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Justo-Garrido M, López-Saavedra A, Alcaraz N, Cortés-González CC, Oñate-Ocaña LF, Caro-Sánchez CHS, Castro-Hernández C, Arriaga-Canon C, Díaz-Chávez J, Herrera LA. Association of SLC12A1 and GLUR4 Ion Transporters with Neoadjuvant Chemoresistance in Luminal Locally Advanced Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16104. [PMID: 38003293 PMCID: PMC10670992 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistance to standard neoadjuvant treatment commonly occurs in locally advanced breast cancer, particularly in the luminal subtype, which is hormone receptor-positive and represents the most common subtype of breast cancer associated with the worst outcomes. Identifying the genes associated with chemoresistance is crucial for understanding the underlying mechanisms and discovering effective treatments. In this study, we aimed to identify genes linked to neoadjuvant chemotherapy resistance in 62 retrospectively included patients with luminal breast cancer. Whole RNA sequencing of 12 patient biopsies revealed 269 differentially expressed genes in chemoresistant patients. We further validated eight highly correlated genes associated with resistance. Among these, solute carrier family 12 member 1 (SLC12A1) and glutamate ionotropic AMPA type subunit 4 (GRIA4), both implicated in ion transport, showed the strongest association with chemoresistance. Notably, SLC12A1 expression was downregulated, while protein levels of glutamate receptor 4 (GLUR4), encoded by GRIA4, were elevated in patients with a worse prognosis. Our results suggest a potential link between SLC12A1 gene expression and GLUR4 protein levels with chemoresistance in luminal breast cancer. In particular, GLUR4 protein could serve as a potential target for drug intervention to overcome chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montserrat Justo-Garrido
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-National Institute of Cancerology, San Fernando Av #22, XVI Section, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (M.J.-G.); (A.L.-S.); (C.C.C.-G.); (C.C.-H.); (C.A.-C.)
| | - Alejandro López-Saavedra
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-National Institute of Cancerology, San Fernando Av #22, XVI Section, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (M.J.-G.); (A.L.-S.); (C.C.C.-G.); (C.C.-H.); (C.A.-C.)
| | - Nicolás Alcaraz
- The Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlo C. Cortés-González
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-National Institute of Cancerology, San Fernando Av #22, XVI Section, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (M.J.-G.); (A.L.-S.); (C.C.C.-G.); (C.C.-H.); (C.A.-C.)
| | - Luis F. Oñate-Ocaña
- Department of Gastroenterology, National Cancer Institute (INCan), Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico;
| | | | - Clementina Castro-Hernández
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-National Institute of Cancerology, San Fernando Av #22, XVI Section, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (M.J.-G.); (A.L.-S.); (C.C.C.-G.); (C.C.-H.); (C.A.-C.)
| | - Cristian Arriaga-Canon
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-National Institute of Cancerology, San Fernando Av #22, XVI Section, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (M.J.-G.); (A.L.-S.); (C.C.C.-G.); (C.C.-H.); (C.A.-C.)
| | - José Díaz-Chávez
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-National Institute of Cancerology, San Fernando Av #22, XVI Section, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (M.J.-G.); (A.L.-S.); (C.C.C.-G.); (C.C.-H.); (C.A.-C.)
| | - Luis A. Herrera
- Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-National Institute of Cancerology, San Fernando Av #22, XVI Section, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (M.J.-G.); (A.L.-S.); (C.C.C.-G.); (C.C.-H.); (C.A.-C.)
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences-Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico City 14380, Mexico
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Pretta A, Ziranu P, Giampieri R, Pinna G, Randon G, Donisi C, Ravarino A, Loi F, Deias G, Palmas E, Pretta G, Morano F, Semonella F, Mariani S, Deidda MA, Pusceddu V, Puzzoni M, Lai E, Solinas C, Restivo A, Zorcolo L, Barbara R, Berardi R, Faa G, Pietrantonio F, Scartozzi M. Mismatch Repair system protein deficiency as a resistance factor for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma patients receiving neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:1619-1624. [PMID: 37749283 PMCID: PMC10646038 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02444-2] [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: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Available data on Mismatch Repair system (MMR) deficiency are conflicting and derived from small studies. Our study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic implications of MMR status in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). METHODS We retrospectively collected data from 318 patients affected by LARC treated in Italy at the Medical Oncology Units of the University Hospital of Cagliari, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori Milan, and AOU Ospedali Riuniti Ancona. All patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The primary objective was major TRG while secondary objectives were pathological complete response, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS One hundred sixty patients (148 pMMR and 12 dMMR) were included in the exploratory cohort and 158 (146 pMMR and 12 dMMR) were included in the validation cohort. A major TRG has been shown in 42.6% and 43.1% patients with pMMR in exploratory and validation cohort, respectively; while no major TRG have been shown in dMMR patients in both cohorts. Exploratory and validation cohorts showed a statistically significant higher mDFS in pMMR patients compared to dMMR: NR vs. 14 months and NR vs. 17 months, respectively. CONCLUSION Our results indicated an association between dMMR and poor response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy and they represent a hypothesis-generating data for new neoadjuvant strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pretta
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Pina Ziranu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Riccardo Giampieri
- Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanna Pinna
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Randon
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Clelia Donisi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alberto Ravarino
- UOC Anatomia Patologica, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Loi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giulia Deias
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Enrico Palmas
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gianluca Pretta
- Science Department, King's School Hove, Hangleton Way, Hangleton, East Sussex, BN3 8BN, UK
| | - Federica Morano
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Semonella
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Pusceddu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Puzzoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Eleonora Lai
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Cinzia Solinas
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Angelo Restivo
- Department of General Surgery, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luigi Zorcolo
- Department of General Surgery, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Raffaele Barbara
- UOC Radioterapia Oncologica, Azienda Ospedaliera "Brotzu", Cagliari, Italy
| | - Rossana Berardi
- Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Gavino Faa
- UOC Anatomia Patologica, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Filippo Pietrantonio
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Vega-Benedetti AF, Loi E, Moi L, Zavattari P. DNA methylation alterations at RE1-silencing transcription factor binding sites and their flanking regions in cancer. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:98. [PMID: 37301955 PMCID: PMC10257853 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01514-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation changes, frequent early events in cancer, can modulate the binding of transcription factors. RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) plays a fundamental role in regulating the expression of neuronal genes, and in particular their silencing in non-neuronal tissues, by inducing chromatin modifications, including DNA methylation changes, not only in the proximity of its binding sites but also in the flanking regions. REST has been found aberrantly expressed in brain cancer and other cancer types. In this work, we investigated DNA methylation alterations at REST binding sites and their flanking regions in a brain cancer (pilocytic astrocytoma), two gastrointestinal tumours (colorectal cancer and biliary tract cancer) and a blood cancer (chronic lymphocytic leukemia). RESULTS Differential methylation analyses focused on REST binding sites and their flanking regions were conducted between tumour and normal samples from our experimental datasets analysed by Illumina microarrays and the identified alterations were validated using publicly available datasets. We discovered distinct DNA methylation patterns between pilocytic astrocytoma and the other cancer types in agreement with the opposite oncogenic and tumour suppressive role of REST in glioma and non-brain tumours. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that these DNA methylation alterations in cancer may be associated with REST dysfunction opening the enthusiastic possibility to develop novel therapeutic interventions based on the modulation of this master regulator in order to restore the aberrant methylation of its target regions into a normal status.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleonora Loi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Loredana Moi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zavattari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042, Cagliari, Italy.
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Barnekow E, Hasslow J, Liu W, Bryant P, Thutkawkorapin J, Wendt C, Czene K, Hall P, Margolin S, Lindblom A. A Swedish Familial Genome-Wide Haplotype Analysis Identified Five Novel Breast Cancer Susceptibility Loci on 9p24.3, 11q22.3, 15q11.2, 16q24.1 and Xq21.31. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054468. [PMID: 36901898 PMCID: PMC10003706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054468] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Most breast cancer heritability is unexplained. We hypothesized that analysis of unrelated familial cases in a GWAS context could enable the identification of novel susceptibility loci. In order to examine the association of a haplotype with breast cancer risk, we performed a genome-wide haplotype association study using a sliding window analysis of window sizes 1-25 SNPs in 650 familial invasive breast cancer cases and 5021 controls. We identified five novel risk loci on 9p24.3 (OR 3.4; p 4.9 × 10-11), 11q22.3 (OR 2.4; p 5.2 × 10-9), 15q11.2 (OR 3.6; p 2.3 × 10-8), 16q24.1 (OR 3; p 3 × 10-8) and Xq21.31 (OR 3.3; p 1.7 × 10-8) and confirmed three well-known loci on 10q25.13, 11q13.3, and 16q12.1. In total, 1593 significant risk haplotypes and 39 risk SNPs were distributed on the eight loci. In comparison with unselected breast cancer cases from a previous study, the OR was increased in the familial analysis in all eight loci. Analyzing familial cancer cases and controls enabled the identification of novel breast cancer susceptibility loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin Barnekow
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology, Södersjukhuset, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden
- Correspondence: (E.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Johan Hasslow
- Department of Oncology, Södersjukhuset, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wen Liu
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patrick Bryant
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jessada Thutkawkorapin
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Camilla Wendt
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology, Södersjukhuset, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kamila Czene
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Hall
- Department of Oncology, Södersjukhuset, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sara Margolin
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology, Södersjukhuset, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annika Lindblom
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, 17164 Stockholm, Sweden
- Correspondence: (E.B.); (A.L.)
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Loi E, Moi L, Cabras P, Arduino G, Costanzo G, Del Giacco S, Erlich HA, Firinu D, Caddori A, Zavattari P. HLA-C dysregulation as a possible mechanism of immune evasion in SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA-virus infections. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1011829. [PMID: 36325330 PMCID: PMC9618630 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1011829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the mechanisms by which viruses can evade the host’s immune system is to modify the host’s DNA methylation pattern. This work aims to investigate the DNA methylation and gene expression profile of COVID-19 patients, divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic, and healthy controls, focusing on genes involved in the immune response. In this study, changes in the methylome of COVID-19 patients’ upper airways cells, the first barrier against respiratory infections and the first cells presenting viral antigens, are shown for the first time. Our results showed alterations in the methylation pattern of genes encoding proteins implicated in the response against pathogens, in particular the HLA-C gene, also important for the T-cell mediated memory response. HLA-C expression significantly decreases in COVID-19 patients, especially in those with a more severe prognosis and without other possibly confounding co-morbidities. Moreover, our bionformatic analysis revealed that the identified methylation alteration overlaps with enhancers regulating HLA-C expression, suggesting an additional mechanism exploited by SARS-CoV-2 to inhibit this fundamental player in the host’s immune response. HLA-C could therefore represent both a prognostic marker and an excellent therapeutic target, also suggesting a preventive intervention that conjugate a virus-specific antigenic stimulation with an adjuvant increasing the T-cell mediated memory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Loi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Loredana Moi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Cabras
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital SS. Trinità, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giulia Arduino
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital SS. Trinità, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giulia Costanzo
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Stefano Del Giacco
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Henry A. Erlich
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Davide Firinu
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Aldo Caddori
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital SS. Trinità, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zavattari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- *Correspondence: Patrizia Zavattari,
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Vega-Benedetti AF, Loi E, Zavattari P. DNA methylation alterations caused by Leishmania infection may generate a microenvironment prone to tumour development. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:984134. [PMID: 36105147 PMCID: PMC9465093 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.984134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic signature consisting of a methyl group at the 5’ cytosine of CpG dinucleotides. Modifications in DNA methylation pattern have been detected in cancer and infectious diseases and may be associated with gene expression changes. In cancer development DNA methylation aberrations are early events whereas in infectious diseases these epigenetic changes may be due to host/pathogen interaction. In particular, in leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania, DNA methylation alterations have been detected in macrophages upon infection with Leishmania donovani and in skin lesions from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Interestingly, different types of cancers, such as cutaneous malignant lesions, lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, have been diagnosed in patients with a history of leishmaniasis. In fact, it is known that there exists an association between cancer and infectious diseases. Leishmania infection may increase susceptibility to develop cancer, but the mechanisms involved are not entirely clear. Considering these aspects, in this review we discuss the hypothesis that DNA methylation alterations induced by Leishmania may trigger tumorigenesis in long term infection since these epigenetic modifications may enhance and accumulate during chronic leishmaniasis.
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Emerging Roles of the Nervous System in Gastrointestinal Cancer Development. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153722. [PMID: 35954387 PMCID: PMC9367305 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153722] [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: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Nerve–cancer cross-talk has increasingly become a focus of the oncology field, particularly in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The indispensable roles of the nervous system in GI tumorigenesis and malignancy have been dissected by epidemiological, experimental animal and mechanistic data. Herein, we review and integrate recent discoveries linking the nervous system to GI cancer initiation and progression, and focus on the molecular mechanisms by which nerves and neural receptor pathways drive GI malignancy. Abstract Our understanding of the fascinating connection between nervous system and gastrointestinal (GI) tumorigenesis has expanded greatly in recent years. Recent studies revealed that neurogenesis plays an active part in GI tumor initiation and progression. Tumor-driven neurogenesis, as well as neurite outgrowth of the pre-existing peripheral nervous system (PNS), may fuel GI tumor progression via facilitating cancer cell proliferation, chemoresistance, invasion and immune escape. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides drive the activation of various oncogenic pathways downstream of neural receptors within cancer cells, underscoring the importance of neural signaling pathways in GI tumor malignancy. In addition, neural infiltration also plays an integral role in tumor microenvironments, and contributes to an environment in favor of tumor angiogenesis, immune evasion and invasion. Blockade of tumor innervation via denervation or pharmacological agents may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy against GI tumors. In this review, we summarize recent findings linking the nervous system to GI tumor progression, set the spotlight on the molecular mechanisms by which neural signaling fuels cancer aggressiveness, and highlight the importance of targeting neural mechanisms in GI tumor therapy.
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