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Aquino-Acevedo AN, Orengo-Orengo JA, Cruz-Robles ME, Saavedra HI. Mitotic kinases are emerging therapeutic targets against metastatic breast cancer. Cell Div 2024; 19:21. [PMID: 38886738 PMCID: PMC11184769 DOI: 10.1186/s13008-024-00125-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This review aims to outline mitotic kinase inhibitors' roles as potential therapeutic targets and assess their suitability as a stand-alone clinical therapy or in combination with standard treatments for advanced-stage solid tumors, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Breast cancer poses a significant global health risk, with TNBC standing out as the most aggressive subtype. Comprehending the role of mitosis is crucial for understanding how TNBC advances from a solid tumor to metastasis. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment used to treat TNBC. Some types of chemotherapeutic agents target cells in mitosis, thus highlighting the need to comprehend the molecular mechanisms governing mitosis in cancer. This understanding is essential for devising targeted therapies to disrupt these mitotic processes, prevent or treat metastasis, and improve patient outcomes. Mitotic kinases like Aurora kinase A, Aurora Kinase B, never in mitosis gene A-related kinase 2, Threonine-Tyrosine kinase, and Polo-kinase 1 significantly impact cell cycle progression by contributing to chromosome separation and centrosome homeostasis. When these kinases go awry, they can trigger chromosome instability, increase cell proliferation, and activate different molecular pathways that culminate in a transition from epithelial to mesenchymal cells. Ongoing clinical trials investigate various mitotic kinase inhibitors as potential biological treatments against advanced solid tumors. While clinical trials against mitotic kinases have shown some promise in the clinic, more investigation is necessary, since they induce severe adverse effects, particularly affecting the hematopoietic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Aquino-Acevedo
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA
| | - Joel A Orengo-Orengo
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA
| | - Melanie E Cruz-Robles
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA
| | - Harold I Saavedra
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA.
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Liu R, Lu Y, Li J, Yao W, Wu J, Chen X, Huang L, Nan D, Zhang Y, Chen W, Wang Y, Jia Y, Tang J, Liang X, Zhang H. Annexin A2 combined with TTK accelerates esophageal cancer progression via the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:291. [PMID: 38658569 PMCID: PMC11043348 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06683-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a widely reported oncogene. However, the mechanism of ANXA2 in esophageal cancer is not fully understood. In this study, we provided evidence that ANXA2 promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) through the downstream target threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK). These results are consistent with the up-regulation of ANXA2 and TTK in ESCC. In vitro experiments by knockdown and overexpression of ANXA2 revealed that ANXA2 promotes the progression of ESCC by enhancing cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Subsequently, animal models also confirmed the role of ANXA2 in promoting the proliferation and metastasis of ESCC. Mechanistically, the ANXA2/TTK complex activates the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and accelerates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), thereby promoting the invasion and metastasis of ESCC. Furthermore, we identified that TTK overexpression can reverse the inhibition of ESCC invasion after ANXA2 knockdown. Overall, these data indicate that the combination of ANXA2 and TTK regulates the activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway and accelerates the progression of ESCC. Therefore, the ANXA2/TTK/Akt/mTOR axis is a potential therapeutic target for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Liu
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Graduate Department, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China
| | - Yanwei Lu
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Weiping Yao
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Graduate Department, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China
| | - Jiajun Wu
- Graduate Department, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoyan Chen
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Luanluan Huang
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ding Nan
- Graduate Department, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yitian Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Jinxiang People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Weijun Chen
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yongshi Jia
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianming Tang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
| | - Xiaodong Liang
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Graduate Department, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China.
| | - Haibo Zhang
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Naik A, Lattab B, Qasem H, Decock J. Cancer testis antigens: Emerging therapeutic targets leveraging genomic instability in cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200768. [PMID: 38596293 PMCID: PMC10876628 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Cancer care has witnessed remarkable progress in recent decades, with a wide array of targeted therapies and immune-based interventions being added to the traditional treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, despite these advancements, the challenge of achieving high tumor specificity while minimizing adverse side effects continues to dictate the benefit-risk balance of cancer therapy, guiding clinical decision making. As such, the targeting of cancer testis antigens (CTAs) offers exciting new opportunities for therapeutic intervention of cancer since they display highly tumor specific expression patterns, natural immunogenicity and play pivotal roles in various biological processes that are critical for tumor cellular fitness. In this review, we delve deeper into how CTAs contribute to the regulation and maintenance of genomic integrity in cancer, and how these mechanisms can be exploited to specifically target and eradicate tumor cells. We review the current clinical trials targeting aforementioned CTAs, highlight promising pre-clinical data and discuss current challenges and future perspectives for future development of CTA-based strategies that exploit tumor genomic instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adviti Naik
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Boucif Lattab
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hanan Qasem
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Julie Decock
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
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Du H, Zhang L, Chen J, Chen X, Qiang R, Ding X, Wang Y, Yang X. Upregulation of TTK expression is associated with poor prognosis and immune infiltration in endometrial cancer patients. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:20. [PMID: 38195567 PMCID: PMC10775523 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03192-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Threonine and tyrosine kinase (TTK) is associated with invasion and metastasis in various tumors. However, the prognostic importance of TTK and its correlation with immune infiltration in endometrial cancer (EC) remain unclear. METHODS The expression profile of TTK was analyzed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Clinical Proteome Cancer Analysis Consortium (CPTAC). TTK protein and mRNA levels were verified in EC cell lines. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the ability of TTK to distinguish between normal and EC tissues. K-M survival analysis was also conducted to evaluate the impact of TTK on survival outcomes. Protein‒protein interaction (PPI) networks associated with TTK were explored using the STRING database. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to elucidate the biological functions of TTK. TTK mRNA expression and immune infiltration correlations were examined using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and the Tumor-Immune System Interaction Database (TISIDB). RESULTS TTK expression was significantly greater in EC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. Higher TTK mRNA expression was associated with tumor metastasis and advanced TNM stage. The protein and mRNA expression of TTK was significantly greater in tumor cell lines than in normal endometrial cell lines. ROC curve analysis revealed high accuracy (94.862%), sensitivity (95.652%), and specificity (94.894%) of TTK in differentiating EC from normal tissues. K-M survival analysis demonstrated that patients with high TTK expression had worse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates. Correlation analysis revealed that TTK mRNA expression was correlated with B cells and neutrophils. CONCLUSION TTK upregulation is significantly associated with poor survival outcomes and immune infiltration in patients with EC. TTK can serve as a potential biomarker for poor prognosis and a promising immunotherapy target in EC. Further investigation of the role of TTK in EC may provide valuable insights for therapeutic interventions and personalized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiang Du
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Cancer Research Center, Nantong Tumor Hospital, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, JiangSu XiangShui Hospital of Chinese Medicine, XiangShui, China
| | - Xinyi Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Ronghui Qiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaoyi Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yilang Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.
| | - Xiaoqing Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China.
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Liu X, Feng D, Wang W, Liang J, Yu H, Ling B. Tumor Microenvironment CD8 T and Treg Cells-related Genes Signature Distinguishes Distinct Prognosis and Targeted Therapies Response in Endometrial Cancer. J Immunother 2023; 46:178-191. [PMID: 37098928 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Although most endometrial cancer (EC) patients have a favorable prognosis, the overall survival (OS) of metastatic and recurrent EC could hardly be improved by the current chemoradiotherapy. We aimed to reveal the tumor microenvironment immune infiltration characteristics to elucidate the underlying mechanism of EC progression and guide clinical decisions. In the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort, Kaplan-Meier survival curves confirmed Tregs and CD8 T cells were prognosis-protective factors in OS of EC ( P <0.05). Weighted gene coexpression network analysis identified 2 gene modules closely correlated with Tregs and CD8 T-cell infiltration. We randomly split the TCGA EC cohort into the training and testing cohorts at a ratio of 7:3. An immune-related prognosis risk index (IRPRI), including NR3C1, E2F1, OTOG, TTK, PPP1R16B, and FOXP3, was established by univariate, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator, and multivariate Cox regression with area under the curve >0.67. Distinct clinical, immune, and mutation characteristics existed between IRPRI groups by multiomics analysis. Cell proliferation and DNA damage repair-related pathways were activated, and immune-related pathways were inactivated in the IRPRI-high group. Furthermore, patients in the IRPRI-high group had lower tumor mutation burden, programmed death-ligand 1 expression, and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion scores, indicating a poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy ( P <0.05), which was also validated in the TCGA testing cohort and independent cohorts, GSE78200, GSE115821, and GSE168204. Also, the higher mutation frequencies of BRCA1, BRCA2, and genes enrolled in homologous recombination repair in the IRPRI-low group predicted a good response to PARP inhibitors. Finally, a nomogram integrating the IRPRI group and prognosis significant clinicopathological factors for EC OS prediction was developed and validated with good discrimination and calibration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodie Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Dingqing Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhui Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Ling
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
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Yu J, Gao G, Wei X, Wang Y. TTK Protein Kinase promotes temozolomide resistance through inducing autophagy in glioblastoma. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:786. [PMID: 35850753 PMCID: PMC9290216 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09899-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance remains the main therapy challenge in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). TTK Protein Kinase (TTK) contributes to the radioresistance and chemoresistance in many malignancies. However, the role of TTK in the TMZ resistance of GBM cells remains unknown. Methods The expression of TTK was measured by western blot. The proliferation of GBM cells was assessed through MTT assay and clonogenic assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using western blot. LC3B puncta were detected using immunohistochemistry staining. The mouse xenograft model was used to investigate the role of TTK in vivo. Results Knockdown of TTK increased the sensitivity of GBM cells to TMZ treatment, while overexpression of TTK induced TMZ resistance. Two specific TTK inhibitors, BAY-1217389 and CFI-402257, significantly inhibited GBM cell proliferation and improved the growth-suppressive effect of TMZ. In addition, the knockdown of TTK decreased the autophagy levels of GBM cells. Inhibition of TTK using specific inhibitors could also suppress the autophagy process. Blocking autophagy using chloroquine (CQ) abolished the TMZ resistance function of TTK in GBM cells and in the mouse model. Conclusions We demonstrated that TTK promotes the TMZ resistance of GBM cells by inducing autophagy in vitro and in vivo. The use of a TTK inhibitor in combination with TMZ might help to overcome TMZ resistance and improve therapy efficiency in GBM. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09899-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, 17 Lujiang Road, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Ge Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, 17 Lujiang Road, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Xiangpin Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, 17 Lujiang Road, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, 17 Lujiang Road, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China.
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Li Z, Ma Z, Xue H, Shen R, Qin K, Zhang Y, Zheng X, Zhang G. Chromatin Separation Regulators Predict the Prognosis and Immune Microenvironment Estimation in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:917150. [PMID: 35873497 PMCID: PMC9305311 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.917150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Abnormal chromosome segregation is identified to be a common hallmark of cancer. However, the specific predictive value of it in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is unclear. Method: The RNA sequencing and the clinical data of LUAD were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TACG) database, and the prognosis-related genes were identified. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) were carried out for functional enrichment analysis of the prognosis genes. The independent prognosis signature was determined to construct the nomogram Cox model. Unsupervised clustering analysis was performed to identify the distinguishing clusters in LUAD-samples based on the expression of chromosome segregation regulators (CSRs). The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the enriched biological processes and pathways between different clusters were identified. The immune environment estimation, including immune cell infiltration, HLA family genes, immune checkpoint genes, and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE), was assessed between the clusters. The potential small-molecular chemotherapeutics for the individual treatments were predicted via the connectivity map (CMap) database. Results: A total of 2,416 genes were determined as the prognosis-related genes in LUAD. Chromosome segregation is found to be the main bioprocess enriched by the prognostic genes. A total of 48 CSRs were found to be differentially expressed in LUAD samples and were correlated with the poor outcome in LUAD. Nine CSRs were identified as the independent prognostic signatures to construct the nomogram Cox model. The LUAD-samples were divided into two distinct clusters according to the expression of the 48 CSRs. Cell cycle and chromosome segregation regulated genes were enriched in cluster 1, while metabolism regulated genes were enriched in cluster 2. Patients in cluster 2 had a higher score of immune, stroma, and HLA family components, while those in cluster 1 had higher scores of TIDES and immune checkpoint genes. According to the hub genes highly expressed in cluster 1, 74 small-molecular chemotherapeutics were predicted to be effective for the patients at high risk. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the CSRs were correlated with the poor prognosis and the possible immunotherapy resistance in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoshui Li
- Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zaiqi Ma
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hong Xue
- Heart Center Department, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ruxin Shen
- Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Kun Qin
- Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xin Zheng
- Cancer Center Department, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Xin Zheng, ; Guodong Zhang,
| | - Guodong Zhang
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Xin Zheng, ; Guodong Zhang,
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Qi G, Ma H, Li Y, Peng J, Chen J, Kong B. TTK inhibition increases cisplatin sensitivity in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma through the mTOR/autophagy pathway. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1135. [PMID: 34876569 PMCID: PMC8651821 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04429-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying HGSOC development, progression, chemotherapy insensitivity and resistance remain unclear. Two independent GEO datasets, including the gene expression profile of primary ovarian carcinoma and normal controls, were analyzed to identify genes related to HGSOC development and progression. A KEGG pathway analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed that the cell cycle pathway was the most enriched pathway, among which TTK protein kinase (TTK) was the only gene with a clinical-grade inhibitor that has been investigated in a clinical trial but had not been studied in HGSOC. TTK was also upregulated in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells from two other datasets. TTK is a regulator of spindle assembly checkpoint signaling, playing an important role in cell cycle control and tumorigenesis in various cancers. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of TTK in HGSOC remain to be determined. In this study, we observed TTK upregulation in patients with HGSOC. High TTK expression was related to a poor prognosis. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of TTK impeded the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells by disturbing cell cycle progression and increasing apoptosis. TTK silencing increased cisplatin sensitivity by activating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex to further suppress cisplatin-induced autophagy in vitro. In addition, the enhanced sensitivity was partially diminished by rapamycin-mediated inhibition of mTOR in TTK knockdown cells. Furthermore, TTK knockdown increased the toxicity of cisplatin in vivo by decreasing autophagy. These findings suggest that the administration of TTK inhibitors in combination with cisplatin may lead to improved response rates to cisplatin in patients with HGSOC presenting high TTK expression. In summary, our study may provide a theoretical foundation for using the combination therapy of cisplatin and TTK inhibitors as a treatment for HGSOC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonghua Qi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
| | - Hanlin Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
| | - Yingwei Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
| | - Jiali Peng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
| | - Jingying Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China
| | - Beihua Kong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China.
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, China.
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Lu N, Ren L. TTK (threonine tyrosine kinase) regulates the malignant behaviors of cancer cells and is regulated by microRNA-582-5p in ovarian cancer. Bioengineered 2021; 12:5759-5768. [PMID: 34516342 PMCID: PMC8806697 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1968778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) dysregulation is linked to the progression of multiple malignancies. Nonetheless, the role of TTK in ovarian cancer (OC) remains unclear. The GEO2R method was employed to screen out the mRNAs that were abnormally expressed between OC tissues and normal ovarian tissues using three datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database: GSE14407, GSE18520, and GSE36668. Moreover, the Kaplan-Meier plotter was utilized to investigate the association between TTK expression and OC patients' prognosis. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied to examine miR-582-5p expression and TTK mRNA expression in OC tissues and cells. Additionally, immunohistochemistry (IHC) experiment and Western blot were executed to examine TTK protein expression in OC tissues and cells, respectively. In addition, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell, and flow-cytometry experiments were performed to examine the multiplication, migration, and apoptosis of OC cells, respectively. In addition, dual-luciferase reporter gene tests were executed to validate the targeting relationship between miR-582-5p and TTK. We demonstrated that TTK expression was up-regulated in OC tissues and cells, and its overexpression was found to be associated with an adverse prognosis in OC patients. TTK overexpression enhanced OC cell multiplication and migration, and repressed apoptosis. Mechanistically, TTK was a downstream target of miR-582-5p. Furthermore, miR-582-5p overexpression impeded OC cell multiplication and migration, while TTK overexpression reversed this phenomenon. These data suggest that miR-582-5p and TTK are promising targets for OC diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Lu
- Department of Gynecology, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi China
| | - Lixin Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi China
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