1
|
Chen S, Gu J, Wu K, Zhao X, Lu Y. Progress in clinical diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer with rare genetic variants. Cancer Biol Med 2024; 21:j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0026. [PMID: 38940668 PMCID: PMC11208903 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0026] [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: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapy is crucial for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) positive for genetic drivers. With advances in deep sequencing technology and new targeted drugs, existing standard molecular pathological detection systems and therapeutic strategies can no longer meet the requirements for careful management of patients with advanced CRC. Thus, rare genetic variations require diagnosis and targeted therapy in clinical practice. Rare gene mutations, amplifications, and rearrangements are usually associated with poor prognosis and poor response to conventional therapy. This review summarizes the clinical diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic variations, in genes including erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2), B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF), ALK receptor tyrosine kinase/ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK/ROS1), neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinases (NTRKs), ret proto-oncogene (RET), fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), to enhance understanding and identify more accurate personalized treatments for patients with rare genetic variations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers and National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Jing Gu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Kaichun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers and National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Xiaodi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers and National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Yuanyuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers and National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chitluri KK, Emerson IA. The importance of protein domain mutations in cancer therapy. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27655. [PMID: 38509890 PMCID: PMC10950675 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease that is caused by multiple genetic factors. Researchers have been studying protein domain mutations to understand how they affect the progression and treatment of cancer. These mutations can significantly impact the development and spread of cancer by changing the protein structure, function, and signalling pathways. As a result, there is a growing interest in how these mutations can be used as prognostic indicators for cancer prognosis. Recent studies have shown that protein domain mutations can provide valuable information about the severity of the disease and the patient's response to treatment. They may also be used to predict the response and resistance to targeted therapy in cancer treatment. The clinical implications of protein domain mutations in cancer are significant, and they are regarded as essential biomarkers in oncology. However, additional techniques and approaches are required to characterize changes in protein domains and predict their functional effects. Machine learning and other computational tools offer promising solutions to this challenge, enabling the prediction of the impact of mutations on protein structure and function. Such predictions can aid in the clinical interpretation of genetic information. Furthermore, the development of genome editing tools like CRISPR/Cas9 has made it possible to validate the functional significance of mutants more efficiently and accurately. In conclusion, protein domain mutations hold great promise as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in cancer. Overall, considerable research is still needed to better define genetic and molecular heterogeneity and to resolve the challenges that remain, so that their full potential can be realized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Kumar Chitluri
- Bioinformatics Programming Lab, Department of Bio-Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, TN, 632014, India
| | - Isaac Arnold Emerson
- Bioinformatics Programming Lab, Department of Bio-Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, TN, 632014, India
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xu X, Li Y, Xu R, Meng Y, Li Z, Zuo D, Wu Y. CD74-ROS1 L2026M mutant enhances autophagy through the MEK/ERK pathway to promote invasion, metastasis and crizotinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells. FEBS J 2024; 291:1199-1219. [PMID: 38148635 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17032] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring a proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) fusion gene has greatly benefited from the use of crizotinib. However, drug resistance inevitably occurs after 1 year of treatment. Clinical studies have shown that patients with an L2026M mutation in the ROS1 kinase domain account for about 6% of the total number of crizotinib-resistant cases, which is an important group that cannot be ignored. To explore the mechanism involved, we constructed the HLA class II histocompatibility antigen gamma chain (CD74)-ROS1 L2026M mutant gene by fusion polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and transfected it into H460 and A549 cells. We found that the invasion and metastasis abilities of drug-resistant cells were increased. The results of monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, Acridine orange (AO) staining, and western blot indicated that the autophagy level of CD74-ROS1 L2026M mutant NSCLC cells was increased compared with the CD74-ROS1 group, and the inhibition of autophagy could reverse the increased invasion and metastasis abilities caused by the L2026M mutation. In addition, the L2026M mutation led to excessive activation of the MEK/ERK pathway, and MEK inhibitors could reduce the autophagy level, invasion, and metastasis abilities of cells; additionally, this process could be blocked by rapamycin, an activator of autophagy. Furthermore, crizotinib treatment activated expression of Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-2 (SHP2; also known as PTPN11) to upregulate the MEK/ERK pathway, and the combination of MEK inhibitors and crizotinib increased apoptosis compared with crizotinib alone. In conclusion, our results indicate that the MEK/ERK pathway mediates the induction of invasion, metastasis, and crizotinib resistance through autophagy caused by CD74-ROS1 L2026M mutation in NSCLC cells, and targeting MEK could reverse these processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China
| | - Rui Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China
| | - Yuting Meng
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China
| | - Zengqiang Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China
| | - Daiying Zuo
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China
| | - Yingliang Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shi M, Sun D, Deng L, Liu J, Zhang MJ. SRPK1 Promotes Glioma Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion through Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin and JAK-2/STAT-3 Signaling Pathways. Biomedicines 2024; 12:378. [PMID: 38397980 PMCID: PMC10886746 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, the treatment of gliomas still relies primarily on surgery and radiochemotherapy. Although there are various drugs available, including temozolomide, the overall therapeutic effect is unsatisfactory, and the prognosis remains poor. Therefore, the in-depth study of the mechanism of glioma development and a search for new therapeutic targets are the keys to improving the therapeutic treatment of gliomas and improving the prognosis of patients. Immunohistochemistry is used to detect the expression of relevant molecules in tissues, qPCR and Western blot are used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of relevant molecules, CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) is used to assess cell viability and proliferation capacity, Transwell is used to evaluate cell migration and invasion ability, and RNA transcriptome sequencing is used to identify the most influential pathways. SRPK1 (SRSF protein kinase 1) is highly expressed in gliomas but is not expressed in normal tissues. Its expression is positively correlated with the grades of gliomas and negatively correlated with prognosis. SRPK1 significantly promotes the occurrence and development of gliomas. Knocking down SRPK1 leads to a significant decrease in the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of gliomas. Loss of SRPK1 expression induces G2/M phase arrest and mitotic catastrophe, leading to apoptosis in cells. Overexpression of SRPK1 activates the Wnt/β-catenin (wingless-int1/β-catenin) and JAK-2/STAT-3 (Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) signaling pathways, promoting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gliomas. Overexpression of SRPK1 rescues the reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities caused by the silencing of β-catenin or JAK-2. A stable shRNA-LN229 cell line was constructed, and using a nude mouse model, it was found that stable knockout of SRPK1 significantly reduced the tumorigenic ability of glioma cells, as evidenced by a significant decrease in the subcutaneous tumor volume and weight in nude mice. We have demonstrated that SRPK1 is highly expressed in gliomas. Overexpression of SRPK1 activates the Wnt/β-catenin and JAK-2/STAT-3 signaling pathways, promoting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gliomas. Silencing SRPK1-related signaling pathways may provide potential therapeutic options for glioma patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengna Shi
- Department of Oncology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China;
| | - Dan Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology (Huainan First People’s Hospital), Huainan 232002, China
| | - Lu Deng
- National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China;
| | - Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Min-Jie Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Current Targeted Therapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021702. [PMID: 36675216 PMCID: PMC9864602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Surgery or surgery plus radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) were accepted as the main therapeutic strategies until the early 2000s, when targeted drugs, like cetuximab and bevacizumab, were developed. The use of targeted drugs in clinical practice has significantly increased patients' overall survival. To date, the emergence of several types of targeted drugs has opened new possibilities and revealed new prospects for mCRC treatment. Therapeutic strategies are continually being updated to select the most suitable targeted drugs based on the results of clinical trials that are currently underway. This review discusses the up-to date molecular evidence of targeted therapy for mCRC and summarizes the Food and Drug Administration-approved targeted drugs including the results of clinical trials. We also explain their mechanisms of action and how these affect the choice of a suitable targeted therapy.
Collapse
|
6
|
He R, Zhang H, Zhao H, Yin X, Lu J, Gu C, Gao J, Xu Q. Multiomics Analysis Reveals Cuproptosis-Related Signature for Evaluating Prognosis and Immunotherapy Efficacy in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020387. [PMID: 36672336 PMCID: PMC9856392 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cuproptosis is a copper-induced form of mitochondrial cell death which is engaged in the proliferation and migration of a variety of tumors. Nevertheless, the role of cuproptosis in tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling and antitumor therapy is still poorly understood. We characterized two diverse cuproptosis-associated molecular isoforms in CRC which exhibit distinct prognostic and TME characteristics. Subsequently, we constructed a cuproptosis-associated prognostic model containing five genes and divided the patients into a high CPS-score group and a low CPS-score group. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses showed that the CPS score could be used as an independent prognostic factor. The nomogram, and its consequent calibration curves, indicated that this prognostic signature had good predictive power for CRC. The analysis of single-cell sequencing data showed the significant expression of HES4 and SPHK1 in various immune and stromal (including fibroblasts) cells. Further studies showed that tumor mutational burden (TMB), high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) ratio, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene expression all positively correlated with the CPS score, predicting a better reaction to immunotherapy in high CPS-core patients. The CPS score constructed from cuproptosis subtypes can be used as a predictive tool to evaluate the prognosis of CRC patients and their response to immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Qing Xu
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-13661778856
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ma H, Qiu Q, Tan D, Chen Q, Liu Y, Chen B, Wang M. The Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts-Related Gene COMP Is a Novel Predictor for Prognosis and Immunotherapy Efficacy and Is Correlated with M2 Macrophage Infiltration in Colon Cancer. Biomolecules 2022; 13:biom13010062. [PMID: 36671447 PMCID: PMC9856124 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colon cancer is characterized by a sophisticated tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which make up the majority of the stromal cells in TME, participate in tumor development and immune regulation. Further investigations of CAFs would facilitate an in-depth understanding of its role in colon cancer TME. METHODS In this study, we estimated CAF abundance based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases using the Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter (MCP-counter) algorithm. CAF-related genes were identified by differential gene expression analysis combined with weighted gene coexpression network analysis. For further selection, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox regression was used, and the prognostic value of the selected gene was confirmed in numerous external cohorts. The function enrichment, immunological characteristics, tumor mutation signature, immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity of the selected gene were subsequently explored. The bioinformatics analysis results were validated using immunohistochemistry on clinical samples from our institution. RESULTS According to our findings, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) was uncovered as a candidate CAFs-driven biomarker in colon cancer and plays an important role in predicting prognosis in colon cancer. COMP upregulation was associated with enhanced stromal and immune activation, and immune cell infiltration, especially M2 macrophages. Genes that mutated differently between the high- and low-COMP expression subgroups may be correlated with TME change. Following verification, COMP reliably predicted the immunotherapy response and drug response. In addition, our experimental validation demonstrated that COMP overexpression is associated with colon cancer carcinogenesis and is strongly associated with CAFs and M2 macrophage infiltration. CONCLUSION Our study uncovered that COMP was a key CAFs-driven gene associated with M2 macrophage infiltration and acted as a convincing predictor for prognosis and immunotherapy response in colon cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- He Ma
- Department of General Surgery, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, China
| | - Qingqing Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, China
| | - Dan Tan
- Department of General Surgery, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, China
| | - Qiaofeng Chen
- Department of General Surgery, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, China
| | - Yaping Liu
- Department of General Surgery, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, China
| | - Bing Chen
- Central Laboratory, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, China
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (M.W.)
| | - Mingliang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, China
- Department of General Surgery, RuiJin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (M.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Batra U, Nathany S, Sachdeva R, Sharma M, Amrith BP, Vaidya S. ROS1 in non-small-cell lung carcinoma: A narrative review. CANCER RESEARCH, STATISTICS, AND TREATMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/crst.crst_322_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
|