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Șerbănescu MS, Bungărdean RM, Georgiu C, Crișan M. Nodular and Micronodular Basal Cell Carcinoma Subtypes Are Different Tumors Based on Their Morphological Architecture and Their Interaction with the Surrounding Stroma. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12071636. [PMID: 35885545 PMCID: PMC9323345 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12071636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent cancer of the skin and comprises low-risk and high-risk subtypes. We selected a low-risk subtype, namely, nodular (N), and a high-risk subtype, namely, micronodular (MN), with the aim to identify differences between them using a classical morphometric approach through a gray-level co-occurrence matrix and histogram analysis, as well as an approach based on deep learning semantic segmentation. From whole-slide images, pathologists selected 216 N and 201 MN BCC images. The two groups were then manually segmented and compared based on four morphological areas: center of the BCC islands (tumor, T), peripheral palisading of the BCC islands (touching tumor, TT), peritumoral cleft (PC) and surrounding stroma (S). We found that the TT pattern varied the least, while the PC pattern varied the most between the two subtypes. The combination of two distinct analysis approaches yielded fresh insights into the characterization of BCC, and thus, we were able to describe two different morphological patterns for the T component of the two subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mircea-Sebastian Șerbănescu
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Raluca Maria Bungărdean
- Department of Pathology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Correspondence:
| | - Carmen Georgiu
- Department of Pathology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Maria Crișan
- Department of Histology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
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Laser Capture Microdissection in the Spatial Analysis of Epigenetic Modifications in Skin: A Comprehensive Review. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:4127238. [PMID: 35186184 PMCID: PMC8850045 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4127238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Each cell in the body contains an intricate regulation for the expression of its relevant DNA. While every cell in a multicellular organism contains identical DNA, each tissue-specific cell expresses a different set of active genes. This organizational property exists in a paradigm that is largely controlled by forces external to the DNA sequence via epigenetic regulation. DNA methylation and chromatin modifications represent some of the classical epigenetic modifications that control gene expression. Complex tissues like skin consist of heterogeneous cell types that are spatially distributed and mixed. Furthermore, each individual skin cell has a unique response to physiological and pathological cues. As such, it is difficult to classify skin tissue as homogenous across all cell types and across different environmental exposures. Therefore, it would be prudent to isolate targeted tissue elements prior to any molecular analysis to avoid a possibility of confounding the sample with unwanted cell types. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is a powerful technique used to isolate a targeted cell group with extreme microscopic precision. LCM presents itself as a solution to tackling the problem of tissue heterogeneity in molecular analysis. This review will cover an overview of LCM technology, the principals surrounding its application, and benefits of its application to the newly defined field of epigenomics, in particular of cutaneous pathology. This presents a comprehensive review about LCM and its use in the spatial analysis of skin epigenetics. Within the realm of skin pathology, this ability to isolate tissues under specific environmental stresses, such as oxidative stress, allows a far more focused investigation.
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Boscolo-Rizzo P, Furlan C, Lupato V, Polesel J, Fratta E. Novel insights into epigenetic drivers of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: role of HPV and lifestyle factors. Clin Epigenetics 2017; 9:124. [PMID: 29209433 PMCID: PMC5704592 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-017-0424-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last years, the explosion of high throughput sequencing technologies has enabled epigenome-wide analyses, allowing a more comprehensive overview of the oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) epigenetic landscape. In this setting, the cellular pathways contributing to the neoplastic phenotype, including cell cycle regulation, cell signaling, DNA repair, and apoptosis have been demonstrated to be potential targets of epigenetic alterations in OPSCC. Of note, it has becoming increasingly clear that HPV infection and OPSCC lifestyle risk factors differently drive the epigenetic machinery in cancer cells. Epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression, can be used as powerful and reliable tools for early diagnosis of OPSCC patients and improve prognostication. Since epigenetic changes are dynamic and reversible, epigenetic enzymes may also represent suitable targets for the development of more effective OPSCC therapeutic strategies. Thus, this review will focus on the main known epigenetic modifications that can occur in OPSCC and their exploitation as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Furthermore, we will address epigenetic alterations to OPSCC risk factors, with a particular focus on HPV infection, tobacco exposure, and heavy alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Boscolo-Rizzo
- Department of Neurosciences, ENT Clinic and Regional Center for Head and Neck Cancer, Treviso Regional Hospital, University of Padova, Treviso, Italy
| | - Carlo Furlan
- Division of Radiotherapy, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS-National Cancer Institute, Aviano, PN Italy
| | - Valentina Lupato
- Unit of Otolaryngology, General Hospital “S. Maria degli Angeli”, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Jerry Polesel
- Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS-National Cancer Institute, Aviano, PN Italy
| | - Elisabetta Fratta
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS-National Cancer Institute, Aviano, PN Italy
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Abstract
Aberrant DNA methylation pattern is a well-known epigenetic marker of cancer cells. Recently, aberrant methylation was also reported in the peripheral blood of cancer patients and it could potentially serve as a biomarker for cancer risk. We investigated the methylation pattern of LINE-1 and other repetitive DNA elements in peripheral blood of cutaneous melanoma patients in order to search for an association with clinical characteristics. The patient cohort was composed by 69 unrelated melanoma patients, 28 of whom were hereditary cases (with or without CDKN2A mutations) and 41 were isolated (sporadic) melanoma cases. Methylation of LINE-1 was evaluated by pyrosequencing, whereas additional repetitive DNA sequences were assessed using Illumina 450K methylation microarray. Melanoma patients exhibited a higher, albeit heterogeneous, LINE-1 methylation level compared with controls. Hereditary melanoma patients carrying CDKN2A mutations showed a hypermethylated pattern of both LINE-1 and repetitive DNA elements compared with other patients. In particular, the methylation level at one specific CpG of LINE-1 was found to be correlated with the occurrence of metastasis. Our data suggest that LINE-1 hypermethylation in peripheral blood of melanoma patients is a potential epigenetic biomarker for metastasis occurrence.
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Pergoli L, Favero C, Ruth M. P, Tarantini L, Calista D, Cavalleri T, Angelici L, Consonni D, Pier A. B, Angela C. P, Maria T. L, Bollati V. Blood DNA methylation, nevi number, and the risk of melanoma. Melanoma Res 2014; 24:480-7. [PMID: 25026000 PMCID: PMC6857929 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Germline mutations determining increased cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) risk have been identified in familial and sporadic CMM cases, but they account only for a small proportion of CMM cases. Recent evidence suggests that germline epimutations (e.g. DNA methylation alterations), which can be inherited similarly to genomic mutations and can be detected in normal body cells (including blood), might increase susceptibility to cancer. The aim of the study was to identify germline epimutations of genes that were found to be mutated in familial CMM (p16, p14, CDK4, MC1R, hTERT), immune and inflammatory genes (ICAM-1, TNFα), DNA mismatch repair gene (MLH1), and repetitive elements (ALU, LINE-1, HERV-w). We measured DNA methylation using bisulfite pyrosequencing in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 167 CMM cases and 164 sex-matched and age-matched controls. We used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the association between methylation levels and CMM status or presence of dysplastic nevi. We found an association between the risk of CMM and peripheral blood mononuclear cell methylation levels of TNFα [odds ratio (OR)=1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03-1.18], CDK4 (OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.64-0.91), and MLH1 (OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.02-1.22). In control participants, the risk of developing dysplastic nevi was associated with methylation levels of TNFα (OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.69-0.95), hTERT (OR=0.90, 95% CI=0.82-0.99), and ALU (OR=1.56, 95% CI=1.02-2.39). Epimutations in CMM susceptibility genes and in genes involved in response to oxidative damage are associated with the risk of developing CMM or dysplastic nevi. Further studies measuring methylation levels of these genes in prospectively collected samples are warranted to further elucidate their role in the development and progression of CMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pergoli
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Favero
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Pfeiffer Ruth M.
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Letizia Tarantini
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Tommaso Cavalleri
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Angelici
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Dario Consonni
- Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Bertazzi Pier A.
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Pesatori Angela C.
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Landi Maria T.
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Valentina Bollati
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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