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Mohammadi E, Dashti S, Shafizade N, Jin H, Zhang C, Lam S, Tahmoorespur M, Mardinoglu A, Sekhavati MH. Drug repositioning for immunotherapy in breast cancer using single-cell analysis. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024; 10:37. [PMID: 38589404 PMCID: PMC11001976 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-024-00359-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunomodulatory peptides, while exhibiting potential antimicrobial, antifungal, and/or antiviral properties, can play a role in stimulating or suppressing the immune system, especially in pathological conditions like breast cancer (BC). Thus, deregulation of these peptides may serve as an immunotherapeutic strategy to enhance the immune response. In this meta-analysis, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing data and known therapeutic peptides to investigate the deregulation of these peptides in malignant versus normal human breast epithelial cells. We corroborated our findings at the chromatin level using ATAC-seq. Additionally, we assessed the protein levels in various BC cell lines. Moreover, our in-house drug repositioning approach was employed to identify potential drugs that could positively impact the relapse-free survival of BC patients. Considering significantly deregulated therapeutic peptides and their role in BC pathology, our approach aims to downregulate B2M and SLPI, while upregulating PIGR, DEFB1, LTF, CLU, S100A7, and SCGB2A1 in BC epithelial cells through our drug repositioning pipeline. Leveraging the LINCS L1000 database, we propose BRD-A06641369 for B2M downregulation and ST-4070043 and BRD-K97926541 for SLPI downregulation without negatively affecting the MHC complex as a significantly correlated pathway with these two genes. Furthermore, we have compiled a comprehensive list of drugs for the upregulation of other selected immunomodulatory peptides. Employing an immunotherapeutic approach by integrating our drug repositioning pipeline with single-cell analysis, we proposed potential drugs and drug targets to fortify the immune system against BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyas Mohammadi
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Samira Dashti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Neda Shafizade
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Han Jin
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simon Lam
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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López-Cortés R, Muinelo-Romay L, Fernández-Briera A, Gil Martín E. High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry Analysis of N-Glycans and Protein Markers after FUT8 Knockdown in the Syngeneic SW480/SW620 Colorectal Cancer Cell Model. J Proteome Res 2024; 23:1379-1398. [PMID: 38507902 PMCID: PMC11002942 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00833] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Disruption of the glycosylation machinery is a common feature in many types of cancer, and colorectal cancer (CRC) is no exception. Core fucosylation is mediated by the enzyme fucosyltransferase 8 (FucT-8), which catalyzes the addition of α1,6-l-fucose to the innermost GlcNAc residue of N-glycans. We and others have documented the involvement of FucT-8 and core-fucosylated proteins in CRC progression, in which we addressed core fucosylation in the syngeneic CRC model formed by SW480 and SW620 tumor cell lines from the perspective of alterations in their N-glycosylation profile and protein expression as an effect of the knockdown of the FUT8 gene that encodes FucT-8. Using label-free, semiquantitative mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, we found noticeable differences in N-glycosylation patterns in FUT8-knockdown cells, affecting core fucosylation and sialylation, the Hex/HexNAc ratio, and antennarity. Furthermore, stable isotopic labeling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based proteomic screening detected the alteration of species involved in protein folding, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi post-translational stabilization, epithelial polarity, and cellular response to damage and therapy. This data is available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD050012. Overall, the results obtained merit further investigation to validate their feasibility as biomarkers of progression and malignization in CRC, as well as their potential usefulness in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén López-Cortés
- Doctoral
Program in Methods and Applications in Life Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Pontevedra (Galicia), Spain
| | - Laura Muinelo-Romay
- Liquid
Biopsy Analysis Unit, Translational Medical Oncology (Oncomet), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela
(IDIS), CIBERONC, Travesía da Choupana, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña
(Galicia), Spain
| | - Almudena Fernández-Briera
- Molecular
Biomarkers, Biomedical Research Centre (CINBIO), Universidade de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Pontevedra (Galicia), Spain
| | - Emilio Gil Martín
- Nutrition
and Food Science Group, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology,
Faculty of Biology, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Pontevedra (Galicia), Spain
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Lai PM, Chan KM. Roles of Histone H2A Variants in Cancer Development, Prognosis, and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3144. [PMID: 38542118 PMCID: PMC10969971 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Histones are nuclear proteins essential for packaging genomic DNA and epigenetic gene regulation. Paralogs that can substitute core histones (H2A, H2B, H3, and H4), named histone variants, are constitutively expressed in a replication-independent manner throughout the cell cycle. With specific chaperones, they can be incorporated to chromatin to modify nucleosome stability by modulating interactions with nucleosomal DNA. This allows the regulation of essential fundamental cellular processes for instance, DNA damage repair, chromosomal segregation, and transcriptional regulation. Among all the histone families, histone H2A family has the largest number of histone variants reported to date. Each H2A variant has multiple functions apart from their primary role and some, even be further specialized to perform additional tasks in distinct lineages, such as testis specific shortH2A (sH2A). In the past decades, the discoveries of genetic alterations and mutations in genes encoding H2A variants in cancer had revealed variants' potentiality in driving carcinogenesis. In addition, there is growing evidence that H2A variants may act as novel prognostic indicators or biomarkers for both early cancer detection and therapeutic treatments. Nevertheless, no studies have ever concluded all identified variants in a single report. Here, in this review, we summarize the respective functions for all the 19 mammalian H2A variants and their roles in cancer biology whilst potentiality being used in clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kui Ming Chan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China;
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4
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Liu B, Wang J, Wang G, Jiang W, Li Z, Shi Y, Zhang J, Pei Q, Huang G, Wang L, Zhao S, Wu L, Zhang M, Wang W, Li X, Mou T, Zhang C, Ding Q. Hepatocyte-derived exosomes deliver H2AFJ to hepatic stellate cells and promote liver fibrosis via the MAPK/STMN1 axis activation. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 115:109605. [PMID: 36608439 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activate and acquire proliferative features in response to liver injury. However, mechanisms involved in the activation of fibrotic HSCs remain uncharacterized. This study aims at elaborating the mechanistic basis by which exosomal H2AFJ derived from hepatocytes might affect the activation of HSCs and liver fibrosis. Bioinformatics analysis based on transcriptomic RNA-seq data was used to screen out the downstream regulatory genes and pathways of H2AFJ. Mouse hepatocytes AML-12 cells were stimulated with CCl4 to mimic an in vitro microenvironment of liver fibrosis, from which exosomes were isolated. Next, HSCs were co-cultured with hepatocyte-derived exosomes followed by detection of HSC migration and invasion in the presence of manipulated H2AFJ and STMN1 expression and MAPK pathway inhibitor. It was found that H2AFJ was highly expressed in hepatocyte-derived exosomes after CCl4 stimulation. Hepatocyte-derived exosomal H2AFJ promoted HSC migration and invasion. H2AFJ upregulated c-jun-mediated STMN1 by activating the MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vivo experiments verified that silencing of H2AFJ attenuated liver fibrosis in mice, while restoration of STMN1 negated its effect. Collectively, hepatocyte-derived exosomal H2AFJ aggravated liver fibrosis by activating the MAPK/STMN1 signaling pathway. This study provides a potential therapeutic target for alleviating liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Jinchao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Guangchuan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Wanli Jiang
- First Clinical School of Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Yongjun Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Junyong Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Qingshan Pei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Guangjun Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Lifen Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Shengqiang Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Lei Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Mingyan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Wenwen Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Tong Mou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Chunqing Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China
| | - Qian Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, PR China.
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Histone Variant H2A.J Is Enriched in Luminal Epithelial Gland Cells. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12111665. [PMID: 34828271 PMCID: PMC8619693 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
H2A.J is a poorly studied mammalian-specific variant of histone H2A. We used immunohistochemistry to study its localization in various human and mouse tissues. H2A.J showed cell-type specific expression with a striking enrichment in luminal epithelial cells of multiple glands including those of breast, prostate, pancreas, thyroid, stomach, and salivary glands. H2A.J was also highly expressed in many carcinoma cell lines and in particular, those derived from luminal breast and prostate cancer. H2A.J thus appears to be a novel marker for luminal epithelial cancers. Knocking-out the H2AFJ gene in T47D luminal breast cancer cells reduced the expression of several estrogen-responsive genes which may explain its putative tumorigenic role in luminal-B breast cancer.
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Zhang Y, Gao Q, Wu Y, Peng Y, Zhuang J, Yang Y, Jiang W, Liu X, Guan G. Hypermethylation and Downregulation of UTP6 Are Associated With Stemness Properties, Chemoradiotherapy Resistance, and Prognosis in Rectal Cancer: A Co-expression Network Analysis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:607782. [PMID: 34485268 PMCID: PMC8416280 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.607782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To identify the hub genes associated with chemoradiotherapy resistance in rectal cancer and explore the potential mechanism. Methods Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify the gene modules correlated with the chemoradiotherapy resistance of rectal cancer. Results The mRNA expression of 31 rectal cancer patients receiving preoperative chemoradiotherapy was described in our previous study. Through WGCNA, we demonstrated that the chemoradiotherapy resistance modules were enriched for translation, DNA replication, and the androgen receptor signaling pathway. Additionally, we identified and validated UTP6 as a new effective predictor for chemoradiotherapy sensitivity and a prognostic factor for the survival of colorectal cancer patients using our data and the GSE35452 dataset. Low UTP6 expression was correlated with significantly worse disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and event- and relapse-free survival both in our data and the R2 Platform. Moreover, we verified the UTP6 expression in 125 locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients samples by immunohistochemical analysis. The results demonstrated that low UTP6 expression was associated with worse DFS and OS by Kaplan-Meier and COX regression model analyses. Gene set enrichment and co-expression analyses showed that the mechanism of the UTP6-mediated chemoradiotherapy resistance may involve the regulation of FOXK2 expression by transcription factor pathways. Conclusion Low expression of the UTP6 was found to be associated with chemoradiotherapy resistance and the prognosis of colorectal cancer possibly via regulating FOXK2 expression by transcription factor pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiao Gao
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yong Wu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yong Peng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jinfu Zhuang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuanfeng Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Weizhong Jiang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xing Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guoxian Guan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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Manoochehri H, Jalali A, Tanzadehpanah H, Taherkhani A, Saidijam M. Identification of Key Gene Targets for Sensitizing Colorectal Cancer to Chemoradiation: an Integrative Network Analysis on Multiple Transcriptomics Data. J Gastrointest Cancer 2021; 53:649-668. [PMID: 34432208 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-021-00690-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Chemoradioresistance is a major problem in CRC treatment. Identification of novel therapeutic targets in order to overcome treatment resistance in CRC is necessary. METHODS In this study, gene expression omnibus (GEO) database was searched to find microarray datasets. Data normalization/analyzing was performed using ExAtlas. The gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis was performed using g:Profiler. Protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) was constructed by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) and analyzed using Cytoscape. Survival analysis was done using Kaplan-Meier curve method. RESULTS Forty-one eligible datasets were included in study. A total of 12,244 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 7337 unique DEGs were identified. Among them, 1187 DEGs were overlapped in ≥ 3 datasets. Fifty-five overlapped genes were considered as hub genes. Common hub genes in chemo/radiation/chemoradiation datasets were chosen as the essential candidate genes (n = 13). Forty-one hub gene and 7 essential candidate genes were contributed in the significant modules. The modules were mainly enriched in the signaling pathways of senescence, autophagy, NF-κB, HIF-1, stem cell pluripotency, notch, neovascularization, cell cycle, p53, chemokine, and PI3K-Akt. NGFR, FGF2, and PROM1 genes were significantly predictors of CRC patient's survival. CONCLUSION Our study revealed three-gene signatures as potential therapeutic targets and also candidate molecular markers in CRC chemoradioresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Manoochehri
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Akram Jalali
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Hamid Tanzadehpanah
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. .,Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Amir Taherkhani
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Massoud Saidijam
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. .,Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
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Kosvyra A, Ntzioni E, Chouvarda I. Network analysis with biological data of cancer patients: A scoping review. J Biomed Inform 2021; 120:103873. [PMID: 34298154 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2021.103873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Network Analysis (NA) is a mathematical method that allows exploring relations between units and representing them as a graph. Although NA was initially related to social sciences, the past two decades was introduced in Bioinformatics. The recent growth of the networks' use in biological data analysis reveals the need to further investigate this area. In this work, we attempt to identify the use of NA with biological data, and specifically: (a) what types of data are used and whether they are integrated or not, (b) what is the purpose of this analysis, predictive or descriptive, and (c) the outcome of such analyses, specifically in cancer diseases. METHODS & MATERIALS The literature review was conducted on two databases, PubMed & IEEE, and was restricted to journal articles of the last decade (January 2010 - December 2019). At a first level, all articles were screened by title and abstract, and at a second level the screening was conducted by reading the full text article, following the predefined inclusion & exclusion criteria leading to 131 articles of interest. A table was created with the information of interest and was used for the classification of the articles. The articles were initially classified to analysis studies and studies that propose a new algorithm or methodology. Each one of these categories was further screened by the following clustering criteria: (a) data used, (b) study purpose, (c) study outcome. Specifically for the studies proposing a new algorithm, the novelty presented in each one was detected. RESULTS & Conclusions: In the past five years researchers are focusing on creating new algorithms and methodologies to enhance this field. The articles' classification revealed that only 25% of the analyses are integrating multi-omics data, although 50% of the new algorithms developed follow this integrative direction. Moreover, only 20% of the analyses and 10% of the newly developed methodologies have a predictive purpose. Regarding the result of the works reviewed, 75% of the studies focus on identifying, prognostic or not, gene signatures. Concluding, this review revealed the need for deploying predictive and multi-omics integrative algorithms and methodologies that can be used to enhance cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kosvyra
- Laboratory of Computing, Medical Informatics and Biomedical Imaging Technologies, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - E Ntzioni
- Laboratory of Computing, Medical Informatics and Biomedical Imaging Technologies, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - I Chouvarda
- Laboratory of Computing, Medical Informatics and Biomedical Imaging Technologies, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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DNA methylation and histone variants in aging and cancer. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 364:1-110. [PMID: 34507780 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aging-related diseases such as cancer can be traced to the accumulation of molecular disorder including increased DNA mutations and epigenetic drift. We provide a comprehensive review of recent results in mice and humans on modifications of DNA methylation and histone variants during aging and in cancer. Accumulated errors in DNA methylation maintenance lead to global decreases in DNA methylation with relaxed repression of repeated DNA and focal hypermethylation blocking the expression of tumor suppressor genes. Epigenetic clocks based on quantifying levels of DNA methylation at specific genomic sites is proving to be a valuable metric for estimating the biological age of individuals. Histone variants have specialized functions in transcriptional regulation and genome stability. Their concentration tends to increase in aged post-mitotic chromatin, but their effects in cancer are mainly determined by their specialized functions. Our increased understanding of epigenetic regulation and their modifications during aging has motivated interventions to delay or reverse epigenetic modifications using the epigenetic clocks as a rapid readout for efficacity. Similarly, the knowledge of epigenetic modifications in cancer is suggesting new approaches to target these modifications for cancer therapy.
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Sun Y, Zhang Y, Wu X, Chi P. A Four Gene-Based Risk Score System Associated with Chemoradiotherapy Response and Tumor Recurrence in Rectal Cancer by Co-Expression Network Analysis. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:6721-6733. [PMID: 32753901 PMCID: PMC7354918 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s256696] [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: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Resistance to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and tumor recurrence presents a major clinical problem in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients. This study aimed to explore a genetic risk score related to NCRT response and tumor recurrence in rectal cancer after NCRT. Materials and Methods Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was employed to identify hub genes associated with NCRT response from the GSE93375 dataset. Prognostic hub genes were determined using Cox regression analysis and associated with disease-free survival (DFS). A risk score system was constructed and the prognostic significance of the risk score was validated in our patient cohort. A predictive nomogram for DFS was developed and validated internally. Results The Tan module had the highest correlations with NCRT response. Ten hub genes (COL15A1, THBS2, ITGB1, MMP2, CD34, SPARC, NOTCH3, PDGFRB, DCN, and SERPINH1) were associated with NCRT response. Immunostaining expression of four genes (NOTCH3, SPARC, DCN, and ITGB1) was found to be significantly associated with both NCRT response and DFS in our patient cohort and was selected to build a prognostic risk score for DFS as follows: risk score= (0.6188×Exp NOTCH3 ) + (0.6511×Exp SPARC ) + (-0.2976×Exp DCN ) + (1.0035×Exp ITGB1 ). Using this risk score, patients could be separated into high- and low-risk groups for tumor recurrence. A nomogram that incorporated the risk score, ypTNM stage, and tumor regression grade (TRG) was constructed and utilized to predict DFS in LARC patients. Conclusion The four-gene expression-based risk score system presented here could be potentially used for predicting tumor recurrence in LARC patients after NCRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwu Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiyi Zhang
- Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejing Wu
- Department of Pathology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Pan Chi
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China
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Zhang Y, Sun L, Wang X, Sun Y, Chen Y, Xu M, Chi P, Lu X, Xu Z. FBXW4 Acts as a Protector of FOLFOX-Based Chemotherapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Identified by Co-Expression Network Analysis. Front Genet 2020; 11:113. [PMID: 32218799 PMCID: PMC7078371 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background FOLFOX chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatments for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, the efficacy and tolerance of FOLFOX therapy varies between patients. The purpose of this study was to explore hub genes associated with primary chemotherapy-resistance and to explore the possible mechanisms involved from non-European patients. Method A weighted gene co-expression network was constructed to identify gene modules associated with chemotherapy resistance in mCRC from China. Results A Gene Array Chip was used to detect mRNA expression in 11 mCRC patients receiving preoperative FOLFOX chemotherapy. The immune response was associated with chemotherapy-resistance in microarray data. Through the use of WGCNA, we demonstrated that the crucial functions enriched in chemotherapy-resistance modules were cell proliferation, MAPK signaling pathways, and PI3K signaling pathways. Additionally, we identified and validated FBXW4 as a new effective predictor for chemotherapy sensitivity and a prognostic factor for survival of CRC patients by using our own data and GSE69657. Furthermore, a meta-analysis of 15 Gene Expression Omnibus–sourced datasets showed that FBXW4 messenger RNA levels were significantly lower in CRC tissues than in normal colon tissues. An analysis of the data from the R2: Genomics Analysis and Visualization Platform showed that low FBXW4 expression was correlated with a significantly worse event- and relapse-free survival. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that the mechanism of FBXW4-mediated chemotherapy resistance may involve the DNA replication signal pathway and the cell cycle. Conclusion FBXW4 is associated with chemotherapy resistance and prognosis of CRC probably by regulating DNA replication signaling pathways and the cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lijun Sun
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanwu Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Fuzhou Dermatosis Prevention Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Meifang Xu
- Department of Pathology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Pan Chi
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xingrong Lu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zongbin Xu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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Stromal Cell Signature Associated with Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer. Cells 2019; 8:cells8121566. [PMID: 31817155 PMCID: PMC6953077 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer stromal compartment, may influence responsiveness to chemotherapy. Our aim was to detect a stromal cell signature (using a direct approach of microdissected stromal cells) associated with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (neoCT) in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). The tumor samples were collected from 44 patients with LABC (29 estrogen receptor (ER) positive and 15 ER negative) before the start of any treatment. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisted of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, followed by paclitaxel. Response was defined as downstaging to maximum ypT1a-b/ypN0. The stromal cells, mainly composed of fibroblast and immune cells, were microdissected from fresh frozen tumor samples and gene expression profile was determined using Agilent SurePrint G3 Human Gene Expression microarrays. Expression levels were compared using MeV (MultiExperiment Viewer) software, applying SAM (significance analysis of microarrays). To classify samples according to tumor response, the order of median based on confidence statements (MedOr) was used, and to identify gene sets correlated with the phenotype downstaging, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Nine patients presented disease downstaging. Eleven sequences (FDR 17) were differentially expressed, all of which (except H2AFJ) more expressed in responsive tumors, including PTCHD1 and genes involved in abnormal cytotoxic T cell physiology, TOX, LY75, and SH2D1A. The following four pairs of markers could correctly classify all tumor samples according to response: PTCHD1/PDXDC2P, LOC100506731/NEURL4, SH2D1A/ENST00000478672, and TOX/H2AFJ. Gene sets correlated with tumor downstaging (FDR < 0.01) were mainly involved in immune response or lymphocyte activation, including CD47, LCK, NCK1, CD24, CD3E, ZAP70, FOXP3, and CD74, among others. In locally advanced breast cancer, stromal cells may present specific features of immune response that may be associated with chemotherapy response.
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Eylem CC, Yilmaz M, Derkus B, Nemutlu E, Camci CB, Yilmaz E, Turkoglu MA, Aytac B, Ozyurt N, Emregul E. Untargeted multi-omic analysis of colorectal cancer-specific exosomes reveals joint pathways of colorectal cancer in both clinical samples and cell culture. Cancer Lett 2019; 469:186-194. [PMID: 31669517 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Exosomes are naturally secreted nano-vesicles consisting of biochemical molecules including RNAs, metabolites, lipids, and proteins, that emerge as diagnostic tools and disease-specific reporters. Here we offer a systematic and integrative approach for the simultaneous analysis of altered molecules namely metabolites, lipids, and proteins. These components tend to augment the discovery of low abundance signature components, and assist in explanation of molecular basis of colorectal cancer (CRC). In order to investigate CRC-derived exosomes, we selected mi-R19a, miR-21, miR-92a, and miR-1246 positive exosomes for downstream experiments. The overall multi-omic changes were investigated comparatively in cell culture and serum samples. Following a systematic multi-omic study, 37 (cell culture) and 31 (serum) metabolites; 130 (cell culture) and 56 (serum) lipids; 9 (cell culture) and 13 (serum) proteins were seen to be differentially expressed (p < 0.05), enabling discrimination between CRC and control. By using these enriched components, we demonstrated that the joint pathways mainly involving fatty acid and amino acid metabolism related pathways changed in CRC significantly. We conclude that this study increases our understanding of molecular basis of CRC, and provides potential exosomal biomarkers for the non-invasive detection, and discrimination of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cemil Can Eylem
- Analytical Chemistry Division, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 06230, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Yilmaz
- Department of Chemistry, Science Faculty, Ankara University, 06560, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Burak Derkus
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, 26040, Eskisehir, Turkey.
| | - Emirhan Nemutlu
- Analytical Chemistry Division, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 06230, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Can Berk Camci
- Department of Chemistry, Science Faculty, Ankara University, 06560, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Erkan Yilmaz
- Biotechnology Institute, Ankara University, 06560, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Akif Turkoglu
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, 06560, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bulent Aytac
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, 06560, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Neslihan Ozyurt
- Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, 06590, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Emel Emregul
- Department of Chemistry, Science Faculty, Ankara University, 06560, Ankara, Turkey
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