Involvement of the Fhit gene in the ionizing radiation-activated ATR/CHK1 pathway

The fission yeast FHIT homolog affects checkpoint control of proliferation and is regulated by mitochondrial electron transport

Genetic analysis has strongly implicated human FHIT (Fragile Histidine Triad) as a tumor suppressor gene, being mutated in a large proportion of early‐stage cancers. The functions of the FHIT protein have, however, remained elusive. Here, we investigated aph1⁺, the fission yeast homolog of FHIT, for functions related to checkpoint control and oxidative metabolism. In sublethal concentrations of DNA damaging agents, aph1Δ mutants grew with a substantially shorter lag phase. In aph1Δ mutants carrying a hypomorphic allele of cds1 (the fission yeast homolog of Chk2), in addition, increased chromosome fragmentation and missegregation were found. We also found that under hypoxia or impaired electron transport function, the Aph1 protein level was strongly depressed. Previously, FHIT has been linked to regulation of the human 9‐1‐1 checkpoint complex constituted by Hus1, Rad1, and Rad9. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the levels of all three 9‐1‐1 proteins are all downregulated by hypoxia in similarity with Aph1. Moreover, deletion of the aph1⁺ gene reduced the Rad1 protein level, indicating a direct relationship between these two proteins. We conclude that the fission yeast FHIT homolog has a role in modulating DNA damage checkpoint function, possibly through an effect on the 9‐1‐1 complex, and that this effect may be critical under conditions of limiting oxidative metabolism and reoxygenation.

Visualization of macrophage recruitment in head and neck carcinoma model using fluorine-19 magnetic resonance imaging

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of infiltrating macrophages in murine models of single and double mutation head and neck tumors using a novel fluorine-19 (¹⁹ F) MRI technology.

METHODS

Tumor cell lines single-hit/SCC4 or double-hit/Cal27, with mutations of TP53 and TP53 & FHIT, respectively, were injected bilaterally into the flanks of (n = 10) female mice. With tumors established, perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion was injected intravenously, which labels in situ predominantly monocytes and macrophages. Longitudinal spin density-weighted ¹⁹ F MRI data enabled quantification of the macrophage burden in tumor and surrounding tissue.

RESULTS

The average number of ¹⁹ F atoms within the tumors was twice as high in the Cal27 group compared with SCC4 (3.9 × 10¹⁹ and 2.0 × 10¹⁹¹⁹ F/tumor, respectively; P = 0.0034) two days after contrast injection, signifying increased tumor-associated macrophages in double-hit tumors. The difference was still significant 10 days after injection. Histology stains correlated with in vivo results, exhibiting numerous perfluorocarbon-labeled macrophages in double-hit tumors and to a lesser extent in single-hit tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study helps to establish ¹⁹ F MRI as a method for quantifying immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, allowing distinction between double and single-hit head and neck tumors. This technique would be extremely valuable in the clinic for pretreatment planning, prognostics, and post-treatment surveillance. Magn Reson Med 79:1972-1980, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Genomics of Esophageal Cancer and Biomarkers for Early Detection

In-depth molecular characterization of esophageal oncogenesis has improved over the recent years. Advancement in molecular biology and bioinformatics has led to better understanding of its genomic landscape. More specifically, analysis of its pathogenesis at the genetic level has uncovered the involvement of a number of tumor suppressor genes, cell cycle regulators, and receptor tyrosine kinases. Due to its poor prognosis, the development of clinically applicable biomarkers for diagnosis, progression, and treatment has been the focus of many research studies concentrating on upper gastrointestinal malignancies. As in other cancers, early detection and subsequent intervention of the preneoplastic condition significantly improves patient outcomes. Currently, clinically approved surveillance practices heavily depend on expensive, invasive, and sampling-error-prone endoscopic procedures. There is, therefore, a great demand to establish clearly reliable biomarkers that could identify those patients at higher risk of neoplastic progression and hence would greatly benefit from further monitoring and/or intervention. This chapter will present the most recent advances in the analysis of the esophageal cancer genome serving as basis for biomarker development.

Combined TP53 mutation/3p loss correlates with decreased radiosensitivity and increased matrix-metalloproteinase activity in head and neck carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) containing TP53 mutation and 3p deletion ("double-hit") have poorer prognosis compared to patients with either event alone ("single-hit"). The etiology for worse clinical outcomes in patients with "double-hit" cancers is unclear. We compared radiosensitivity of cell lines containing both TP53 mutations and deletion of Fragile Histidine Triad (FHIT, the gene most commonly associated with 3p deletion) to "single-hit" lines with only TP53 mutation. We compared radiosensitivity in a "single-hit" cell line with TP53 mutation converted to "double-hit" using RNA interference targeting FHIT. Finally, we compared matrixmetalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP-2/9) activity, a previously-established biomarker for tumor aggressiveness, in xenograft tumors derived from these cell lines.

MATERIALS/METHODS

TP53 mutation and FHIT deletion profiles of HNSCC lines were established using Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). We used RNA-interference to convert a "single-hit" cell line (SCC4) to "double-hit". Cultured cells were examined for radiosensitivity and cisplatin sensitivity. MMP-2/9 activity was evaluated in "double-hit" versus "single-hit" tumors using ratiometric activatable cell-penetrating peptide (RACPP) in tongue (n=17) and flank xenografts (n=4).

RESULTS

Radiotherapy caused greater double-stranded DNA breaks in "single-hit" vs naturally occurring and engineered "double-hit" cells. In-vivo, "double-hit" xenografts demonstrated higher MMP-2/9 activity compared to "single-hit" xenografts (p<0.01). There was no difference in cisplatin sensitivity between the cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

TP53 mutation combined with FHIT deletion correlates with decreased radiosensitivity in HNC cell lines. Xenograft from "double-hit" cells exhibit increased MMP-2/9 activity. These findings may in part account for the worse clinical outcome seen in patients with HNSCC "double-hit" tumors.

MicroRNA-376a sensitizes cells following DNA damage by downregulating MEPE expression

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate target gene expression and play an important role in many developmental processes. Matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE) is related to bone metabolism. We recently reported that MEPE protects cells from DNA damage-induced killing. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether miRNAs targeting MEPE play an important role in DNA damage response. We report in this study that miR-376a directly targets MEPE, and overexpression of miR-376a reduces the G2 arrest of the cells and sensitizes the cells to DNA damage-induced killing. These results indicate an association of MEPE gene inactivation with decreased survival after DNA damage and also provide useful information for miRNA-based drug development: a new target for sensitizing human tumor cells to radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

High-resolution whole-genome analysis of skull base chordomas implicates FHIT loss in chordoma pathogenesis

Chordoma is a rare tumor arising in the sacrum, clivus, or vertebrae. It is often not completely resectable and shows a high incidence of recurrence and progression with shortened patient survival and impaired quality of life. Chemotherapeutic options are limited to investigational therapies at present. Therefore, adjuvant therapy for control of tumor recurrence and progression is of great interest, especially in skull base lesions where complete tumor resection is often not possible because of the proximity of cranial nerves. To understand the extent of genetic instability and associated chromosomal and gene losses or gains in skull base chordoma, we undertook whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray analysis of flash frozen surgical chordoma specimens, 21 from the clivus and 1 from C1 to C2 vertebrae. We confirm the presence of a deletion at 9p involving CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and MTAP but at a much lower rate (22%) than previously reported for sacral chordoma. At a similar frequency (21%), we found aneuploidy of chromosome 3. Tissue microarray immunohistochemistry demonstrated absent or reduced fragile histidine triad (FHIT) protein expression in 98% of sacral chordomas and 67%of skull base chordomas. Our data suggest that chromosome 3 aneuploidy and epigenetic regulation of FHIT contribute to loss of the FHIT tumor suppressor in chordoma. The finding that FHIT is lost in a majority of chordomas provides new insight into chordoma pathogenesis and points to a potential new therapeutic target for this challenging neoplasm.

Inactivation of both FHIT and p53 cooperate in deregulating proliferation-related pathways in lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

FHIT and p53 are the two most commonly altered tumor suppressor genes in lung cancer, and their molecular status regulates sensitivity to anticancer drugs. Although their functions are independent, there is evidence that their pathways might be interconnected, but little is known at the molecular level.

METHODS

Microarray profiling of FHIT-transduced lung cancer cells and modulation of FHIT levels by RNA interference in human bronchial cells were used to generate a signature of FHIT-regulated transcripts. Expression of these genes was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 55 primary lung cancer samples characterized for FHIT and p53 expression by immunehistochemistry.

RESULTS

A signature of FHIT-transcripts, particularly enriched in genes involved in cell cycle control, was identified. This signature showed overlap with p53-regulated genes, indicating possible crosstalk between these proteins. Consistently, transcriptional deregulation after FHIT modulation was higher in p53-negative cells. In primary lung cancers, inactivation of either gene was detected in 48 of 55 cases (87%) and both genes in 23 of 55 (42%) cases, confirming the central role of these pathways. Primary tumors with inactivation of both FHIT and p53 displayed the strongest deregulation of growth-related pathways with high levels of expression of CCNB1, BUB1, CDC6, TOP2A, MCM6, and CENPF.

CONCLUSIONS

FHIT and p53 seem to rely on common mediators, and inactivation of both genes results in prominent deregulation of growth-related pathways in lung cancer cell lines and primary tumors. This reveals crosstalk between these proteins and suggests a possible distinctive phenotype for tumors with inactivation of both genes.

microRNA-143 protects cells from DNA damage-induced killing by downregulating FHIT expression

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are posttranscriptional modulators of gene expression and play an important role in many developmental processes. Recent studies suggest roles of miRNAs in carcinogenesis. Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene deletion, methylation, and reduced Fhit protein expression occur in about 70% of human epithelial tumors and are clearly associated with tumor progression. Although it has been previously reported that Fhit(-/-)cells exhibit more resistance to multi-DNA damage inducers, including ionizing radiation, it remains unclear how miRNAs targeting FHIT in DNA damage response play the role. This study reports that miR-143 directly targets FHIT and that overexpression of miR-143 results in significant G2-phase arrest and protects cells from DNA damage-induced killing. These results indicate an association of FHIT gene inactivation with increased survival after DNA damage and also provide useful information for miRNA-based drug development in two directions: protect cells from DNA damage-induced killing and sensitize cells to radiation therapy.

Hits, Fhits and Nits: beyond enzymatic function

We have briefly summarized what is known about these proteins, but in closing wish to feature the outstanding questions. Hint1 was discovered mistakenly as an inhibitor of Protein Kinase C and designated Pkci, a designation that still confuses the literature. The other Hint family members were discovered by homology to Hint1. Aprataxin was discovered as a result of the hunt for a gene responsible for AOA1. Fhit was discovered through cloning of a familial chromosome translocation breakpoint on chromosome 3 that interrupts the large FHIT gene within an intron, in the FRA3B chromosome region (Ohta et al., 1996), now known to be the region of the human genome most susceptible to DNA damage due to replication stress (Durkin et al., 2008). The NitFhit fusion genewas discovered during searches for Fhit homologs in flies and worms because the fly/worm Nit polypeptide is fused to the 5'-end of the Fhit gene; the mammalian Nit gene family was discovered because of the NitFhit fusion gene, in searches for homologs to the Nit polypeptide of the NitFhit gene. Each of the Hit family member proteins is reported to have enzymatic activities toward putative substrates involving nucleosides or dinucleosides. Most surprisingly, each of the Hit family proteins discussed has been implicated in important DNA damage response pathways and/or tumor suppression pathways. And for each of them it has been difficult to assign definite substrates, to know if the substrates and catalytic products have biological functions, to know if that function is related to the DNA damage response and suppressor functions, and to precisely define the pathways through which tumor suppression occurs. When the fly Nit sequence was found at the 5'-end of the fly Fhit gene, this gene was hailed as a Rosetta stone gene/protein that would help in discovery of the function of Fhit, because the Nit protein should be in the same signal pathway (Pace et al., 2000). However, the mammalian Nit family proteins have turned out to be at least as mysterious as the Fhit proteins, with the Nit1 substrate still unknown and the surprising finding that Nit proteins also appear to behave as tumor suppressor proteins. Whether the predicted enzymatic functions of these proteins are relevant to the observed biological functions, remain among the outstanding unanswered puzzles and raise the question: have these mammalian proteins evolved beyond the putative original enzymatic purpose, such that the catalytic function is now vestigial and subservient to signal pathways that use the protein-substrate complexes in pathways that signal apoptosis or DNA damage response? Or can these proteins be fulfilling catalytic functions independently but in parallel with signal pathway functions, as perhaps observed for Aprataxin? Or is the catalytic function indeed part of the observed biological functions, such as apoptosis and tumor suppression? Perhaps the recent, post-genomic focus on metabolomics and genome-wide investigations of signal pathway networks will lead to answers to some of these outstanding questions.

Pathology and biology associated with the fragile FHIT gene and gene product

More than 12 years and >800 scientific publications after the discovery of the first gene at a chromosome fragile site, the FHIT gene at FRA3B, there are still questions to pursue concerning the selective advantage conferred to cells by loss of expression of FHIT, the most frequent target of allele deletion in precancerous lesions and cancers. These questions are considered in light of recent investigations of genetic and epigenetic alterations to the locus and in a retrospective consideration of biological roles of the Fhit protein discovered through functional studies.

A small peptide mimicking the key domain of MEPE/OF45 interacting with CHK1 protects human cells from radiation-induced killing

Checkpoint activation benefits DNA homologous recombination repair and therefore protects cells from ionizing radiation (IR)-induced killing. CHK1 is one of the most important checkpoint regulators in mammalian cells. We recently reported that matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein/osteoblast factor 45 (MEPE/OF45) stabilizes CHK1 through interacting with CHK1, thus protecting cells from IR-induced killing. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a small peptide that mimics the key domain of MEPE/OF45 could interact with CHK1 and protect cells from IR-induced killing. We showed here that the synthesized peptide with 18 amino acids (aa) could enter human transformed lymphoblasts when it is linked to fatty acid CH3(CH2)8CO. After the 18 aa peptide entered the human cells, it interacted with CHK1, increased the CHK1 level and induces stronger G2 arrest in the cells following IR. More importantly, the 18 aa peptide could protect the cells from IR-induced killing. Our data indicate that the 18 aa peptide, similar to MEPE/OF45, reduces CHK1 degradation and protects cells from IR-induced killing. We believe that these results provide useful information for drug development in two directions: protect cells from IR induced damage and sensitize cells to radiation therapy.

MEPE/OF45 protects cells from DNA damage induced killing via stabilizing CHK1

Matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein/osteoblast factor 45 (MEPE/OF45) was cloned in 2000 with functions related to bone metabolism. We identified MEPE/OF45 for the first time as a new co-factor of CHK1 in mammalian cells to protect cells from DNA damage induced killing. We demonstrate here that MEPE/OF45 directly interacts with CHK1. Knocking down MEPE/OF45 decreases CHK1 levels and sensitizes the cells to DNA damage inducers such as ionizing radiation (IR) or camptothicin (CPT)-induced killing. Over-expressing wild-type MEPE/OF45, but not the mutant MEPE/OF45 (depleted the key domain to interact with CHK1) increases CHK1 levels in the cells and increases the resistance of the cells to IR or CPT. MEPE/OF45, interacting with CHK1, increases CHK1 half-life and decreases CHK1 degradation through the ubiquitine-mediated pathway. In addition, the interaction of MEPE/OF45 with CHK1 decreases CHK1 levels in the ubiquitin E3 ligases (Cul1 and Cul4A) complex, which suggests that MEPE/OF45 competes with the ubiquitin E3 ligases binding to CHK1 and thus decreases CHK1 from ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. These findings reveal an important role of MEPE/OF45 in protecting cells from DNA damage induced killing through stabilizing CHK1, which would provide MEPE/OF45 as a new target for sensitizing tumor cells to radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

MEPE/OF45 as a new target for sensitizing human tumour cells to DNA damage inducers

BACKGROUND

We recently identified matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein/osteoblast factor 45 (MEPE/OF45) as a new cofactor of CHK1 in rat cells. The aim of this study was to determine the role of human MEPE/OF45 (hMEPE/OF45 has approximately 50% homology with rat MEPE/OF45 (rMEPE/OF45)) in affecting the sensitivity of human tumour cells to DNA damage.

METHODS

hMEPE/OF45 expression in different human tumour cell lines and its relevance to the resistance of cell lines to DNA damage inducers such as ionising radiation (IR) or camptothecin (CPT) were assessed. Cells lines stably expressing wild-type MEPE/OF45 or mutant MEPE/OF45 (with the CHK1 interactive key domain (amino acids 488-507) deleted) were established. Cell survival, G(2) accumulation, CHK1 half-life and the CHK1 level in ligase 3 complexes were examined.

RESULTS

hMEPE/OF45 expression correlates with the resistance of cell lines to IR or CPT. Upregulating wild-type hMEPE/OF45 (but not mutant hMEPE/OF45) could stabilize CHK1 by reducing CHK1 interaction for its E3 ligases Cul1 or Cula4A; it increases the G(2) checkpoint response and increases the resistance of tumour cells to IR or CPT treatment.

CONCLUSION

hMEPE/OF45 could be a new target for sensitizing tumour cells to radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Naphthalimides induce G(2) arrest through the ATM-activated Chk2-executed pathway in HCT116 cells

Naphthalimides, particularly amonafide and 2-(2-dimethylamino)-6-thia-2-aza-benzo[def]chrysene-1,3-diones (R16), have been identified to possess anticancer activities and to induce G(2)-M arrest through inhibiting topoisomerase II accompanied by Chk1 degradation. The current study was designed to precisely dissect the signaling pathway(s) responsible for the naphthalimide-induced cell cycle arrest in human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells. Using phosphorylated histone H3 and mitotic protein monoclonal 2 as mitosis markers, we first specified the G(2) arrest elicited by the R16 and amonafide. Then, R16 and amonafide were revealed to induce phosphorylation of the DNA damage sensor ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) responding to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Inhibition of ATM by both the pharmacological inhibitor caffeine and the specific small interference RNA (siRNA) rescued the G(2) arrest elicited by R16, indicating its ATM-dependent characteristic. Furthermore, depletion of Chk2, but not Chk1 with their corresponding siRNA, statistically significantly reversed the R16- and amonafide-triggered G(2) arrest. Moreover, the naphthalimides phosphorylated Chk2 in an ATM-dependent manner but induced Chk1 degradation. These data indicate that R16 and amonafide preferentially used Chk2 as evidenced by the differential ATM-executed phosphorylation of Chk1 and Chk2. Thus, a clear signaling pathway can be established, in which ATM relays the DNA DSBs signaling triggered by the naphthalimides to the checkpoint kinases, predominantly to Chk2,which finally elicits G(2) arrest. The mechanistic elucidation not only favors the development of the naphthalimides as anticancer agents but also provides an alternative strategy of Chk2 inhibition to potentiate the anticancer activities of these agents.

Low dose radiation-induced adaptive response preventing HPRT mutation is Fhit independent

PURPOSE

To study whether fragile histidine triad (Fhit) prevents IR-induced hypoxanthineguanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) mutation and whether Fhit plays any role in preventing HPRT mutation through low dose-induced adaptive response.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Establishing human cell lines with or without Fhit expression by making constructs expressing hemagglutinin (HA) alone or HA-Fhit fusion protein and transfecting the vector to HeLa cells. The effects of Fhit on ionising radiation (IR)-induced mutation were examined by observing HPRT mutation rates in the established cell lines following different doses of IR. The role of Fhit on low dose IR-induced adaptive response were examined by observing HPRT mutation rates in the established cell lines that were exposed to 0.1 Gy and followed with high dose IR or ultraviolet (UV) exposure.

RESULTS

Low dose (0.1 Gy) does not affect HPRT mutation rates in these cell lines. Fhit prevents high dose IR (> or = 2 Gy)-induced mutation as it prevents UV-induced mutation. However, low dose of IR (0.1 Gy)-induced adaptive response prevents both high doses of IR and UV-induced mutation in both the cells with and without Fhit expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Fhit prevents IR-induced HPRT mutation and preventing mutation through low dose of IR-induced adaptive response is Fhit independent.

S-phase cells are more sensitive to high-linear energy transfer radiation

PURPOSE

S-phase cells are more resistant to low-linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation (IR) than nonsynchronized and G(1)-phase cells, because both nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination repair can repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the S phase. Although it was reported 3 decades ago that S-phase cells did not show more resistance to high-LET IR than cells in other phases, the mechanism remains unclear. We therefore attempted to study the phenotypes and elucidate the mechanism involved.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Wild-type and NHEJ-deficient cell lines were synchronized using the double-thymidine approach. A clonogenic assay was used to detect the sensitivity of nonsynchronized, synchronized S-phase, and G(2)-phase cells to high- and low-LET IR. The amounts of Ku bound to DSBs in the high- and low-LET-irradiated cells were also examined.

RESULTS

S-phase wild-type cells (but not NHEJ-deficient cells) were more sensitive to high-LET IR than nonsynchronized and G(2)-phase cells. In addition, S-phase wild-type cells showed less efficient Ku protein binding to DSBs than nonsynchronized and G(2)-phase cells in response to high-LET IR, although all cells at all phases showed similarly efficient levels of Ku protein binding to DSBs in response to low-LET IR.

CONCLUSIONS

S-phase cells are more sensitive to high-LET IR than nonsynchronized and G(2)-phase cells, because of the following mechanism: it is more difficult for Ku protein to bind to high-LET IR-induced DNA DSBs in S-phase cells than in cells at other phases, which results in less efficient NHEJ.

Fragile gene product, Fhit, in oxidative and replicative stress responses

Though the fragile histidine triad gene product, Fhit, was discovered and characterized as a tumor suppressor 13 years ago, its sequence, structure, and cellular location did not provide clues to aid discovery of its mechanisms of suppression. Recently, using chemical cross-linkers and immunoprecipitation, a Fhit protein complex was identified that includes Hsp60 and Hsp10 which may mediate Fhit stability and mitochondrial localization, where Fhit binds and stabilizes ferredoxin reductase (Fdxr); when Fdxr is overexpressed, it can lead to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induce apoptosis. Cancer cells expressing endogenous or exogenous Fhit, when exposed to H(2)O(2), an oxidative stress, produce higher levels of apoptosis-inducing ROS than matched, Fhit-negative cells; the Fhit-negative cancer cells survive, carrying DNA damage. In addition to this mitochondrial function, Fhit-overexpression in cancer cells exposed to replicative stress-inducing agents leads to enhanced caspase 3 activation and apoptosis, due to defective Chk1 activation. Thus, damage to the fragile FHIT locus leads to reduced expression of Fhit protein, and makes a two-pronged contribution to development of preneoplastic clonal expansion: (1) absence or reduction of Fhit leads to reduced expression of Fdxr and reduced ROS-induced apoptosis; (2) cells that escape ROS- or replicative stress-induced apoptosis can carry misrepaired DNA damage. The aberrant DNA damage response checkpoint in Fhit-deficient preneoplasias and cancers may make these lesions targets for inhibitors of proteins such as Parp1 and Chk1 with important roles in checkpoint responses, as observed for BRCA1-deficient cancer cells that also exhibit DNA damage repair deficiencies.

Mammalian nitrilase 1 homologue Nit1 is a negative regulator in T cells

The mammalian Nit1 protein is homologous to plant and bacterial nitrilases. In flies and worms, Nit1 is fused to the 5' end of Fhit, suggesting that Nit1 may functionally interact with the Fhit pathway. Fhit has been shown to play a role of a tumor suppressor. Somatic loss of Fhit in human tissues is associated with a wide variety of cancers. Deletion of Fhit results in a predisposition to induced and spontaneous tumors in mice. It has been suggested that Nit1 collaborates with Fhit in tumor suppression. Similar to mice lacking Fhit, Nit1-deficient mice are more sensitive to carcinogen-induced tumors. It was previously shown that ectopic expression of Nit1 or Fhit led to caspase activation and apoptosis, and that both proteins may play a role in DNA damage-induced apoptosis. In this study, we analyzed the physiological function of Nit1 in T cells using Nit1-knockout mice. Nit1-deficient T cells can undergo apoptosis induced by DNA damage due to irradiation and chemical treatment. However, apoptosis induced by Fas or Ca(++) signals appeared to be compromised. Additionally, Nit1 deficiency resulted in T cell hyperproliferative responses induced by TCR stimulation. The expressions of T cell activation markers were elevated in Nit1(-/-) T cells. There was a spontaneous cell cycle entry and enhanced cell cycle progression in Nit1(-/-) T cells. These data indicate that Nit1 is a novel negative regulator in primary T cells.

Fhit tumor suppressor: guardian of the preneoplastic genome

Environmental agents induce intragenic alterations in the FRA3B/FHIT chromosome fragile site, resulting in fragile FHIT allele loss early in cancer development. Fhit knockout mice are predisposed to tumor development and Fhit gene therapy reduces tumor burden. Repair-deficient cancers are likely to be Fhit-deficient and Fhit-deficient cells show enhanced resistance to ultraviolet C, mitomycin C, camptothecin and oxidative stress-induced cell killing. Loss of Fhit leads to alterations in the DNA damage response checkpoint and contributes to DNA instability. Hsp60/Hsp10 are Fhit interactors, suggesting a direct role for Fhit in stress responses. Fhit also interacts with and stabilizes ferrodoxin reductase (Fdxr), a mitochondrial flavoprotein that transfers electrons from NADPH to cytochrome P450, suggesting a role for Fhit in the modulation of reactive oxygen species production and of genomic damage.

Chk1 and Chk2 are differentially involved in homologous recombination repair and cell cycle arrest in response to DNA double-strand breaks induced by camptothecins

Camptothecins (CPT) activate S or G(2)-M arrest and the homologous recombination (HR) repair pathway in tumor cells. In this process, both checkpoint kinases 1 and 2 (Chk1 and Chk2, respectively) are activated, but their differential roles, especially in the coordination of checkpoint and repair control, and potential clinic relevance remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, the repairable double-strand breaks were induced in human colon cancer HCT116 cells by 1-h exposure to 25 or 100 nmol/L CPT and its novel derivative chimmitecan. The cellular disposal of double-strand breaks was reflected as the progressive dispersal of gamma-H2AX foci, reduction of "comet" tails, dynamic activation of RAD51-mediated HR repair, and reversible G(2)-M arrest. In this model, the differential kinetics of Chk1 and Chk2 activation was characterized by the progressively increased phosphorylation of Chk2 until 72 h, the degradation of Chk1, and the disappearance of phosphorylated Chk1 48 h after drug removal. Using RNA interference, we further showed that Chk2 was essential to G(2)-M arrest, whereas Chk1 was mainly required for HR repair in CPT-treated HCT116 cells. Moreover, Chk2, rather than Chk1, predominated over the control of cell survival in this model. The differential roles of Chk1 and Chk2 in regulating HR repair and G(2)-M phase arrest were also confirmed in HT-29 colon cancer cells. Together, these findings systematically dissect the differential roles of Chk1 and Chk2 in a favorable model pursuing CPT-driven DNA damage responses, providing critical evidence to further explore checkpoint modulation, especially Chk2 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in combination with CPT.

Deletions of BRCA1/2 and p53 R248W gain-of-function mutation suggest impaired homologous recombination repair in fragile histidine triad-negative sebaceous gland carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Sebaceous gland carcinomas represent rare malignancies of the skin and some 60% of them demonstrate high-grade microsatellite instability on the background of a defective mismatch repair system. However, a significant fraction of periocular sebaceous gland carcinomas exhibits microsatellite stability associated with a frequent loss of the candidate tumour suppressor fragile histidine triad (FHIT).

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesized that in those sebaceous gland carcinomas with microsatellite stability and loss of FHIT, effector molecules participating in homologous recombination repair (HRR), such as BRCA1/2, could be somatically inactivated.

METHODS

A pilot series of 10 paraffin-embedded sebaceous gland carcinoma specimens with a defined FHIT status was studied for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) events in the genes BRCA1, BRCA2, FHIT and WWOX. We sequenced the coding exons 5-8 of the p53 gene.

RESULTS

Sebaceous gland carcinomas with FHIT negativity displayed LOH and biallelic deletions of the BRCA1 gene in five of 10 (50%) of the sebaceous gland carcinoma specimens analysed. Tumour-specific genomic losses close to BRCA2 were also uncovered. A homozygous p53 R248W gain-of-function mutation as the result of a CGG to TGG transition was identified in one of seven sebaceous gland carcinomas. It has been demonstrated previously that p53 R248W mutants inactivate ATM-directed HRR. This particular sebaceous gland carcinoma presented with concomitant genomic deletions at the BRCA1 and BRCA2 loci, and also at the constitutively fragile sites FRA3B/FHIT and FRA16D/WWOX.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates for the first time that microsatellite-stable FHIT-negative sebaceous gland carcinomas accumulate mutations that target central components of the HRR network. This observation will prompt investigations in synthetic lethality of BRCA-deficient sebaceous gland carcinomas by therapeutic poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors.

Hypermethylation of the 5'CpG island of the FHIT gene in clear cell renal carcinomas

FHIT is a tumour suppressor gene which is frequently inactivated in different types of cancer. Both genetic (mutations, deletions, chromosomal rearrangements) and epigenetic (aberrant methylation of the 5'CpG island) alterations of the FHIT gene have been reported in various malignancies. Yet little is known about the mechanism of FHIT inactivation in clear cell renal carcinomas. Since genetic alterations were not frequently observed in DNA corresponding to the FHIT gene in renal tumours, to elucidate the mechanism of FHIT gene silencing we examined 22 paired samples of clear cell renal carcinoma and non-malignant renal tissue for the methylation of the FHIT 5'CpG island by methylation-specific PCR. Hypermethylation of the FHIT 5'CpG island was detected in 54.5% (12/22) of clear cell renal carcinomas. Bisulfite sequencing of the FHIT 5'CpG island confirmed the results obtained by methylation-specific PCR for selected samples. We showed here that expression of the FHIT gene is inversely correlated with hypermethylation of the FHIT 5'CpG island in the selected samples. Our results suggest that hypermethylation of the FHIT 5'CpG island may be responsible for inactivation of the FHIT gene in clear cell renal carcinomas.

Restoration of fragile histidine triad expression restores Chk2 activity in response to ionizing radiation in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Early in tumorigenesis, a DNA damage-response network is activated in preneoplastic cells that delays or prevents cancer. Activation of the Chk2 G(2)/M checkpoint kinase and loss of fragile histidine triad (Fhit) tumor suppressor expression increase cellular susceptibility to DNA-damaging 'oncogenic' stressors, particularly in precursor or precancerous lesions. To understand the mechanism of oral carcinogenesis, we assessed the association between phosphorylated Chk2 (pChk2) and Fhit expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Loss of Fhit expression was an early event during oral carcinogenesis, whereas a decrease in the number of pChk2-positive cells was associated with tumor progression. Although tyrosine 114 is known to be essential to Fhit's tumor-suppressing activity, both wild-type and tyrosine 114 mutant Fhit increased the population of subG(1) DNA-containing HSC-3 OSCC cells with elevated pChk2 levels. In particular, when cells were exposed to ionizing radiation, pChk2 levels were upregulated dramatically, as were those of its downstream target Cdc25C. Knockdown of Fhit with FHIT small interfering RNA diminished the ionizing radiation-induced Chk2 phosphorylation in HEK293 cells. Furthermore, Fhit-deficient mice demonstrated a decrease in the number of pChk2-positive cells not only in dysplastic lesions but also in N-nitrosobenzylamine-induced papilloma of the forestomach, suggesting that lack of Fhit expression and the resultant defects of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated-Chk2 pathway can cause a difference in the incidence of N-nitrosobenzylamine-induced forestomach lesions. These findings suggest that Fhit plays a key role in the regulation of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated-Chk2 DNA damage response during oral carcinogenesis.

A hybrid machine learning-based method for classifying the Cushing's Syndrome with comorbid adrenocortical lesions

BACKGROUND

The prognosis for many cancers could be improved dramatically if they could be detected while still at the microscopic disease stage. It follows from a comprehensive statistical analysis that a number of antigens such as hTERT, PCNA and Ki-67 can be considered as cancer markers, while another set of antigens such as P27KIP1 and FHIT are possible markers for normal tissue. Because more than one marker must be considered to obtain a classification of cancer or no cancer, and if cancer, to classify it as malignant, borderline, or benign, we must develop an intelligent decision system that can fullfill such an unmet medical need.

RESULTS

We have developed an intelligent decision system using machine learning techniques and markers to characterize tissue as cancerous, non-cancerous or borderline. The system incorporates learning techniques such as variants of support vector machines, neural networks, decision trees, self-organizing feature maps (SOFM) and recursive maximum contrast trees (RMCT). These variants and algorithms we have developed, tend to detect microscopic pathological changes based on features derived from gene expression levels and metabolic profiles. We have also used immunohistochemistry techniques to measure the gene expression profiles from a number of antigens such as cyclin E, P27KIP1, FHIT, Ki-67, PCNA, Bax, Bcl-2, P53, Fas, FasL and hTERT in several particular types of neuroendocrine tumors such as pheochromocytomas, paragangliomas, and the adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC), adenomas (ACA), and hyperplasia (ACH) involved with Cushing's syndrome. We provided statistical evidence that higher expression levels of hTERT, PCNA and Ki-67 etc. are associated with a higher risk that the tumors are malignant or borderline as opposed to benign. We also investigated whether higher expression levels of P27KIP1 and FHIT, etc., are associated with a decreased risk of adrenomedullary tumors. While no significant difference was found between cell-arrest antigens such as P27KIP1 for malignant, borderline, and benign tumors, there was a significant difference between expression levels of such antigens in normal adrenal medulla samples and in adrenomedullary tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our frame work focused on not only different classification schemes and feature selection algorithms, but also ensemble methods such as boosting and bagging in an effort to improve upon the accuracy of the individual classifiers. It is evident that when all sorts of machine learning and statistically learning techniques are combined appropriately into one integrated intelligent medical decision system, the prediction power can be enhanced significantly. This research has many potential applications; it might provide an alternative diagnostic tool and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in malignant transformation as well as information that is useful for treatment planning and cancer prevention.

Fhit Modulates the DNA Damage Checkpoint Response

In preneoplastic lesions, the DNA damage checkpoint is induced and loss of heterozygosity at the FRA3B/FHIT common chromosome fragile region precedes or is coincident with activation of the checkpoint response in these early stages. Introduction of exogenous Fhit into cells in vitro led to modulation of expression of checkpoint proteins Hus1 and Chk1 at mid-S checkpoint, a modulation that led to induction of apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells but not in noncancerous primary cultures. Mutation of the conserved Fhit tyrosine 114 resulted in failure of this function, confirming the importance of this residue. The results suggest that the DNA damage-susceptible FRA3B/FHIT chromosome fragile region, paradoxically, encodes a protein that is necessary for protecting cells from accumulation of DNA damage through its role in modulation of checkpoint proteins, and inactivation of Fhit contributes to accumulation of abnormal checkpoint phenotypes in cancer development.

Large common fragile site genes and cancer

The common fragile sites are large regions of genomic instability that are found in all individuals and are hot spots for chromosomal rearrangements and deletions. A number of the common fragile sites have been found to span genes that are encoded by very large genomic regions. Two of these genes, FHIT and WWOX, have already been demonstrated to function as tumor suppressors. In this review we will discuss the large common fragile site genes that have been identified to date, and the role that these genes appear to play both in cellular responses to stress and in the development of cancer.

Protein expression profiling identifies cyclophilin A as a molecular target in Fhit-mediated tumor suppression

Loss of fragile histidine triad (Fhit) expression is often associated with human malignancies, and Fhit functions as a tumor suppressor in controlling cell growth and apoptosis, although specific signal pathways are still undefined. We have used a proteomic approach to define proteins in the Fhit-mediated tumor suppression pathway. Because substitution of Tyr(114) (Y114) with phenylalanine (Y114F) diminishes Fhit functions, we did protein expression profiling to identify proteins differentially expressed in Fhit-negative H1299 lung cancer cells infected with wild-type (Ad-FHIT-wt) and Y114 mutant FHIT-expressing (Ad-FHIT-Y114F) adenoviruses. Among 12 distinct proteins that exhibited 4-fold differences in expression on comparison of the two infected cell lysates, cyclophilin A, the intracellular reporter of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A, showed a remarkably decreased protein level in cells infected with Ad-FHIT-wt versus Ad-FHIT-Y114F. Conversely, loss of Fhit expression resulted in increased cyclophilin A expression in mouse tissues and cell lines. Restoration of Fhit expression led to down-regulated cyclophilin A protein expression and subsequently prevented cyclophilin A-induced up-regulation of cyclin D1, Cdk4, and resultant cell cycle progression (G(1)-S transition), which was independent of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase inhibitor, KN-93. Interestingly, Fhit down-modulation of phosphatase activity of calcineurin, which controls cyclin D1/Cdk4 activation, was reversed by cyclophilin A treatment in a concentration-dependent manner, a reversal that was inhibited by additional cyclosporine A treatment. Thus, cyclophilin A is a downstream target in Fhit-mediated cessation of cell cycle progression at late G(1) phase. Elucidation of the protein effectors of Fhit signaling may lead to identification of targets for lung cancer therapy.

Diadenosines as FHIT-ness instructors

FHIT is a tumor suppressor gene that is frequently inactivated in human cancer. Although the Fhit protein is known to hydrolyze diadenosine triphosphate (Ap(3)A), this hydrolase activity is not required for Fhit-mediated oncosuppression. Indeed, the molecular mechanisms and the regulatory elements of Fhit oncosuppression are largely unknown. Here, we review physiological and pathological aspects of Fhit in the context of the Ap(n)A family of signaling molecules, as well as the involvement of Fhit in apoptosis and the cell cycle in cancer models. We also discuss recent findings of novel Fhit interactions that may lead to new hypotheses about biochemical mechanisms underlying the oncosuppressor activity of this gene.

Biological functions of mammalian Nit1, the counterpart of the invertebrate NitFhit Rosetta stone protein, a possible tumor suppressor

The "Rosetta Stone" hypothesis proposes that the existence of a fusion protein in some organisms predicts that the separate polypeptides function in the same biochemical pathway in other organisms and may physically interact. In Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, NitFhit protein is composed of two domains, a fragile histidine triad homolog and a bacterial and plant nitrilase homolog. We assessed the biological effects of mammalian Nit1 expression in comparison with Fhit and observed that: 1) Nit1 expression was observed in most normal tissues and overlapped partially with Fhit expression; 2) Nit1-deficient mouse kidney cells exhibited accelerated proliferation, resistance to DNA damage stress, and increased cyclin D1 expression; 3) cyclin D1 was up-regulated in Nit1 null mammary gland and skin; 4) Nit1 overexpression induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in vitro; and 5) Nit1 allele deficiency led to increased incidence of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced murine forestomach tumors. Thus, the biological effects of Nit1 expression are similar to Fhit effects. Adenoviruses carrying recombinant NIT1 and FHIT induced apoptosis in Fhit- and Nit1-deficient cells, respectively, suggesting that Nit1-Fhit interaction is not essential for function of either protein. The results suggest that Nit1 and Fhit share tumor suppressor signaling pathways, while localization of the NIT1 gene at a stable, rather than fragile, chromosome site explains the paucity of gene alterations and in frequent loss of expression of the NIT1 gene in human malignancies.

Epigenetic silencing contributes to frequent loss of the fragile histidine triad tumour suppressor in basal cell carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Extensive exposure to ultraviolet radiation is associated with genetic alterations in basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), which represent some 75% of skin cancers.

OBJECTIVES

As recent data suggested the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene product to participate in DNA damage responses we wished to address whether functional deletion of this tumour suppressor participates in the development of BCC. Our study focused on epigenetic inactivation of the FHIT gene.

METHODS

Paraffin-embedded specimens from 17 patients with BCC were available for methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), combined bisulphite-dependent restriction analysis (COBRA) of the FHIT gene and immunohistochemistry of its product.

RESULTS

We report for the first time that 100% of BCCs are negative for FHIT by immunostaining. Aberrant methylation of the FHIT promoter occurred in a significant portion of BCCs. MSP detected hypermethylation of the FHIT/FRA3B locus in nine of nine (100%) periocular BCCs and in six of eight (75%) BCCs from other body regions. COBRA yielded similar results, confirming that some 88% of the 17 BCCs analysed harbour epigenetic silencing of the FHIT gene. Loss of FHIT protein was demonstrated immunohistochemically, confirming that promoter hypermethylation correlated with loss of gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified epigenetic silencing of the FHIT tumour suppressor gene as a frequent inactivation mechanism which is likely to contribute to functional deficiencies in DNA damage response of BCCs.

Different genetic pathways in the development of periocular sebaceous gland carcinomas in presumptive Muir-Torre syndrome patients

Periocular sebaceous gland carcinomas (SGCs) occur in the eyelids either sporadically or as a phenotypic feature of Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS). In knockout mice mismatch-repair (MMR) defects or inactivation of the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene are associated with MTS-like signs, including SGC. To dissect the genetic alterations associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) and inactivation of the FHIT gene, we studied nine periocular SGC specimens from MTS patients. Immunohistochemistry was performed for FHIT, MSH2, MLH1, and MSH6. We assessed MSI as well as loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the FHIT locus with polymorphic markers and genomic multiplex PCR. Epigenetic silencing was detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA). Our analyses identified two SGCs with FHIT positivity and high-grade MSI, and seven cases with loss of FHIT and microsatellite stability (MSS). MSI correlated with loss of MSH2 and MLH1 immunostaining. Loss-of-function mechanisms affecting the FHIT gene were identified as intragenic deletions eliminating the coding exons 5 and 6 on one hand, and complete biallelic methylation of the FHIT transcription regulatory region on the other hand. Germinal FHIT mutations as a predisposing factor for MTS were excluded in two index patients with cancer in three generations, including an FHIT-negative SGC. Our data suggest that either somatic inactivation of the FHIT gene associated with MSS or inactivation of the MMR system resulting in MSI contribute to the development of periocular SGCs in presumptive MTS.

Fhit modulation of the Akt-survivin pathway in lung cancer cells: Fhit-tyrosine 114 (Y114) is essential

The Fhit tumor suppressor binds and hydrolyses diadenosine polyphosphates and the Fhit-substrate complex has been proposed as a proapoptotic effector, as determined by infection of susceptible cancer cells with adenoviruses carrying wild-type fragile histidine triad (FHIT) or catalytic site mutants. The highly conserved Fhit tyrosine 114 (Y114), within the unstructured loop C-terminal of the catalytic site, can be phosphorylated by Src family tyrosine kinases, although endogenous phospho-Fhit is rarely detected. To explore the importance of Y114 and identify Fhit-mediated signaling events, wild-type and Y114 mutant FHIT-expressing adenoviruses were introduced into two human lung cancer cell lines. Caspase-dependent apoptosis was effectively induced only by wild-type but not Y114 mutant Fhit proteins. By expression profiling of FHIT versus mutant FHIT-infected cells, we found that survivin, an Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (IAP) family member, was significantly decreased by wild-type Fhit. In addition, Fhit inhibited activity of Akt, a key effector in the phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI3K) pathway; loss of endogenous Fhit expression caused increased Akt activity in vitro and in vivo, and overexpression of constitutively active Akt inhibited Fhit-induced apoptosis. The results indicate that the Fhit Y114 residue plays a critical role in Fhit-induced apoptosis, occurring through inactivation of the PI3K-Akt-survivin signal pathway.

Cohypermethylation of p16 and FHIT promoters as a prognostic factor of recurrence in surgically resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer

Despite advances in the detection and treatment of lung cancer, the prognosis for patients with lung cancer is poor, partly as a result of recurrences. We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between recurrence and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), and the promoter methylation of p16, GSTP1, FHIT, H-cadherin, and RARbeta2 genes to identify a prognostic molecular marker associated with the recurrence of NSCLC. Methylation status from 335 paraffin blocks was determined by methylation-specific PCR. Of the 335 NSCLC samples, promoter methylation was detected in 35% for p16, 39% for RARbeta2, 42% for H-cadherin, 7% for GSTP1, and 21% for FHIT. Recurrence was observed in 39% (132 of 335) of the patients. Recurrence was significantly associated with histology (P = 0.001) and pathologic stage (P = 0.009). Hypermethylation of any single gene was not associated with recurrence in patients. However, cohypermethylation of p16 and FHIT genes in stage I NSCLCs was associated with an increased risk of recurrence [odds ratio, 6.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-20.19; P = 0.02] and poor recurrence-free survival after surgery (hazard ratio, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.09-6.23; P = 0.02). In addition, their survival after recurrence was also 4.62 times poorer (95% CI, 1.27-16.48; P = 0.005) than for those without cohypermethylation of both genes. In conclusion, the present study suggests that cohypermethylation of p16 and FHIT genes in patients with stage I NSCLC may be a valuable biomarker for predicting the recurrence-associated prognosis of the disease.

FHIT protein enhances paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells

The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is a frequent target of deletions in lung cancer. Previous studies have shown that FHIT gene transfer into lung cancer cells lacking FHIT expression results in induction of apoptosis. However, the effect of FHIT expression on apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic agents and its intracellular mechanism is poorly understood. This study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of FHIT expression and the role of Bcl-2-caspase signaling in paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells. NCI-H358 lung cancer cells, which lack FHIT expression, were stably transfected with plasmid vector containing FLAG-tagged wildtype FHIT. We investigated effects of paclitaxel on apoptosis, activation of caspase system and expression of Bcl-2 family. We next evaluated whether these effects were reversed by blocking FHIT expression using siRNA. Paclitaxel enhanced apoptosis in FHIT-expressing cells compared to that in control vector-transfected cells, and this enhancement was suppressed by siRNA treatment. Activities of caspase-3 and caspase-7, but not of caspase-8, were higher in FHIT-expressing cells than in control vector-transfected cells, and this was reduced by siRNA treatment. When caspase activation was blocked by a pan-caspase inhibitor in FHIT-expressing cells, paclitaxel-induced apoptotic cell death was decreased similar to that in control vector-transfected cells. Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expressions were down-regulated after paclitaxel treatment in FHIT-expressing cells, whereas Bax and Bad expressions were up-regulated. These were reversed by siRNA treatment. These results indicate that paclitaxel-induced apoptosis enhanced by FHIT expression in lung cancer cells might be associated with modulation of Bcl-2-caspase signaling.

Fhit and CHK1 have opposing effects on homologous recombination repair

Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene deletion or promoter methylation and reduced Fhit protein expression occur in approximately 70% of human epithelial tumors and, in some cancers, are clearly associated with tumor progression. Specific Fhit signal pathways have not been identified. We previously reported that compared with Fhit+/+ cells, Fhit-/- cells with an overactivated ATR/CHK1 pathway show increased mutation frequency and resistance to DNA damage-induced killing, indicating that Fhit and the CHK1 pathway have opposing roles in cells responding to DNA damage. In this study, we show that cells, with or without Fhit expression, have similar DNA double-strand break induction levels and similar rejoining rates following ionizing radiation, indicating that the effect of Fhit on cell radiosensitivity is independent of nonhomologous end-joining. By combining I-SceI-induced-DNA double-strand break system and small interfering RNA approach, we also show that knocking down Fhit increases the efficiency of homologous recombination repair of cells, but knocking down Chk1 decreases the efficiency of homologous recombination repair, associated with the sensitivity to ionizing radiation-induced killing. Taken together, the results show that the role of Fhit in affecting the sensitivity of cells to ionizing radiation-induced killing is through the CHK1 pathway linked to homologous recombination repair. These results also illustrate the importance of balanced checkpoint activation in genomic stability and suggest a connection between the radioresistance and mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, as well as tumor progression in Fhit-deficient cells or tissue.

Common chromosomal fragile sites and cancer: focus on FRA16D

A growing body of experimental evidence supports the view that certain human chromosomal fragile sites have roles to play in cancer. The principle lines of evidence are at the level of mutation mechanism and gene function. Most research in this area has previously focussed on the FRA3B common fragile site and the FHIT gene that spans this site. Here we review recent progress in characterising the second most readily observed common fragile site, FRA16D, and the WWOX gene that spans it. Comparative analyses of FRA3B/FHIT and FRA16D/WWOX reveal some striking similarities suggesting that these sites and their associated genes may play a part in a normal protective response of cells to environmental stress.

Roles of FHIT and WWOX fragile genes in cancer

It was hypothesized as early as 1986, that the recently discovered common fragile sites could facilitate recombination events, such as deletions and translocations, that result in clonally expanded cancer cell populations with specific chromosome alterations in specific cancer types. A natural extension of this hypothesis is that the clonal expansion must be driven by alteration of genes at recombination breakpoints whose altered functions actually drive clonal expansion. Nevertheless, when the FHIT gene was discovered at FRA3B, the most active common chromosome fragile region, and proposed as an example of a tumor suppressor gene altered by chromosome translocations and deletions, a wave of reports suggested that the FHIT gene was altered in cancer simply because it was in a fragile region and not because it had contributed to the clonal expansion, thus turning the original hypothesis upside down. Now, after nearly ten years and more than 500 FHIT reports, it is apparent that FHIT is an important tumor suppressor gene and that there are genes at other fragile regions that contribute significantly to development of cancer. A second fragile gene with a demonstrated role in cancer development is the WWOX gene on chromosome 16q; alterations to the WWOX gene contribute to development of hormone responsive and other cancers. Results of our recent studies of these two fragile tumor suppressor genes were summarized at the first Fragilome meeting in Heidelberg, Feb. 2005.

Components of DNA Damage Checkpoint Pathway Regulate UV Exposure–Dependent Alterations of Gene Expression of FHIT and WWOX at Chromosome Fragile Sites

Common chromosome fragile sites are highly recombinogenic and susceptible to deletions during the development of environmental carcinogen-induced epithelial tumors. Previous studies showed that not only genetic but also epigenetic alterations in cancerous cells are involved in inactivation of the genes FHIT and WWOX at chromosome fragile sites, reported to be potential tumor suppressor genes. Here we investigated the effect of UV light on the gene expression. After exposure to UV, the mRNA and protein of the two genes in murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) were unstable, apparently at the G1-S phase of the cell cycle, which was consistent with nuclear run-on assay. A study of MEFs synchronized via a double thymidine block indicated that, after the exposure, the expression of Fhit and Wwox was reduced in E2f-1-deficient cells and markedly in wild-type cells, whereas the reduction was partially inhibited in Trp53-deficient cells; cells at the S phase seemed to be sensitive to exogenous FHIT, suggesting a role of the checkpoint at the G1-S phase in the stability of gene expression and a possible involvement of FHIT function at the S phase. The transfection experiment showed that the UV-induced decrease in expression was partially inhibited by transfection of kinase-dead Atr (ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related), which is a sensor of UV-induced damage. Taken together, the present study showed that UV-induced alterations of the fragile site gene expression are involved at least partially in the checkpoint function, suggesting the role in the process of carcinogenesis after exposure to UV.

Fhit-deficient normal and cancer cells are mitomycin C and UVC resistant

To identify functions of the fragile tumour suppressor gene, FHIT, matched pairs of Fhit-negative and -positive human cancer cell clones, and normal cell lines established from Fhit −/− and +/+ mice, were stressed and examined for differences in cell cycle kinetics and survival. A larger fraction of Fhit-negative human cancer cells and murine kidney cells survived treatment with mitomycin C or UVC light compared to matched Fhit-positive cells; ∼10-fold more colonies of Fhit-deficient cells survived high UVC doses in clonigenic assays. The human cancer cells were synchronised in G1, released into S and treated with UVC or mitomycin C. At 18 h post mitomycin C treatment ∼6-fold more Fhit-positive than -negative cells had died, and 18 h post UVC treatment 3.5-fold more Fhit-positive cells were dead. Similar results were obtained for the murine −/− cells. After low UVC doses, the rate of DNA synthesis in −/− cells decreased more rapidly and steeply than in +/+ cells, although the Atr–Chk1 pathway appeared intact in both cell types. UVC surviving Fhit −/− cells appear transformed and exhibit >5-fold increased mutation frequency. This increased mutation burden could explain the susceptibility of Fhit-deficient cells in vivo to malignant transformation.