Toll-Like Receptor 4 and Matrix Metalloproteases 11 and 13 as Predictors of Tumor Recurrence and Survival in Stage II Colorectal Cancer

Integrative Analyses of Pyrimidine Salvage Pathway-Related Genes Revealing the Associations Between UPP1 and Tumor Microenvironment

Background

The pyrimidine salvage pathway plays a critical role in tumor progression and patient outcomes. The roles of pyrimidine salvage pathway-related genes (PSPGs) in cancer, however, are not fully understood. This study aims to depict the characteristics of PSPGs across various cancers.

Methods

An integrative pan-cancer analysis of six PSPGs (CDA, UCK1, UCK2, UCKL1, UPP1, and UPP2) was conducted using TCGA data, single-cell RNA sequencing datasets, and patient samples. Single-cell transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR were used to validate the relation between UPP1 and cytokines. Flow cytometry was performed to validate the role of UPP1 in immune checkpoint regulation. The correlation between UPP1 and tumor associated neutrophils (TAN) were investigated and validated by single-cell transcriptome analysis and tissue microarrays (TMAs).

Results

PSPGs showed low mutation rates but significant copy number variations, particularly amplifications in UCKL1, UPP1, and UCK2 across various cancers. DNA methylation patterns varied, with notable negative correlations between methylation and gene expression in UPP1. PSPGs were broadly up-regulated in multiple cancers, with correlations to clinical staging and prognosis. Proteomic data further confirmed these findings. Functional analysis revealed PSPGs' associations with tumor proliferation, metastasis, and various signaling pathways. UPP1 showed strong correlations with the tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly with cytokines, immune checkpoints, and various immune cells. Single-cell transcriptome analysis confirmed these associations, highlighting UPP1's influence on cytokine expression and immune checkpoint regulation. In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), UPP1-high tumor cells were significantly associated with immunosuppressive cells in the TME. Spatial analysis using TMAs revealed that UPP1+ tumor cells were predominantly located at the invasive margin and closely associated with neutrophils, correlating with poorer patient prognosis.

Conclusion

Our study depicted the multi-dimensional view of PSPGs in cancer, with a particular focus on UPP1's role in the TME. Targeting UPP1 holds promise as a potential strategy for cancer therapy.

Germline gain-of-function MMP11 variant results in an aggressive form of colorectal cancer

Matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP11) is an enzyme with proteolytic activity against matrix and nonmatrix proteins. Although most MMPs are secreted as inactive proenzymes and are later activated extracellularly, MMP11 is activated intracellularly by furin within the constitutive secretory pathway. It is a key factor in physiological tissue remodeling and its alteration may play an important role in the progression of epithelial malignancies and other diseases. TCGA colon and colorectal adenocarcinoma data showed that upregulation of MMP11 expression correlates with tumorigenesis and malignancy. Here, we provide evidence that a germline variant in the MMP11 gene (NM_005940: c.232C>T; p.(Pro78Ser)), identified by whole exome sequencing, can increase the tumorigenic properties of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. P78S is located in the prodomain region, which is responsible for blocking MMP11's protease activity. This variant was detected in the proband and all the cancer-affected family members analyzed, while it was not detected in healthy relatives. In silico analyses predict that P78S could have an impact on the activation of the enzyme. Furthermore, our in vitro analyses show that the expression of P78S in HCT116 cells increases tumor cell invasion and proliferation. In summary, our results show that this variant could modify the structure of the MMP11 prodomain, producing a premature or uncontrolled activation of the enzyme that may contribute to an early CRC onset in these patients. The study of this gene in other CRC cases will provide further information about its role in CRC development, which might improve patient treatment in the future.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Cancer and Cancer Immunotherapy

Our understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including the interplay between tumor cells, stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular matrix components, is mandatory for the innovation of new therapeutic approaches in cancer. The cell-cell communication within the TME plays a pivotal role in the evolution and progression of cancer. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are major cell populations in the stroma of all solid tumors and often exert protumorigenic functions; however, the origin and precise functions of CAF and TAM are still incompletely understood. CAF and TAM hold significant potential as therapeutic targets to improve outcomes in oncology when combined with existing therapies. The regulation of CAF/TAM communication and/or their differentiation could be of high impact for improving the future targeted treatment strategies. Nevertheless, there is much scope for research and innovation in this field with regards to the development of novel drugs. In this review, we elaborate on the current knowledge on CAF and TAM in cancer and cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, by focusing on their heterogenous functions in different stages and types of cancer, we explore their role as potential therapeutic targets and highlight certain aspects of their functions that need further research.

ETV4 plays a role on the primary events during the adenoma-adenocarcinoma progression in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide; it is the fourth leading cause of death in the world and the third in Brazil. Mutations in the APC, DCC, KRAS and TP53 genes have been associated with the progression of sporadic CRC, occurring at defined pathological stages of the tumor progression and consequently modulating several genes in the corresponding signaling pathways. Therefore, the identification of gene signatures that occur at each stage during the CRC progression is critical and can present an impact on the diagnosis and prognosis of the patient. In this study, our main goal was to determine these signatures, by evaluating the gene expression of paired colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma samples to identify novel genetic markers in association to the adenoma-adenocarcinoma stage transition.

METHODS

Ten paired adenoma and adenocarcinoma colorectal samples were subjected to microarray gene expression analysis. In addition, mutations in APC, KRAS and TP53 genes were investigated by DNA sequencing in paired samples of adenoma, adenocarcinoma, normal tissue, and peripheral blood from ten patients.

RESULTS

Gene expression analysis revealed a signature of 689 differentially expressed genes (DEG) (fold-change> 2, p< 0.05), between the adenoma and adenocarcinoma paired samples analyzed. Gene pathway analysis using the 689 DEG identified important cancer pathways such as remodeling of the extracellular matrix and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Among these DEG, the ETV4 stood out as one of the most expressed in the adenocarcinoma samples, further confirmed in the adenocarcinoma set of samples from the TCGA database. Subsequent in vitro siRNA assays against ETV4 resulted in the decrease of cell proliferation, colony formation and cell migration in the HT29 and SW480 colorectal cell lines. DNA sequencing analysis revealed KRAS and TP53 gene pathogenic mutations, exclusively in the adenocarcinomas samples.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified a set of genes with high potential to be used as biomarkers in CRC, with a special emphasis on the ETV4 gene, which demonstrated involvement in proliferation and migration.

Determinants and Functions of CAFs Secretome During Cancer Progression and Therapy

Multiple lines of evidence are indicating that cancer development and malignant progression are not exclusively epithelial cancer cell-autonomous processes but may also depend on crosstalk with the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundantly represented in the TME and are continuously interacting with cancer cells. CAFs are regulating key mechanisms during progression to metastasis and response to treatment by enhancing cancer cells survival and aggressiveness. The latest advances in CAFs biology are pointing to CAFs-secreted factors as druggable targets and companion tools for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Especially, extensive research conducted in the recent years has underscored the potential of several cytokines as actionable biomarkers that are currently evaluated in the clinical setting. In this review, we explore the current understanding of CAFs secretome determinants and functions to discuss their clinical implication in oncology.

Identification of Genomic Alterations of Perineural Invasion in Patients with Stage II Colorectal Cancer

Purpose

The molecular mechanism of perineural invasion (PNI) in stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) remains not to be defined clearly. This study aims to identify the genomic aberrations related to PNI in stage II CRC.

Patients and Methods

Using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH), primary tumor tissues and paracancerous normal tissues of stage II CRC with PNI and without PNI were analyzed. We identified genomic aberrations by using Genomic Workbench and MD-SeeGH and validated the aberrations of selected genes by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis were performed to determine the most likely biological effects of these genes.

Results

The most frequent gains in stage II CRC were at 7q11.21-q11.22, 8p11.21, 8p12-p11.23, 8q11.1-q11.22, 13q12.13-q12.2, and 20q11.21-q11.23 and the most frequent losses were at 17p13.1-p12, 8p23.2, and 118q11.2-q23. Four high-level amplifications at 8p11.23-p11.22, 18q21.1, 19q11-q12, and 20q11.21-q13.32 and homozygous deletions at 20p12.1 were discovered in Stage II CRC. Gains at 7q11.21-q22.1, 16p11.2, 17q23.3-q25.3, 19p13.3-p12, and 20p13-p11.1, and losses at 11q11-q12.1, 11p15.5-p15.1, 18p11.21, and 18q21.1-q23 were more commonly found in patients with PNI by frequency plot comparison together with detailed genomic analysis. It is also observed that gains at 8q11.1-q24.3, 9q13-q34.3, and 13q12.3-q13.1, and losses at 8p23.3-p12, 17p13.3-p11.2, and 21q22.12 occurred more frequently in patients without PNI. Further validation showed that the expression of FLT1, FBXW7, FGFR1, SLC20A2 and SERPINI1 was significantly up-regulated in the NPNI group compared to the PNI group. GO and pathway analysis revealed some genes enriched in specific pathways.

Conclusion

These involved genomic changes in the PNI of stage II CRC may be useful to reveal the mechanisms underlying PNI and provide candidate biomarkers.