin-4 (ACTN4). Knockdown of ACTN4 markedly reversed TRIP13-mediated activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In addition, inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling reversed TRIP13-induced cancer-promoting effects in cervical cancer cells. Knockdown of TRIP13 markedly retarded the tumor formation and growth of cervical cells in vivo in nude mice. Taken together, the data of this work indicate that TRIP13 accelerates the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer by enhancing Wnt/β-catenin signaling via regulation of ACTN4. These findings underscore a relevance of the TRIP13/ACTN4/Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis in the progression of cervical cancer and suggest TRIP13 as a potential target for treatment of cervical cancer.

Upregulation of TRIP13 promotes the malignant progression of lung cancer via the EMT pathway

Lung cancer is the most common malignant tumor type and it is associated with poor prognosis. The identification of potential biomarkers is of great significance for the early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common pathological type of lung cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism via which thyroid hormone receptor-interacting protein 13 (TRIP13) participates in the malignant progression of NSCLC. Immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to assess the expression level of TRIP13. According to The Cancer Genome Atlas database, TRIP13 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, TRIP13 knockdown increased apoptosis, induced cell cycle arrest in the S phase and inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of H1299 cells in vitro. Furthermore, TRIP13 upregulation was closely associated with tumor metastasis via epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. In conclusion, TRIP13 could promote the malignant progression of lung cancer, and TRIP13 may be a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.

ASPM is a Novel Candidate Gene Associated with Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in CRC remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore a novel biomarker for CRC. In this study, we screened 361 differentially expressed genes; 152 downregulated genes; and 209 upregulated genes) through analysis of the GSE44861, GSE110223, GSE110224, and GSE113513 CRC datasets. Next, ASPM, CCNA2, CCNB1, CEP55, KIF20A, MAD2L1, MELK, RRM2, TOP2A, TPX2, TRIP13, and TTK were identified as hub genes associated with the cell cycle in CRC through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis using the Cytoscape and Metascape software, the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), and the Oncomine and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) databases. Furthermore, ASPM mRNA expression in CRC tissues was verified in Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas and our data, and ASPM was found to be significantly upregulated in CRC tissues compared with that in the noncancer colon tissues. Functionally, we showed that overexpression of ASPM significantly promoted the proliferation and inhibited apoptosis; silencing of ASPM suppressed the proliferation of CRC cells by affecting the cell cycle G1/S transition by reducing cyclin E1 expression, and inducing apoptosis. Overall, our findings indicated that ASPM plays a crucial role in the regulation of CRC cell proliferation, and ASPM is a potential candidate diagnostic tool and therapeutic target for CRC.