1
|
Go SI, Yang JW, Lee WJ, Jeong EJ, Park S, Lee GW. Lipocalin-2 as a prognostic biomarker and its association with systemic inflammation in small cell lung cancer. Thorac Cancer 2024; 15:1646-1655. [PMID: 38886905 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.15389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic inflammation is believed to contribute to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) progression, but the underlying relationship remains unclear. Lipocalin-2, a potential biomarker of inflammation, has been implicated in various cancers but its prognostic value in SCLC is underexplored. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 191 patients with SCLC (72 with limited-stage [LD] and 119 with extensive-stage) treated using platinum-based chemotherapy. Lipocalin-2 expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Optimal cutoff values for lipocalin-2 and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were determined using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The pectoralis muscle index was used to assess sarcopenia. RESULTS In LD-SCLC, high lipocalin-2 expression was associated with worse progression-free survival (PFS; median: 7.0 vs. 15.9 months, p = 0.015) and overall survival (OS; median: 12.9 vs. 30.3 months, p = 0.035) compared with low lipocalin-2 expression. Patients were stratified into three prognostic groups by combining lipocalin-2 with NLR: low lipocalin-2/low NLR, high lipocalin-2/low NLR or low lipocalin-2/high NLR, and high lipocalin-2/high NLR (median PFS: 17.3 vs. 11.0 vs. 6.3 months, p = 0.004; median OS: 30.5 vs. 17.3 vs. 8.6 months, p = 0.002). Similar trends were observed when combining lipocalin-2 with the pectoralis muscle index. High lipocalin-2 expression was also associated with lower complete response rates (18.9% vs. 34.3%, p = 0.035). No significant prognostic implications were found for lipocalin-2 in extensive-stage SCLC. CONCLUSIONS High lipocalin-2 expression is potentially associated with poorer survival in LD-SCLC. Combining lipocalin-2 with other inflammation-related markers could improve prognostic stratification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Se-Il Go
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea
- Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea
| | - Jung Wook Yang
- Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea
- Department of Pathology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
- Department of Pathology, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea
| | - Woo Je Lee
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
| | - Eun Jeong Jeong
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
| | - Sungwoo Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea
- Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
| | - Gyeong-Won Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea
- Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chandrasekaran P, Weiskirchen S, Weiskirchen R. Structure, Functions, and Implications of Selected Lipocalins in Human Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4290. [PMID: 38673873 PMCID: PMC11050150 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084290] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The lipocalin proteins are a large family of small extracellular proteins that demonstrate significant heterogeneity in sequence similarity and have highly conserved crystal structures. They have a variety of functions, including acting as carrier proteins, transporting retinol, participating in olfaction, and synthesizing prostaglandins. Importantly, they also play a critical role in human diseases, including cancer. Additionally, they are involved in regulating cellular homeostasis and immune response and dispensing various compounds. This comprehensive review provides information on the lipocalin family, including their structure, functions, and implications in various diseases. It focuses on selective important human lipocalin proteins, such as lipocalin 2 (LCN2), retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS), and α1-microglobulin (A1M).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabine Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, Germany;
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mohammadi E, Dashti S, Shafizade N, Jin H, Zhang C, Lam S, Tahmoorespur M, Mardinoglu A, Sekhavati MH. Drug repositioning for immunotherapy in breast cancer using single-cell analysis. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024; 10:37. [PMID: 38589404 PMCID: PMC11001976 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-024-00359-z] [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: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunomodulatory peptides, while exhibiting potential antimicrobial, antifungal, and/or antiviral properties, can play a role in stimulating or suppressing the immune system, especially in pathological conditions like breast cancer (BC). Thus, deregulation of these peptides may serve as an immunotherapeutic strategy to enhance the immune response. In this meta-analysis, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing data and known therapeutic peptides to investigate the deregulation of these peptides in malignant versus normal human breast epithelial cells. We corroborated our findings at the chromatin level using ATAC-seq. Additionally, we assessed the protein levels in various BC cell lines. Moreover, our in-house drug repositioning approach was employed to identify potential drugs that could positively impact the relapse-free survival of BC patients. Considering significantly deregulated therapeutic peptides and their role in BC pathology, our approach aims to downregulate B2M and SLPI, while upregulating PIGR, DEFB1, LTF, CLU, S100A7, and SCGB2A1 in BC epithelial cells through our drug repositioning pipeline. Leveraging the LINCS L1000 database, we propose BRD-A06641369 for B2M downregulation and ST-4070043 and BRD-K97926541 for SLPI downregulation without negatively affecting the MHC complex as a significantly correlated pathway with these two genes. Furthermore, we have compiled a comprehensive list of drugs for the upregulation of other selected immunomodulatory peptides. Employing an immunotherapeutic approach by integrating our drug repositioning pipeline with single-cell analysis, we proposed potential drugs and drug targets to fortify the immune system against BC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elyas Mohammadi
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Samira Dashti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Neda Shafizade
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Han Jin
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simon Lam
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tan M, He Y, Yi J, Chen J, Guo Q, Liao N, Peng L. WTAP Mediates NUPR1 Regulation of LCN2 Through m 6A Modification to Influence Ferroptosis, Thereby Promoting Breast Cancer Proliferation, Migration and Invasion. Biochem Genet 2024; 62:876-891. [PMID: 37477758 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10423-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Ferroptosis is involved in various pathophysiological diseases, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Targeting ferroptosis is considered as a novel anti-TNBC strategy. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis during TNBC progression is unclear. Here, the role of WTAP in ferroptosis during TNBC progression was investigated. The clinicopathological significance of WTAP, NUPR1 and LCN2 was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. Transwell assay was employed to analyze cell migration and invasion. GSH/GSSG and Fe2+ levels in TNBC cells were analyzed using kits. m6A level was examined using m6A dot blot assay. NUPR1 mRNA stability was analyzed using RNA degradation assay. RIP was performed to analyze the interaction between eIF3a and NURP1. Herein, our results revealed that WTAP, NUPR1 and LCN2 expressions were significantly elevated in TNBC. NUPR1 silencing inhibited TNBC cell proliferation, migration and invasion by inducing ferroptosis. NUPR1 positively regulated LCN2 expression in TNBC cells, and LCN2 knockdown induced ferroptosis to suppress TNBC cell malignant behaviors. Our molecular study further revealed that WTAP promoted NUPR1 expression in an m6A-EIF3A mediated manner. And, as expected, WTAP knockdown promoted ferroptosis to suppress TNBC cell malignant behaviors, which were abrogated by NUPR1 overexpression. WTAP upregulated LCN2 by regulation of NUPR1 m6A modification, thereby suppressing ferroptosis to contribute to accelerate TNBC progression. Our study revealed the cancer-promoting effect of WTAP, NUPR1 and LCN2 in TNBC and clarified the relevant mechanism, providing a theoretical basis for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for TNBC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miduo Tan
- Department of Breast surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan Province, P.R. China
| | - Yazhou He
- Health Management Center, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan Province, P.R. China
| | - Jiansheng Yi
- Department of Breast surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan Province, P.R. China
| | - Jingjing Chen
- Department of Breast surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan Province, P.R. China
| | - Qiong Guo
- Department of Breast surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan Province, P.R. China
| | - Ni Liao
- Department of Breast surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan Province, P.R. China.
- Department of Breast surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, No.116, Changjiang South Road, Tianyuan District, Zhuzhou, 412000, Hunan Province, P.R. China.
| | - Liping Peng
- Department of Breast and Nails, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jishou University, The intersection of Shiji Avenue and Jianxin Road, Jishou, 416000, Hunan Province, P.R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bao Y, Yan Z, Shi N, Tian X, Li J, Li T, Cheng X, Lv J. LCN2: Versatile players in breast cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 171:116091. [PMID: 38171248 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116091] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is a secreted glycoprotein that is produced by immune cells, including neutrophils and macrophages. It serves various functions such as transporting hydrophobic ligands across the cellular membrane, regulating immune responses, keeping iron balance, and fostering epithelial cell differentiation. LCN2 plays a crucial role in several physiological processes. LCN2 expression is upregulated in a variety of human diseases and cancers. High levels of LCN2 are specifically linked to breast cancer (BC) cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, immune regulation, chemotherapy resistance, and prognosis. As a result, LCN2 has gained attention as a potential therapeutic target for BC. This article offered an in-depth review of the advancement of LCN2 in the context of BC occurrence and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Bao
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563099, China
| | - Zhongliang Yan
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563099, China
| | - Nianmei Shi
- The First Clinical Institute, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563006, China
| | - Xiaoyan Tian
- The First Clinical Institute, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563006, China
| | - Jiayang Li
- Office of Drug Clinical Trial Institution, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563099, China
| | - Taolang Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563099, China
| | - Xiaoming Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563099, China.
| | - Junyuan Lv
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563099, China; Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Živalj M, Van Ginderachter JA, Stijlemans B. Lipocalin-2: A Nurturer of Tumor Progression and a Novel Candidate for Targeted Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5159. [PMID: 37958332 PMCID: PMC10648573 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Within the tumor microenvironment (TME) exists a complex signaling network between cancer cells and stromal cells, which determines the fate of tumor progression. Hence, interfering with this signaling network forms the basis for cancer therapy. Yet, many types of cancer, in particular, solid tumors, are refractory to the currently used treatments, so there is an urgent need for novel molecular targets that could improve current anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. Lipocalin-2 (Lcn-2), a secreted siderophore-binding glycoprotein that regulates iron homeostasis, is highly upregulated in various cancer types. Due to its pleiotropic role in the crosstalk between cancer cells and stromal cells, favoring tumor progression, it could be considered as a novel biomarker for prognostic and therapeutic purposes. However, the exact signaling route by which Lcn-2 promotes tumorigenesis remains unknown, and Lcn-2-targeting moieties are largely uninvestigated. This review will (i) provide an overview on the role of Lcn-2 in orchestrating the TME at the level of iron homeostasis, macrophage polarization, extracellular matrix remodeling, and cell migration and survival, and (ii) discuss the potential of Lcn-2 as a promising novel drug target that should be pursued in future translational research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maida Živalj
- Brussels Center for Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jo A. Van Ginderachter
- Brussels Center for Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Benoit Stijlemans
- Brussels Center for Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ganesan R, Bhasin SS, Bakhtiary M, Krishnan U, Cheemarla NR, Thomas BE, Bhasin MK, Sukhatme VP. Taxane chemotherapy induces stromal injury that leads to breast cancer dormancy escape. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002275. [PMID: 37699010 PMCID: PMC10497165 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A major cause of cancer recurrence following chemotherapy is cancer dormancy escape. Taxane-based chemotherapy is standard of care in breast cancer treatment aimed at killing proliferating cancer cells. Here, we demonstrate that docetaxel injures stromal cells, which release protumor cytokines, IL-6 and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), that in turn invoke dormant cancer outgrowth both in vitro and in vivo. Single-cell transcriptomics shows a reprogramming of awakened cancer cells including several survival cues such as stemness, chemoresistance in a tumor stromal organoid (TSO) model, as well as an altered tumor microenvironment (TME) with augmented protumor immune signaling in a syngeneic mouse breast cancer model. IL-6 plays a role in cancer cell proliferation, whereas G-CSF mediates tumor immunosuppression. Pathways and differential expression analyses confirmed MEK as the key regulatory molecule in cancer cell outgrowth and survival. Antibody targeting of protumor cytokines (IL-6, G-CSF) or inhibition of cytokine signaling via MEK/ERK pathway using selumetinib prior to docetaxel treatment prevented cancer dormancy outgrowth suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent cancer recurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Ganesan
- Department of Medicine—Renal Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Swati S. Bhasin
- Department of Pediatrics—Hematology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mojtaba Bakhtiary
- Department of Pediatrics—Hematology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Upaasana Krishnan
- Department of Pediatrics—Hematology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nagarjuna R. Cheemarla
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Beena E. Thomas
- Department of Pediatrics—Hematology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Manoj K. Bhasin
- Department of Pediatrics—Hematology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Vikas P. Sukhatme
- Department of Medicine—Renal Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tian C, Zheng M, Lan X, Liu L, Ye Z, Li C. Silencing LCN2 enhances RSL3-induced ferroptosis in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Gene 2023:147597. [PMID: 37390872 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a life-threatening malignancy and therapeutic toxicity remains a huge challenge for survival rates. A novel iron-dependent form of cell death, ferroptosis, shows potentials in cancer therapy. This study aimed to identify ferroptosis-associated hub genes within a proteinprotein interaction (PPI) network. METHODS We screened differential expressed genes (DEGs) in GSE46170 dataset and obtained ferroptosis-related genes from FerrDb database. Through overlapping between DEGs and ferroptosis-related genes, ferroptosis-associated DEGs were identified for further PPI network construction. Molecular complex detection (MCODE) algorithm in Cytoscape was employed to determine tightly connected protein clusters. Chord diagram of Gene Ontology (GO) was generated to reveal the potential biological process of hub genes. Through transfection with siRNA of lipocalin 2 (LCN2) into TALL cells, the regulatory role of LCN2 in ferroptosis was investigated. RESULTS Venn diagram identified a total of 37 ferroptosis-associated DEGs between GSE46170 and ferroptosis-associated genes, which were mainly enriched in ferroptosis and necroptosis. Based on PPI network analysis, 5 hub genes (LCN2, LTF, HP, SLC40A1 and TFRC) were found. These hub genes were involved in iron ion transport and could distinguish T-ALL from normal individuals. Further experimental studies demonstrated that LCN2 was highly expressed in T-ALL, while silencing LCN2 promoted RSL3-induced ferroptotic cell death in T-ALL cells. CONCLUSION This study identified novel ferroptosis-associated hub genes, which shed new insights into the underlying mechanism of ferroptosis in T-ALL and also provide promising therapeutic targets for T-ALL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Tian
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, No. 57, South Renmin Avenue, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, 524001, China
| | - Min Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, No. 57, South Renmin Avenue, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, 524001, China
| | - Xiang Lan
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, No. 57, South Renmin Avenue, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, 524001, China
| | - Lili Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, No. 57, South Renmin Avenue, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, 524001, China
| | - Zhonglv Ye
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, No. 57, South Renmin Avenue, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, 524001, China
| | - Chengyan Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, No. 57, South Renmin Avenue, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, 524001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chen M, Li H, Xu X, Bao X, Xue L, Ai X, Xu J, Xu M, Shi Y, Zhen T, Li J, Yang Y, Ji Y, Fu Z, Xing K, Qing T, Wang Q, Zhong P, Zhu S. Identification of RAC1 in promoting brain metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma using single-cell transcriptome sequencing. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:330. [PMID: 37202394 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05823-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to give a new perspective to the biomarkers in the lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) brain metastasis, pathways involved and potential therapeutics. We performed a comprehensive single-cell level transcriptomic analysis on one LUAD patient with circulating tumor cells (CTCs), primary tumor tissue and metastatic tumor tissue using scRNA-seq approach to identify metastasis related biomarkers. Further scRNA-seq were performed on 7 patients to validate the cancer metastatic hallmark. with single cells collected from either metastatic or primary LUAD tissues. Pathological and functional studies were also performed to evidence the critical role of RAC1 in the LUAD metastasis. Hallmark gene was verified based on immunohistochemistry staining, cytological experiment, survival information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and staining results from Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases. PCA analysis revealed that CTCs were in the intermediate place between the metastatic group and primary group. In the unsupervised clustering analysis CTCs were closer to one of the metastatic tumor cells, implying heterogeneity of the metastatic tumor and origin of the CTCs were from metastatic site. Transitional phase related gene analysis identified RAC1 was enriched in metastatic tumor tissue (MTT) preferred gene set functioning as regulated cell death and apoptosis as well as promoted macromolecule organization. Compared with normal tissue, expression levels of RAC1 increased significantly in LUAD tissue based on HPA database. High expression of RAC1 predicts worse prognosis and higher-risk. EMT analysis identified the propensity of mesenchymal state in primary cells while epithelial signals were higher in the metastatic site. Functional clustering and pathway analyses suggested genes in RAC1 highly expressed cells played critical roles in adhesion, ECM and VEGF signaling pathways. Inhibition of RAC1 attenuates the proliferation, invasiveness and migration ability of lung cancer cells. Besides, through MRI T2WI results, we proved that RAC1 can promote brain metastasis in the RAC1-overexpressed H1975 cell burden nude mouse model. RAC1 and its mechanisms might promote drug design against LUAD brain metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
- Research Unit of New Technologies of Micro-Endoscopy Combination in Skull Base Surgery (2018RU008), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanyue Li
- Department of Lung Tumor Clinical Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200030, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolin Xu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, 200003, Shanghai, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, 507 Zhengmin Road, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xunxia Bao
- School of Life Science, Anhui Medical University, 230032, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Xue
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, 200003, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinghao Ai
- Department of Lung Tumor Clinical Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200030, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
- Research Unit of New Technologies of Micro-Endoscopy Combination in Skull Base Surgery (2018RU008), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
- Research Unit of New Technologies of Micro-Endoscopy Combination in Skull Base Surgery (2018RU008), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Shi
- Cinoasia Institute, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Jie Li
- Cinoasia Institute, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Cinoasia Institute, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Ji
- Cinoasia Institute, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | | | | | - Tao Qing
- Cinoasia Institute, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiubo Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Wuxi 9th People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, 214000, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Ping Zhong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China.
- Research Unit of New Technologies of Micro-Endoscopy Combination in Skull Base Surgery (2018RU008), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China.
| | - Sibo Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Verras GI, Tchabashvili L, Chlorogiannis DD, Mulita F, Argentou MI. Updated Clinical Evidence on the Role of Adipokines and Breast Cancer: A Review. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051572. [PMID: 36900364 PMCID: PMC10000674 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With the recent leaps in medicine, the landscape of our knowledge regarding adipose tissue has changed dramatically: it is now widely regarded as a fully functional endocrine organ. In addition, evidence from observational studies has linked the pathogenesis of diseases like breast cancer with adipose tissue and mainly with the adipokines that are secreted in its microenvironment, with the catalog continuously expanding. Examples include leptin, visfatin, resistin, osteopontin, and more. This review aims to encapsulate the current clinical evidence concerning major adipokines and their link with breast cancer oncogenesis. Overall, there have been numerous meta-analyses that contribute to the current clinical evidence, however more targeted larger-scale clinical studies are still expected to solidify their clinical utility in BC prognosis and reliability as follow-up markers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georgios-Ioannis Verras
- Breast Unit, Department of General Surgery, General University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
- Correspondence: (G.-I.V.); (F.M.)
| | - Levan Tchabashvili
- Breast Unit, Department of General Surgery, General University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
| | | | - Francesk Mulita
- Breast Unit, Department of General Surgery, General University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
- Correspondence: (G.-I.V.); (F.M.)
| | - Maria-Ioanna Argentou
- Breast Unit, Department of General Surgery, General University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
The von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Gene Mutations Modulate Lipocalin-2 Expression in Ferroptotic-Inflammatory Pathways. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2023; 2023:7736638. [PMID: 36718277 PMCID: PMC9884170 DOI: 10.1155/2023/7736638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A previous study of an animal model with tumor suppressor gene von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) conditional knockdown suggested that tissue inflammation and fibrosis play important roles in the development of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which is consistent with the epidemiological evidence linking inflammatory kidney disease and renal cancer. Ferroptosis and inflammation have been linked in a recent study, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the mechanism of lipocalin-2- (LCN-2-) mediated ferroptosis and inflammation in vhl-mutated HK-2 cells and mouse primary proximal tubule cells (mRTCs) and the polarization of macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Based on the levels of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in HK-2 cells, we observed that a VHL mutation increased ROS production and depressed GPX4 expression, whereas LCN-2 knockdown reversed these effects. Accordingly, VHL appears to affect ferroptosis in an LCN-2-dependent manner. We also revealed that LCN-2 sensitizes HK-2 cells to inflammation and macrophage RAW 264.7 cells to M1-like polarization. This study provides novel insights into the potential therapeutic target and strategy for attenuating the progression of ccRCC by revealing the role of VHL in regulating chronic inflammation within the LCN-2-ferroptosis pathway.
Collapse
|
12
|
Rashid NS, Boyd DC, Olex AL, Grible JM, Duong AK, Alzubi MA, Altman JE, Leftwich TJ, Valentine AD, Hairr NS, Zboril EK, Smith TM, Pfefferle AD, Dozmorov MG, Harrell JC. Transcriptomic changes underlying EGFR inhibitor resistance in human and mouse models of basal-like breast cancer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21248. [PMID: 36482068 PMCID: PMC9731984 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25541-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The goals of this study were to identify transcriptomic changes that arise in basal-like breast cancer cells during the development of resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRi) and to identify drugs that are cytotoxic once EGFRi resistance occurs. Human patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) were grown in immunodeficient mice and treated with a set of EGFRi; the EGFRi erlotinib was selected for more expansive in vivo studies. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on mammary tumors from the basal-like PDX WHIM2 that was treated with vehicle or erlotinib for 9 weeks. The PDX was then subjected to long-term erlotinib treatment in vivo. Through serial passaging, an erlotinib-resistant subline of WHIM2 was generated. Bulk RNA-sequencing was performed on parental and erlotinib-resistant tumors. In vitro high-throughput drug screening with > 500 clinically used compounds was performed on parental and erlotinib-resistant cells. Previously published bulk gene expression microarray data from MMTV-Wnt1 tumors were contrasted with the WHIM2 PDX data. Erlotinib effectively inhibited WHIM2 tumor growth for approximately 4 weeks. Compared to untreated cells, single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that a greater proportion of erlotinib-treated cells were in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Comparison of WHIM2 and MMTV-Wnt1 gene expression data revealed a set of 38 overlapping genes that were differentially expressed in the erlotinib-resistant WHIM2 and MMTV-Wnt1 tumors. Comparison of all three data types revealed five genes that were upregulated across all erlotinib-resistant samples: IL19, KLK7, LCN2, SAA1, and SAA2. Of these five genes, LCN2 was most abundantly expressed in triple-negative breast cancers, and its knockdown restored erlotinib sensitivity in vitro. Despite transcriptomic differences, parental and erlotinib-resistant WHIM2 displayed similar responses to the majority of drugs assessed for cytotoxicity in vitro. This study identified transcriptomic changes arising in erlotinib-resistant basal-like breast cancer. These data could be used to identify a biomarker or develop a gene signature predictive of patient response to EGFRi. Future studies should explore the predictive capacity of these gene signatures as well as how LCN2 contributes to the development of EGFRi resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Narmeen S Rashid
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, 23173, USA
| | - David C Boyd
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
- Program in Integrative Life Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Amy L Olex
- C. Kenneth and Diane Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Grible
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Alex K Duong
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Mohammad A Alzubi
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
- Oncology Center-Division of Pediatric Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Julia E Altman
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Tess J Leftwich
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Aaron D Valentine
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Nicole S Hairr
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Emily K Zboril
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Timothy M Smith
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - Adam D Pfefferle
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Mikhail G Dozmorov
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA
| | - J Chuck Harrell
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA.
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wu Y, Li X, Li Q, Cheng C, Zheng L. Adipose tissue-to-breast cancer crosstalk: Comprehensive insights. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188800. [PMID: 36103907 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The review focuses on mechanistic evidence for the link between obesity and breast cancer. According to the IARC study, there is sufficient evidence that obesity is closely related to a variety of cancers. Among them, breast cancer is particularly disturbed by adipose tissue due to the unique histological structure of the breast. The review introduces the relationship between obesity and breast cancer from two aspects, including factors that promote tumorigenesis or metastasis. We summarize alterations in adipokines and metabolic pathways that contribute to breast cancer development. Breast cancer metastasis is closely related to obesity-induced pro-inflammatory microenvironment, adipose stem cells, and miRNAs. Based on the mechanism by which obesity causes breast cancer, we list possible therapeutic directions, including reducing the risk of breast cancer and inhibiting the progression of breast cancer. We also discussed the risk of autologous breast remodeling and fat transplantation. Finally, the causes of the obesity paradox and the function of enhancing immunity are discussed. Evaluating the balance between obesity-induced inflammation and enhanced immunity warrants further study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xu Li
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Qiong Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chienshan Cheng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Lan Zheng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai 200025, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Valashedi MR, Roushandeh AM, Tomita K, Kuwahara Y, Pourmohammadi-Bejarpasi Z, Kozani PS, Sato T, Roudkenar MH. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of Lcn2 in human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 ameliorates erastin-mediated ferroptosis and increases cisplatin vulnerability. Life Sci 2022; 304:120704. [PMID: 35714703 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is an antioxidant-related protein upregulated in various cellular stress conditions, especially cancer. In this study, we abrogated Lcn2 expression in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and evaluated its effect on cellular proliferation, migration, and ferroptotic cell death. MAIN METHODS Validated human Lcn2 CRISPR/Cas9 knockout (KO) and homology-directed repair (HDR) plasmids were co-transfected into MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Lcn2 gene knockout was confirmed at the transcriptional and protein levels using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell proliferation was measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays. Cytotoxicity assay was performed in the presence or absence of erastin, cisplatin (CDDP), and ferrostatin-1 using the CCK-8 method. Ferroptosis level was measured using the malondialdehyde assay lipid peroxidation kit. The migration capacity of the cells was also evaluated using the scratch assay. KEY FINDINGS Targeting Lcn2 using CRISPR/Cas9 reduced cellular proliferation and migration capability, and elevated the vulnerability of MDA-MB-231 cells to cisplatin. Furthermore, Lcn2 expression loss effectively promoted erastin-mediated ferroptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. SIGNIFICANCE Inhibition of Lcn2 is a potentially useful strategy for sensitizing MDA-MB-231 tumor cells to ferroptotic cell death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Rabiee Valashedi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Amaneh Mohammadi Roushandeh
- Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Velayat Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Kazuo Tomita
- Department of Applied Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Kuwahara
- Division of Radiation Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Zahra Pourmohammadi-Bejarpasi
- Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Velayat Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Pouya Safarzadeh Kozani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Tomoaki Sato
- Department of Applied Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Mehryar Habibi Roudkenar
- Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Velayat Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Department of Cardiology, Heshmat Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Papakonstantinou E, Piperigkou Z, Karamanos NK, Zolota V. Altered Adipokine Expression in Tumor Microenvironment Promotes Development of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:4139. [PMID: 36077676 PMCID: PMC9454958 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a remarkably important factor for breast carcinogenesis and aggressiveness. The implication of increased BMI in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) development is also well established. A malignancy-promoting role of the adipose tissue has been supposed, where the adipocytes that constitute the majority of stromal cells release pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. Alterations in adipokines and their receptors play significant roles in breast cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug response. Classic adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, and resistin, have been extensively studied in breast cancer and connected with breast cancer risk and progression. Notably, new molecules are constantly being discovered and the list is continuously growing. Additionally, substantial progress has been made concerning their differential expression in association with clinical and pathological parameters of tumors and the prognostic and predictive value of their dysregulation in breast cancer carcinogenesis. However, evidence regarding the mechanisms by which adipose tissue is involved in the development of TNBC is lacking. In the present article we comment on current data on the suggested involvement of these mediators in breast cancer development and progression, with particular emphasis on TNBC, to draw attention to the design of novel targeted therapies and biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Efthymia Papakonstantinou
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece or
| | - Zoi Piperigkou
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis and Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Nikos K. Karamanos
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis and Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Zolota
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Therapy-induced senescence promotes breast cancer cells plasticity by inducing Lipocalin-2 expression. Oncogene 2022; 41:4361-4370. [PMID: 35953598 PMCID: PMC9482949 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02433-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The acquisition of novel detrimental cellular properties following exposure to cytotoxic drugs leads to aggressive and metastatic tumors that often translates into an incurable disease. While the bulk of the primary tumor is eliminated upon exposure to chemotherapeutic treatment, residual cancer cells and non-transformed cells within the host can engage a stable cell cycle exit program named senescence. Senescent cells secrete a distinct set of pro-inflammatory factors, collectively termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Upon exposure to the SASP, cancer cells undergo cellular plasticity resulting in increased proliferation, migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The molecular mechanisms by which the SASP regulates these pro-tumorigenic features are poorly understood. Here, we report that breast cancer cells exposed to the SASP strongly upregulate Lipocalin-2 (LCN2). Furthermore, we demonstrate that LCN2 is critical for SASP-induced increased migration in breast cancer cells, and its inactivation potentiates the response to chemotherapeutic treatment in mouse models of breast cancer. Finally, we show that neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment leads to LCN2 upregulation in residual human breast tumors, and correlates with worse overall survival. These findings provide the foundation for targeting LCN2 as an adjuvant therapeutic approach to prevent the emergence of aggressive tumors following chemotherapy.
Collapse
|
17
|
Rehman AU, Khan P, Maurya SK, Siddiqui JA, Santamaria-Barria JA, Batra SK, Nasser MW. Liquid biopsies to occult brain metastasis. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:113. [PMID: 35538484 PMCID: PMC9088117 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01577-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain metastasis (BrM) is a major problem associated with cancer-related mortality, and currently, no specific biomarkers are available in clinical settings for early detection. Liquid biopsy is widely accepted as a non-invasive method for diagnosing cancer and other diseases. We have reviewed the evidence that shows how the molecular alterations are involved in BrM, majorly from breast cancer (BC), lung cancer (LC), and melanoma, with an inception in how they can be employed for biomarker development. We discussed genetic and epigenetic changes that influence cancer cells to breach the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and help to establish metastatic lesions in the uniquely distinct brain microenvironment. Keeping abreast with the recent breakthroughs in the context of various biomolecules detections and identifications, the circulating tumor cells (CTC), cell-free nucleotides, non-coding RNAs, secretory proteins, and metabolites can be pursued in human body fluids such as blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine to obtain potential candidates for biomarker development. The liquid biopsy-based biomarkers can overlay with current imaging techniques to amplify the signal viable for improving the early detection and treatments of occult BrM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asad Ur Rehman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | - Parvez Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | - Shailendra Kumar Maurya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | - Jawed A Siddiqui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA.,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | | | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA.,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA.,Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE-68198, USA
| | - Mohd Wasim Nasser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA. .,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Targeting Lipocalin-2 in Inflammatory Breast Cancer Cells with Small Interference RNA and Small Molecule Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168581. [PMID: 34445288 PMCID: PMC8395282 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168581] [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: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is an aggressive form of invasive breast cancer, highly metastatic, representing 2–4% of all breast cancer cases in the United States. Despite its rare nature, IBC is responsible for 7–10% of all breast cancer deaths, with a 5-year survival rate of 40%. Thus, targeted and effective therapies against IBC are needed. Here, we proposed Lipocalin-2 (LCN2)—a secreted glycoprotein aberrantly abundant in different cancers—as a plausible target for IBC. In immunoblotting, we observed higher LCN2 protein levels in IBC cells than non-IBC cells, where the LCN2 levels were almost undetectable. We assessed the biological effects of targeting LCN2 in IBC cells with small interference RNAs (siRNAs) and small molecule inhibitors. siRNA-mediated LCN2 silencing in IBC cells significantly reduced cell proliferation, viability, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, LCN2 silencing promoted apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle progression in the G0/G1 to S phase transition. We used in silico analysis with a library of 25,000 compounds to identify potential LCN2 inhibitors, and four out of sixteen selected compounds significantly decreased cell proliferation, cell viability, and the AKT phosphorylation levels in SUM149 cells. Moreover, ectopically expressing LCN2 MCF7 cells, treated with two potential LCN2 inhibitors (ZINC00784494 and ZINC00640089) showed a significant decrease in cell proliferation. Our findings suggest LCN2 as a promising target for IBC treatment using siRNA and small molecule inhibitors.
Collapse
|