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Kreuger IZM, Slieker RC, van Groningen T, van Doorn R. Therapeutic Strategies for Targeting CDKN2A Loss in Melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:18-25.e1. [PMID: 36123181 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Loss of the tumor suppressor gene CDKN2A, encoding p16 and p14, is a frequent event driving melanoma progression. Therefore, therapeutic strategies aimed at CDKN2A loss hold great potential to improve melanoma treatment. Pharmacological inhibition of the p16 targets CDK4/6 is a prime example of such a strategy. Other approaches exploit cell cycle deregulation, target metabolic rewiring, epigenetically restore expression, act on dependencies resulting from co-deleted genes, or are directed at the effects of CDKN2A loss on immune responses. This review explores these therapeutic strategies targeting CDKN2A loss, which potentially open up new avenues for precision medicine in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inger Z M Kreuger
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Center for Computational Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Roderick C Slieker
- Leiden Center for Computational Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tim van Groningen
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Center for Computational Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Remco van Doorn
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Center for Computational Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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2
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Chen Y, Yi X, Sun N, Guo W, Li C. Epigenetics Regulates Antitumor Immunity in Melanoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:868786. [PMID: 35693795 PMCID: PMC9174518 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.868786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most malignant skin cancer, which originates from epidermal melanocytes, with increasing worldwide incidence. The escape of immune surveillance is a hallmark of the tumor, which is manifested by the imbalance between the enhanced immune evasion of tumor cells and the impaired antitumor capacity of infiltrating immune cells. According to this notion, the invigoration of the exhausted immune cells by immune checkpoint blockades has gained encouraging outcomes in eliminating tumor cells and significantly prolonged the survival of patients, particularly in melanoma. Epigenetics is a pivotal non-genomic modulatory paradigm referring to heritable changes in gene expression without altering genome sequence, including DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNAs, and m6A RNA methylation. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated how the dysregulation of epigenetics regulates multiple biological behaviors of tumor cells and contributes to carcinogenesis and tumor progression in melanoma. Nevertheless, the linkage between epigenetics and antitumor immunity, as well as its implication in melanoma immunotherapy, remains elusive. In this review, we first introduce the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and therapeutic innovations of melanoma. Then, the tumor microenvironment and the functions of different types of infiltrating immune cells are discussed, with an emphasis on their involvement in antitumor immunity in melanoma. Subsequently, we systemically summarize the linkage between epigenetics and antitumor immunity in melanoma, from the perspective of distinct paradigms of epigenetics. Ultimately, the progression of the clinical trials regarding epigenetics-based melanoma immunotherapy is introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiuli Yi
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ningyue Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weinan Guo
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chunying Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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3
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De Beck L, Awad RM, Basso V, Casares N, De Ridder K, De Vlaeminck Y, Gnata A, Goyvaerts C, Lecocq Q, San José-Enériz E, Verhulst S, Maes K, Vanderkerken K, Agirre X, Prosper F, Lasarte JJ, Mondino A, Breckpot K. Inhibiting Histone and DNA Methylation Improves Cancer Vaccination in an Experimental Model of Melanoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:799636. [PMID: 35634329 PMCID: PMC9134079 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.799636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has improved the treatment of malignant skin cancer of the melanoma type, yet overall clinical response rates remain low. Combination therapies could be key to meet this cogent medical need. Because epigenetic hallmarks represent promising combination therapy targets, we studied the immunogenic potential of a dual inhibitor of histone methyltransferase G9a and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in the preclinical B16-OVA melanoma model. Making use of tumor transcriptomic and functional analyses, methylation-targeted epigenetic reprogramming was shown to induce tumor cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro coinciding with transient tumor growth delay and an IFN-I response in immune-competent mice. In consideration of a potential impact on immune cells, the drug was shown not to interfere with dendritic cell maturation or T-cell activation in vitro. Notably, the drug promoted dendritic cell and, to a lesser extent, T-cell infiltration in vivo, yet failed to sensitize tumor cells to programmed cell death-1 inhibition. Instead, it increased therapeutic efficacy of TCR-redirected T cell and dendritic cell vaccination, jointly increasing overall survival of B16-OVA tumor-bearing mice. The reported data confirm the prospect of methylation-targeted epigenetic reprogramming in melanoma and sustain dual G9a and DNMT inhibition as a strategy to tip the cancer-immune set-point towards responsiveness to active and adoptive vaccination against melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien De Beck
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory of Hematology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robin Maximilian Awad
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Veronica Basso
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Noelia Casares
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Kirsten De Ridder
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yannick De Vlaeminck
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alessandra Gnata
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Cleo Goyvaerts
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Quentin Lecocq
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Edurne San José-Enériz
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ken Maes
- Laboratory of Hematology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karin Vanderkerken
- Laboratory of Hematology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Xabier Agirre
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Prosper
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Juan José Lasarte
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Anna Mondino
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Karine Breckpot
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Abstract
Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer that originates from the malignant transformation of melanocytes. Although melanoma has long been regarded as a cancerous malignancy with few therapeutic options, increased biological understanding and unprecedented innovations in therapies targeting mutated driver genes and immune checkpoints have substantially improved the prognosis of patients. However, the low response rate and inevitable occurrence of resistance to currently available targeted therapies have posed the obstacle in the path of melanoma management to obtain further amelioration. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms underlying melanoma pathogenesis more comprehensively, which might lead to more substantial progress in therapeutic approaches and expand clinical options for melanoma therapy. In this review, we firstly make a brief introduction to melanoma epidemiology, clinical subtypes, risk factors, and current therapies. Then, the signal pathways orchestrating melanoma pathogenesis, including genetic mutations, key transcriptional regulators, epigenetic dysregulations, metabolic reprogramming, crucial metastasis-related signals, tumor-promoting inflammatory pathways, and pro-angiogenic factors, have been systemically reviewed and discussed. Subsequently, we outline current progresses in therapies targeting mutated driver genes and immune checkpoints, as well as the mechanisms underlying the treatment resistance. Finally, the prospects and challenges in the development of melanoma therapy, especially immunotherapy and related ongoing clinical trials, are summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weinan Guo
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127 of West Changle Road, 710032, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huina Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127 of West Changle Road, 710032, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chunying Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127 of West Changle Road, 710032, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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Aleotti V, Catoni C, Poggiana C, Rosato A, Facchinetti A, Scaini MC. Methylation Markers in Cutaneous Melanoma: Unravelling the Potential Utility of Their Tracking by Liquid Biopsy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:6217. [PMID: 34944843 PMCID: PMC8699653 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the most serious, life-threatening form of all dermatologic diseases, with a poor prognosis in the presence of metastases and advanced disease. Despite recent advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy, there is still a critical need for a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms behind melanoma progression and resistance onset. Recent advances in genome-wide methylation methods have revealed that aberrant changes in the pattern of DNA methylation play an important role in many aspects of cancer progression, including cell proliferation and migration, evasion of cell death, invasion, and metastasization. The purpose of the current review was to gather evidence regarding the usefulness of DNA methylation tracking in liquid biopsy as a potential biomarker in melanoma. We investigated the key genes and signal transduction pathways that have been found to be altered epigenetically in melanoma. We then highlighted the circulating tumor components present in blood, including circulating melanoma cells (CMC), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), as a valuable source for identifying relevant aberrations in DNA methylation. Finally, we focused on DNA methylation signatures as a marker for tracking response to therapy and resistance, thus facilitating personalized medicine and decision-making in the treatment of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Aleotti
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Cristina Catoni
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Cristina Poggiana
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Oncology and Immunology Section, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Antonella Facchinetti
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Oncology and Immunology Section, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Scaini
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
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6
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Chai P, Jia R, Li Y, Zhou C, Gu X, Yang L, Shi H, Tian H, Lin H, Yu J, Zhuang A, Ge S, Jia R, Fan X. Regulation of epigenetic homeostasis in uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 89:101030. [PMID: 34861419 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.101030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) and retinoblastoma (RB), which cause blindness and even death, are the most frequently observed primary intraocular malignancies in adults and children, respectively. Epigenetic studies have shown that changes in the epigenome contribute to the rapid progression of both UM and RB following classic genetic changes. The loss of epigenetic homeostasis plays an important role in oncogenesis by disrupting the normal patterns of gene expression. The targetable nature of epigenetic modifications provides a unique opportunity to optimize treatment paradigms and establish new therapeutic options for both UM and RB with these aberrant epigenetic modifications. We aimed to review the research findings regarding relevant epigenetic changes in UM and RB. Herein, we 1) summarize the literature, with an emphasis on epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, RNA modifications, noncoding RNAs and an abnormal chromosomal architecture; 2) elaborate on the regulatory role of epigenetic modifications in biological processes during tumorigenesis; and 3) propose promising therapeutic candidates for epigenetic targets and update the list of epigenetic drugs for the treatment of UM and RB. In summary, we endeavour to depict the epigenetic landscape of primary intraocular malignancy tumorigenesis and provide potential epigenetic targets in the treatment of these tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiwei Chai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Ruobing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Yongyun Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Chuandi Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Xiang Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Ludi Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Hanhan Shi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Hao Tian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Huimin Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Ai Zhuang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Shengfang Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Xianqun Fan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, PR China.
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7
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The prediction and expression of miR-203a-p and miR-29b* against DNMT3B as well as TNFAIP3 in melanoma. GENE REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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8
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Potential of miRNA-Based Nanotherapeutics for Uveal Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205192. [PMID: 34680340 PMCID: PMC8534265 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Human uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor with high metastatic risk in adults. Currently, no effective treatment is available for metastatic UM; therefore, new therapeutic approaches are needed to improve overall survival. Given the increased understanding of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their roles in UM tumorigenesis and metastasis, miRNA-based therapy may offer the hope of improving therapeutic outcomes. This review summarizes the actions of select miRNAs examined in preclinical studies using miRNAs as therapeutic targets in UM. The focus of this review is the application of established nanotechnology-assisted delivery systems to overcome the limitations of therapeutic miRNAs. A blend of therapeutic miRNAs and nanodelivery systems may facilitate the translation of miRNA therapies to clinical settings. Abstract Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common adult intraocular cancer, and metastatic UM remains deadly and incurable. UM is a complex disease associated with the deregulation of numerous genes and redundant intracellular signaling pathways. As understanding of epigenetic dysregulation in the oncogenesis of UM has increased, the abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been found to be an epigenetic mechanism underlying UM tumorigenesis. A growing number of miRNAs are being found to be associated with aberrant signaling pathways in UM, and some have been investigated and functionally characterized in preclinical settings. This review summarizes the miRNAs with promising therapeutic potential for UM treatment, paying special attention to the therapeutic miRNAs (miRNA mimics or inhibitors) used to restore dysregulated miRNAs to their normal levels. However, several physical and physiological limitations associated with therapeutic miRNAs have prevented their translation to cancer therapeutics. With the advent of nanotechnology delivery systems, the development of effective targeted therapies for patients with UM has received great attention. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the use of nanotechnology drug delivery systems, particularly nanocarriers that can be loaded with therapeutic miRNAs for effective delivery into target cells. The development of miRNA-based therapeutics with nanotechnology-based delivery systems may overcome the barriers of therapeutic miRNAs, thereby enabling their translation to therapeutics, enabling more effective targeting of UM cells and consequently improving therapeutic outcomes.
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Motwani J, Eccles MR. Genetic and Genomic Pathways of Melanoma Development, Invasion and Metastasis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1543. [PMID: 34680938 PMCID: PMC8535311 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that accounts for 80% of skin cancer deaths. Recent studies have suggested that melanoma invasiveness is attributed to phenotype switching, which is a reversible type of cell behaviour with similarities to epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Phenotype switching in melanoma is reported to be independent of genetic alterations, whereas changes in gene transcription, and epigenetic alterations have been associated with invasiveness in melanoma cell lines. Here, we review mutational, transcriptional, and epigenomic alterations that contribute to tumour heterogeneity in melanoma, and their potential to drive melanoma invasion and metastasis. We also discuss three models that are hypothesized to contribute towards aspects of tumour heterogeneity and tumour progression in melanoma, namely the clonal evolution model, the cancer stem cell model, and the phenotype switching model. We discuss the merits and disadvantages of each model in explaining tumour heterogeneity in melanoma, as a precursor to invasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Motwani
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
| | - Michael R. Eccles
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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10
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Martinez-Useros J, Martin-Galan M, Florez-Cespedes M, Garcia-Foncillas J. Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and Treatments. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3209. [PMID: 34198989 PMCID: PMC8267921 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly aggressive tumors are characterized by a highly invasive phenotype, and they display chemoresistance. Furthermore, some of the tumors lack expression of biomarkers for target therapies. This is the case of small-cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma, metastatic melanoma, and advanced ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, these patients show a low survival rate and most of the available drugs are ineffective. In this context, epigenetic modifications have emerged to provide the causes and potential treatments for such types of tumors. Methylation and hydroxymethylation of DNA, and histone modifications, are the most common targets of epigenetic therapy, to influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. These modifications could impact both oncogenes and tumor suppressor factors, which influence several molecular pathways such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, WNT/β-catenin, PI3K-mTOR, MAPK, or mismatch repair machinery. However, epigenetic changes are inducible and reversible events that could be influenced by some environmental conditions, such as UV exposure, smoking habit, or diet. Changes in DNA methylation status and/or histone modification, such as acetylation, methylation or phosphorylation, among others, are the most important targets for epigenetic cancer therapy. Therefore, the present review aims to compile the basic information of epigenetic modifications, pathways and factors, and provide a rationale for the research and treatment of highly aggressive tumors with epigenetic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Martinez-Useros
- Translational Oncology Division, OncoHealth Institute, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Mario Martin-Galan
- Translational Oncology Division, OncoHealth Institute, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | | | - Jesus Garcia-Foncillas
- Translational Oncology Division, OncoHealth Institute, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
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11
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Guhan S, Klebanov N, Tsao H. Melanoma genomics: a state-of-the-art review of practical clinical applications. Br J Dermatol 2021; 185:272-281. [PMID: 34096042 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.20421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Our collective understanding of melanoma genomics has rapidly expanded in the past decade, bringing great promise to patients affected with the most severe and aggressive cases of melanoma. In this review, we present the practical clinical impact of genetics and genomics on modern melanoma diagnosis and treatment. Characterization of somatic driver mutations, which can be used to distinguish different subtypes of melanoma such as nonacral cutaneous melanoma (NACM), desmoplastic melanoma (DM), acral melanoma (AM), mucosal melanoma (MM) and uveal melanoma (UM), has led to the development of many targeted therapies against these tumours. Although targeted therapies exist for certain mutations, such as BRAF and KIT, other genotypes respond to newer-generation immune therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Epigenetics also plays a critical role in melanoma pathogenesis and drug resistance, holding promise for new treatment avenues. In this review, special attention is placed on clinical trials and translational research, especially novel genomic tests aimed to benefit patients on an individualized level in the current emerging era of personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Guhan
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - N Klebanov
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - H Tsao
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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12
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Lee JE, Kim MY. Cancer epigenetics: Past, present and future. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 83:4-14. [PMID: 33798724 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer was thought to be caused solely by genetic mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. In the last 35 years, however, epigenetic changes have been increasingly recognized as another primary driver of carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Epigenetic deregulation in cancer often includes mutations and/or aberrant expression of chromatin-modifying enzymes, their associated proteins, and even non-coding RNAs, which can alter chromatin structure and dynamics. This leads to changes in gene expression that ultimately contribute to the emergence and evolution of cancer cells. Studies of the deregulation of chromatin modifiers in cancer cells have reshaped the way we approach cancer and guided the development of novel anticancer therapeutics that target epigenetic factors. There remain, however, a number of unanswered questions in this field that are the focus of present research. Areas of particular interest include the actions of emerging classes of epigenetic regulators of carcinogenesis and the tumor microenvironment, as well as epigenetic tumor heterogeneity. In this review, we discuss past findings on epigenetic mechanisms of cancer, current trends in the field of cancer epigenetics, and the directions of future research that may lead to the identification of new prognostic markers for cancer and the development of more effective anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Eun Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Young Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea; KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, Cancer Metastasis Control Center, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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Ortega MA, Fraile-Martínez O, García-Honduvilla N, Coca S, Álvarez-Mon M, Buján J, Teus MA. Update on uveal melanoma: Translational research from biology to clinical practice (Review). Int J Oncol 2020; 57:1262-1279. [PMID: 33173970 PMCID: PMC7646582 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2020.5140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma is the most common type of intraocular cancer with a low mean annual incidence of 5‑10 cases per million. Tumours are located in the choroid (90%), ciliary body (6%) or iris (4%) and of 85% are primary tumours. As in cutaneous melanoma, tumours arise in melanocytes; however, the characteristics of uveal melanoma differ, accounting for 3‑5% of melanocytic cancers. Among the numerous risk factors are age, sex, genetic and phenotypic predisposition, the work environment and dermatological conditions. Management is usually multidisciplinary, including several specialists such as ophthalmologists, oncologists and maxillofacial surgeons, who participate in the diagnosis, treatment and complex follow‑up of these patients, without excluding the management of the immense emotional burden. Clinically, uveal melanoma generates symptoms that depend as much on the affected ocular globe site as on the tumour size. The anatomopathological study of uveal melanoma has recently benefited from developments in molecular biology. In effect, disease classification or staging according to molecular profile is proving useful for the assessment of this type of tumour. Further, the improved knowledge of tumour biology is giving rise to a more targeted approach to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment development; for example, epigenetics driven by microRNAs as a target for disease control. In the present study, the main epidemiological, clinical, physiopathological and molecular features of this disease are reviewed, and the associations among all these factors are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid
- University Center for The Defense of Madrid (CUD-ACD), 28047 Madrid
| | - Oscar Fraile-Martínez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid
| | - Natalio García-Honduvilla
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid
- University Center for The Defense of Madrid (CUD-ACD), 28047 Madrid
| | - Santiago Coca
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid
- University Center for The Defense of Madrid (CUD-ACD), 28047 Madrid
| | - Melchor Álvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid
- University Center for The Defense of Madrid (CUD-ACD), 28047 Madrid
- Internal and Oncology Service (CIBER-EHD), University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid
| | - Julia Buján
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid
- University Center for The Defense of Madrid (CUD-ACD), 28047 Madrid
| | - Miguel A. Teus
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid
- Ophthalmology Service, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
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Li Y, Shi J, Yang J, Ge S, Zhang J, Jia R, Fan X. Uveal melanoma: progress in molecular biology and therapeutics. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2020; 12:1758835920965852. [PMID: 33149769 PMCID: PMC7586035 DOI: 10.1177/1758835920965852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults. So far, no systemic therapy or standard treatment exists to reduce the risk of metastasis and improve overall survival of patients. With the increased knowledge regarding the molecular pathways that underlie the oncogenesis of UM, it is expected that novel therapeutic approaches will be available to conquer this disease. This review provides a summary of the current knowledge of, and progress made in understanding, the pathogenesis, genetic mutations, epigenetics, and immunology of UM. With the advent of the omics era, multi-dimensional big data are publicly available, providing an innovation platform to develop effective targeted and personalized therapeutics for UM patients. Indeed, recently, a great number of therapies have been reported specifically for UM caused by oncogenic mutations, as well as other etiologies. In this review, special attention is directed to advancements in targeted therapies. In particular, we discuss the possibilities of targeting: GNAQ/GNA11, PLCβ, and CYSLTR2 mutants; regulators of G-protein signaling; the secondary messenger adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6); downstream pathways, such as those involving mitogen-activated protein kinase/MEK/extracellular signal-related kinase, protein kinase C (PKC), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Trio/Rho/Rac/Yes-associated protein, and inactivated BAP1; and immune-checkpoint proteins cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 and programmed cell-death protein 1/programmed cell-death ligand 1. Furthermore, we conducted a survey of completed and ongoing clinical trials applying targeted and immune therapies for UM. Although drug combination therapy based on the signaling pathways involved in UM has made great progress, targeted therapy is still an unmet medical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyun Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiahao Shi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengfang Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianming Zhang
- National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200001, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Xianqun Fan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200001, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, 833 Zhizaoju Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200001, China
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Genetic Alterations in the INK4a/ARF Locus: Effects on Melanoma Development and Progression. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10101447. [PMID: 33076392 PMCID: PMC7602651 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic alterations in the INK4a/ARF (or CDKN2A) locus have been reported in many cancer types, including melanoma; head and neck squamous cell carcinomas; lung, breast, and pancreatic cancers. In melanoma, loss of function CDKN2A alterations have been identified in approximately 50% of primary melanomas, in over 75% of metastatic melanomas, and in the germline of 40% of families with a predisposition to cutaneous melanoma. The CDKN2A locus encodes two critical tumor suppressor proteins, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16INK4a and the p53 regulator p14ARF. The majority of CDKN2A alterations in melanoma selectively target p16INK4a or affect the coding sequence of both p16INK4a and p14ARF. There is also a subset of less common somatic and germline INK4a/ARF alterations that affect p14ARF, while not altering the syntenic p16INK4a coding regions. In this review, we describe the frequency and types of somatic alterations affecting the CDKN2A locus in melanoma and germline CDKN2A alterations in familial melanoma, and their functional consequences in melanoma development. We discuss the clinical implications of CDKN2A inactivating alterations and their influence on treatment response and resistance.
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Azevedo H, Pessoa GC, de Luna Vitorino FN, Nsengimana J, Newton-Bishop J, Reis EM, da Cunha JPC, Jasiulionis MG. Gene co-expression and histone modification signatures are associated with melanoma progression, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and metastasis. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:127. [PMID: 32831131 PMCID: PMC7444266 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00910-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have previously developed a murine cellular system that models the transformation from melanocytes to metastatic melanoma cells. This model was established by cycles of anchorage impediment of melanocytes and consists of four cell lines: differentiated melanocytes (melan-a), pre-malignant melanocytes (4C), malignant (4C11-), and metastasis-prone (4C11+) melanoma cells. Here, we searched for transcriptional and epigenetic signatures associated with melanoma progression and metastasis by performing a gene co-expression analysis of transcriptome data and a mass-spectrometry-based profiling of histone modifications in this model. RESULTS Eighteen modules of co-expressed genes were identified, and some of them were associated with melanoma progression, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis. The genes in these modules participate in biological processes like focal adhesion, cell migration, extracellular matrix organization, endocytosis, cell cycle, DNA repair, protein ubiquitination, and autophagy. Modules and hub signatures related to EMT and metastasis (turquoise, green yellow, and yellow) were significantly enriched in genes associated to patient survival in two independent melanoma cohorts (TCGA and Leeds), suggesting they could be sources of novel prognostic biomarkers. Clusters of histone modifications were also linked to melanoma progression, EMT, and metastasis. Reduced levels of H4K5ac and H4K8ac marks were seen in the pre-malignant and tumorigenic cell lines, whereas the methylation patterns of H3K4, H3K56, and H4K20 were related to EMT. Moreover, the metastatic 4C11+ cell line showed higher H3K9me2 and H3K36me3 methylation, lower H3K18me1, H3K23me1, H3K79me2, and H3K36me2 marks and, in agreement, downregulation of the H3K36me2 methyltransferase Nsd1. CONCLUSIONS We uncovered transcriptional and histone modification signatures that may be molecular events driving melanoma progression and metastasis, which can aid in the identification of novel prognostic genes and drug targets for treating the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hátylas Azevedo
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Cavalcante Pessoa
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Pedro de Toledo 669 5 andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04039032, Brazil
| | | | - Jérémie Nsengimana
- Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds School of Medicine, Leeds, UK
- Biostatistics Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Newton-Bishop
- Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds School of Medicine, Leeds, UK
| | - Eduardo Moraes Reis
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Júlia Pinheiro Chagas da Cunha
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling - CeTICS, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Miriam Galvonas Jasiulionis
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Pedro de Toledo 669 5 andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04039032, Brazil.
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Targeting Epigenetic Modifications in Uveal Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155314. [PMID: 32726977 PMCID: PMC7432398 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM), the most common intraocular malignancy in adults, is a rare subset of melanoma. Despite effective primary therapy, around 50% of patients will develop the metastatic disease. Several clinical trials have been evaluated for patients with advanced UM, though outcomes remain dismal due to the lack of efficient therapies. Epigenetic dysregulation consisting of aberrant DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small non-coding RNA expression, silencing tumor suppressor genes, or activating oncogenes, have been shown to play a significant role in UM initiation and progression. Given that there is no evidence any approach improves results so far, adopting combination therapies, incorporating a new generation of epigenetic drugs targeting these alterations, may pave the way for novel promising therapeutic options. Furthermore, the fusion of effector enzymes with nuclease-deficient Cas9 (dCas9) in clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) associated protein 9 (Cas9) system equips a potent tool for locus-specific erasure or establishment of DNA methylation as well as histone modifications and, therefore, transcriptional regulation of specific genes. Both, CRISPR-dCas9 potential for driver epigenetic alterations discovery, and possibilities for their targeting in UM are highlighted in this review.
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Thornton S, Kalirai H, Aughton K, Coupland SE. Unpacking the genetic etiology of uveal melanoma. EXPERT REVIEW OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/17469899.2020.1785872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Thornton
- Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Liverpool Clinical Laboratories, Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trusts, Liverpool, UK
| | - Helen Kalirai
- Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Liverpool Clinical Laboratories, Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trusts, Liverpool, UK
| | - Karen Aughton
- Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sarah E. Coupland
- Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Liverpool Clinical Laboratories, Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trusts, Liverpool, UK
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Han GH, Chay DB, Yi JM, Cho H, Chung JY, Kim JH. Loss of Both USP10 and p14ARF Protein Expression Is an Independent Prognostic Biomarker for Poor Prognosis in Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2020; 16:553-562. [PMID: 31659108 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM The prognostic role of USP10 in epithelial ovarian cancer has been studied in various human cancers. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical and pathological significance of USP10 in epithelial ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunohistochemical analyses of the expression of USP10 and p14ARF by using tissue microarrays were performed in 336 ovarian tumours and the data were compared with clinicopathological variables. We examined their level of DNA methylation around the putative transcriptional start site in 5' CpG islands in fresh frozen tissues and ovarian cancer cells. RESULTS Expression of USP10 and p14ARF was significantly lower in cancer tissues than in normal epithelium. Low USP10 expression and a combined USP10/p14ARF low expression were revealed to be independent prognostic factors. A high degree of methylation in USP10 and p14ARF CpG islands was found by methylation specific PCR analysis in cancer than in normal tissues and cells. CONCLUSION Decreased expression of USP10 or combined USP10/p14ARF decreased expression is a strong indicator of poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwan Hee Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Doo Byung Chay
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Mi Yi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanbyoul Cho
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea .,Experimental Pathology Laboratory, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
| | - Joon-Yong Chung
- Experimental Pathology Laboratory, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
| | - Jae-Hoon Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Strub T, Ballotti R, Bertolotto C. The "ART" of Epigenetics in Melanoma: From histone "Alterations, to Resistance and Therapies". Theranostics 2020; 10:1777-1797. [PMID: 32042336 PMCID: PMC6993228 DOI: 10.7150/thno.36218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. It originates from melanocytic cells and can also arise at other body sites. Early diagnosis and appropriate medical care offer excellent prognosis with up to 5-year survival rate in more than 95% of all patients. However, long-term survival rate for metastatic melanoma patients remains at only 5%. Indeed, malignant melanoma is known for its notorious resistance to most current therapies and is characterized by both genetic and epigenetic alterations. In cutaneous melanoma (CM), genetic alterations have been implicated in drug resistance, yet the main cause of this resistance seems to be non-genetic in nature with a change in transcription programs within cell subpopulations. This change can adapt and escape targeted therapy and immunotherapy cytotoxic effects favoring relapse. Because they are reversible in nature, epigenetic changes are a growing focus in cancer research aiming to prevent or revert the drug resistance with current therapies. As such, the field of epigenetic therapeutics is among the most active area of preclinical and clinical research with effects of many classes of epigenetic drugs being investigated. Here, we review the multiplicity of epigenetic alterations, mainly histone alterations and chromatin remodeling in both cutaneous and uveal melanomas, opening opportunities for further research in the field and providing clues to specifically control these modifications. We also discuss how epigenetic dysregulations may be exploited to achieve clinical benefits for the patients, the limitations of these therapies, and recent data exploring this potential through combinatorial epigenetic and traditional therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Strub
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, France
- Biology and pathologies of melanocytes, Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, C3M, team 1, France
| | - Robert Ballotti
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, France
- Biology and pathologies of melanocytes, Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, C3M, team 1, France
| | - Corine Bertolotto
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, France
- Biology and pathologies of melanocytes, Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, C3M, team 1, France
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Fatma Karaman E, Caglayan M, Sancar-Bas S, Ozal-Coskun C, Arda-Pirincci P, Ozden S. Global and region-specific post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications of bisphenol A in human prostate cancer cells. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 255:113318. [PMID: 31610501 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA), as synthetic monomer used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, has endocrine disruptor properties and high risk on human health. Epigenetic alterations could act an important role in BPA-induced toxicity, but its mechanism has not been fully understood. We investigated the effects of BPA on gene expression of chromatin modifying enzymes, promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes and histone modifications in human prostate carcinoma cells (PC-3). IC50 value of BPA was determined as 217 and 190 μM in PC-3 cells by MTT and NRU tests, respectively. We revealed an increase in global levels of 5-methylcytocine and 5-hydroxymethylcytocine at 10 μM of BPA for 96 h. We observed a significant increase on promoter DNA methylation and decrease on gene expression of p16 gene while no change was observed for Cyclin D2 and Rassf1. Significant changes were observed in global histone modifications (H3K9ac, H3K9me3, H3K27me3, and H4K20me3) in PC-3 cells. According to these results, we investigated wide-range epigenetic modifications using PCR arrays. After 96 h BPA exposure, chromatin modifying enzymes including KDM5B and NSD1 were significantly downregulated. Also, promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes including BCR, GSTP1, LOX, MGMT, NEUROG1, PDLIM4, PTGS2, PYCARD, TIMP3, TSC2 and ZMYDN10 altered significantly. ChIP results showed that H3K9ac, H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 modifications on p16 gene showed significant increases after 1 and 10 μM of BPA exposure. In conclusion, epigenetic signatures such as DNA methylation and histone modifications could be proposed as molecular biomarkers of BPA-induced prostate cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ecem Fatma Karaman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University, 34116, Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mine Caglayan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University, 34116, Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Serap Sancar-Bas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, 34134, Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cansu Ozal-Coskun
- Section of Biology, Institute of Graduate Studies in Sciences, Istanbul University, 34134, Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pelin Arda-Pirincci
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, 34134, Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sibel Ozden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University, 34116, Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Croce M, Ferrini S, Pfeffer U, Gangemi R. Targeted Therapy of Uveal Melanoma: Recent Failures and New Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E846. [PMID: 31216772 PMCID: PMC6628160 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Among Uveal Melanoma (UM) driver mutations, those involving GNAQ or GNA11 genes are the most frequent, while a minor fraction of tumors bears mutations in the PLCB4 or CYSLTR2 genes. Direct inhibition of constitutively active oncoproteins deriving from these mutations is still in its infancy in UM, whereas BRAFV600E-targeted therapy has obtained relevant results in cutaneous melanoma. However, UM driver mutations converge on common downstream signaling pathways such as PKC/MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and YAP/TAZ, which are presently considered as actionable targets. In addition, BAP1 loss, which characterizes UM metastatic progression, affects chromatin structure via histone H2A deubiquitylation that may be counteracted by histone deacetylase inhibitors. Encouraging results of preclinical studies targeting signaling molecules such as MAPK and PKC were unfortunately not confirmed in early clinical studies. Indeed, a general survey of all clinical trials applying new targeted and immune therapy to UM displayed disappointing results. This paper summarizes the most recent studies of UM-targeted therapies, analyzing the possible origins of failures. We also focus on hyperexpressed molecules involved in UM aggressiveness as potential new targets for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Croce
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
| | | | - Ulrich Pfeffer
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
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Molecular background of skin melanoma development and progression: therapeutic implications. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2019; 36:129-138. [PMID: 31320844 PMCID: PMC6627250 DOI: 10.5114/ada.2019.84590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer with an increasing number of cases worldwide and curable mostly in its early stage. The improvement in patients' survival in advanced melanoma has been achieved only recently, due to development of new biological drugs for targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Further progress in the treatment of melanoma is clearly dependent on the better understanding of its complex biology. This review describes the most important molecular mechanisms and genetic events underlying skin melanoma development and progression, depicts the way of action of newly developed drugs and indicates new potential therapeutic targets.
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Dual loss of USP10 and p14ARF protein expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with small intestinal adenocarcinoma. Tumour Biol 2018; 40:1010428318808678. [DOI: 10.1177/1010428318808678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogene-induced senescence occurs following oncogene activation in normal cells and is considered as a critical tumor-suppressing mechanism. Ubiquitin-specific protease 10 (USP10) has been reported to play a vital role in oncogene-induced senescence via the deubiquitination-dependent stabilization of p14ARF. However, knowledge of the clinical significance of USP10 and p14ARF expression in patients with small intestinal adenocarcinoma is limited. To study the clinical significance of USP10 and p14ARF expression, we performed immunohistochemistry for USP10 and p14ARF on 195 surgically resected small intestinal adenocarcinoma specimens. Furthermore, we performed methylation analysis on five small intestinal adenocarcinoma samples and matched adjacent normal intestinal tissue samples. UPS10 ( p = 0.023) and p14ARF ( p = 0.007) expression were significantly decreased in adenocarcinoma in comparison with normal tissue. The loss of USP10 was observed in 124/194 (63.9%) of small intestinal adenocarcinoma samples and was correlated with a higher pT stage ( p = 0.044), lymphatic invasion ( p = 0.033), and the absence of sporadic adenoma ( p = 0.024) and peritumoral dysplasia ( p = 0.019). p14ARF expression was downregulated in 75/195 (38.5%) of small intestinal adenocarcinoma samples and was associated with vascular ( p = 0.011) and lymphatic ( p = 0.013) invasions. The loss of USP10 expression was associated with the loss of p14ARF expression ( r = 0.342, p < 0.001). Multivariate survival analysis revealed that the combined loss of USP10 and p14ARF expression could be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in small intestinal adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the aberrant hypermethylation of the USP10 and p14ARF promoter could be a key mechanism for the downregulation of USP10 and p14ARF proteins in small intestinal adenocarcinoma. These findings suggest that the dual loss of USP10 and p14ARF could be used as a prognostic indicator of small intestinal adenocarcinoma.
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Abstract
Objective: The objective of the study was to summarize the role of DNA methylation in the development and metastasis of uveal melanoma (UM). Data Sources: The relevant studies in MEDLINE were searched. Study Selection: In this review, we performed a comprehensive literature search in MEDLINE using “uveal melanoma” AND (“DNA methylation” OR “epigenetics”) for original research/review articles published before February 2018 on the relationship between DNA methylation and UM. References of the retrieved studies were also examined to search for potentially relevant papers. Results: Previous studies on the relationship between DNA methylation and UM covered many genes including tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), cyclin-dependent kinase genes, and other genes. Among them, the TSG genes such as RASSF1A and p16INK4a, which encodes a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, are relatively well-studied genes. Specifically, a high percentage of promoter methylation of RASSF1A was observed in UM cell lines and/or patients with UM. Promoter methylation of RASSF1A was also associated with the development of metastasis. Similarly, a high percentage of promoter hypermethylation of p16INK4a was found in UM cell lines. DNA promoter methylation can control the expression of p16INK4a, which affect cell growth, migration, and invasion in UM. Many other genes might also be involved in the pathogenesis of UM such as the Ras and EF-hand domain containing (RASEF) gene, RAB31, hTERT, embryonal fyn-associated substrate, and deleted in split-hand/split-foot 1. Conclusions: Our review reveals the complex mechanisms underlying the tumorigenesis of UM and highlights the great needs of future studies to discover more genes/5’-C-phosphate-G-3’ sites contributing to the development/metastasis of UM and explore the mechanisms through which epigenetic changes exert their function in UM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Kun Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Jing-Yun Yang
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612; Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Zhuo-Zai Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Wei-Hong Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
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Li B, Wang Y, Xu Y, Liu H, Bloomer W, Zhu D, Amos CI, Fang S, Lee JE, Li X, Han J, Wei Q. Genetic variants in RORA and DNMT1 associated with cutaneous melanoma survival. Int J Cancer 2018; 142:2303-2312. [PMID: 29313974 PMCID: PMC5893376 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is considered as a steroid hormone-related malignancy. However, few studies have evaluated the roles of genetic variants encoding steroid hormone receptor genes and their related regulators (SHR-related genes) in CM-specific survival (CMSS). Here, we performed a pathway-based analysis to evaluate genetic variants of 191 SHR-related genes in 858 CMSS patients using a dataset from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), and then validated the results in an additional dataset of 409 patients from the Harvard GWAS. Using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, we identified three-independent SNPs (RORA rs782917 G > A, RORA rs17204952 C > T and DNMT1 rs7253062 G > A) as predictors of CMSS, with a variant-allele attributed hazards ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval of 1.62 (1.25-2.09), 1.60 (1.20-2.13) and 1.52 (1.20-1.94), respectively. Combined analysis of risk genotypes of these three SNPs revealed a decreased CMSS in a dose-response manner as the number of risk genotypes increased (ptrend < 0.001); however, no improvement in the prediction model was observed (area under the curve [AUC] = 79.6-80.8%, p = 0.656), when these risk genotypes were added to the model containing clinical variables. Our findings suggest that genetic variants of RORA and DNMT1 may be promising biomarkers for CMSS, but these results needed to be validated in future larger studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, PR China
| | - Yanru Wang
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yinghui Xu
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, PR China
| | - Hongliang Liu
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Wendy Bloomer
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Dakai Zhu
- Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Christopher I. Amos
- Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Shenying Fang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey E. Lee
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jiali Han
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qingyi Wei
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Wang B, Du R, Xiao X, Deng ZL, Jian D, Xie HF, Li J. Microrna-217 modulates human skin fibroblast senescence by directly targeting DNA methyltransferase 1. Oncotarget 2018; 8:33475-33486. [PMID: 28380423 PMCID: PMC5464883 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is a major epigenetic regulator associated with many biological processes. However, the roles and mechanisms of DNMT1 in skin aging are incompletely understood. Here we explored the role of DNMT1 in human skin fibroblasts senescence and its related regulatory mechanisms. DNMT1 expression decreased in passage-aged fibroblasts and DNMT1 silencing in young fibroblasts induced the senescence phenotype. MiR-217 is predicted to target DNMT1 mRNA and miR-217 expression increased in passage-aged fibroblasts. MiR-217 directly targeted the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of DNMT1 in HEK 293T cells and inhibited DNMT1 expression in fibroblasts. MiR-217 overexpression induced a senescence phenotype in young fibroblasts, and miR-217 downregulation in old HSFs partially reversed the senescence phenotype. However, these effects could be significantly rescued by regulating DNMT1 expression in fibroblasts. After regulating miR-217 levels, we analyzed changes in the promoter methylation levels of 24 senescent-associated genes, finding that 6 genes were significantly altered, and verified p16 and phosphorylated retinoblastoma (pRb) protein levels. Finally, an inverse correlation between DNMT1 and miR-217 expression was observed in skin tissues and different-aged fibroblasts. Together, these findings revealed that miR-217 promotes fibroblasts senescence by suppressing DNMT1-mediated methylation of p16 and pRb by targeting the DNMT1 3′-UTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Rui Du
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Zhi-Li Deng
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dan Jian
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong-Fu Xie
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ji Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Moran B, Silva R, Perry AS, Gallagher WM. Epigenetics of malignant melanoma. Semin Cancer Biol 2017; 51:80-88. [PMID: 29074395 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Patients with malignant melanoma generally have a good prognosis if the disease presents prior to metastasis. Due to progress with targeted and immunotherapies, the median survival of metastatic melanoma patients is now over 2 years. The disease is characterised by one of the highest somatic mutation rates observed amongst cancer types, with a specific mutational signature based on UV radiation damage evident. Highly prevalent mutations, such as the BRAFV600E, in the MAPK cascade indicate truncal involvement of this pathway in the earliest stage of melanoma. The molecular sub-classification of melanoma based on genetic alterations is now well established. This has paved the way for researchers in epigenetics to investigate specific pathways of known importance, and the involvement of the diverse range of epigenetic mechanisms. Herein, we review the literature to highlight that epigenetic alterations are integrally involved in this malignancy. We focus on the most current evidence around the epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation and demethylation including 5-hydroxy-methylcytosine; histone post-translational modifications including variant histones; chromatin remodelling complexes and in particular the polycomb-repressive complex PRC2 and its histone methyltransferase subunit EZH2; and non-coding RNAs. Each mechanism is described generally, studies involving melanoma are assessed and clinical relevance is highlighted where possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Moran
- Cancer Biology and Therapeutics Laboratory, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; OncoMark Limited, NovaUCD, Belfield Innovation Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Romina Silva
- Cancer Biology and Therapeutics Laboratory, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; OncoMark Limited, NovaUCD, Belfield Innovation Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Antoinette S Perry
- Cancer Biology and Therapeutics Laboratory, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - William M Gallagher
- Cancer Biology and Therapeutics Laboratory, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; OncoMark Limited, NovaUCD, Belfield Innovation Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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Ren Y, Xiao L, Weng G, Shi B. Clinical significance of p16INK4A and p14ARF promoter methylation in renal cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis. Oncotarget 2017; 8:64385-64394. [PMID: 28969078 PMCID: PMC5610010 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The inactivation of p16INK4A and p14ARF via promoter methylation has been investigated in various cancers. However, the clinical effects of p16INK4A and p14ARF promoter methylation on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain to be clarified. The pooled data were calculated and summarized. Finally, an investigation of 14 eligible studies with 1231 RCC patients and 689 control patients was performed. Methylated p16INK4A and p14ARF were observed to be significantly higher in RCC than in control subjects without malignancies (OR = 2.77, P = 0.005; OR = 11.73, P < 0.001, respectively). Methylated p16INK4A was significantly associated with the risk of RCC in the tissue subgroup, but not in the serum and urine subgroups. Methylated p16INK4A was significantly associated with tumor size. We did not find that p16INK4A promoter methylation was associated with sex, tumor grade, lymph node status, and tumor histology. Methylated p14ARF was significantly correlated with sex and tumor histology. Three studies reported that p16INK4A methylation was not significantly correlated with the prognosis of RCC. The results suggested that p16INK4A and p14ARF promoter methylation may be correlated with the carcinogenesis of RCC, and that methylated p14ARF , especially, can be a major susceptibility gene. We also found the different clinicopathological significance of 16INK4A and p14ARF in RCC. Additional studies with sufficient data are essential to further evaluate the clinical features and prognostic effect of p16INK4A and p14ARF promoter methylation in RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ren
- Department of Urologic Surgery, Ningbo Urology and Nephrology Hospital, Ningbo 315000, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Xiao
- Department of Urologic Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, The 309th Hospital of China People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China
| | - Guobin Weng
- Department of Urologic Surgery, Ningbo Urology and Nephrology Hospital, Ningbo 315000, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingyi Shi
- Department of Urologic Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, The 309th Hospital of China People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China
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30
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Micevic G, Theodosakis N, Bosenberg M. Aberrant DNA methylation in melanoma: biomarker and therapeutic opportunities. Clin Epigenetics 2017; 9:34. [PMID: 28396701 PMCID: PMC5381063 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-017-0332-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant DNA methylation is an epigenetic hallmark of melanoma, known to play important roles in melanoma formation and progression. Recent advances in genome-wide methylation methods have provided the means to identify differentially methylated genes, methylation signatures, and potential biomarkers. However, despite considerable effort and advances in cataloging methylation changes in melanoma, many questions remain unanswered. The aim of this review is to summarize recent developments, emerging trends, and important unresolved questions in the field of aberrant DNA methylation in melanoma. In addition to reviewing recent developments, we carefully synthesize the findings in an effort to provide a framework for understanding the current state and direction of the field. To facilitate clarity, we divided the review into DNA methylation changes in melanoma, biomarker opportunities, and therapeutic developments. We hope this review contributes to accelerating the utilization of the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential of DNA methylation for the benefit of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Micevic
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA.,Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA
| | - Nicholas Theodosakis
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA.,Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA
| | - Marcus Bosenberg
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA.,Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA
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31
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Yang X, Yang L, Dai W, Ye B. Role of p14ARF and p15INK4B promoter methylation in patients with lung cancer: a systematic meta-analysis. Onco Targets Ther 2016; 9:6977-6985. [PMID: 27956841 PMCID: PMC5113922 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s117161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p14ARF and p15INK4B are tumor suppressor genes that have been reported to be silenced through promoter methylation in many human cancers. However, the strength of association between p14ARF or p15INK4B promoter methylation and lung cancer remains unclear. Thus, we first determined whether p14ARF and p15INK4B promoter methylation played a key role in the carcinogenesis of lung cancer. Methods Eligible studies were selected from the online electronic databases. The pooled odds ratios or hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and summarized. Results Finally, 12 studies with 625 lung cancer samples and 488 nontumor samples were included under the fixed-effects model. The pooled odds ratio showed that p14ARF promoter methylation was observed to be significantly higher in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) than in nontumor samples (P<0.001). No significant correlation was found between p15INK4B promoter methylation and lung cancer (P=0.27). Subgroup analysis of ethnicity revealed that p14ARF promoter methylation was significantly related to the risk of NSCLC in Asian and Caucasian populations. Subgroup analysis of sample type demonstrated that p14ARF promoter methylation was correlated with the risk of NSCLC in tissue samples (P<0.001), but not in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood samples. P14ARF promoter methylation from one study was not significantly correlated with overall survival of patients with NSCLC. Promoter methylation of p14ARF and p15INK4B was not correlated with clinicopathological characteristics, such as gender status, smoking status, tumor differentiation, and tumor stage (P>0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggested that p14ARF promoter methylation may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of lung cancer, but not p15INK4B promoter methylation. Promoter methylation of p14ARF and p15INK4B was not associated with clinicopathological parameters. However, more extensive large-scale studies are essential to further validate our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmei Yang
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing
| | - Lei Yang
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun
| | - Wanrong Dai
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang
| | - Bo Ye
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Harris Z, Donovan MG, Branco GM, Limesand KH, Burd R. Quercetin as an Emerging Anti-Melanoma Agent: A Four-Focus Area Therapeutic Development Strategy. Front Nutr 2016; 3:48. [PMID: 27843913 PMCID: PMC5086580 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2016.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Replacing current refractory treatments for melanoma with new prevention and therapeutic approaches is crucial in order to successfully treat this aggressive cancer form. Melanoma develops from neural crest cells, which express tyrosinase – a key enzyme in the pigmentation pathway. The tyrosinase enzyme is highly active in melanoma cells and metabolizes polyphenolic compounds; tyrosinase expression thus makes feasible a target for polyphenol-based therapies. For example, quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) is a highly ubiquitous and well-classified dietary polyphenol found in various fruits, vegetables, and other plant products including onions, broccoli, kale, oranges, blueberries, apples, and tea. Quercetin has demonstrated antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity in various cancer cell types. Quercetin is readily metabolized by tyrosinase into various compounds that promote anticancer activity; additionally, given that tyrosinase expression increases during tumorigenesis, and its activity is associated with pigmentation changes in both early- and late-stage melanocytic lesions, it suggests that quercetin can be used to target melanoma. In this review, we explore the potential of quercetin as an anti-melanoma agent utilizing and extrapolating on evidence from previous in vitro studies in various human malignant cell lines and propose a “four-focus area strategy” to develop quercetin as a targeted anti-melanoma compound for use as either a preventative or therapeutic agent. The four areas of focus include utilizing quercetin to (i) modulate cellular bioreduction potential and associated signaling cascades, (ii) affect transcription of relevant genes, (iii) regulate epigenetic processes, and (iv) develop effective combination therapies and delivery modalities/protocols. In general, quercetin could be used to exploit tyrosinase activity to prevent, and/or treat, melanoma with minimal additional side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoey Harris
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona , Tucson, AZ , USA
| | - Micah G Donovan
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona , Tucson, AZ , USA
| | | | - Kirsten H Limesand
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona , Tucson, AZ , USA
| | - Randy Burd
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona , Tucson, AZ , USA
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Huang Z, Huang Q, Ji L, Wang Y, Qi X, Liu L, Liu Z, Lu L. Epigenetic regulation of active Chinese herbal components for cancer prevention and treatment: A follow-up review. Pharmacol Res 2016; 114:1-12. [PMID: 27697644 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 08/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications include DNA methylation, histone modification, and other patterns. These processes are associated with carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Thus, epigenetic modification-related enzymes, such as DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), histone methyltransferases (HMTs), histone demethylases (HDMTs), histone acetyltransferases (HATs), and histone deacetylases (HDACs), as well as some related proteins, including methyl-CpG binding proteins (MBPs) and DNMT1-associated protein (DMAP 1), are considered as potential targets for cancer prevention and therapy. Numerous natural compounds, mainly derived from Chinese herbs and chemically ranging from polyphenols and flavonoids to mineral salts, inhibit the growth and development of various cancers by targeting multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations. This review summarizes the epigenetic mechanisms by which active compounds from Chinese herbs exert their anti-cancer effect. A subset of these compounds, such as curcumin and resveratrol, affect multiple epigenetic processes, including DNMT inhibition, HDAC inactivation, MBP suppression, HAT activation, and microRNA modulation. Other compounds also regulate epigenetic modification processes, but the underlying mechanisms and clear targets remain unknown. Accordingly, further studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Huang
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Qiuju Huang
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Liyan Ji
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Ying Wang
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Qi
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Liang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau (SAR), China
| | - Zhongqiu Liu
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China; State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau (SAR), China.
| | - Linlin Lu
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China; State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau (SAR), China.
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Venza M, Visalli M, Beninati C, Benfatto S, Teti D, Venza I. miR-92a-3p and MYCBP2 are involved in MS-275-induced and c-myc-mediated TRAIL-sensitivity in melanoma cells. Int Immunopharmacol 2016; 40:235-243. [PMID: 27620505 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has demonstrated that in several tumors c-myc acts either as an oncogène or as a proapoptotic agent, depending on binding partner interactions. Recently, we showed that up-regulation of this gene by the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 was responsible for sensitization to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through c-FLIP repression in melanoma. The present study aimed at investigating whether, in addition to inducing H3 hyperacetylation at the c-myc promoter, MS-275 could enhance cell death through the regulation of miRNAs involved in apoptosis, such as the miR-17-92 cluster. Following MS-275 treatment, a decrease in miR-92a-3p was observed either in TRAIL-resistant or TRAIL-sensitive cutaneous and uveal melanoma cells. Prediction tools revealed that miR-92a-3p targeted MYCBP2. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed that the 3'-UTR of MYCBP2 mRNA was the target of miR-92a-3p, as ectopic expression of miR-92a-3p resulted in MYCBP2 downregulation whereas miR-92a-3p knockdown markedly increased the expression of MYCBP2. Silencing of MYCBP2 counteracted the pro-apoptotic effects exerted by the down-regulation of miR-92a-3p and prevented c-myc-induced repression of c-FLIP, indicating a pivotal role of MYCBP2 as a mediator of miR-92a-3p and c-myc function. Together, our findings indicate that the MS-275-triggered downregulation of the oncogenic miR-92a-3p- which leads to the overexpression of its target gene MYCBP2 - is an event required for the enhanced susceptibility of melanoma cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Our data illustrate another epigenetic mechanism activated by MS-275 at the post-transcriptional level in melanoma, in addition to its best-known effects at the transcriptional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Venza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and of Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Visalli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Developmental Age "Gaetano Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy; Scylla Biotech Srl, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Benfatto
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Developmental Age "Gaetano Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Diana Teti
- Charybdis Vaccines Srl, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Isabella Venza
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
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Yu H, Yang W. MiR-211 is epigenetically regulated by DNMT1 mediated methylation and inhibits EMT of melanoma cells by targeting RAB22A. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 476:400-405. [PMID: 27237979 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.05.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
MiR-211 has strong inhibitive effects on melanoma cell growth, invasion and metastasis. However, how it is downregulated and whether other genes are involved its downstream regulation in melanoma are not clear. In this study, we firstly verified the expression of miR-211 in melanoma cell lines and observed that its downregulation is associated with increased DNMT1 expression. By performing qRT-PCR and MSP analysis, we confirmed that DNMT1 is negatively correlated with miR-211 expression and can modulate DNA methylation in the promoter region of miR-211. By performing bioinformatics analysis, we found that RAB22A is a possible target of miR-211, which has two broadly conversed binding sites with miR-211 in the 3'UTR. Following dual luciferase assay, qRT-PCR and western blot analysis confirmed the direct binding between miR-211 and RAB22A and the suppressive effect of miR-211 on RAB22A expression. Knockdown of RAB22A increased epithelial properties and impaired mesenchymal properties of the melanoma cells, suggesting that miR-211 modulates epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of melanoma cells via downregulating RAB22A. In summary, the present study firstly demonstrated that DNMT1 mediated promoter methylation is a mechanism of miRNA suppression in melanoma and revealed a new tumor suppressor role of the miR-211 by targeting RAB22A in melanoma. The DNMT1/miR-211/RAB22A axis provides a novel insight into the pathogenesis of melanoma, particularly in the EMT process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizhou Yu
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Yancheng First People's Hospital, Yancheng, 224005, China
| | - Weixi Yang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, 223300, China.
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36
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Kazanets A, Shorstova T, Hilmi K, Marques M, Witcher M. Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes: Paradigms, puzzles, and potential. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2016; 1865:275-88. [PMID: 27085853 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cancer constitutes a set of diseases with heterogeneous molecular pathologies. However, there are a number of universal aberrations common to all cancers, one of these being the epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). The silencing of TSGs is thought to be an early, driving event in the oncogenic process. With this in consideration, great efforts have been made to develop small molecules aimed at the restoration of TSGs in order to limit tumor cell proliferation and survival. However, the molecular forces that drive the broad epigenetic reprogramming and transcriptional repression of these genes remain ill-defined. Undoubtedly, understanding the molecular underpinnings of transcriptionally silenced TSGs will aid us in our ability to reactivate these key anti-cancer targets. Here, we describe what we consider to be the five most logical molecular mechanisms that may account for this widely observed phenomenon: 1) ablation of transcription factor binding, 2) overexpression of DNA methyltransferases, 3) disruption of CTCF binding, 4) elevation of EZH2 activity, 5) aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs. The strengths and weaknesses of each proposed mechanism is highlighted, followed by an overview of clinical efforts to target these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kazanets
- The Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Tatiana Shorstova
- The Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Khalid Hilmi
- The Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Maud Marques
- The Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Michael Witcher
- The Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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37
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Liu-Smith F, Meyskens FL. Molecular mechanisms of flavonoids in melanin synthesis and the potential for the prevention and treatment of melanoma. Mol Nutr Food Res 2016; 60:1264-74. [PMID: 26865001 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201500822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Flavonoids are becoming popular nutraceuticals. Different flavonoids show similar or distinct biological effects on different tissues or cell types, which may limit or define their usefulness in cancer prevention and/or treatment application. This review focuses on a few selected flavonoids and discusses their functions in normal and transformed pigment cells, including cyanidin, apigenin, genistein, fisetin, EGCG, luteolin, baicalein, quercetin and kaempferol. Flavonoids exhibit melanogenic or anti-melanogenic effects mainly via transcriptional factor MiTF and/or the melanogenesis enzymes tyrosinase, DCT or TYRP-1. To identify a direct target has been a challenge as most studies were not able to discriminate whether the effect(s) of the flavonoid were from direct targeting or represented indirect effects. Flavonoids exhibit an anti-melanoma effect via inhibiting cell proliferation and invasion and inducing apoptosis. The mechanisms are also multi-fold, via ROS-scavenging, immune-modulation, cell cycle regulation and epigenetic modification including DNA methylation and histone deacetylation. In summary, although many flavonoid compounds are extremely promising nutraceuticals, their detailed molecular mechanism and their multi-target (simultaneously targeting multiple molecules) nature warrant further investigation before advancement to translational studies or clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Liu-Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Public Health, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Frank L Meyskens
- Department of Epidemiology, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Public Health, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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38
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Micevic G, Muthusamy V, Damsky W, Theodosakis N, Liu X, Meeth K, Wingrove E, Santhanakrishnan M, Bosenberg M. DNMT3b Modulates Melanoma Growth by Controlling Levels of mTORC2 Component RICTOR. Cell Rep 2016; 14:2180-2192. [PMID: 26923591 PMCID: PMC4785087 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B is frequently overexpressed in tumor cells and plays important roles during the formation and progression of several cancer types. However, the specific signaling pathways controlled by DNMT3B in cancers, including melanoma, are poorly understood. Here, we report that DNMT3B plays a pro-tumorigenic role in human melanoma and that DNMT3B loss dramatically suppresses melanoma formation in the Braf/Pten mouse melanoma model. Loss of DNMT3B results in hypomethylation of the miR-196b promoter and increased miR-196b expression, which directly targets the mTORC2 component Rictor. Loss of RICTOR in turn prevents mTORC2 activation, which is critical for melanoma formation and growth. These findings establish Dnmt3b as a regulator of melanoma formation through its effect on mTORC2 signaling. Based on these results, DNMT3B is a potential therapeutic target in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Micevic
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Viswanathan Muthusamy
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - William Damsky
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Nicholas Theodosakis
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Xiaoni Liu
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Katrina Meeth
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Emily Wingrove
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Manjula Santhanakrishnan
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Marcus Bosenberg
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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39
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Venza M, Visalli M, Catalano T, Biondo C, Beninati C, Teti D, Venza I. DNA methylation-induced E-cadherin silencing is correlated with the clinicopathological features of melanoma. Oncol Rep 2016; 35:2451-60. [PMID: 26883095 DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.4618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule, has an important role in epithelial cell function, maintenance of tissue architecture and cancer suppression. Loss of E-cadherin promotes tumor metastatic dissemination and predicts poor prognosis. The present study investigated the clinicopathological significance of E-cadherin expression in cutaneous, mucosal and uveal melanoma related to epigenetic mechanisms that may contribute to E-cadherin silencing. E-cadherin expression was reduced in 55/130 cutaneous (42.3%), 49/82 mucosal (59.7%) and 36/64 uveal (56.2%) melanoma samples as compared to normal skin controls and was inversely associated with promoter methylation. Of the 10 different CpG sites studied (nt 863, 865, 873, 879, 887, 892, 901, 918, 920 and 940), two sites (nt 892 and 940) were 90-100% methylated in all the melanoma specimens examined and the other ones were partially methylated (range, 53-86%). In contrast, the methylation rate of the E-cadherin gene was low in normal tissues (range, 5-24%). In all the three types of melanoma studied, a significant correlation was found between reduced levels of E-cadherin and reduced survival, high mitotic index and metastasis, accounting for the predilection of lymph nodal localization. In cutaneous and mucosal melanoma, low E-cadherin expression was positively correlated also with head/neck localization and ulceration. A high frequency of reduced E-cadherin levels occurred in choroid melanomas. In vitro experiments showed that E-cadherin transcription was restored following 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment or DNMT1 silencing and was negatively correlated with the invasive potential of melanoma cells. The significant relationship between E-cadherin silencing and several poor prognostic factors indicates that this adhesion molecule may play an important role in melanomagenesis. Therefore, the inverse association of E-cadherin expression with promoter methylation raises the intriguing possibility that reactivation of E-cadherin expression through promoter demethylation may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Venza
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Policlinico Universitario G. Martino, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Visalli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Policlinico Universitario G. Martino, Messina, Italy
| | - Teresa Catalano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Policlinico Universitario G. Martino, Messina, Italy
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Developmental Age 'Gaetano Barresi', Azienda Policlinico Universitario G. Martino, Messina, Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Developmental Age 'Gaetano Barresi', Azienda Policlinico Universitario G. Martino, Messina, Italy
| | - Diana Teti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Policlinico Universitario G. Martino, Messina, Italy
| | - Isabella Venza
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Policlinico Universitario G. Martino, Messina, Italy
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40
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Webster MR, Kugel CH, Weeraratna AT. The Wnts of change: How Wnts regulate phenotype switching in melanoma. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2015; 1856:244-51. [PMID: 26546268 PMCID: PMC4668201 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The outgrowth of metastatic and therapy-resistant subpopulations in cancer remains a critical barrier for the successful treatment of this disease. In melanoma, invasion and proliferation are uncoupled, such that highly proliferative melanoma cells are less likely to be invasive, and vice versa. The transition between each state is likely a dynamic rather than a static, permanent change. This is referred to as "phenotype switching". Wnt signaling pathways drive phenotypic changes and promote therapy resistance in melanoma, as well as play roles in the modulation of the immune microenvironment. Three Wnt signaling pathways play a role in melanoma progression, canonical (β-catenin dependent), polar cell polarity (PCP), and the Wnt/Ca²⁺ pathway. Here we summarize phenotype plasticity and its role in therapy resistance and immune evasion. Targeting the Wnt signaling pathways may be an effective way to overcome tumor plasticity in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie R Webster
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Curtis H Kugel
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ashani T Weeraratna
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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41
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Gallagher SJ, Tiffen JC, Hersey P. Histone Modifications, Modifiers and Readers in Melanoma Resistance to Targeted and Immune Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2015; 7:1959-82. [PMID: 26426052 PMCID: PMC4695870 DOI: 10.3390/cancers7040870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The treatment of melanoma has been revolutionized by new therapies targeting MAPK signaling or the immune system. Unfortunately these therapies are hindered by either primary resistance or the development of acquired resistance. Resistance mechanisms involving somatic mutations in genes associated with resistance have been identified in some cases of melanoma, however, the cause of resistance remains largely unexplained in other cases. The importance of epigenetic factors targeting histones and histone modifiers in driving the behavior of melanoma is only starting to be unraveled and provides significant opportunity to combat the problems of therapy resistance. There is also an increasing ability to target these epigenetic changes with new drugs that inhibit these modifications to either prevent or overcome resistance to both MAPK inhibitors and immunotherapy. This review focuses on changes in histones, histone reader proteins and histone positioning, which can mediate resistance to new therapeutics and that can be targeted for future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart J Gallagher
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, Australia.
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Crow's Nest 2065, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Jessamy C Tiffen
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, Australia.
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Crow's Nest 2065, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Peter Hersey
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, Australia.
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Crow's Nest 2065, Sydney, Australia.
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42
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Wang DY, Zou LP, Liu XJ, Zhu HG, Zhu R. Hepatitis B virus X protein induces the histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation on the promoter of p16 gene in hepatocarcinogenesis. Exp Mol Pathol 2015; 99:399-408. [PMID: 26341139 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2015.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Our previous study showed hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) suppresses the p16 expression in hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study we explored the relationship between HBx and trimethylation of H3K9 (H3K9me3), and elucidated the underlying mechanisms in HBx inducing the tumor suppressor p16 gene silence. SMMC-7721 and HepG2 hepatoma cell lines were transfected with HBx-expressing plasmid. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction, were performed to detect the expressions of HBx, H3K9me3, and jumonji domain-containing protein 2B (JMJd2B). H3K9me3 enrichment on the p16 promoter was measured by immunoprecipitation-PCR (ChIP-PCR) analyses, and 39 cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) associated-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and corresponding noncancerous liver tissues were also examined. We demonstrated that HBx was able to upregulate H3K9me3 and suppress JMJd2B mRNA and protein levels in SMMC-7721 and HepG2 hepatoma cell lines. JMJd2B, as a specific target of H3K9me3 for demethylation, was inversely correlated with the levels of H3K9me3 in SMMC-7721 (r=-0.666, P<0.05) and HepG2 cells (r=-0.625, P<0.05). The ChIP-PCR data indicated that HBx remarkably increased H3K9me3 on the p16 promoter region. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that H3K9me3 expression in HBx positive HCC samples were significantly higher than that in HBx negative HCC tissues and were associated with decreased levels of JMJd2B expression. JMJd2B immunoreactivity was also remarkably inversed to that of HBx in HCC tissues (r=-0.630, P<0.05). Our results provide evidence that HBx is able to induce H3K9me3 on the p16 promoter via the decrease of demethylase JMJd2B expression and thus promote the repression of p16 gene expression to enhance hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di-Yi Wang
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Li-Ping Zou
- Department of Pathology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Xiao-Jia Liu
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hong-Guang Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Rong Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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43
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Venza M, Visalli M, Oteri R, Agliano F, Morabito S, Teti D, Venza I. The overriding of TRAIL resistance by the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 involves c-myc up-regulation in cutaneous, uveal, and mucosal melanoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2015; 28:313-21. [PMID: 26122536 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2015.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive tumor which may occur in the skin, eye, and mucous membranes. The prognosis of melanoma remains poor in spite of therapeutic advances, emphasizing the importance of innovative treatment modalities. Currently, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is showing promising clinical responses, however its use is hampered by intrinsic or acquired melanoma resistance to apoptosis. Recently, we showed that the combination of TRAIL with the class I-specific histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) MS-275 was a privileged way to override TRAIL resistance through down-regulation of cellular Fas-associated death domain (FADD)-like interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP). Here, we elucidated the underlying mechanism and provided evidence that a crucial step in the c-FLIP downregulation triggered by MS-275 implies the up-regulation of c-myc, a transcriptional repressor of c-FLIP. Notably, MS-275 caused H3 histone acetylation at the promoter of c-myc and increased its binding to the c-FLIP promoter, that in turn led to reduced c-FLIP gene transcription. Knockdown of c-myc prevented the MS-275-mediated downregulation of c-FLIP and hindered TRAIL-plus MS-275-induced apoptosis. Findings reported here provide additional knowledge tools for a more aware and effective molecular therapy of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Venza
- Department of Experimental Specialized Medical and Surgical and Odontostomatology Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Visalli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Rosaria Oteri
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Federica Agliano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Silvia Morabito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Diana Teti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
| | - Isabella Venza
- Department of Experimental Specialized Medical and Surgical and Odontostomatology Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Cellular Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress and Action in Melanoma. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2015; 2015:481782. [PMID: 26064422 PMCID: PMC4438193 DOI: 10.1155/2015/481782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Most melanomas occur on the skin, but a small percentage of these life-threatening cancers affect other parts of the body, such as the eye and mucous membranes, including the mouth. Given that most melanomas are caused by ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure, close attention has been paid to the impact of oxidative stress on these tumors. The possibility that key epigenetic enzymes cannot act on a DNA altered by oxidative stress has opened new perspectives. Therefore, much attention has been paid to the alteration of DNA methylation by oxidative stress. We review the current evidence about (i) the role of oxidative stress in melanoma initiation and progression; (ii) the mechanisms by which ROS influence the DNA methylation pattern of transformed melanocytes; (iii) the transformative potential of oxidative stress-induced changes in global and/or local gene methylation and expression; (iv) the employment of this epimutation as a biomarker for melanoma diagnosis, prognosis, and drug resistance evaluation; (v) the impact of this new knowledge in clinical practice for melanoma treatment.
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45
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Venza M, Visalli M, Beninati C, Catalano T, Biondo C, Teti D, Venza I. Involvement of epimutations in meningioma. Brain Tumor Pathol 2015; 32:163-8. [PMID: 25930103 DOI: 10.1007/s10014-015-0221-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Epimutations are heritable and reversible cell markers, which can influence cell function going beyond the effects of DNA mutations. They result from multiple and coordinated mechanisms able to modulate gene expression. Regarding the significance of epigenetics in meningioma, few and somehow contradictory results are available, although promising information has been obtained. Here we highlight the most recent advances about the impact of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA regulation on meningioma development as well as the interplay between genetic and epigenetic alterations. Data indicate that epigenetics can help to identify novel candidate genes for the management and treatment of meningioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Venza
- Department of Experimental Specialized Medical and Surgical and Odontostomatology Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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