1
|
Chen AM. Translational risk-adapted approaches to de-escalated radiation for human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer: Past, present, and future. Oral Oncol 2024; 154:106850. [PMID: 38749113 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Interest in the use of de-escalated radiation to treat patients with newly diagnosed human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer has grown dramatically with the publication of prospective trials demonstrating the efficacy of such an approach. While the rationale for de-escalation--- namely to decrease treatment-related toxicity while maintaining the excellent rates of disease control historically observed in patients with this disease-is inherently obvious, uncertainty exists regarding how to best select patients for de-escalation. Consequently, risk-adapted strategies using a variety of translational and clinical platforms have been increasingly popularized to better refine treatment. These have integrated contemporary methods of mid-treatment response assessment using advanced technologies and molecular assays to customize the radiation dose. By monitoring the response as patients actively proceed through treatment, risk-adapted protocols have the potential to provide insight into the biological behavior of tumors and make individualized therapy possible. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence to date on risk-adapted approaches to de-escalated radiation-- highlighting the clinical, radiological, and biological data which may ultimately help usher the principles of precision medicine into practice for patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allen M Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California- Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92617, United states.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mao W, Wang B, Huang R, Sun Z, Yan M, Dong P. Histone modifications in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1427725. [PMID: 38983924 PMCID: PMC11231198 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1427725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer is the main cause of cancer death worldwide, with squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) being the second most frequent subtype. HNSCC poses significant health threats due to its high incidence and poor prognosis, underscoring the urgent need for advanced research. Histone modifications play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression and influencing various biological processes. In the context of HNSCC, aberrant histone modifications are increasingly recognized as critical contributors to its development and pathologic progression. This review demonstrates the molecular mechanisms, by which histone modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination, impact the pathogenesis of HNSCC. The dysregulation of histone-modifying enzymes, including histone acetyltransferases (HATs), histone deacetylases (HDACs), and histone methyltransferases (HMTs), is discussed for its role in altering chromatin structure and gene expression in HNSCC. Moreover, we will explore the potential of targeting histone modifications as a therapeutic strategy, highlighting current preclinical and clinical studies that investigate histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) and other epigenetic drugs, referring to the completed and ongoing clinical trials on those medications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Mao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Baoxin Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruofei Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenfeng Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Minzhu Yan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pin Dong
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yarbrough WG, Schrank TP, Burtness BA, Issaeva N. De-Escalated Therapy and Early Treatment of Recurrences in HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer: The Potential for Biomarkers to Revolutionize Personalized Therapy. Viruses 2024; 16:536. [PMID: 38675879 PMCID: PMC11053602 DOI: 10.3390/v16040536] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus-associated (HPV+) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common HPV-associated cancer in the United States, with a rapid increase in incidence over the last two decades. The burden of HPV+ HNSCC is likely to continue to rise, and given the long latency between infection and the development of HPV+ HNSCC, it is estimated that the effect of the HPV vaccine will not be reflected in HNSCC prevalence until 2060. Efforts have begun to decrease morbidity of standard therapies for this disease, and its improved characterization is being leveraged to identify and target molecular vulnerabilities. Companion biomarkers for new therapies will identify responsive tumors. A more basic understanding of two mechanisms of HPV carcinogenesis in the head and neck has identified subtypes of HPV+ HNSCC that correlate with different carcinogenic programs and that identify tumors with good or poor prognosis. Current development of biomarkers that reliably identify these two subtypes, as well as biomarkers that can detect recurrent disease at an earlier time, will have immediate clinical application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wendell G. Yarbrough
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (T.P.S.); (N.I.)
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Travis P. Schrank
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (T.P.S.); (N.I.)
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Barbara A. Burtness
- Department of Medicine, Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA;
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Natalia Issaeva
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (T.P.S.); (N.I.)
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Guo T, Zamuner F, Ting S, Chen L, Rooper L, Tamayo P, Fakhry C, Gaykalova D, Mehra R. Clinical and genomic characterization of chemoradiation-resistant HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1336577. [PMID: 38505587 PMCID: PMC10949886 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1336577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Most patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) have an excellent response to chemoradiation, and trials are now investigating de-escalated treatment. However, up to 25% of patients with HPV-positive OPSCC will experience recurrence, and up to 5% will even progress through primary treatment. Currently, there are no molecular markers to identify patients with poor prognosis who would be harmed by de-escalation. Herein we report the clinical and genomic characteristics of persistent HPV-positive OPSCC after definitive platinum-based chemoradiation therapy. Methods Patients with HPV-positive OPSCC treated with curative intent platinum-based chemoradiation between 2007 and 2017 at two institutions and with a persistent locoregional disease were included. We evaluated clinical characteristics, including smoking status, age, stage, treatment, and overall survival. A subset of five patients had tissue available for targeted exome DNA sequencing and RNA sequencing. Genomic analysis was compared to a previously published cohort of 47 treatment-responsive HPV+ OPSCC tumors after batch correction. Mutational landscape, pathway activation, and OncoGPS tumor states were employed to characterize these tumors. Results Ten patients met the inclusion criteria. The tumor and nodal stages ranged from T1 to T4 and N1 to N2 by AJCC 8th edition staging. All patients were p16-positive by immunohistochemistry, and eight with available in situ hybridization were confirmed to be HPV-positive. The 1-year overall survival from the time of diagnosis was 57%, and the 2-year overall survival was 17%. TP53 mutations were present in three of five (60%) persistent tumors compared to 2% (one of 47) of treatment-responsive HPV-positive tumors (p = 0.008). Other genes with recurrent mutations in persistent HPV-positive OPSCC tumors were NF1, KMT2D, PIK3C2B, and TFGBR2. Compared to treatment-responsive HPV-positive tumors, persistent tumors demonstrated activation of DNA Repair and p53, EMT, MYC, SRC, and TGF-beta signaling pathways, with post-treatment samples demonstrating significant activation of the PI3K-EMT-Stem pathways compared to pretreatment samples. Conclusion Chemoradiation-resistant HPV-positive OPSCC occurs infrequently but portends a poor prognosis. These tumors demonstrate higher rates of p53 mutation and activation of MYC, SRC, and TGF-beta pathways. A comparison of tumors before and after treatment demonstrates PI3K-EMT-Stem pathways post-treatment in HPV-positive tumors with persistent disease after platinum-based chemoradiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Guo
- Department of Otolaryngology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Fernando Zamuner
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Stephanie Ting
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Liam Chen
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Lisa Rooper
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Pablo Tamayo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Carole Fakhry
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Daria Gaykalova
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ranee Mehra
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Schrank TP, Kothari A, Weir WH, Stepp WH, Rehmani H, Liu X, Wang X, Sewell A, Li X, Tasoulas J, Kim S, Yarbrough G, Xie Y, Flamand Y, Marur S, Hayward MC, Wu D, Burtness B, Anderson KS, Baldwin AS, Yarbrough WG, Issaeva N. Noncanonical HPV carcinogenesis drives radiosensitization of head and neck tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216532120. [PMID: 37523561 PMCID: PMC10410762 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216532120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We analyzed transcriptional data from 104 HPV+ (Human papillomavirus) HNSCC (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma) tumors together with two publicly available sources to identify highly robust transcriptional programs (modules) which could be detected consistently despite heterogeneous sequencing and quantification methodologies. Among 22 modules identified, we found a single module that naturally subclassifies HPV+ HNSCC tumors based on a bimodal pattern of gene expression, clusters all atypical features of HPV+ HNSCC biology into a single subclass, and predicts patient outcome in four independent cohorts. The subclass-defining gene set was strongly correlated with Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) target expression. Tumors with high expression of this NF-κB module were rarely associated with activating PIK3CA alterations or viral integration, and also expressed higher levels of HPHPV E2 and had decreased APOBEC mutagenesis. Alternatively, they harbored inactivating alterations of key regulators of NF-κB, TNF receptor associated factor 3 (TRAF3), and cylindromatosis (CYLD), as well as retinoblastoma protein (RB1). HPV+ HNSCC cells in culture with experimental depletion of TRAF3 or CYLD displayed increased expression of the subclass-defining genes, as well as robust radio-sensitization, thus recapitulating both the tumor transcriptional state and improved treatment response observed in patient data. Across all gene sets investigated, methylation to expression correlations were the strongest for the subclass-defining, NF-κB-related genes. Increased tumor-infiltrating CD4+ T cells and increased Estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) expression were identified in NF-κB active tumors. Based on the relatively high rates of cure in HPV+ HNSCC, deintensification of therapy to reduce treatment-related morbidity is being studied at many institutions. Tumor subclassification based on oncogenic subtypes may help guide the selection of therapeutic intensity or modality for patients with HPV+ HNSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Travis P. Schrank
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Lineberger Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Aditi Kothari
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Lineberger Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - William H. Weir
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Wesley H. Stepp
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Hina Rehmani
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Lineberger Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Xinyi Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL60612
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL60612
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL60612
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL60612
| | - Andrew Sewell
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Jason Tasoulas
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Sulgi Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Gray Yarbrough
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Yue Xie
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network Biostatistics Center, Boston, MA02109
| | - Yael Flamand
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network Biostatistics Center, Boston, MA02109
| | - Shanthi Marur
- Johns Hopkins Univ/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD21231
| | - Michele C. Hayward
- Lineberger Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Barbara Burtness
- Department of Internal Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT06510
| | - Karen S. Anderson
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Albert S. Baldwin
- Lineberger Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Wendell G. Yarbrough
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Lineberger Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Natalia Issaeva
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Lineberger Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tasoulas J, Srivastava S, Xu X, Tarasova V, Maniakas A, Karreth FA, Amelio AL. Genetically engineered mouse models of head and neck cancers. Oncogene 2023; 42:2593-2609. [PMID: 37474617 PMCID: PMC10457205 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02783-7] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The head and neck region is one of the anatomic sites commonly afflicted by cancer, with ~1.5 million new diagnoses reported worldwide in 2020 alone. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the underlying disease mechanisms, personalizing care based on each tumor's individual molecular characteristics, and even therapeutically exploiting the inherent vulnerabilities of these neoplasms. In this regard, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) have played an instrumental role. While progress in the development of GEMMs has been slower than in other major cancer types, several GEMMs are now available that recapitulate most of the heterogeneous characteristics of head and neck cancers such as the tumor microenvironment. Different approaches have been employed in GEMM development and implementation, though each can generally recapitulate only certain disease aspects. As a result, appropriate model selection is essential for addressing specific research questions. In this review, we present an overview of all currently available head and neck cancer GEMMs, encompassing models for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and salivary and thyroid gland carcinomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Tasoulas
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sonal Srivastava
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Xiaonan Xu
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Valentina Tarasova
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Anastasios Maniakas
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Florian A Karreth
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Antonio L Amelio
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sutera P, Skinner H, Witek M, Mishra M, Kwok Y, Davicioni E, Feng F, Song D, Nichols E, Tran PT, Bergom C. Histology Specific Molecular Biomarkers: Ushering in a New Era of Precision Radiation Oncology. Semin Radiat Oncol 2023; 33:232-242. [PMID: 37331778 PMCID: PMC10446901 DOI: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Histopathology and clinical staging have historically formed the backbone for allocation of treatment decisions in oncology. Although this has provided an extremely practical and fruitful approach for decades, it has long been evident that these data alone do not adequately capture the heterogeneity and breadth of disease trajectories experienced by patients. As efficient and affordable DNA and RNA sequencing have become available, the ability to provide precision therapy has become within grasp. This has been realized with systemic oncologic therapy, as targeted therapies have demonstrated immense promise for subsets of patients with oncogene-driver mutations. Further, several studies have evaluated predictive biomarkers for response to systemic therapy within a variety of malignancies. Within radiation oncology, the use of genomics/transcriptomics to guide the use, dose, and fractionation of radiation therapy is rapidly evolving but still in its infancy. The genomic adjusted radiation dose/radiation sensitivity index is one such early and exciting effort to provide genomically guided radiation dosing with a pan-cancer approach. In addition to this broad method, a histology specific approach to precision radiation therapy is also underway. Herein we review select literature surrounding the use of histology specific, molecular biomarkers to allow for precision radiotherapy with the greatest emphasis on commercially available and prospectively validated biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Sutera
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Heath Skinner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Matthew Witek
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark Mishra
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Young Kwok
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Felix Feng
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Medicine and Urology, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Song
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth Nichols
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Phuoc T. Tran
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carmen Bergom
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Salahuddin S, Cohen O, Wu M, Perez Irizarry J, Vega T, Gan G, Deng Y, Isaeva N, Prasad M, Schalper KA, Mehra S, Yarbrough WG, Emu B. Human Immunodeficiency Virus Is Associated With Poor Overall Survival Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 76:1449-1458. [PMID: 36520995 PMCID: PMC10319962 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac924] [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: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) occurs at higher rates among persons with HIV (PWH). This study compares the impact of sociodemographic and clinicopathologic characteristics on outcomes among PWH-HNSCC compared with HNSCC patients without HIV. METHODS Patient data from HNSCC individuals were collected at a single academic hospital center between 2002 and 2018. Forty-eight patients with HIV (HIV-HNSCC) and 2894 HNSCC patients without HIV were included. Multivariate analysis determined predictors of survival using Cox proportional hazards regression model. HIV-positive and -negative tumors were analyzed by quantitative immunofluorescence for expression of CD4, CD8, CD20 and PD-L1. RESULTS HIV-HNSCC patients had a lower median overall survival than HNSCC patients without HIV (34 [18-84] vs 94 [86-103] months; P < .001). In multivariate analysis that included age, sex, race/ethnicity, stage, site, tobacco use, time to treatment initiation, and insurance status, HIV was an independent predictor of poorer survival, with a hazard ratio of 1.98 (95% CI: 1.32-2.97; P < .001). PWH with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal tumors also had worse prognosis than HPV-positive oropharyngeal tumors in the population without HIV (P < .001). The tumor microenvironment among HIV-HNSCC patients revealed lower intratumoral CD8 infiltration among HIV+ HPV+ tumors compared with HIV- HPV+ tumors (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS HIV-HNSCC patients had worse prognosis than the non-HIV population, with HIV being an independent predictor of poor clinical outcomes when accounting for important sociodemographic and clinicopathologic factors. Our findings highlight differences in tumor biology that require further detailed characterization in large cohorts and increased inclusion of PWH in immunotherapy trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Syim Salahuddin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Oded Cohen
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka Medical Center, Scarsdale, New York, USA
| | - Margaret Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Teresita Vega
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Geliang Gan
- Yale Center for Analytic Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yanhong Deng
- Yale Center for Analytic Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Natalia Isaeva
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Manju Prasad
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kurt A Schalper
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Saral Mehra
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Wendell G Yarbrough
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brinda Emu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Treating Head and Neck Cancer in the Age of Immunotherapy: A 2023 Update. Drugs 2023; 83:217-248. [PMID: 36645621 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01835-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Most patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) will present with locally advanced disease, requiring multimodality therapy. While this approach has a curative intent, a significant subset of these patients will develop locoregional failure and/or distant metastases. The prognosis of these patients is poor, and therapeutic options other than palliative chemotherapy are urgently needed. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression is an important factor in the pathogenesis of HNSCC, and a decade ago, the EGFR targeting monoclonal antibody cetuximab was approved for the treatment of late-stage HNSCC in different settings. In 2016, the anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab were both approved for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy, and in 2019, pembrolizumab was approved for first-line treatment (either as monotherapy in PD-L1 expressing tumors, or in combination with chemotherapy). Currently, trials are ongoing to include immune checkpoint inhibition in the (neo)adjuvant treatment of HNSCC as well as in novel combinations with other drugs in the recurrent/metastatic setting to improve response rates and survival and help overcome resistance mechanisms to immune checkpoint blockade. This article provides a comprehensive review of the management of head and neck cancers in the current era of immunotherapy.
Collapse
|
10
|
Schrank TP, Landess L, Stepp WH, Rehmani H, Weir WH, Lenze N, Lal A, Wu D, Kothari A, Hackman TG, Sheth S, Patel S, Jefferys SR, Issaeva N, Yarbrough WG. Comprehensive Viral Genotyping Reveals Prognostic Viral Phylogenetic Groups in HPV16-Associated Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:1489-1501. [PMID: 35731223 PMCID: PMC11249119 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (OPSCC) is the most prevalent HPV-associated malignancy in the United States and is primarily caused by HPV subtype 16 (HPV16). Favorable treatment outcomes have led to increasing interest in treatment deescalation to reduce treatment-related morbidity. Prognostic biomarkers are needed to identify appropriately low-risk patients for reduced treatment intensity. Targeted DNA sequencing including all HPV16 open reading frames was performed on tumors from 104 patients with HPV16+ OPSCC treated at a single center. Genotypes closely related to the HPV16-A1 reference were associated with increased numbers of somatic copy-number variants in the human genome and poor recurrence-free survival (RFS). Genotypes divergent from HPV16-A1 were associated with favorable RFS. These findings were independent of tobacco smoke exposure. Total RNA sequencing was performed on a second independent cohort of 89 HPV16+ OPSCC cases. HPV16 genotypes divergent from HPV16-A1 were again validated in this independent cohort, to be prognostic of improved RFS in patients with moderate (less than 30 pack-years) or low (no more than 10 pack-years) of tobacco smoke exposure. In summary, we show in two independent cohorts that viral sequence divergence from the HPV16-A1 reference is correlated with improved RFS in patients with moderate or low tobacco smoke exposure. IMPLICATIONS HPV16 genotype is a potential biomarker that could be easily adopted to guide therapeutic decision-making related to deescalation therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Travis P Schrank
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Lee Landess
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Wesley H Stepp
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Hina Rehmani
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - William H Weir
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Nicholas Lenze
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Asim Lal
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Di Wu
- Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Aditi Kothari
- Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Trevor G Hackman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Siddharth Sheth
- Department of Medicne, Division of Oncology, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Shetal Patel
- Department of Medicne, Division of Oncology, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Stuart R Jefferys
- Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Natalia Issaeva
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Wendell G Yarbrough
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Direct Comparison of HPV16 Viral Genomic Integration, Copy Loss, and Structural Variants in Oropharyngeal and Uterine Cervical Cancers Reveal Distinct Relationships to E2 Disruption and Somatic Alteration. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184488. [PMID: 36139648 PMCID: PMC9496734 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx caused by HPV type 16 (HPV16+ OPSCC) is the most common HPV-associated malignancy in the USA and has many molecular differences from uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma (UCSCC). Our understanding of HPV oncogenesis relied on studies of UCSCC revealing a consensus model reliant on HPV integration with a loss of E2. Here, we compare patterns of HPV integration in UCSCC and OPSCC by analysis of affinity capture sequencing of the HPV16 genome in 104 OPSCC and 44 UCSCC tumors. These cohorts were contemporaneously sequenced using an identical strategy. Integration was identified using discordant read pair clustering and assembly-based approaches. Viral integration sites, structural variants, and copy losses were examined. While large-scale deep losses of HPV16 genes were common in UCSCC and were associated with E2 loss, deep copy losses of the HPV16 genome were infrequent in HPV16+ OPSCC. Similarly, structural variants within HPV16 favored E2 loss in UCSCC but not OPSCC. HPV16 integration sites were non-random, with recurrent integration hot-spots identified. OPSCC tumors had many more integration sites per tumor when compared to UCSCC and had more integration sites in genomic regions with high gene density. These data show that viral integration and E2 disruption are distinct in UCSCC and OPSCC. Our findings also add to growing literature suggesting that HPV tumorigenesis in OPSCC does not follow the model developed based on UCSCC.
Collapse
|
12
|
Murphy RM, Tasoulas J, Porrello A, Carper MB, Tsai YH, Coffey AR, Kumar S, Zeng PYF, Schrank TP, Midkiff BR, Cohen S, Salazar AH, Hayward MC, Hayes DN, Olshan A, Gupta GP, Nichols AC, Yarbrough WG, Pecot CV, Amelio AL. Tumor Cell Extrinsic Synaptogyrin 3 Expression as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Head and Neck Cancer. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:987-1004. [PMID: 36148399 PMCID: PMC9491693 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-21-0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Over 70% of oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) cases in the United States are positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) yet biomarkers for stratifying oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) patient risk are limited. We used immunogenomics to identify differentially expressed genes in immune cells of HPV(+) and HPV(-) squamous carcinomas. Candidate genes were tested in clinical specimens using both quantitative RT-PCR and IHC and validated by IHC using the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study (CHANCE) tissue microarray of HNSC cases. We performed multiplex immunofluorescent staining to confirm expression within the immune cells of HPV(+) tumors, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, and assessed survival outcomes. The neuronal gene Synaptogyrin-3 (SYNGR3) is robustly expressed in immune cells of HPV(+) squamous cancers. Multiplex immunostaining and single cell RNA-seq analyses confirmed SYNGR3 expression in T cells, but also unexpectedly in B cells of HPV(+) tumors. ROC curve analyses revealed that combining SYNGR3 and p16 provides more sensitivity and specificity for HPV detection compared to p16 IHC alone. SYNGR3-high HNSC patients have significantly better prognosis with five-year OS and DSS rates of 60% and 71%, respectively. Moreover, combining p16 localization and SYNGR3 expression can further risk stratify HPV(+) patients such that high cytoplasmic, low nuclear p16 do significantly worse (Hazard Ratio, 8.6; P = 0.032) compared to patients with high cytoplasmic, high nuclear p16. SYNGR3 expression in T and B cells is associated with HPV status and enhanced survival outcomes of HNSC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M. Murphy
- Graduate Curriculum in Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jason Tasoulas
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Alessandro Porrello
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Miranda B. Carper
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Yi-Hsuan Tsai
- Bioinformatics Core, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Alisha R. Coffey
- Bioinformatics Core, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Technology Development, Naveris Inc., Natick, Massachusetts
| | - Peter YF. Zeng
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Travis P. Schrank
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Bentley R. Midkiff
- Pathology Services Core, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Stephanie Cohen
- Pathology Services Core, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Ashley H. Salazar
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Michele C. Hayward
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - D. Neil Hayes
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Sciences, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Andrew Olshan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Gaorav P. Gupta
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Anthony C. Nichols
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wendell G. Yarbrough
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Chad V. Pecot
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Antonio L. Amelio
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Cancer Cell Biology Program, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lopez DC, Hoke AT, Rooper LM, London NR. Human Papillomavirus-Related Carcinomas of the Sinonasal Tract. CURRENT OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 10:291-302. [PMID: 36311560 PMCID: PMC9610077 DOI: 10.1007/s40136-022-00404-7] [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] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of review The sinonasal tract is home to a uniquely heterogenous collection of malignant tumors. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been detected in a number of these, but the virus' role as an oncogenic driver or coincidental finding remains unclear. We aim to highlight five sinonasal tumor types and synthesize the prevalence, etiologic role, and known clinicopathologic relevance of HPV in each. Recent findings The last decade has seen an expansion of investigation into HPV's oncogenic and prognostic significance within sinonasal malignancies. The sinonasal tract poses challenges to HPV detection where p16 lacks value as an accurate surrogate. A growing body of data supports a potentially favorable clinical profile for certain sinonasal HPV-positive lesions. Summary HPV represents a potential biologically and clinically relevant factor for some sinonasal malignancies. Definitive conclusions regarding HPV's role as a potential oncogenic agent require routine testing using validated methodologies, genomic interrogation, and large-scale prospective studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana C. Lopez
- Sinonasal and Skull Base Tumor Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Austin T.K. Hoke
- Sinonasal and Skull Base Tumor Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD, USA
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lisa M. Rooper
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nyall R. London
- Sinonasal and Skull Base Tumor Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hu Z, Viswanathan R, Cheng H, Chen J, Yang X, Huynh A, Clavijo P, An Y, Robbins Y, Silvin C, Allen C, Ormanoglu P, Martin S, Cornelius S, Saleh A, Chen Z, Van Waes C, Morgan EL. Inhibiting WEE1 and IKK-RELA Crosstalk Overcomes TNFα Resistance in Head and Neck Cancers. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:867-882. [PMID: 35176168 PMCID: PMC9177594 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
TNFα is a key mediator of immune and radiotherapy-induced cytotoxicity, but many cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), display TNF resistance due to activation of the canonical IKK-NF-κB/RELA pro-survival pathway. However, toxicities associated with direct targeting of the canonical pathway point to the need to identify mechanism(s) contributing to TNFα resistance and synthetic lethal targets to overcome such resistance in cancer cells. Here, RNAi screening for modulators of TNFα-NF-κB reporter activity and cell survival unexpectedly implicated the WEE1 and CDC2 G2-M checkpoint kinases. The IKKα/β-RELA and WEE1-CDC2 signaling pathways are activated by TNFα and form a complex in cell lines derived from both human papillomavirus (-) and (+) subtypes of HNSCC. WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 reduced IKK/RELA phosphorylation and the expression of NF-κB-dependent pro-survival proteins Cyclin D1 and BCL2. Combination of TNFα and AZD1775 enhanced caspase-mediated apoptosis in vitro, and combination treatment with radiotherapy and AZD1775 potentiated inhibition of HNSCC tumor xenograft growth in vivo, which could be significantly attenuated by TNFα depletion. These data offer new insight into the interplay between NF-κB signaling and WEE1-mediated regulation of the G2-M cell-cycle checkpoint in HNSCC. IMPLICATIONS Inhibiting WEE1 and IKK-RELA crosstalk could potentially enhance the effects of therapies mediated by TNFα with less systemic immune suppression and toxicity than observed with direct interruption of IKK-NF-κB/RELA signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhengbo Hu
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Shaoguan First People’s Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shaoguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Ramya Viswanathan
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Hui Cheng
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jianghong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Xinping Yang
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Angel Huynh
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Paul Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yi An
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Christopher Silvin
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Clint Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Pinar Ormanoglu
- RNAi Screening Facility, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Scott Martin
- RNAi Screening Facility, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Shaleeka Cornelius
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Anthony Saleh
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Zhong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Contributed equally as senior authors
| | - Ethan L. Morgan
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Contributed equally as senior authors
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Schrank TP, Prince AC, Sathe T, Wang X, Liu X, Alzhanov DT, Burtness B, Baldwin AS, Yarbrough WG, Issaeva N. NF-κB over-activation portends improved outcomes in HPV-associated head and neck cancer. Oncotarget 2022; 13:707-722. [PMID: 35634245 PMCID: PMC9131933 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolving understanding of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is leading to more specific diagnostic disease classifications. Among HNSCC caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), tumors harboring defects in TRAF3 or CYLD are associated with improved clinical outcomes and maintenance of episomal HPV. TRAF3 and CYLD are negative regulators of NF-κB and inactivating mutations of either leads to NF-κB overactivity. Here, we developed and validated a gene expression classifier separating HPV+ HNSCCs based on NF-κB activity. As expected, the novel classifier is strongly enriched in NF-κB targets leading us to name it the NF-κB Activity Classifier (NAC). High NF-κB activity correlated with improved survival in two independent cohorts. Using NAC, tumors with high NF-κB activity but lacking defects in TRAF3 or CYLD were identified; thus, while TRAF3 or CYLD gene defects identify the majority of tumors with NF-κB activation, unknown mechanisms leading to NF-kB activity also exist. The NAC correctly classified the functional consequences of two novel CYLD missense mutations. Using a reporter assay, we tested these CYLD mutations revealing that their activity to inhibit NF-kB was equivalent to the wild-type protein. Future applications of the NF-κB Activity Classifier may be to identify HPV+ HNSCC patients with better or worse survival with implications for treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Travis P. Schrank
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Andrew C. Prince
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Tejas Sathe
- Department of Surgery, Otolaryngology, Yale, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
- Current address: Department of Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Bioinformatics Core, University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Xinyi Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Bioinformatics Core, University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Damir T. Alzhanov
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Barbara Burtness
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Albert S. Baldwin
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Wendell G. Yarbrough
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Cancer Center, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Senior authors
| | - Natalia Issaeva
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Cancer Center, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Senior authors
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Mattox AK, D'Souza G, Khan Z, Allen H, Henson S, Seiwert TY, Koch W, Pardoll DM, Fakhry C. Comparison of next generation sequencing, droplet digital PCR, and quantitative real-time PCR for the earlier detection and quantification of HPV in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Oral Oncol 2022; 128:105805. [PMID: 35334415 PMCID: PMC9058207 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.105805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes nearly 80% of oropharynx cancers diagnosed in the United States, with incidence increasing each year. Analysis of cfDNA in plasma and oral rinse has the potential to detect these cases earlier than their typical presentation, but their utility and the best method to detect HPV in plasma and oral rinse samples is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS We directly compared next generation sequencing (NGS), droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for their ability to detect HPV16 DNA in plasma and oral rinse from 66 patients diagnosed with HPV16-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV16-OPC). RESULTS HPV DNA detection by NGS and ddPCR in plasma samples both had good sensitivity (70%) for HPV16-OPC compared to 20.6% sensitivity by qPCR (p < 0.001). In oral rinse, NGS demonstrated a superior sensitivity of 75.0% as compared to both ddPCR (8.3%, p < 0.001) and qPCR (2.1%, p < 0.001). In a limited cohort of follow up patients, HPV levels detected in plasma by NGS but not ddPCR or qPCR reflected disease remission or progression. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that NGS has the best sensitivity for detecting HPV in both plasma and oral rinse and may play a role in monitoring patients for disease recurrence. Additional studies are needed to define the specificity of NGS for similar patient cohorts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Austin K Mattox
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gypsyamber D'Souza
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Zubair Khan
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hailey Allen
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephanie Henson
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tanguy Y Seiwert
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wayne Koch
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Drew M Pardoll
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carole Fakhry
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Clinical utility of PDX cohorts to reveal biomarkers of intrinsic resistance and clonal architecture changes underlying acquired resistance to cetuximab in HNSCC. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:73. [PMID: 35260570 PMCID: PMC8904860 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00908-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cetuximab is a widely used drug for treating head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs); however, it provides restricted clinical benefits, and its response duration is limited by drug resistance. Here, we conducted randomized “Phase II-like clinical trials” of 49 HNSCC PDX models and reveal multiple informative biomarkers for intrinsic resistance to cetuximab (e.g., amplification of ANKH, up-regulation of PARP3). After validating these intrinsic resistance biomarkers in another HNSCC PDX cohort (61 PDX models), we generated acquired cetuximab resistance PDX models and analyzed them to uncover resistance mechanisms. Whole exome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing revealed diverse patterns of clonal selection in acquired resistant PDXs, including the emergence of subclones with strongly activated RAS/MAPK. Extending these insights, we show that a combination of a RAC1/RAC3 dual-target inhibitor and cetuximab could overcome acquired cetuximab resistance in vitro and in vivo. Beyond revealing intrinsic resistance biomarkers, our PDX-based study shows how clonal architecture changes underlying acquired resistance can be targeted to expand the therapeutic utility of this important drug to more HNSCC patients.
Collapse
|
18
|
Shende N, Xu J, Li WT, Liu J, Chakladar J, Brumund KT, Ongkeko WM. Enhancer RNA Profiling in Smoking and HPV Associated HNSCC Reveals Associations to Key Oncogenes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12546. [PMID: 34830428 PMCID: PMC8625218 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Smoking and HPV infection are known causes for the vast majority of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) due to their likelihood of causing gene dysregulation and genomic alterations. Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that are known to increase nearby and target gene expression, and activity that has been suggested to be affected by genetic and epigenetic alterations. Here we sought to identify the effects of smoking and HPV status on eRNA expression in HNSCC tumors. We focused on four patient cohorts including smoking/HPV+, smoking/HPV-, non-smoking/HPV+, and non-smoking/HPV- patients. We used TCGA RNA-seq data from cancer tumors and adjacent normal tissue, extracted eRNA read counts, and correlated these to survival, clinical variables, immune infiltration, cancer pathways, and genomic alterations. We found a large number of differentially expressed eRNA in each patient cohort. We also found several dysregulated eRNA correlated to patient survival, clinical variables, immune pathways, and genomic alterations. Additionally, we were able to find dysregulated eRNA nearby seven key HNSCC-related oncogenes. For example, we found eRNA chr14:103272042-103272430 (eRNA-24036), which is located close to the TRAF3 gene to be differentially expressed and correlated with the pathologic N stage and immune cell populations. Using a separate validation dataset, we performed differential expression and immune infiltration analysis to validate our results from the TCGA data. Our findings may explain the association between eRNA expression, enhancer activity, and nearby gene dysregulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neil Shende
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (N.S.); (J.X.); (W.T.L.); (J.L.); (J.C.); (K.T.B.)
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Jingyue Xu
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (N.S.); (J.X.); (W.T.L.); (J.L.); (J.C.); (K.T.B.)
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Wei Tse Li
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (N.S.); (J.X.); (W.T.L.); (J.L.); (J.C.); (K.T.B.)
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Jeffrey Liu
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (N.S.); (J.X.); (W.T.L.); (J.L.); (J.C.); (K.T.B.)
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Jaideep Chakladar
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (N.S.); (J.X.); (W.T.L.); (J.L.); (J.C.); (K.T.B.)
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Kevin T. Brumund
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (N.S.); (J.X.); (W.T.L.); (J.L.); (J.C.); (K.T.B.)
- Department of Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Weg M. Ongkeko
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (N.S.); (J.X.); (W.T.L.); (J.L.); (J.C.); (K.T.B.)
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sud S, Weiner AA, Wang AZ, Gupta GP, Shen CJ. Prognostic and Predictive Clinical and Biological Factors in HPV Malignancies. Semin Radiat Oncol 2021; 31:309-323. [PMID: 34455986 DOI: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes the majority of oropharyngeal, cervical, and anal cancers, among others. These HPV-associated cancers cause substantial morbidity and mortality despite ongoing vaccination efforts. Aside from the earliest stage tumors, chemoradiation is used to treat most HPV-associated cancers across disease sites. Response rates are variable, and opportunities to improve oncologic control and reduce toxicity remain. HPV malignancies share multiple commonalities in oncogenesis and tumor biology that may inform personalized methods of screening, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance. In this review we discuss the current literature and identify promising molecular targets, prognostic and predictive clinical factors and biomarkers in HPV-associated oropharyngeal, cervical and anal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Sud
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Ashley A Weiner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Andrew Z Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Gaorav P Gupta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Colette J Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
|
21
|
Instant Oncology: De-ESCALaTE HPV. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2021; 34:1-2. [PMID: 34426044 DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
22
|
Viswanathan K, Sadow PM. Somatostatin receptor 2 is highly sensitive and specific for Epstein-Barr virus-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Hum Pathol 2021; 117:88-100. [PMID: 34416258 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Viruses are known drivers of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), particularly Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV). Both EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma (EBVNPC) and HPV-positive oropharyngeal SCC (OPSCC) can have overlapping histomorphology and molecular signatures, including nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFKB) pathway mutations. A recent study showed that NFKB activation in EBVNPC drives somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) expression that is detectable by immunohistochemistry and by imaging with 68-Gadolinium-DOTA-peptide radioconjugate. However, whether a similar NFKB-SSTR2 signaling mechanism exists for other virus-positive HNSCC, namely HPV-positive sinonasal carcinomas and OPSCC, remains unclear. Here we examined SSTR2 expression in a cohort of EBV-positive, HPV-positive, and virus-negative HNSCC with immunohistochemistry. SSTR2 immunohistochemistry was performed on our cohort of primary and/or metastatic EBVNPC, HPV-positive sinonasal SCC, OPSCC, HPV-negative sinonasal and oral cavity SCC, and benign tonsil and adenoid tissue. For SSTR2 staining, the extent was categorized as focal, multifocal, or diffuse, and the intensity was categorized as weak, moderate, or strong. Multifocal/diffuse SSTR2 staining of any intensity was considered positive. Among primary, recurrent, and/or undifferentiated NPC, 90% showed multifocal to diffuse strong SSTR2 expression. One HPV-positive sinonasal carcinoma showed patchy SSTR2 staining. None of the remaining HPV-positive sinonasal carcinomas, OPSCC, or oral cavity HNSCC showed significant SSTR2 staining. Overall, SSTR2 is highly sensitive and specific for EBVNPC and could represent a surrogate biomarker. Among HNSCC assessed here, we recommend testing primary NPC for SSTR2 because of its relevance for diagnosis, associated imaging modalities, and its therapeutic implications for patient care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Viswanathan
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA; Department of Pathology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Peter M Sadow
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Causes and Consequences of HPV Integration in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: State of the Art. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13164089. [PMID: 34439243 PMCID: PMC8394665 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13164089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A constantly increasing incidence in high-risk Human Papillomaviruses (HPV)s driven head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC)s, especially of oropharyngeal origin, is being observed. During persistent infections, viral DNA integration into the host genome may occur. Studies are examining if the physical status of the virus (episomal vs. integration) affects carcinogenesis and eventually has further-reaching consequences on disease progression and outcome. Here, we review the literature of the most recent five years focusing on the impact of HPV integration in HNSCCs, covering aspects of detection techniques used (from PCR up to NGS approaches), integration loci identified, and associations with genomic and clinical data. The consequences of HPV integration in the human genome, including the methylation status and deregulation of genes involved in cell signaling pathways, immune evasion, and response to therapy, are also summarized.
Collapse
|
24
|
Aggarwal N, Yadav J, Chhakara S, Janjua D, Tripathi T, Chaudhary A, Chhokar A, Thakur K, Singh T, Bharti AC. Phytochemicals as Potential Chemopreventive and Chemotherapeutic Agents for Emerging Human Papillomavirus-Driven Head and Neck Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Prospects. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:699044. [PMID: 34354591 PMCID: PMC8329252 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.699044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) usually arises from squamous cells of the upper aerodigestive tract that line the mucosal surface in the head and neck region. In India, HNC is common in males, and it is the sixth most common cancer globally. Conventionally, HNC attributes to the use of alcohol or chewing tobacco. Over the past four decades, portions of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive HNC are increasing at an alarming rate. Identification based on the etiological factors and molecular signatures demonstrates that these neoplastic lesions belong to a distinct category that differs in pathological characteristics and therapeutic response. Slow development in HNC therapeutics has resulted in a low 5-year survival rate in the last two decades. Interestingly, HPV-positive HNC has shown better outcomes following conservative treatments and immunotherapies. This raises demand to have a pre-therapy assessment of HPV status to decide the treatment strategy. Moreover, there is no HPV-specific treatment for HPV-positive HNC patients. Accumulating evidence suggests that phytochemicals are promising leads against HNC and show potential as adjuvants to chemoradiotherapy in HNC. However, only a few of these phytochemicals target HPV. The aim of the present article was to collate data on various leading phytochemicals that have shown promising results in the prevention and treatment of HNC in general and HPV-driven HNC. The review explores the possibility of using these leads against HPV-positive tumors as some of the signaling pathways are common. The review also addresses various challenges in the field that prevent their use in clinical settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Aggarwal
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Joni Yadav
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Suhail Chhakara
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Divya Janjua
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Tanya Tripathi
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Apoorva Chaudhary
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Arun Chhokar
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Kulbhushan Thakur
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Tejveer Singh
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Alok Chandra Bharti
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Brennan S, Baird AM, O’Regan E, Sheils O. The Role of Human Papilloma Virus in Dictating Outcomes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:677900. [PMID: 34250016 PMCID: PMC8262095 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.677900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is an oncogenic virus which is associated with the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), predominantly within the oropharynx. Approximately 25% of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) cases worldwide are attributable to HPV infection, with an estimated 65% in the United States. Transmission is via exposure during sexual contact, with distinctive anatomical features of the tonsils providing this organ with a predilection for infection by HPV. No premalignant lesion is identifiable on clinical examination, thus no comparative histological features to denote the stages of carcinogenesis for HPV driven HNSCC are identifiable. This is in contrast to HPV-driven cervical carcinoma, making screening a challenge for the head and neck region. However, HPV proffers a favorable prognosis in the head and neck region, with better overall survival rates in contrast to its HPV negative counterparts. This has resulted in extensive research into de-intensifying therapies aiming to minimize the morbidity induced by standard concurrent chemo-radiotherapy without compromising efficacy. Despite the favorable prognosis, cases of recurrence and/or metastasis of HPV positive HNSCC do occur, and are linked with poor outcomes. HPV 16 is the most frequent genotype identified in HNSCC, yet there is limited research to date studying the impact of other HPV genotype with respect to overall survival. A similar situation pertains to genetic aberrations associated in those with HPV positive HNSCC who recur, with only four published studies to date. Somatic mutations in TSC2, BRIP1, NBN, TACC3, NFE2l2, STK11, HRAS, PIK3R1, TP63, and FAT1 have been identified in recurrent HPV positive OPSCC. Finding alternative therapeutic strategies for this young cohort may depend on upfront identification of HPV genotypes and mutations which are linked with worse outcomes, thus ensuring appropriate stratification of treatment regimens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shane Brennan
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anne-Marie Baird
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Esther O’Regan
- Department of Histopathology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Orla Sheils
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Burtness B, Contessa J. Hypoxia-Guided Therapy for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharynx Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 2021; 113:652-653. [PMID: 33429429 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaa187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Burtness
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joseph Contessa
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Jing FY, Zhou LM, Ning YJ, Wang XJ, Zhu YM. The Biological Function, Mechanism, and Clinical Significance of m6A RNA Modifications in Head and Neck Carcinoma: A Systematic Review. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:683254. [PMID: 34136491 PMCID: PMC8201395 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.683254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its onset and development have not yet been fully elucidated. Indeed, an in-depth understanding of the potential molecular mechanisms underlying HNSCC oncogenesis may aid the development of better treatment strategies. Recent epigenetic studies have revealed that the m6A RNA modification plays important roles in HNSCC. In this review, we summarize the role of m6A modification in various types of HNSCC, including thyroid, nasopharyngeal, hypopharyngeal squamous cell, and oral carcinoma. In addition, we discuss the regulatory roles of m6A in immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, as well as the potential molecular mechanisms. Finally, we review the development of potential targets for treating cancer based on the regulatory functions of m6A, with an aim to improving targeted therapies for HNSCC. Together, this review highlights the important roles that m6A modification plays in RNA synthesis, transport, and translation, and demonstrates that the regulation of m6A-related proteins can indirectly affect mRNA and ncRNA function, thus providing a novel strategy for reengineering intrinsic cell activity and developing simpler interventions to treat HNSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Yang Jing
- Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Department of Dental Implant Center, Stomatologic Hospital & College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li-Ming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Department of Dental Implant Center, Stomatologic Hospital & College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yu-Jie Ning
- Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Department of Dental Implant Center, Stomatologic Hospital & College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao-Juan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Department of Dental Implant Center, Stomatologic Hospital & College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - You-Ming Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Department of Dental Implant Center, Stomatologic Hospital & College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Danis J, Kelemen E, Rajan N, Nagy N, Széll M, Ádám É. TRAF3 and NBR1 both influence the effect of the disease-causing CYLD(Arg936X) mutation on NF-κB activity. Exp Dermatol 2021; 30:1705-1710. [PMID: 33999445 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Recently described Hungarian and Anglo-Saxon pedigrees that are affected by CYLD cutaneous syndrome (syn: Brooke-Spiegler syndrome (BSS)) carry the same disease-causing mutation (c.2806C>T, p.Arg936X) of the cylindromatosis (CYLD) gene but exhibit striking phenotypic differences. Using whole exome sequencing, missense genetic variants of the TRAF3 and NBR1 genes were identified in the affected family members of the Hungarian pedigree that are not present in the Anglo-Saxon pedigree. This suggested that the affected proteins (TRAF3 and NBR1) are putative phenotype-modifying factors. An in vitro experimental system was set up to clarify how wild type and mutant TRAF3 and NBR1 modify the effect of CYLD on the NF-κB signal transduction pathway. Our study revealed that the combined expression of mutant CYLD(Arg936X) with TRAF3 and NBR1 caused increased NF-κB activity, regardless of the presence or absence of mutations in TRAF3 and NBR1. We concluded that increased expression levels of these proteins further strengthen the effect of the CYLD(Arg936X) mutation on NF-κB activity in HEK293 cells and may explain the phenotype-modifying effect of these genes in CYLD cutaneous syndrome. These results raise the potential that detecting the levels of TRAF3 and NBR1 might help explaining phenotypic differences and prognosis of CCS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judit Danis
- MTA-SZTE Dermatological Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Szeged, Hungary.,HCEMM-USZ Skin Research Group, Szeged, Hungary.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Evelyn Kelemen
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Neil Rajan
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Nikoletta Nagy
- MTA-SZTE Dermatological Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Szeged, Hungary.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Márta Széll
- MTA-SZTE Dermatological Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Szeged, Hungary.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Ádám
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Cheng NM, Yao J, Cai J, Ye X, Zhao S, Zhao K, Zhou W, Nogues I, Huo Y, Liao CT, Wang HM, Lin CY, Lee LY, Xiao J, Lu L, Zhang L, Yen TC. Deep Learning for Fully Automated Prediction of Overall Survival in Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancer Using FDG-PET Imaging. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:3948-3959. [PMID: 33947697 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-4935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Accurate prognostic stratification of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is crucial. We developed an objective and robust deep learning-based fully-automated tool called the DeepPET-OPSCC biomarker for predicting overall survival (OS) in OPSCC using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET imaging. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The DeepPET-OPSCC prediction model was built and tested internally on a discovery cohort (n = 268) by integrating five convolutional neural network models for volumetric segmentation and ten models for OS prognostication. Two external test cohorts were enrolled-the first based on the Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) database (n = 353) and the second being a clinical deployment cohort (n = 31)-to assess the DeepPET-OPSCC performance and goodness of fit. RESULTS After adjustment for potential confounders, DeepPET-OPSCC was found to be an independent predictor of OS in both discovery and TCIA test cohorts [HR = 2.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.31-3.28 and HR = 2.39; 95% CI, 1.38-4.16; both P = 0.002]. The tool also revealed good predictive performance, with a c-index of 0.707 (95% CI, 0.658-0.757) in the discovery cohort, 0.689 (95% CI, 0.621-0.757) in the TCIA test cohort, and 0.787 (95% CI, 0.675-0.899) in the clinical deployment test cohort; the average time taken was 2 minutes for calculation per exam. The integrated nomogram of DeepPET-OPSCC and clinical risk factors significantly outperformed the clinical model [AUC at 5 years: 0.801 (95% CI, 0.727-0.874) vs. 0.749 (95% CI, 0.649-0.842); P = 0.031] in the TCIA test cohort. CONCLUSIONS DeepPET-OPSCC achieved an accurate OS prediction in patients with OPSCC and enabled an objective, unbiased, and rapid assessment for OPSCC prognostication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nai-Ming Cheng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, ROC
| | | | | | - Xianghua Ye
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shilin Zhao
- Departments of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Kui Zhao
- Department of PET Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenlan Zhou
- NanFang PET Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Isabella Nogues
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yuankai Huo
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Chun-Ta Liao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hung-Ming Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chien-Yu Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Li-Yu Lee
- Department of Pathology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jing Xiao
- Ping An Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Le Lu
- PAII Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Tzu-Chen Yen
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Imaging Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, ROC.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Schrank TP, Lenze N, Landess LP, Hoyle A, Parker J, Lal A, Sheth S, Chera BS, Patel SN, Hackman TG, Major MB, Issaeva N, Yarbrough WG. Genomic heterogeneity and copy number variant burden are associated with poor recurrence-free survival and 11q loss in human papillomavirus-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. Cancer 2021; 127:2788-2800. [PMID: 33819343 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (OPSCC) is the most prevalent HPV-associated malignancy in the United States. Favorable treatment outcomes have led to increased interest in treatment de-escalation to reduce treatment morbidity as well as the development of prognostic markers to identify appropriately low-risk patients. Intratumoral genomic heterogeneity and copy number alteration burden have been demonstrated to be predictive of poor outcomes in many other cancers; therefore, we sought to determine whether intratumor heterogeneity and genomic instability are associated with poor outcomes in HPV+ OPSCC. METHODS Tumor heterogeneity estimates were made based on targeted exome sequencing of 45 patients with HPV+ OPSCC tumors. Analysis of an additional cohort of HPV+ OPSCC tumors lacking matched normal sequencing allowed copy number analysis of 99 patient tumors. RESULTS High intratumorally genomic heterogeneity and high numbers of copy number alterations were strongly associated with worse recurrence-free survival. Tumors with higher heterogeneity and frequent copy number alterations were associated with loss of distal 11q, which encodes key genes related to double-strand break repair, including ATM and MRE11A. CONCLUSIONS Both intratumor genomic heterogeneity and high-burden copy number alterations are strongly associated with poor recurrence-free survival in patients with HPV+ OPSCC. The drivers of genomic instability and heterogeneity in these tumors remains to be elucidated. However, 11q loss and defective DNA double-strand break repair have been associated with genomic instability in other solid tumors. Copy number alteration burden and intratumoral heterogeneity represent promising avenues for risk stratification of patients with HPV+OPSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Travis P Schrank
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Nicholas Lenze
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Lee P Landess
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Alan Hoyle
- Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Joel Parker
- Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Asim Lal
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Siddharth Sheth
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Bhishamjit S Chera
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Samip N Patel
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Trevor G Hackman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - M Ben Major
- Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.,Institute for Informatics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.,Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Natalia Issaeva
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Wendell G Yarbrough
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Fiil BK, Gyrd-Hansen M. The Met1-linked ubiquitin machinery in inflammation and infection. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:557-569. [PMID: 33473179 PMCID: PMC7816137 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-00702-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination is an essential post-translational modification that regulates most cellular processes. The assembly of ubiquitin into polymeric chains by E3 ubiquitin ligases underlies the pleiotropic functions ubiquitin chains regulate. Ubiquitin chains assembled via the N-terminal methionine, termed Met1-linked ubiquitin chains or linear ubiquitin chains, have emerged as essential signalling scaffolds that regulate pro-inflammatory responses, anti-viral interferon responses, cell death and xenophagy of bacterial pathogens downstream of innate immune receptors. Met1-linked ubiquitin chains are exclusively assembled by the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex, LUBAC, and are disassembled by the deubiquitinases OTULIN and CYLD. Genetic defects that perturb the regulation of Met1-linked ubiquitin chains causes severe immune-related disorders, illustrating their potent signalling capacity. Here, we review the current knowledge about the cellular machinery that conjugates, recognises, and disassembles Met1-linked ubiquitin chains, and discuss the function of this unique posttranslational modification in regulating inflammation, cell death and immunity to pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Berthe Katrine Fiil
- grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XLEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mads Gyrd-Hansen
- grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XLEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark ,grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, OX3 7DQ UK
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Molecular Mechanisms of DUBs Regulation in Signaling and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22030986. [PMID: 33498168 PMCID: PMC7863924 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22030986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The large family of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are involved in the regulation of a plethora of processes carried out inside the cell by protein ubiquitination. Ubiquitination is a basic pathway responsible for the correct protein homeostasis in the cell, which could regulate the fate of proteins through the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS). In this review we will focus on recent advances on the molecular mechanisms and specificities found for some types of DUBs enzymes, highlighting illustrative examples in which the regulatory mechanism for DUBs has been understood in depth at the molecular level by structural biology. DUB proteases are responsible for cleavage and regulation of the multiple types of ubiquitin linkages that can be synthesized inside the cell, known as the ubiquitin-code, which are tightly connected to specific substrate functions. We will display some strategies carried out by members of different DUB families to provide specificity on the cleavage of particular ubiquitin linkages. Finally, we will also discuss recent progress made for the development of drug compounds targeting DUB proteases, which are usually correlated to the progress of many pathologies such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
|
33
|
Rosenberg AJ, Vokes EE. Optimizing Treatment De-Escalation in Head and Neck Cancer: Current and Future Perspectives. Oncologist 2021; 26:40-48. [PMID: 32864799 PMCID: PMC7794179 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2020-0303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma involves a multidisciplinary approach that combines surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy. These curative strategies are associated with significant acute and long-term toxicities. With the emergence of human papillomavirus (HPV) as an etiologic factor associated primarily with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, higher cure rates juxtaposed with substantial treatment-related morbidity and mortality has led to interest in de-escalated therapeutic strategies, with the goal of optimizing oncologic outcomes while reducing treatment-related toxicity. Currently explored strategies include replacing, reducing, or omitting cytotoxic chemotherapy; reducing dose or volume of radiotherapy; and incorporation of less-invasive surgical approaches. Potential biomarkers to select patients for treatment de-escalation include clinical risk stratification, adjuvant de-escalation based on pathologic features, response to induction therapy, and molecular markers. The optimal patient selection and de-escalation strategy is critically important in the evolving treatment of locoregional head and neck cancer. Recently, two large phase III trials, RTOG 1016 and De-ESCALaTE, failed to de-escalate treatment in HPV-associated head and neck cancer by demonstrating inferior outcomes by replacing cisplatin with cetuximab in combination with radiation. This serves as a cautionary tale in the future design of de-escalation trials in this patient population, which will need to leverage toxicity and efficacy endpoints. Our review summarizes completed and ongoing de-escalation trials in head and neck cancer, with particular emphasis on biomarkers for patient selection and clinical trial design. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The toxicity associated with standard multimodality treatment for head and neck cancer underscores the need to seek less-intensive therapies with a reduced long-term symptom burden through de-escalated treatment paradigms that minimize toxicity while maintaining oncologic control in appropriately selected patients. Controversy regarding the optimal de-escalation strategy and criteria for patient selection for de-escalated therapy has led to multiple parallel strategies undergoing clinical investigation. Well-designed trials that optimize multimodal strategies are needed. Given the absence of positive randomized trials testing de-escalated therapy to date, practicing oncologists should exercise caution and administer established standard-of-care therapy outside the context of a clinical trial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ari J. Rosenberg
- Section of Hematology‐Oncology, The University of Chicago Medical CenterChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Everett E. Vokes
- Section of Hematology‐Oncology, The University of Chicago Medical CenterChicagoIllinoisUSA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
CYLD mutation characterizes a subset of HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas with distinctive genomics and frequent cylindroma-like histologic features. Mod Pathol 2021; 34:358-370. [PMID: 32892208 PMCID: PMC7817524 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-020-00672-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the tumor suppressor CYLD, known to be causative of cylindromas, were recently described in a subset of high-risk (hr) HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Pathologic and genetic characterization of these CYLD-mutant carcinomas, however, remains limited. Here, we investigated whether CYLD mutations characterize a histopathologically and genomically distinct subset of hrHPV-positive HNSCC. Comprehensive genomic profiling via hybrid capture-based DNA sequencing was performed on 703 consecutive head and neck carcinomas with hrHPV sequences, identifying 148 unique cases (21%) harboring CYLD mutations. Clinical data, pathology reports, and histopathology were reviewed. CYLD mutations included homozygous deletions (n = 61/148; 41%), truncations (n = 52; 35%), missense (n = 26; 18%) and splice-site (n = 9; 6%) mutations, and in-frame deletion (n = 1; 1%). Among hrHPV-positive HNSCC, the CYLD-mutant cohort showed substantially lower tumor mutational burden than CYLD-wildtype cases (n = 555) (median 2.6 vs. 4.4 mut/Mb, p < 0.00001) and less frequent alterations in PIK3CA (11% vs. 34%, p < 0.0001), KMT2D (1% vs. 16%, p < 0.0001), and FBXW7 (3% vs. 11%, p = 0.0018). Male predominance (94% vs. 87%), median age (58 vs. 60 years), and detection of HPV16 (95% vs. 89%) were similar. On available histopathology, 70% of CYLD-mutant HNSCC (98/141 cases) contained hyalinized material, consistent with basement membrane inclusions, within crowded aggregates of tumor cells. Only 7% of CYLD-wildtype cases demonstrated this distinctive pattern (p < 0.0001). Histopathologic patterns of CYLD-mutant HNSCC lacking basement membrane inclusions included nonkeratinizing (n = 22, 16%), predominantly nonkeratinizing (nonkeratinizing SCC with focal maturation; n = 10, 7%), and keratinizing (n = 11, 8%) patterns. The latter two groups showed significantly higher frequency of PTEN alterations compared with other CYLD-mutant cases (38% [8/21] vs. 7% [8/120], p = 0.0004). Within our cohort of hrHPV-positive HNSCCs, CYLD mutations were frequent (21%) and demonstrated distinctive clinical, histopathologic, and genomic features that may inform future study of prognosis and treatment.
Collapse
|
35
|
Global Genome Demethylation Causes Transcription-Associated DNA Double Strand Breaks in HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 13:cancers13010021. [PMID: 33374558 PMCID: PMC7793113 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
High levels of DNA methylation at CpG loci are associated with transcriptional repression of tumor suppressor genes and dysregulation of DNA repair genes. Human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) have high levels of DNA methylation and methylation has been associated with dampening of an innate immune response in virally infected cells. We have been exploring demethylation as a potential treatment in HPV+ HNSCC and recently reported results of a window clinical trial showing that HNSCCs are particularly sensitive to demethylating agent 5-azacytidine (5-aza). Mechanistically, sensitivity is partially due to downregulation of HPV genes expression and restoration of tumor suppressors p53 and Rb. Here, for the first time, we show that 5-azaC treatment of HPV+ HNSCC induces replication and transcription-associated DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) that occur preferentially at demethylated genomic DNA. Blocking replication or transcription prevented formation of DNA DSBs and reduced sensitivity of HPV-positive head and neck cancer cells to 5-azaC, demonstrating that both replication and active transcription are required for formation of DSBs associated with 5-azaC.
Collapse
|
36
|
Aggarwal N, Yadav J, Thakur K, Bibban R, Chhokar A, Tripathi T, Bhat A, Singh T, Jadli M, Singh U, Kashyap MK, Bharti AC. Human Papillomavirus Infection in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Transcriptional Triggers and Changed Disease Patterns. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020. [PMID: 33344262 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.537650,] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous group of cancers. Collectively, HNSCC ranks sixth in incidence rate worldwide. Apart from classical risk factors like tobacco and alcohol, infection of human papillomavirus (HPV) is emerging as a discrete risk factor for HNSCC. HPV-positive HNSCC represent a distinct group of diseases that differ in their clinical presentation. These lesions are well-differentiated, occur at an early age, and have better prognosis. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a specific increase in the proportions of the HPV-positive HNSCC. HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC lesions display different disease progression and clinical response. For tumorigenic-transformation, HPV essentially requires a permissive cellular environment and host cell factors for induction of viral transcription. As the spectrum of host factors is independent of HPV infection at the time of viral entry, presumably entry of HPV only selects host cells that are permissive to establishment of HPV infection. Growing evidence suggest that HPV plays a more active role in a subset of HNSCC, where they are transcriptionally-active. A variety of factors provide a favorable environment for HPV to become transcriptionally-active. The most notable are the set of transcription factors that have direct binding sites on the viral genome. As HPV does not have its own transcription machinery, it is fully dependent on host transcription factors to complete the life cycle. Here, we review and evaluate the current evidence on level of a subset of host transcription factors that influence viral genome, directly or indirectly, in HNSCC. Since many of these transcription factors can independently promote carcinogenesis, the composition of HPV permissive transcription factors in a tumor can serve as a surrogate marker of a separate molecularly-distinct class of HNSCC lesions including those cases, where HPV could not get a chance to infect but may manifest better prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Aggarwal
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Joni Yadav
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Kulbhushan Thakur
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Rakhi Bibban
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Arun Chhokar
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Tanya Tripathi
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Anjali Bhat
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Tejveer Singh
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Mohit Jadli
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Ujala Singh
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Manoj K Kashyap
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.,Amity Medical School, Stem Cell Institute, Amity University Haryana, Amity Education Valley Panchgaon, Gurugram, India
| | - Alok C Bharti
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Williams EA, Montesion M, Sharaf R, Corines J, Patel PJ, Gillespie BJ, Pavlick DC, Sokol ES, Alexander BM, Williams KJ, Elvin JA, Ross JS, Ramkissoon SH, Hemmerich AC, Tse JY, Mochel MC. CYLD-mutant cylindroma-like basaloid carcinoma of the anus: a genetically and morphologically distinct class of HPV-related anal carcinoma. Mod Pathol 2020; 33:2614-2625. [PMID: 32461623 PMCID: PMC7685972 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-020-0584-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Rare reports of anal carcinoma (AC) describe histologic resemblance to cutaneous cylindroma, but mutations in the tumor suppressor CYLD, the gene responsible for familial and sporadic cylindromas, have not been systematically investigated in AC. Here, we investigate CYLD-mutant AC, focusing on molecular correlates of distinct histopathology. Comprehensive genomic profiling (hybrid-capture-based DNA sequencing) was performed on 574 ACs, of which 75 unique cases (13%) harbored a CYLD mutation. Clinical data, pathology reports, and histopathology were reviewed for each CYLD-mutant case. The spectrum of CYLD mutations included truncating (n = 50; 67%), homozygous deletion (n = 10; 13%), missense (n = 16; 21%), and splice-site (n = 3; 4%) events. Compared with CYLD-wildtype AC (n = 499), CYLD-mutant ACs were significantly enriched for females (88% vs. 67%, p = 0.0001), slightly younger (median age 59 vs. 61 years, p = 0.047), and included near-universal detection of high-risk HPV sequences (97% vs. 88%, p = 0.014), predominantly HPV16 (96%). The CYLD-mutant cohort also showed significantly lower tumor mutational burden (TMB; median 2.6 vs. 5.2 mut/Mb, p < 0.00001) and less frequent alterations in PIK3CA (13% vs. 31%, p = 0.0015). On histopathologic examination, 73% of CYLD-mutant AC (55/75 cases) showed a striking cylindroma-like histomorphology, composed of aggregates of basaloid cells surrounded by thickened basement membranes and containing characteristic hyaline globules, while only 8% of CYLD-wildtype tumors (n = 34/409) contained cylindroma-like hyaline globules (p < 0.0001). CYLD-mutant carcinomas with cylindroma-like histomorphology (n = 55) showed significantly lower TMB compared with CYLD-mutant cases showing basaloid histology without the distinctive hyaline globules (n = 14) (median 1.7 vs. 4.4 mut/Mb, p = 0.0058). Only five CYLD-mutant cases (7%) showed nonbasaloid conventional squamous cell carcinoma histology (median TMB = 5.2 mut/Mb), and a single CYLD-mutant case showed transitional cell carcinoma-like histology. Within our cohort of ACs, CYLD mutations characterize a surprisingly large subset (13%), with distinct clinical and genomic features and, predominantly, a striking cylindroma-like histopathology, representing a genotype-phenotype correlation which may assist in classification of AC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erik A Williams
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA.
| | - Meagan Montesion
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Radwa Sharaf
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - James Corines
- Department of Pathology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, 766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Parth J Patel
- Department of Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | | | - Dean C Pavlick
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Ethan S Sokol
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Brian M Alexander
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Kevin Jon Williams
- Department of Physiology and Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Julia A Elvin
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Ross
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
- Department of Pathology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, 766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Shakti H Ramkissoon
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
- Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | | | - Julie Y Tse
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 145 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Mark C Mochel
- Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Liu Y, Zhao L, Xue L, Hou Y. Selected updates in molecular and genomic pathology of esophageal cancer. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1482:225-235. [PMID: 33215736 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have seen rapid advances in the field of molecular and genomic pathology that have not only improved understanding of esophageal carcinogenesis and tumor immune environment in general but also have reshaped pathology practice and clinical management. In this article, we provide updates on three topics (1) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, the first and most important biomarker in targeted therapy of esophageal cancer; (2) programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1, recent biomarkers that have shown promise in treating both esophageal adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; and (3) human papillomavirus involvement in esophageal carcinogenesis, one of the most debated topics in the field, discussed here with a renewed understanding from recent genomic and molecular data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yueping Liu
- Department of Pathology, Hebei Medical University Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Hebei Provincial Tumor Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Liyan Xue
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yingyong Hou
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Pakdel F, Farhadi A, Pakdel T, Andishe-Tadbir A, Alavi P, Behzad-Behbahani A, Ashraf MJ. The frequency of high-risk human papillomavirus types, HPV16 lineages, and their relationship with p16 INK4a and NF-κB expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in Southwestern Iran. Braz J Microbiol 2020; 52:195-206. [PMID: 33169334 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-020-00391-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
High-risk human papillomaviruses (hr-HPVs) are the key risk factors implicated in the development of a significant proportion of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). We aimed to investigate the distribution of hr-HPV types and HPV16 lineages in a sample of patients with HNSCC and the possible association between HPV status and the expression of P16INK4A and NF-κB in Iranian HNSCC patients. We examined 108 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) histologically confirmed primary SCC tissue specimens of different head and neck anatomical sites. HPV types and HPV16 lineages were determined by nested PCR and overlapping nested PCR assays, respectively, followed by gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The expression of p16INK4a and NF-κB was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Twenty-five (23.1%) HNSCC tissue specimens were tested positive for HPV infection. The most prevalent HPV type was HPV-16, followed by HPV18 and HPV11. HPV16 variants belonged to the lineage A and lineage D which were further sorted into sublineages A1, A2, and D2. A significant association between HPV status and p16INK4a immunoreactivity was observed in more than 76% of the HPV-related HNSCCs (P < 0.0001). The overexpression of p16INK4a and cytoplasmic NF-κB was more common in low-grade HNSCC tumors. Our data highlights that HPV16, in particular the A2 sublineage, followed by A1 and D2 sublineages are the major agents associated with HNSCCs in Iran. Based on HPV16 predominance and its lineage distribution pattern, it seems that the prophylactic vaccines developed for cervical cancer prevention could also be applicable for the prevention of HPV-related HNSCCs in our population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Pakdel
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Farhadi
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Tahereh Pakdel
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Azadeh Andishe-Tadbir
- Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Parnian Alavi
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Abbas Behzad-Behbahani
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad J Ashraf
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Ye J, Wang Z, Chen X, Jiang X, Dong Z, Hu S, Li W, Liu Y, Liao B, Han W, Shen J, Xiao M. YTHDF1-enhanced iron metabolism depends on TFRC m 6A methylation. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:12072-12089. [PMID: 33204330 PMCID: PMC7667694 DOI: 10.7150/thno.51231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Among head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) has the worst prognosis. Iron metabolism, which plays a crucial role in tumor progression, is mainly regulated by alterations to genes and post-transcriptional processes. The recent discovery of the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has expanded the realm of previously undiscovered post-transcriptional gene regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes. Many studies have demonstrated that m6A methylation represents a distinct layer of epigenetic deregulation in carcinogenesis and tumor proliferation. However, the status of m6A modification and iron metabolism in HPSCC remains unknown. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis, sample analysis, and transcriptome sequencing were performed to evaluate the correlation between m6A modification and iron metabolism. Iron metabolic and cell biological analyses were conducted to evaluate the effect of the m6A reader YTHDF1 on HPSCC proliferation and iron metabolism. Transcriptome-wide m6A-seq and RIP-seq data were mapped to explore the molecular mechanism of YTHDF1 function in HPSCC. Results: YTHDF1 was found to be closely associated with ferritin levels and intratumoral iron concentrations in HPSCC patients at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital. YTHDF1 induced-HPSCC tumorigenesis depends on iron metabolism in vivo in vitro. Mechanistically, YTHDF1 methyltransferase domain interacts with the 3'UTR and 5'UTR of TRFC mRNA, then further positively regulates translation of m6A-modified TFRC mRNA. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function analyses validated the finding showing that TFRC is a crucial target gene for YTHDF1-mediated increases in iron metabolism. Conclusion: YTHDF1 enhanced TFRC expression in HPSCC through an m6A-dependent mechanism. From a therapeutic perspective, targeting YTHDF1 and TFRC-mediated iron metabolism may be a promising strategy for HPSCC.
Collapse
|
41
|
Du X, Wang S, Liu X, He T, Lin X, Wu S, Wang D, Li J, Huang W, Yang H. MiR-1307-5p targeting TRAF3 upregulates the MAPK/NF-κB pathway and promotes lung adenocarcinoma proliferation. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:502. [PMID: 33061854 PMCID: PMC7552495 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01595-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) includes lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). MicroRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression in animals and plants, especially in lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS MiR-1307-5p is an miRNA with significant differences screened by the second generation of high-throughput sequencing in the early stage of our research group. In the current study, a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out. MiR-1307-5p mimic, miR-1307-5p inhibitor, and NC were transfected into A549 and H1299 lung adenocarcinoma cells. The correlation between miR-1307-5p and clinicopathological features in pathological samples was analyzed using a lung adenocarcinoma tissue microarray, and miR-1307-5p expression was detected by qPCR. CCK-8, EdU, colony formation, scratch test, and Transwell assays were used to observe cell proliferation and migration. Double luciferase assay, western blot, qPCR, and immunohistochemistry were employed in confirming the target relationship between miR-1307-5p and TRAF3. Western blotting was used to analyze the relationship between miR-1307-5p and the NF-κB/MAPK pathway. Finally, the effect of miR-1307-5p on tumor growth was studied using a subcutaneous tumorigenesis model in nude mice. RESULTS Increased miR-1307-5p expression was significantly related to decreased overall survival rate of lung adenocarcinoma patients, revealing miR-1307-5p as a potential oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma. MiR-1307-5p mimic significantly promoted while miR-1307-5p inhibitor reduced the growth and proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells. MiR-1307-5p overexpression significantly enhanced the migration ability while miR-1307-5p inhibition reduced the migration ability of A549 and H1299 cells. Target binding of miR-1307-5p to TRAF3 was confirmed by double luciferase assay, western blot, qPCR, and immunohistochemistry. miR-1307-5p caused degradation of TRAF3 mRNA and protein. MiR-1307-5p targeted TRAF3 and activated the NF-κB/MAPK pathway. TRAF3 colocalized with p65 and the localization of TRAF3 and p65 changed in each treatment group. Tumor volume of the lv-miR-1307-5p group was significantly larger than that of the lv-NC group, and that of the lv-miR-1307-5p-inhibitor group was significantly smaller than that of the lv-NC group. CONCLUSION In conclusion, miR-1307-5p targets TRAF3 and activates the NF-κB/MAPK pathway to promote proliferation in lung adenocarcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Du
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Shuangmiao Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Xingyan Liu
- Dongguan Scientific Research Center, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Tao He
- Department of Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Guangdong Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangui Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Simin Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Dan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Jiao Li
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Wenhua Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiling Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Morgan EL, Chen Z, Van Waes C. Regulation of NFκB Signalling by Ubiquitination: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma? Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2877. [PMID: 33036368 PMCID: PMC7601648 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, with over 600,000 cases per year. The primary causes for HNSCC include smoking and alcohol consumption, with an increasing number of cases attributed to infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The treatment options for HNSCC currently include surgery, radiotherapy, and/or platinum-based chemotherapeutics. Cetuximab (targeting EGFR) and Pembrolizumab (targeting PD-1) have been approved for advanced stage, recurrent, and/or metastatic HNSCC. Despite these advances, whilst HPV+ HNSCC has a 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of around 80%, the 3-year OS for HPV- HNSCC is still around 55%. Aberrant signal activation of transcription factor NFκB plays an important role in the pathogenesis and therapeutic resistance of HNSCC. As an important mediator of inflammatory signalling and the immune response to pathogens, the NFκB pathway is tightly regulated to prevent chronic inflammation, a key driver of tumorigenesis. Here, we discuss how NFκB signalling is regulated by the ubiquitin pathway and how this pathway is deregulated in HNSCC. Finally, we discuss the current strategies available to target the ubiquitin pathway and how this may offer a potential therapeutic benefit in HNSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ethan L. Morgan
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Zhong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Cui Z, Kang H, Grandis JR, Johnson DE. CYLD Alterations in the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Head and Neck Cancers. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 19:14-24. [PMID: 32883697 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Genetic alterations of CYLD lysine 63 deubiquitinase (CYLD), a tumor-suppressor gene encoding a deubiquitinase (DUB) enzyme, are associated with the formation of tumors in CYLD cutaneous syndrome. Genome sequencing efforts have revealed somatic CYLD alterations in multiple human cancers. Moreover, in cancers commonly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (e.g., head and neck squamous cell carcinoma), CYLD alterations are preferentially observed in the HPV-positive versus HPV-negative form of the disease. The CYLD enzyme cleaves K63-linked polyubiquitin from substrate proteins, resulting in the disassembly of key protein complexes and the inactivation of growth-promoting signaling pathways, including pathways mediated by NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases. Loss-of-function CYLD alterations lead to aberrant activation of these signaling pathways, promoting tumorigenesis and malignant transformation. This review summarizes the association and potential role of CYLD somatic mutations in HPV-positive cancers, with particular emphasis on the role of these alterations in tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Potential therapeutic strategies for patients whose tumors harbor CYLD alterations are also discussed. IMPLICATIONS: Alterations in CYLD gene are associated with HPV-associated cancers, contribute to NF-κB activation, and are implicated in invasion and metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Cui
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
| | - Hyunseok Kang
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jennifer R Grandis
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Daniel E Johnson
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
The Tumor Suppressor CYLD Inhibits Mammary Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition by the Coordinated Inhibition of YAP/TAZ and TGF Signaling. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082047. [PMID: 32722292 PMCID: PMC7466024 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Downregulation of the cylindromatosis (CYLD) tumor suppressor has been associated with breast cancer development and progression. Here, we report a critical role for CYLD in maintaining the phenotype of mammary epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. CYLD downregulation or inactivation induced an epithelial to mesenchymal transition of mammary epithelial cells that was dependent on the concomitant activation of the transcription factors Yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF)signaling. CYLD inactivation enhanced the nuclear localization of YAP/TAZ and the phosphorylation of Small Mothers Against Decapentaplegic (SMAD)2/3 proteins in confluent cell culture conditions. Consistent with these findings were the hyperplastic alterations of CYLD-deficient mouse mammary epithelia, which were associated with enhanced nuclear expression of the YAP/TAZ transcription factors. Furthermore, in human breast cancer samples, downregulation of CYLD expression correlates with enhanced YAP/TAZ-regulated target gene expression. Our results identify CYLD as a critical regulator of a signaling node that prevents the coordinated activation of YAP/TAZ and the TGF pathway in mammary epithelial cells, in order to maintain their phenotypic identity and homeostasis. Consequently, they provide a novel conceptual framework that supports and explains a causal implication of deficient CYLD expression in aggressive human breast cancers.
Collapse
|
45
|
Hellquist H, Ferlito A, Mäkitie AA, Thompson LDR, Bishop JA, Agaimy A, Hernandez-Prera JC, Gnepp DR, Willems SM, Slootweg PJ, Rinaldo A. Developing Classifications of Laryngeal Dysplasia: The Historical Basis. Adv Ther 2020; 37:2667-2677. [PMID: 32329013 PMCID: PMC7467449 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-020-01348-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During the last 60 years numerous significant attempts have been made to achieve a widely acceptable terminology and histological grading for laryngeal squamous intraepithelial lesions. While dysplasia was included in the pathology of the uterine cervix already in 1953, the term dysplasia was accepted in laryngeal pathology first after the Toronto Centennial Conference on Laryngeal Cancer in 1974. In 1963 Kleinsasser proposed a three-tier classification, and in 1971 Kambic and Lenart proposed a four-tier classification. Since then, four editions of the World Health Organisation (WHO) classification have been proposed (1978, 1991, 2005 and 2017). Several terms such as squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN) and laryngeal intraepithelial neoplasia (LIN) are now being abandoned and replaced by squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL). The essential change between the 2005 and 2017 WHO classifications is the attempt to induce a simplification from a four- to a two-tier system. The current WHO classification (2017) thus recommends the use of a two-tier system with reasonably clear histopathological criteria for the two groups: low-grade and high-grade dysplasia. Problems with interobserver variability apart, subjectivities and uncertainties remain, but to a lesser degree. Ongoing and additional molecular studies may help to clarify underlying events that will increase our understanding and possibly can facilitate our attempts to obtain an even better classification. The classification needs to be easier for the general pathologist to perform and easier for the clinician to interpret. These two objectives are equally important to provide each patient the best personalised treatment available for squamous intraepithelial lesions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Hellquist
- Epigenetics and Human Disease Laboratory, Faro, Portugal.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, Faro, Portugal.
- Centre of Biomedical Research (CBMR) and Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), Faro, Portugal.
| | - Alfio Ferlito
- International Head and Neck Scientific Group, Padua, Italy
| | - Antti A Mäkitie
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lester D R Thompson
- Department of Pathology, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Woodland Hills Medical Center, Woodland Hills, CA, USA
| | - Justin A Bishop
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Abbas Agaimy
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Douglas R Gnepp
- Department of Pathology, Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stefan M Willems
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter J Slootweg
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Perri F, Longo F, Caponigro F, Sandomenico F, Guida A, Della Vittoria Scarpati G, Ottaiano A, Muto P, Ionna F. Management of HPV-Related Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Pitfalls and Caveat. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040975. [PMID: 32326465 PMCID: PMC7226389 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are a very heterogeneous group of malignancies arising from the upper aerodigestive tract. They show different clinical behaviors depending on their origin site and genetics. Several data support the existence of at least two genetically different types of HNSCC, one virus-related and the other alcohol and/or tobacco and oral trauma-related, which show both clinical and biological opposite features. In fact, human papillomavirus (HPV)-related HNSCCs, which are mainly located in the oropharynx, are characterized by better prognosis and response to therapies when compared to HPV-negative HNSCCs. Interestingly, virus-related HNSCC has shown a better response to conservative (nonsurgical) treatments and immunotherapy, opening questions about the possibility to perform a pretherapy assessment which could totally guide the treatment strategy. In this review, we summarize molecular differences and similarities between HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC, highlighting their impact on clinical behavior and on therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Perri
- Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS G. Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-590-3362
| | - Francesco Longo
- Division of Surgical Oncology Maxillo-Facial Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—IRCCS—Fondazione G. Pascale, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy; (F.L.); (A.G.); (F.I.)
| | - Francesco Caponigro
- Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS G. Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Fabio Sandomenico
- Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—IRCCS—G. Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Agostino Guida
- Division of Surgical Oncology Maxillo-Facial Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—IRCCS—Fondazione G. Pascale, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy; (F.L.); (A.G.); (F.I.)
| | | | - Alessandro Ottaiano
- SSD Innovative Therapies for Abdominal Metastases, Department of Abdominal Oncology, INT IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Paolo Muto
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—IRCCS—G. Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Franco Ionna
- Division of Surgical Oncology Maxillo-Facial Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—IRCCS—Fondazione G. Pascale, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy; (F.L.); (A.G.); (F.I.)
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
La T, Jin L, Liu XY, Song ZH, Farrelly M, Feng YC, Yan XG, Zhang YY, Thorne RF, Zhang XD, Teng L. Cylindromatosis Is Required for Survival of a Subset of Melanoma Cells. Oncol Res 2020; 28:385-398. [PMID: 32252875 PMCID: PMC7851542 DOI: 10.3727/096504020x15861709922491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The deubiquitinase cylindromatosis (CYLD) functions as a tumor suppressor inhibiting cell proliferation in many cancer types including melanoma. Here we present evidence that a proportion of melanoma cells are nonetheless addicted to CYLD for survival. The expression levels of CYLD varied widely in melanoma cell lines and melanomas in vivo, with a subset of melanoma cell lines and melanomas displaying even higher levels of CYLD than melanocyte lines and nevi, respectively. Strikingly, although short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown of CYLD promoted, as anticipated, cell proliferation in some melanoma cell lines, it reduced cell viability in a fraction of melanoma cell lines with relatively high levels of CYLD expression and did not impinge on survival and proliferation in a third type of melanoma cell lines. The decrease in cell viability caused by CYLD knockdown was due to induction of apoptosis, as it was associated with activation of the caspase cascade and was abolished by treatment with a general caspase inhibitor. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that induction of apoptosis by CYLD knockdown was caused by upregulation of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) that was associated with elevated K63-linked polyubiquitination of the protein, indicating that CYLD is critical for controlling RIPK1 expression in these cells. Of note, microRNA (miR) profiling showed that miR-99b-3p that was predicted to target the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of the CYLD mRNA was reduced in melanoma cell lines with high levels of CYLD compared with melanocyte lines. Further functional studies confirmed that the reduction in miR-99b-3p expression was responsible for the increased expression of CYLD in a highly cell line-specific manner. Taken together, these results reveal an unexpected role of CYLD in promoting survival of a subset of melanoma cells and uncover the heterogeneity of CYLD expression and its biological significance in melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting La
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouP.R. China
| | - Lei Jin
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouP.R. China
| | - Xiao Ying Liu
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouP.R. China
| | - Ze Hua Song
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouP.R. China
| | - Margaret Farrelly
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of NewcastleCallaghan, NSWAustralia
| | - Yu Chen Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of NewcastleCallaghan, NSWAustralia
| | - Xu Guang Yan
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of NewcastleCallaghan, NSWAustralia
| | - Yuan Yuan Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of NewcastleCallaghan, NSWAustralia
| | - Rick F Thorne
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouP.R. China
| | - Xu Dong Zhang
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouP.R. China
| | - Liu Teng
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouP.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Aggarwal N, Yadav J, Thakur K, Bibban R, Chhokar A, Tripathi T, Bhat A, Singh T, Jadli M, Singh U, Kashyap MK, Bharti AC. Human Papillomavirus Infection in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Transcriptional Triggers and Changed Disease Patterns. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:537650. [PMID: 33344262 PMCID: PMC7738612 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.537650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous group of cancers. Collectively, HNSCC ranks sixth in incidence rate worldwide. Apart from classical risk factors like tobacco and alcohol, infection of human papillomavirus (HPV) is emerging as a discrete risk factor for HNSCC. HPV-positive HNSCC represent a distinct group of diseases that differ in their clinical presentation. These lesions are well-differentiated, occur at an early age, and have better prognosis. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a specific increase in the proportions of the HPV-positive HNSCC. HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC lesions display different disease progression and clinical response. For tumorigenic-transformation, HPV essentially requires a permissive cellular environment and host cell factors for induction of viral transcription. As the spectrum of host factors is independent of HPV infection at the time of viral entry, presumably entry of HPV only selects host cells that are permissive to establishment of HPV infection. Growing evidence suggest that HPV plays a more active role in a subset of HNSCC, where they are transcriptionally-active. A variety of factors provide a favorable environment for HPV to become transcriptionally-active. The most notable are the set of transcription factors that have direct binding sites on the viral genome. As HPV does not have its own transcription machinery, it is fully dependent on host transcription factors to complete the life cycle. Here, we review and evaluate the current evidence on level of a subset of host transcription factors that influence viral genome, directly or indirectly, in HNSCC. Since many of these transcription factors can independently promote carcinogenesis, the composition of HPV permissive transcription factors in a tumor can serve as a surrogate marker of a separate molecularly-distinct class of HNSCC lesions including those cases, where HPV could not get a chance to infect but may manifest better prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Aggarwal
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Joni Yadav
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Kulbhushan Thakur
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Rakhi Bibban
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Arun Chhokar
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Tanya Tripathi
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Anjali Bhat
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Tejveer Singh
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Mohit Jadli
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Ujala Singh
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Manoj K. Kashyap
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- Amity Medical School, Stem Cell Institute, Amity University Haryana, Amity Education Valley Panchgaon, Gurugram, India
| | - Alok C. Bharti
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Alok C. Bharti,
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Poropatich K, Paunesku T, Zander A, Wray B, Schipma M, Dalal P, Agulnik M, Chen S, Lai B, Antipova O, Maxey E, Brown K, Wanzer MB, Gursel D, Fan H, Rademaker A, Woloschak GE, Mittal BB. Elemental Zn and its Binding Protein Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein are Elevated in HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16965. [PMID: 31740720 PMCID: PMC6861298 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53268-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is biologically distinct from HPV-negative HNSCC. Outside of HPV-status, few tumor-intrinsic variables have been identified that correlate to improved survival. As part of exploratory analysis into the trace elemental composition of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), we performed elemental quanitification by X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) on a small cohort (n = 32) of patients with HPV-positive and -negative OPSCC and identified in HPV-positive cases increased zinc (Zn) concentrations in tumor tissue relative to normal tissue. Subsequent immunohistochemistry of six Zn-binding proteins—zinc-α2-glycoprotein (AZGP1), Lipocalin-1, Albumin, S100A7, S100A8 and S100A9—revealed that only AZGP1 expression significantly correlated to HPV-status (p < 0.001) and was also increased in tumor relative to normal tissue from HPV-positive OPSCC tumor samples. AZGP1 protein expression in our cohort significantly correlated to a prolonged recurrence-free survival (p = 0.029), similar to HNSCC cases from the TCGA (n = 499), where highest AZGP1 mRNA levels correlated to improved overall survival (p = 0.023). By showing for the first time that HPV-positive OPSCC patients have increased intratumoral Zn levels and AZGP1 expression, we identify possible positive prognostic biomarkers in HNSCC as well as possible mechanisms of increased sensitivity to chemoradiation in HPV-positive OPSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Poropatich
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. .,Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Tatjana Paunesku
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alia Zander
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Brian Wray
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Matthew Schipma
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Prarthana Dalal
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Mark Agulnik
- Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Si Chen
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Barry Lai
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Olga Antipova
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Evan Maxey
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Koshonna Brown
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Michael Beau Wanzer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Demirkan Gursel
- Northwestern University Pathology Core Facility, Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hanli Fan
- Northwestern University Pathology Core Facility, Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alfred Rademaker
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gayle E Woloschak
- Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bharat B Mittal
- Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Huang S, Li R, Huang X, Zheng S, Wang L, Wen Z, Zou X, Wu J, Liu Y, Liu D, Wang Y, Dong S, Chen X, Zhu K, Du X, Zhou Z, Han Y, Ye X, Zeng C, Zhang B, Yang G, Jing C. Association Study Between Methylation in the Promoter Regions of cGAS, MAVS, and TRAF3 Genes and the Risk of Cervical Precancerous Lesions and Cervical Cancer in a Southern Chinese Population. Front Genet 2019; 10:1123. [PMID: 31803230 PMCID: PMC6868924 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A case-control study was used to explore the association between the methylation status in the promoter regions of the cGAS, MAVS, and TRAF3 genes and the diseases of cervical precancerous lesions (CPL) and cervical cancer (CC) in a Southern Chinese population, and to further explore their interaction effects with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection and environmental factors in these diseases. The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, and this study was performed in 97 healthy controls, 75 patients with CPL and 33 patients with CC, while each participant has read and signed the informed consent forms before enrolment. The promoter methylation status genes were detected from the bisulfite-treated DNA by the bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) technique, which was carried out using MethPrimer. The cGAS, MAVS, and TRAF3 promoter methylation levels in CPL (CPL cGAS = 35.40%, CPL MAVS = 24.26%, and CPL TRAF3 = 96.76%) were significantly higher than those in the control (Control cGAS = 31.87%, Control MAVS = 21.16%, and Control TRAF3 = 96.26%, PcGAS < 0.001, PMAVS < 0.001, and PTRAF3 = 0.001); however, there was no significant differences between the CC and control. In the logistic regression model with adjusted covariates, compared with the individuals whose cGAS methylation levels were less than or equal to 31.87%, the women with the levels more than 31.87% increased the risk of CPL by 2.49 times (ORa = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.31-4.75, P a = 0.006). The women with MAVS methylation levels above 21.16% were 1.97 times more likely to have CPL than the those with the levels less than 21.16% (ORa = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.06-3.69, P a = 0.033). A synergistic interaction was found between hrHPV and gene promoter methylation levels of cGAS and MAVS in CPL; however, no potential interaction was observed in CC. The promoter methylation levels in cGAS, MAVS, and TRAF3 genes are higher in CPL than in control, indicating that hypermethylation might be an early event in the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The interaction between the promoter methylation levels in cGAS and MAVS genes and hrHPV infection might play a role in the development of CPL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruixin Li
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuxia Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaoling Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijun Wang
- Department of Nutriology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihao Wen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqian Zou
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yumei Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shirui Dong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojing Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kehui Zhu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuben Du
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zixing Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yajing Han
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohong Ye
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengli Zeng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baohuan Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunxia Jing
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|