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Zhang Z, Lu Y, Vosoughi S, Levy J, Christensen B, Salas L. HiTAIC: hierarchical tumor artificial intelligence classifier traces tissue of origin and tumor type in primary and metastasized tumors using DNA methylation. NAR Cancer 2023; 5:zcad017. [PMID: 37089814 PMCID: PMC10113876 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cancers are heterogenous by their cell composition and origination site. Cancer metastasis generates the conundrum of the unknown origin of migrated tumor cells. Tracing tissue of origin and tumor type in primary and metastasized cancer is vital for clinical significance. DNA methylation alterations play a crucial role in carcinogenesis and mark cell fate differentiation, thus can be used to trace tumor tissue of origin. In this study, we employed a novel tumor-type-specific hierarchical model using genome-scale DNA methylation data to develop a multilayer perceptron model, HiTAIC, to trace tissue of origin and tumor type in 27 cancers from 23 tissue sites in data from 7735 tumors with high resolution, accuracy, and specificity. In tracing primary cancer origin, HiTAIC accuracy was 99% in the test set and 93% in the external validation data set. Metastatic cancers were identified with a 96% accuracy in the external data set. HiTAIC is a user-friendly web-based application through https://sites.dartmouth.edu/salaslabhitaic/. In conclusion, we developed HiTAIC, a DNA methylation-based algorithm, to trace tumor tissue of origin in primary and metastasized cancers. The high accuracy and resolution of tumor tracing using HiTAIC holds promise for clinical assistance in identifying cancer of unknown origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Quantitative Biomedical Sciences Program, Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Yunrui Lu
- Quantitative Biomedical Sciences Program, Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Soroush Vosoughi
- Department of Computer Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Joshua J Levy
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Quantitative Biomedical Sciences Program, Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
- Department of Pathology and Dermatology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Brock C Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Quantitative Biomedical Sciences Program, Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Lucas A Salas
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 603 646 5420;
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2
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Santourlidis S, Schulz WA, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Gerovska D, Ott P, Bendhack ML, Hassan M, Erichsen L. Epigenetics in the Diagnosis and Therapy of Malignant Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031531. [PMID: 35163453 PMCID: PMC8835790 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are fundamentally important for cancer initiation and development. However, a survey of the literature reveals that, to date, they appear less comprehensively investigated in melanoma than in many other cancers, e.g., prostate, breast, and colon carcinoma. The aim of this review is to provide a short summary of epigenetic aspects of functional relevance for melanoma pathogenesis. In addition, some new perspectives from epigenetic research in other cancers with potential for melanoma diagnosis and therapy are introduced. For example, the PrimeEpiHit hypothesis in urothelial carcinoma, which, similarly to malignant melanoma, can also be triggered by a single exogenous noxa, states that one of the first steps for cancer initiation could be epigenetic changes in key genes of one-carbon metabolism. The application of such insights may contribute to further progress in the diagnosis and therapy of melanoma, a deadly type of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon Santourlidis
- Epigenetics Core Laboratory, Institute of Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany; (S.S.); (P.O.)
| | - Wolfgang A. Schulz
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany;
| | - Marcos J. Araúzo-Bravo
- Group of Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain; (M.J.A.-B.); (D.G.)
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Daniela Gerovska
- Group of Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain; (M.J.A.-B.); (D.G.)
| | - Pauline Ott
- Epigenetics Core Laboratory, Institute of Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany; (S.S.); (P.O.)
| | - Marcelo L. Bendhack
- Department of Urology, University Hospital, Positivo University, Curitiba 80030-200, Brazil;
| | - Mohamed Hassan
- Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherché Médicale, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Lars Erichsen
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-0211-81-16905
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3
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Scattone NV, Epiphanio TMF, Caddrobi KG, Ferrão JSP, Hernandez-Blazquez FJ, Loureiro APDM, Massoco CDO, Dagli MLZ. Quantification of Global DNA Methylation in Canine Melanotic and Amelanotic Oral Mucosal Melanomas and Peripheral Blood Leukocytes From the Same Patients With OMM: First Study. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:680181. [PMID: 34504885 PMCID: PMC8421724 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.680181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral mucosal melanomas (OMMs) are aggressive and resistant cancers of high importance in veterinary oncology. Amelanotic OMM produces comparatively less melanin and is considered to be more aggressive than melanotic OMM. Global DNA methylation profiles with hypomethylated or hypermethylated patterns have both been associated with aggressive neoplasms; however, global DNA hypomethylation seems to correlate to higher aggressiveness. Accordingly, global DNA methylation in peripheral blood leukocytes has been investigated to understand the role of systemic or environmental factors in cancer development. This study aimed to quantify global DNA methylation in canine melanotic and amelanotic OMM samples and in the peripheral blood leukocytes of the same dogs. Tumor tissue samples were collected from 38 dogs, of which 19 were melanotic and 19 were amelanotic OMM. These were submitted to immunohistochemistry (IHC) with anti-5-methylcytosine (5mC) and anti-Ki67 primary antibodies. Ki67- and 5mC-positive nuclei were manually scored with the help of an image analysis system. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 18 among the 38 OMM-bearing dogs and from 7 additional healthy control dogs. Peripheral blood leukocytes were isolated from the 25 dogs, and DNA was extracted and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for global DNA methylation. The pattern of global DNA methylation in both canine melanotic and amelanotic OMM indicated higher percentages of weakly or negatively stained nuclei in most of the OMM cells, presuming predominant global DNA hypomethylation. In addition, Ki67 counts in amelanotic OMM were significantly higher than those in melanotic OMM (p < 0.001). Global DNA methylation different immunostaining patterns (strong, weak or negative) correlated with Ki67 scores. Global DNA methylation in circulating leukocytes did not differ between the 9 melanotic and 9 amelanotic OMM or between the 18 OMM-bearing dogs and the 7 healthy dogs. This study provides new information on canine melanotic and amelanotic OMM based on global DNA methylation and cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayra Villar Scattone
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tatiane Moreno Ferrarias Epiphanio
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Ana Paula de Melo Loureiro
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristina de Oliveira Massoco
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Lucia Zaidan Dagli
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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4
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Dobre EG, Constantin C, Costache M, Neagu M. Interrogating Epigenome toward Personalized Approach in Cutaneous Melanoma. J Pers Med 2021; 11:901. [PMID: 34575678 PMCID: PMC8467841 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11090901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations have emerged as essential contributors in the pathogenesis of various human diseases, including cutaneous melanoma (CM). Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic modifications are highly dynamic and reversible and thus easy to regulate. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the latest research findings on the role of genetic and epigenetic alterations in CM initiation and development. We believe that a better understanding of how aberrant DNA methylation and histone modifications, along with other molecular processes, affect the genesis and clinical behavior of CM can provide the clinical management of this disease a wide range of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as potential therapeutic targets that can be used to prevent or abrogate drug resistance. We will also approach the modalities by which these epigenetic alterations can be used to customize the therapeutic algorithms in CM, the current status of epi-therapies, and the preliminary results of epigenetic and traditional combinatorial pharmacological approaches in this fatal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena-Georgiana Dobre
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91–95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (M.C.); (M.N.)
| | - Carolina Constantin
- Immunology Department, “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania;
- Pathology Department, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marieta Costache
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91–95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (M.C.); (M.N.)
| | - Monica Neagu
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91–95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (M.C.); (M.N.)
- Immunology Department, “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania;
- Pathology Department, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
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5
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Mo J, Zhao X, Wang W, Zhao N, Dong X, Zhang Y, Cheng R, Sun B. TFPI2 Promotes Perivascular Migration in an Angiotropism Model of Melanoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:662434. [PMID: 34249699 PMCID: PMC8264799 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.662434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Angiotropism is the process by which cancer cells attach to and migrate along blood vessels to acquire vasculature, disseminate, and metastasize. However, the molecular basis for such vessel–tumor interactions has not been fully elucidated, partly due to limited experimental models. In this study, we aimed to observe and explore the molecular mechanism underlying angiotropism in melanoma. Methods To monitor the interactions of human melanoma cells with the vasculature in vivo, a murine coxenograft model was employed by co-injecting highly and poorly invasive melanoma cells subcutaneously. To identify key pathways and genes involved in the angiotropic phenotype of melanoma, analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed. The role of tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2) in angiotropism was evaluated by immunostaining, adhesion assay, shRNA, and in vivo tumorigenicity. Angiotropism and TFPI2 expression were examined in surgical specimens of melanoma by immunohistochemical staining. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed to explore the expression and prognostic implications of TFPI2 in uveal and cutaneous melanoma. Results Highly invasive melanoma cells spread along the branches of intratumor blood vessels to the leading edge of invasion in the coxenograft model, resembling angiotropic migration. Mechanisms underlying angiotropism were primarily associated with molecular function regulators, regulation of cell population proliferation, developmental processes, cell differentiation, responses to cytokines and cell motility/locomotion. TFPI2 downregulation weakened the perivascular migration of highly invasive melanoma cells. High levels of TFPI2 were correlated with worse and better survival in uveal and cutaneous melanoma, respectively. Conclusion These results provide a straightforward in vivo model for the observation of angiotropism and suggest that TFPI2 could inhibit the angiotropic phenotype of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Mo
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiulan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Nan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xueyi Dong
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanhui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Runfen Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Baocun Sun
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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6
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E Lang U. Primary cilia: putting a sensor on the underlying melanocytic tumor cell state. Melanoma Manag 2020; 7:MMT40. [PMID: 32821372 PMCID: PMC7426744 DOI: 10.2217/mmt-2020-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ursula E Lang
- Department of Pathology, Dermatopathology Service, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.,Department of Pathology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
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7
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Czarnecka AM, Bartnik E, Fiedorowicz M, Rutkowski P. Targeted Therapy in Melanoma and Mechanisms of Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134576. [PMID: 32605090 PMCID: PMC7369697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The common mutation BRAFV600 in primary melanomas activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway and the introduction of proto-oncogene B-Raf (BRAF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors (BRAFi and MEKi) was a breakthrough in the treatment of these cancers. However, 15–20% of tumors harbor primary resistance to this therapy, and moreover, patients develop acquired resistance to treatment. Understanding the molecular phenomena behind resistance to BRAFi/MEKis is indispensable in order to develop novel targeted therapies. Most often, resistance develops due to either the reactivation of the MAPK/ERK pathway or the activation of alternative kinase signaling pathways including phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), neurofibromin 1 (NF-1) or RAS signaling. The hyperactivation of tyrosine kinase receptors, such as the receptor of the platelet-derived growth factor β (PDFRβ), insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) and the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), lead to the induction of the AKT/3-phosphoinositol kinase (PI3K) pathway. Another pathway resulting in BRAFi/MEKi resistance is the hyperactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling or the deregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Czarnecka
- Department of Soft Tissue/Bone, Sarcoma and Melanoma, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland;
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Ewa Bartnik
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland;
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Fiedorowicz
- Small Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Laboratory, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland;
- Interinstitute Laboratory of New Diagnostic Applications of MRI, Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Rutkowski
- Department of Soft Tissue/Bone, Sarcoma and Melanoma, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland;
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8
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Yamamoto Y, Matsusaka K, Fukuyo M, Rahmutulla B, Matsue H, Kaneda A. Higher methylation subtype of malignant melanoma and its correlation with thicker progression and worse prognosis. Cancer Med 2020; 9:7194-7204. [PMID: 32406600 PMCID: PMC7541157 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma (MM) is the most life‐threatening disease among all skin malignancies, and recent genome‐wide studies reported BRAF, RAS, and NF1 as the most frequently mutated driver genes. While epigenetic aberrations are known to contribute to the oncogenic activity seen in various cancers, their role in MM has not been fully investigated. To investigate the role of epigenetic aberrations in MM, we performed genome‐wide DNA methylation analysis of 51 clinical MM samples using Infinium 450k beadarray. Hierarchical clustering analysis stratified MM into two DNA methylation epigenotypes: high‐ and low‐methylation subgroups. Tumor thickness was significantly greater in case of high‐methylation tumors than low‐methylation tumors (8.3 ± 5.3 mm vs 4.5 ± 2.9 mm, P = .003). Moreover, prognosis was significantly worse in high‐methylation cases (P = .03). Twenty‐seven genes were found to undergo significant and frequent hypermethylation in high‐methylation subgroup, where TFPI2 was identified as the most frequently hypermethylated gene. MM cases with lower expression levels of TFPI2 showed significantly worse prognosis (P = .001). Knockdown of TFPI2 in two MM cell lines, CHL‐1 and G361, resulted in significant increases of cell proliferation and invasion. These indicate that MM can be stratified into at least two different epigenetic subgroups, that the MM subgroup with higher DNA methylation shows a more progressive phenotype, and that methylation of TFPI2 may contribute to the tumor progression of MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Yamamoto
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.,Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Keisuke Matsusaka
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaki Fukuyo
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.,Department of Genome Research and Development, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba, Japan
| | - Bahityar Rahmutulla
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Matsue
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kaneda
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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