PYHIN genes as potential biomarkers for prognosis of human papillomavirus-positive or -negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Current and Emerging Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Predictive Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancers (HNC) are a biologically diverse set of cancers that are responsible for over 660,000 new diagnoses each year. Current therapies for HNC require a comprehensive, multimodal approach encompassing resection, radiation therapy, and systemic therapy. With an increased understanding of the mechanisms behind HNC, there has been growing interest in more accurate prognostic indicators of disease, effective post-treatment surveillance, and individualized treatments. This chapter will highlight the commonly used and studied biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

APOBEC3B Is Co-Expressed with PKCα/NF-κB in Oral and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

The enzymatic activity of APOBEC3B (A3B) has been implicated as a prime source of mutagenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The expression of Protein Kinase C α (PKCα) and Nuclear Factor-κΒ p65 (NF-κΒ p65) has been linked to the activation of the classical and the non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathways, respectively, both of which have been shown to lead to the upregulation of A3B. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of PKCα, NF-κΒ p65 and A3B in non-HPV related oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), by means of immunohistochemistry and in silico methods. PKCα was expressed in 29/36 (80%) cases of oral and oropharyngeal SCCs, with 25 (69%) cases showing a PKCα+/A3B+ phenotype and only 6/36 (17%) cases showing a PKCα-/A3B+ phenotype. Εxpression of NF-κB p65 was seen in 33/35 (94%) cases of oral and oropharyngeal SCCs, with 30/35 (86%) cases showing an NF-κB p65+/A3B+ phenotype and only 2/35 (6%) cases showing an NF-κB p65-/A3B+ phenotype. In addition, mRNA expression analysis, using the UALCAN database, revealed strong expression of all three genes. These findings indicate that the expression of A3B is associated with PKCα/NF-κB p65 expression and suggest a potential role for the PKC/NF-κB signaling pathway in the development of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

Human Papillomaviruses Target the DNA Damage Repair and Innate Immune Response Pathways to Allow for Persistent Infection

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is the major risk factor associated with development of anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Initial infection by HPVs occurs into basal epithelial cells where viral genomes are established as nuclear episomes and persist until cleared by the immune response. Productive replication or amplification occurs upon differentiation and is dependent upon activation of the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related (ATR) DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways. In addition to activating DDR pathways, HPVs must escape innate immune surveillance mechanisms by antagonizing sensors, adaptors, interferons and antiviral gene expression. Both DDR and innate immune pathways are key host mechanisms that crosstalk with each other to maintain homeostasis of cells persistently infected with HPVs. Interestingly, it is still not fully understood why some HPV infections get cleared while others do not. Targeting of these two processes with antiviral therapies may provide opportunities for treatment of cancers caused by high-risk HPVs.

Multimodality and Sequential Therapy in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Preface to the Special Issue

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas are heterogeneous in molecular pattern, clinical presentation and prognosis [...].

HPV Meets APOBEC: New Players in Head and Neck Cancer

Besides smoking and alcohol, human papillomavirus (HPV) is a factor promoting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In some human tumors, including HNSCC, a number of mutations are caused by aberrantly activated DNA-modifying enzymes, such as the apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) family of cytidine deaminases. As the enzymatic activity of APOBEC proteins contributes to the innate immune response to viruses, including HPV, the role of APOBEC proteins in HPV-driven head and neck carcinogenesis has recently gained increasing attention. Ongoing research efforts take the cue from two key observations: (1) APOBEC expression depends on HPV infection status in HNSCC; and (2) APOBEC activity plays a major role in HPV-positive HNSCC mutagenesis. This review focuses on recent advances on the role of APOBEC proteins in HPV-positive vs. HPV-negative HNSCC.

Interferon-inducible protein 16 may be a biomarker and prognostic factor in renal cell carcinoma by bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 2% to 3% of all human malignancies and is the 9th most common malignancy in Western countries. Due to the development of surgical procedures and the use of novel drugs, survival has been significantly prolonged. However, current challenges include how to diagnose RCC earlier and how to overcome drug resistance. Methods: We explored the relationship between the transcription level of IFI16 and clinical data in RCC through various online databases, including ONCOMINE, GEPIA, HPA, Timer and COEXPEDIA.

RESULTS

In comparison with corresponding normal tissues, IFI16 mRNA expression levels were higher in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) and kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP) tissues. In KIRC, the higher expression of IFI16 was associated with lower overall survival (P = .037). In KIRP, the higher expression IFI16 was associated with lower disease-free survival and overall survival (P = .037 and P = .011). In contrast, the IFI16 expression was negatively correlated with tumor purity in kidney chromophobe, KIRC and KIRP (all P < .05). In KIRC and KIRP, the expression of IFI16 was positively correlated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) (all P < .05), except macrophages in KIRP. In KIRC, the main TIICs were B cells, CD4+T cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, while the main TIICs in the high amplification state were macrophage (all P < .0001). Functional enrichment analysis by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes highlighted enrichment of neutrophil degranulation, phagocytosis and vesicle-mediated transport regulation, and pathways including tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, phagosome, leishmaniasis, and Fc gamma R-mediated.

CONCLUSIONS

IFI16 is overexpressed in RCC and may be an important oncogene in the progression of kidney. In addition, IFI16 may a marker for RCC diagnosis and prognosis, which may be related to immune infiltration.

AIM2 Inflammasome's First Decade of Discovery: Focus on Oral Diseases

A common feature of many acute and chronic oral diseases is microbial-induced inflammation. Innate immune responses are the first line of defense against pathogenic microorganisms and are initiated by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that specifically recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and danger-associated molecular patterns. The activation of certain PRRs can lead to the assembly of macromolecular oligomers termed inflammasomes, which are responsible for pro-inflammatory cytokine maturation and secretion and thus activate host inflammatory responses. About 10 years ago, the absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) was independently discovered by four research groups, and among the “canonical” inflammasomes [including AIM2, NLR family pyrin domain (NLRP)1, NLRP3, NLR family apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP)/NLR family, caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD) containing (NLRC)4, and pyrin], AIM2 so far is the only one that simultaneously acts as a cytosolic DNA sensor due to its DNA-binding ability. Undoubtedly, such a double-faceted role gives AIM2 greater mission and more potential in the mediation of innate immune responses. Therefore, AIM2 has garnered much attention from the broad scientific community during its first 10 years of discovery (2009–2019). How the AIM2 inflammasome is related to oral diseases has aroused debate over the past few years and is under active investigation. AIM2 inflammasome may potentially be a key link between oral diseases and innate immunity. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge of the AIM2 inflammasome and its critical role in the pathogenesis of various oral diseases, which might offer future possibilities for disease prevention and targeted therapy utilizing this continued understanding.

PYHIN Proteins and HPV: Role in the Pathogenesis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

In the last decades, the human papillomavirus (HPV) emerged as an etiological cause of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), especially in the oropharynx. The role of two intracellular DNA sensors, which belong to the PYHIN family (interferon-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and absent in melanoma 2 protein (AIM2)), has been analyzed in relation to HPV infection and head and neck carcinogenesis. In particular, IFI16 and AIM2 expression depends on HPV infection in HNSCC. They represent viral restriction factors and are key components of the intrinsic immunity activated against different viruses, including HPV. This review analyzed and summarized the recent findings about the role of PYHIN proteins in HPV⁺ and HPV⁻ HNSCC.

The prognostic value of faciogenital dysplasias as biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Aim: This present study aims to investigate the prognostic value of FGD genes for predicting the overall survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) patients. Materials & methods: Clinical information and FGD gene expressions of 513 HNSC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. Kaplan–Meier survival, Pearson correlation coefficient analyses and enrichment analyses were performed based on The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, as well as FGD gene expressions analysis in normal tissues. Results: The survival analyses showed that high levels of FGD2 and FGD3 mRNA expressions, and the combination of high levels of FGD2 and FGD3 mRNAs were associated with the favorable overall survival in HNSC patients (p < 0.01). Oppositely, no significant correlations (p > 0.05) were observed between gender and race and OS. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the expression levels of FGD2 and FGD3 mRNAs in HNSC are associated with favorable prognosis and may be regarded as potential prognostic biomarkers.