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Ferreres JR, Vinyals A, Campos-Martin R, Espín R, Podlipnik S, Ramos R, Bertran E, Carrera C, Marcoval J, Malvehy J, Fabregat I, Puig S, Fabra À. PRRX1 silencing is required for metastatic outgrowth in melanoma and is an independent prognostic of reduced survival in patients. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38978350 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13688] [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: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is an inducer of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in different types of cancer cells. We detected low PRRX1 expression in nevus but increased levels in primary human melanoma and cell lines carrying the BRAFV600E mutation. High expression of PRRX1 correlates with invasiveness and enrichment of genes belonging to the EMT programme. Conversely, we found that loss of PRRX1 in metastatic samples is an independent prognostic predictor of poor survival for melanoma patients. Here, we show that stable depletion of PRRX1 improves the growth of melanoma xenografts and increases the number of distant spontaneous metastases, compared to controls. We provide evidence that loss of PRRX1 counteracts the EMT phenotype, impairing the expression of other EMT-related transcription factors, causing dysregulation of the ERK and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways, and abrogating the invasive and migratory properties of melanoma cells while triggering the up-regulation of proliferative/melanocytic genes and the expression of the neural-crest-like markers nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR; also known as neurotrophin receptor p75NTR) and neural cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1CAM). Overall, our results indicate that loss of PRRX1 triggers a switch in the invasive programme, and cells de-differentiate towards a neural crest stem cell (NCSC)-like phenotype that accounts for the metastatic aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep R Ferreres
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Dermatology Service, IDIBELL, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antònia Vinyals
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Campos-Martin
- Division of Neurogenetics and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Roderic Espín
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Oncobell Program (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sebastian Podlipnik
- Dermatology Department, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS & University of Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Ramos
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Bertran
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Carrera
- Dermatology Department, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS & University of Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquim Marcoval
- Dermatology Service, IDIBELL, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Malvehy
- Dermatology Department, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS & University of Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Fabregat
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana Puig
- Dermatology Department, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS & University of Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Àngels Fabra
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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MicroRNA as a Diagnostic Tool, Therapeutic Target and Potential Biomarker in Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma Detection—Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065386. [PMID: 36982460 PMCID: PMC10048937 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, causing a large majority of deaths but accounting for only ~1% of all skin cancer cases. The worldwide incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing, causing a serious socio-economic problem. Melanoma is diagnosed mainly in young and middle-aged people, which distinguishes it from other solid tumors detected mainly in mature people. The early detection of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) remains a priority and it is a key factor limiting mortality. Doctors and scientists around the world want to improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment, and are constantly looking for new, promising opportunities, including the use of microRNAs (miRNAs), to fight melanoma cancer. This article reviews miRNA as a potential biomarker and diagnostics tool as a therapeutic drugs in CMM treatment. We also present a review of the current clinical trials being carried out worldwide, in which miRNAs are a target for melanoma treatment.
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Meng Z, Chen Y, Wu W, Yan B, Zhang L, Chen H, Meng Y, Liang Y, Yao X, Luo J. PRRX1 Is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker and Facilitates Tumor Progression Through Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Uveal Melanoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:754645. [PMID: 35281030 PMCID: PMC8914230 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.754645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. UM develops and is sustained by inflammation and immunosuppression from the tumor microenvironment (TME). This study sought to identify a reliable TME-related biomarker that could provide survival prediction and new insight into therapy for UM patients. Based on clinical characteristics and the RNA-seq transcriptome data of 80 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, PRRX1 as a TME- and prognosis-related gene was identified using the ESTIMATE algorithm and the LASSO–Cox regression model. A prognostic model based on PRRX1 was constructed and validated with a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset of 63 samples. High PRRX1 expression was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) in UM patients. Comprehensive results of the prognostic analysis showed that PRRX1 was an independent and reliable predictor of UM. Then the results of immunological characteristics demonstrated that higher expression of PRRX1 was accompanied by higher expression of immune checkpoint genes, lower tumor mutation burden (TMB), and greater tumor cell infiltration into the TME. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that high PRRX1 expression correlated with angiogenesis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inflammation. Furthermore, downregulation of PRRX1 weakened the process of EMT, reduced cell invasion and migration of human UM cell line MuM-2B in vitro. Taken together, these findings indicated that increased PRRX1 expression is independently a prognostic factor of poorer OS and MFS in patients with UM, and that PRRX1 promotes malignant progression of UM by facilitating EMT, suggesting that PRRX1 may be a potential target for UM therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhishang Meng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yanzhu Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wenyi Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lusi Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huihui Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yongan Meng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Youling Liang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoxi Yao
- Shenzhen College of International Education, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Luo,
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Loxl3 Promotes Melanoma Progression and Dissemination Influencing Cell Plasticity and Survival. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051200. [PMID: 35267510 PMCID: PMC8909883 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Malignant melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer due to its aggressive clinical behavior and therapeutic resistance. A comprehensive knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying melanoma progression is urgently needed to improve the survival of melanoma patients. Phenotypic plasticity of melanoma cells has emerged as a key process in melanomagenesis and therapy resistance. This phenotypic plasticity is sustained by an epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT)-like program that favors multiple intermediate states and allows adaptation to changing microenvironments along melanoma progression. Given the essential role of lysyl oxidase-like 3 (LOXL3) in human melanoma cell survival and its contribution to EMT, we generated mice with conditional melanocyte-specific targeting of Loxl3, concomitant to Braf activation and Pten deletion. Our results supported a key role of Loxl3 for melanoma progression, metastatic dissemination, and genomic stability, and supported its contribution to melanoma phenotypic plasticity by modulating the expression of several EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs). Abstract Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive tumor causing most skin cancer-related deaths. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms responsible for melanoma progression and therapeutic evasion is still an unmet need for melanoma patients. Progression of skin melanoma and its dissemination to local or distant organs relies on phenotypic plasticity of melanoma cells, orchestrated by EMT-TFs and microphthalmia-associated TF (MITF). Recently, melanoma phenotypic switching has been proposed to uphold context-dependent intermediate cell states benefitting malignancy. LOXL3 (lysyl oxidase-like 3) promotes EMT and has a key role in human melanoma cell survival and maintenance of genomic integrity. To further understand the role of Loxl3 in melanoma, we generated a conditional Loxl3-knockout (KO) melanoma mouse model in the context of BrafV600E-activating mutation and Pten loss. Melanocyte-Loxl3 deletion increased melanoma latency, decreased tumor growth, and reduced lymph node metastatic dissemination. Complementary in vitro and in vivo studies in mouse melanoma cells confirmed Loxl3’s contribution to melanoma progression and metastasis, in part by modulating phenotypic switching through Snail1 and Prrx1 EMT-TFs. Importantly, a novel LOXL3-SNAIL1-PRRX1 axis was identified in human melanoma, plausibly relevant to melanoma cellular plasticity. These data reinforced the value of LOXL3 as a therapeutic target in melanoma.
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Du W, Liu X, Yang M, Wang W, Sun J. The Regulatory Role of PRRX1 in Cancer Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:4223-4229. [PMID: 34295164 PMCID: PMC8291965 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s316102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PRRX1 (paired related homeobox 1), a member of the paired homeobox family, exhibits an important role in tumor. It is closely correlated to the occurrence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). PRRX1 is an important transcription factor regulating EMT and plays an important role in tumor progression. In the process of tumor metastasis, PRRX1 mainly regulates the occurrence of EMT in tumor cells through TGF-β signaling pathway, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and Notch signaling pathway. PRRX1 is not only closely related to the tumor cell stemness but also involved in miRNA regulation of EMT. Therefore, PRRX1 may be a target for inhibiting the proliferation, metastasis and stemness of tumor cells. The current review provides a systemic profile of the regulatory role of PRRX1 in cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Du
- Institute of Medical Biotechnology, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinchang Liu
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Man Yang
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Weipeng Wang
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Sun
- Institute of Medical Biotechnology, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215009, People's Republic of China
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