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Gintoni I, Vassiliou S, Chrousos GP, Yapijakis C. Identification of Stage-Specific microRNAs that Govern the Early Stages of Sequential Oral Oncogenesis by Strategically Bridging Human Genetics with Epigenetics and Utilizing an Animal Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7642. [PMID: 39062890 PMCID: PMC11277563 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly prevalent and aggressive malignancy, with mortality rates reaching 60%, mainly due to its excessive diagnostic delay. MiRNAs, a class of crucial epigenetic gene-expression regulators, have emerged as potential diagnostic biomarkers, with >200 molecules exhibiting expressional dysregulation in OSCC. We had previously established an in silico methodology for the identification of the most disease-specific molecules by bridging genetics and epigenetics. Here, we identified the stage-specific miRNAs that govern the asymptomatic early stages of oral tumorigenesis by exploiting seed-matching and the reverse interplay between miRNA levels and their target genes' expression. Incorporating gene-expression data from our group's experimental hamster model of sequential oral oncogenesis, we bioinformatically detected the miRNAs that simultaneously target/regulate >75% of the genes that are characteristically upregulated or downregulated in the consecutive stages of hyperplasia, dysplasia, and early invasion, while exhibiting the opposite expressional dysregulation in OSCC-derived tissue and/or saliva specimens. We found that all stages share the downregulation of miR-34a-5p, miR124-3p, and miR-125b-5p, while miR-1-3p is under-expressed in dysplasia and early invasion. The malignant early-invasion stage is distinguished by the downregulation of miR-147a and the overexpression of miR-155-5p, miR-423-3p, and miR-34a-5p. The identification of stage-specific miRNAs may facilitate their utilization as biomarkers for presymptomatic OSCC diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iphigenia Gintoni
- Unit of Orofacial Genetics, 1st Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cephalogenetics Center, 176 72 Athens, Greece
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, 124 62 Athens, Greece;
- University Research Institute for the Study of Genetic and Malignant Disorders in Childhood, Choremion Laboratory, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Stavros Vassiliou
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, 124 62 Athens, Greece;
| | - George P. Chrousos
- University Research Institute for the Study of Genetic and Malignant Disorders in Childhood, Choremion Laboratory, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Yapijakis
- Unit of Orofacial Genetics, 1st Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cephalogenetics Center, 176 72 Athens, Greece
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, 124 62 Athens, Greece;
- University Research Institute for the Study of Genetic and Malignant Disorders in Childhood, Choremion Laboratory, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece
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Nguyen H, Nonaka T. Salivary miRNAs as auxiliary liquid biopsy biomarkers for diagnosis in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Genet 2024; 15:1352838. [PMID: 38528913 PMCID: PMC10961377 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1352838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: The healthcare system needs a novel approach to improve and diagnose early oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma against its low survival rate. We conduct a systematic review and a comprehensive meta-analysis for the diagnostic role of blood and salivary microRNAs (miRNAs). Methods: An unbiased and thorough literature search in PubMed yielded appropriate data from qualified articles regarding different miRNA biomarkers, method of extraction, research location, and year of publication. Stata was used to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, and summary receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: We included 9 studies with 399 qualified oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients, which yielded a high diagnostic accuracy of blood miRNAs in combination with salivary miRNAs with a sensitivity of 0.70 (p < 0.001), specificity of 0.75 (p = 0.26), diagnostic odds ratio of 7, and an area under the curve of 0.78. Conclusion: Combined blood- and saliva-derived miRNAs demonstrated a high diagnostic accuracy in detecting oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024509424.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huy Nguyen
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - Taichiro Nonaka
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
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Sorroche BP, Miranda KC, Beltrami CM, Arantes LMRB, Kowalski LP, Marchi FA, Rogatto SR, Almeida JD. HOXA1 3'UTR Methylation Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Oral Squamous cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:874. [PMID: 38473236 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HOXA1 is a prognostic marker and a potential predictive biomarker for radioresistance in head and neck tumors. Its overexpression has been associated with promoter methylation and a worse prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. However, opposite outcomes are also described. The effect of the methylation of this gene on different gene regions, other than the promoter, remains uncertain. We investigated the methylation profile at different genomic regions of HOXA1 in OSCC and correlated differentially methylated CpG sites with clinicopathological data. METHODS The HOXA1 DNA methylation status was evaluated by analyzing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and three Gene Expression Omnibus datasets. Significant differentially methylated CpG sites were considered with a |∆β| ≥ 0.10 and a Bonferroni-corrected p-value < 0.01. Differentially methylated CpGs were validated by pyrosequencing using two independent cohorts of 15 and 47 OSCC patients, respectively. RESULTS Compared to normal tissues, we found significantly higher DNA methylation levels in the 3'UTR region of HOXA1 in OSCC. Higher methylation levels in tumor samples were positively correlated with smoking habits and patients' overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that HOXA1 gene body methylation is a promising prognostic biomarker for OSCC with potential clinical applications in patient monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Pereira Sorroche
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos 14784-400, Brazil
| | - Keila Cristina Miranda
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12224-300, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luiz Paulo Kowalski
- Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology Department, AC Camargo Cancer Center, Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group, São Paulo 01509-010, Brazil
- Head and Neck Surgery Department and LIM 28, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Fabio Albuquerque Marchi
- Center for Translational Research in Oncology, Cancer Institute of the State of São Paulo (ICESP), São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil
- Clinical Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School (HCFMUSP), São Paulo 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Silvia Regina Rogatto
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, 7100 Vejle, Denmark
- Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Janete Dias Almeida
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12224-300, Brazil
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Gintoni I, Vassiliou S, Chrousos GP, Yapijakis C. Review of Disease-Specific microRNAs by Strategically Bridging Genetics and Epigenetics in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1578. [PMID: 37628629 PMCID: PMC10454361 DOI: 10.3390/genes14081578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most prevalent human malignancies and a global health concern with a poor prognosis despite some therapeutic advances, highlighting the need for a better understanding of its molecular etiology. The genomic landscape of OSCC is well-established and recent research has focused on miRNAs, which regulate gene expression and may be useful non-invasive biomarkers or therapeutic targets. A plethora of findings regarding miRNA expression have been generated, posing challenges for the interpretation and identification of disease-specific molecules. Hence, we opted to identify the most important regulatory miRNAs by bridging genetics and epigenetics, focusing on the key genes implicated in OSCC development. Based on published reports, we have developed custom panels of fifteen major oncogenes and five major tumor suppressor genes. Following a miRNA/target gene interaction analysis and a comprehensive study of the literature, we selected the miRNA molecules which target the majority of these panels that have been reported to be downregulated or upregulated in OSCC, respectively. As a result, miR-34a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-124-3p, miR-1-3p, and miR-16-5p appeared to be the most OSCC-specific. Their expression patterns, verified targets, and the signaling pathways affected by their dysregulation in OSCC are thoroughly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iphigenia Gintoni
- Unit of Orofacial Genetics, 1st Department of Pediatrics, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cephalogenetics Center, 176 72 Athens, Greece
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, 124 62 Athens, Greece;
- University Research Institute for the Study of Genetic and Malignant Disorders in Childhood, Choremion Laboratory, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
| | - Stavros Vassiliou
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, 124 62 Athens, Greece;
| | - George P. Chrousos
- University Research Institute for the Study of Genetic and Malignant Disorders in Childhood, Choremion Laboratory, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
| | - Christos Yapijakis
- Unit of Orofacial Genetics, 1st Department of Pediatrics, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cephalogenetics Center, 176 72 Athens, Greece
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, 124 62 Athens, Greece;
- University Research Institute for the Study of Genetic and Malignant Disorders in Childhood, Choremion Laboratory, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
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Katase N, Nishimatsu SI, Yamauchi A, Okano S, Fujita S. Establishment of anti-DKK3 peptide for the cancer control in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:352. [PMID: 36376957 PMCID: PMC9664703 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02783-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the head and neck. We identified cancer-specific genes in HNSCC and focused on DKK3 expression. DKK3 gene codes two isoforms of proteins (secreted and non-secreted) with two distinct cysteine rich domains (CRDs). It is reported that DKK3 functions as a negative regulator of oncogenic Wnt signaling and, is therefore, considered to be a tumor suppressor gene. However, our series of studies have demonstrated that DKK3 expression is specifically high in HNSCC tissues and cells, and that DKK3 might determine the malignant potentials of HNSCC cells via the activation of Akt. Further analyses strongly suggested that both secreted DKK3 and non-secreted DKK3 could activate Akt signaling in discrete ways, and consequently exert tumor promoting effects. We hypothesized that DKK3 might be a specific druggable target, and it is necessary to establish a DKK3 inhibitor that can inhibit both secreted and non-secreted isoforms of DKK3. Methods Using inverse polymerase chain reaction, we generated mutant expression plasmids that express DKK3 without CRD1, CRD2, or both CRD1 and CRD2 (DKK3ΔC1, DKK3ΔC2, and DKK3ΔC1ΔC2, respectively). These plasmids were then transfected into HNSCC-derived cells to determine the domain responsible for DKK3-mediated Akt activation. We designed antisense peptides using the MIMETEC program, targeting DKK3-specific amino acid sequences within CRD1 and CRD2. The structural models for peptides and DKK3 were generated using Raptor X, and then a docking simulation was performed using CluPro2. Afterward, the best set of the peptides was applied into HNSCC-derived cells, and the effects on Akt phosphorylation, cellular proliferation, invasion, and migration were assessed. We also investigated the therapeutic effects of the peptides in the xenograft models. Results Transfection of mutant expression plasmids and subsequent functional analyses revealed that it is necessary to delete both CRD1 and CRD2 to inhibit Akt activation and inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion. The inhibitory peptides for CRD1 and CRD2 of DKK3 significantly reduced the phosphorylation of Akt, and consequently suppressed cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and in vivo tumor growth at very low doses. Conclusions This inhibitory peptide represents a promising new therapeutic strategy for HNSCC treatment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02783-9.
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