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Dagnino L. Ubiquitylated histone H2A: a molecular Jekyll and Hyde in the epidermis. Tissue Barriers 2024; 12:2236007. [PMID: 37459858 PMCID: PMC11262237 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2023.2236007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The epidermis of the skin provides a barrier between the organism and the external environment. It is constantly subjected to physical and chemical insults, and thus susceptible to wounding and to neoplastic transformation. Long-lasting epigenetic modifications in epidermal stem cells are now shown to link responses to skin injuries with cell priming for carcinoma development, through regulation of histone H2A ubiquitylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Dagnino
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Oncology, London Health Research Institute, Children’s Health Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Zhang S, Xiao X, Yi Y, Wang X, Zhu L, Shen Y, Lin D, Wu C. Tumor initiation and early tumorigenesis: molecular mechanisms and interventional targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:149. [PMID: 38890350 PMCID: PMC11189549 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01848-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumorigenesis is a multistep process, with oncogenic mutations in a normal cell conferring clonal advantage as the initial event. However, despite pervasive somatic mutations and clonal expansion in normal tissues, their transformation into cancer remains a rare event, indicating the presence of additional driver events for progression to an irreversible, highly heterogeneous, and invasive lesion. Recently, researchers are emphasizing the mechanisms of environmental tumor risk factors and epigenetic alterations that are profoundly influencing early clonal expansion and malignant evolution, independently of inducing mutations. Additionally, clonal evolution in tumorigenesis reflects a multifaceted interplay between cell-intrinsic identities and various cell-extrinsic factors that exert selective pressures to either restrain uncontrolled proliferation or allow specific clones to progress into tumors. However, the mechanisms by which driver events induce both intrinsic cellular competency and remodel environmental stress to facilitate malignant transformation are not fully understood. In this review, we summarize the genetic, epigenetic, and external driver events, and their effects on the co-evolution of the transformed cells and their ecosystem during tumor initiation and early malignant evolution. A deeper understanding of the earliest molecular events holds promise for translational applications, predicting individuals at high-risk of tumor and developing strategies to intercept malignant transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaosen Zhang
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Xiao
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Yonglin Yi
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Lingxuan Zhu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Changping Laboratory, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Yanrong Shen
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Dongxin Lin
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Changping Laboratory, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Chen Wu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Changping Laboratory, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- CAMS Oxford Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 100006, Beijing, China.
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3
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Shi Q, Xue C, Zeng Y, Yuan X, Chu Q, Jiang S, Wang J, Zhang Y, Zhu D, Li L. Notch signaling pathway in cancer: from mechanistic insights to targeted therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:128. [PMID: 38797752 PMCID: PMC11128457 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01828-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling, renowned for its role in regulating cell fate, organ development, and tissue homeostasis across metazoans, is highly conserved throughout evolution. The Notch receptor and its ligands are transmembrane proteins containing epidermal growth factor-like repeat sequences, typically necessitating receptor-ligand interaction to initiate classical Notch signaling transduction. Accumulating evidence indicates that the Notch signaling pathway serves as both an oncogenic factor and a tumor suppressor in various cancer types. Dysregulation of this pathway promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis in malignancies, closely linked to cancer proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, the Notch signaling pathway contributes to maintaining stem-like properties in cancer cells, thereby enhancing cancer invasiveness. The regulatory role of the Notch signaling pathway in cancer metabolic reprogramming and the tumor microenvironment suggests its pivotal involvement in balancing oncogenic and tumor suppressive effects. Moreover, the Notch signaling pathway is implicated in conferring chemoresistance to tumor cells. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these biological processes is crucial for developing innovative therapeutic strategies targeting Notch signaling. This review focuses on the research progress of the Notch signaling pathway in cancers, providing in-depth insights into the potential mechanisms of Notch signaling regulation in the occurrence and progression of cancer. Additionally, the review summarizes pharmaceutical clinical trials targeting Notch signaling for cancer therapy, aiming to offer new insights into therapeutic strategies for human malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingmiao Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Chen Xue
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yifan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Xin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Qingfei Chu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Shuwen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jinzhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yaqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Danhua Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| | - Lanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
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4
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El-Derby AM, Khedr MA, Ghoneim NI, Gabr MM, Khater SM, El-Badri N. Plasma-derived extracellular matrix for xenofree and cost-effective organoid modeling for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Transl Med 2024; 22:487. [PMID: 38773585 PMCID: PMC11110239 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05230-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes significant cancer mortality worldwide. Cancer organoids can serve as useful disease models by high costs, complexity, and contamination risks from animal-derived products and extracellular matrix (ECM) that limit its applications. On the other hand, synthetic ECM alternatives also have limitations in mimicking native biocomplexity. This study explores the development of a physiologically relevant HCC organoid model using plasma-derived extracellular matrix as a scaffold and nutritive biomatrix with different cellularity components to better mimic the heterogenous HCC microenvironment. Plasma-rich platelet is recognized for its elevated levels of growth factors, which can promote cell proliferation. By employing it as a biomatrix for organoid culture there is a potential to enhance the quality and functionality of organoid models for diverse applications in biomedical research and regenerative medicine and to better replicate the heterogeneous microenvironment of HCC. METHOD To generate the liver cancer organoids, HUH-7 hepatoma cells were cultured alone (homogenous model) or with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (heterogeneous model) in plasma-rich platelet extracellular matrix (ECM). The organoids were grown for 14 days and analyzed for cancer properties including cell viability, invasion, stemness, and drug resistance. RESULTS HCC organoids were developed comprising HUH-7 hepatoma cells with or without human mesenchymal stromal and endothelial cells in plasma ECM scaffolds. Both homogeneous (HUH-7 only) and heterogeneous (mixed cellularity) organoids displayed viability, cancer hallmarks, and chemoresistance. The heterogeneous organoids showed enhanced invasion potential, cancer stem cell populations, and late-stage HCC genetic signatures versus homogeneous counterparts. CONCLUSION The engineered HCC organoids system offers a clinically relevant and cost-effective model to study liver cancer pathogenesis, stromal interactions, and drug resistance. The plasma ECM-based culture technique could enable standardized and reproducible HCC modeling. It could also provide a promising option for organoid culture and scaling up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azza M El-Derby
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, 12582, Egypt
| | - Mennatallah A Khedr
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, 12582, Egypt
| | - Nehal I Ghoneim
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, 12582, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud M Gabr
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Sherry M Khater
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Nagwa El-Badri
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, 12582, Egypt.
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5
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Yuan S, Almagro J, Fuchs E. Beyond genetics: driving cancer with the tumour microenvironment behind the wheel. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:274-286. [PMID: 38347101 PMCID: PMC11077468 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00660-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Cancer has long been viewed as a genetic disease of cumulative mutations. This notion is fuelled by studies showing that ageing tissues are often riddled with clones of complex oncogenic backgrounds coexisting in seeming harmony with their normal tissue counterparts. Equally puzzling, however, is how cancer cells harbouring high mutational burden contribute to normal, tumour-free mice when allowed to develop within the confines of healthy embryos. Conversely, recent evidence suggests that adult tissue cells expressing only one or a few oncogenes can, in some contexts, generate tumours exhibiting many of the features of a malignant, invasive cancer. These disparate observations are difficult to reconcile without invoking environmental cues triggering epigenetic changes that can either dampen or drive malignant transformation. In this Review, we focus on how certain oncogenes can launch a two-way dialogue of miscommunication between a stem cell and its environment that can rewire downstream events non-genetically and skew the morphogenetic course of the tissue. We review the cells and molecules of and the physical forces acting in the resulting tumour microenvironments that can profoundly affect the behaviours of transformed cells. Finally, we discuss possible explanations for the remarkable diversity in the relative importance of mutational burden versus tumour microenvironment and its clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaopeng Yuan
- Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jorge Almagro
- Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elaine Fuchs
- Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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Mazzeo L, Ghosh S, Di Cicco E, Isma J, Tavernari D, Samarkina A, Ostano P, Youssef MK, Simon C, Dotto GP. ANKRD1 is a mesenchymal-specific driver of cancer-associated fibroblast activation bridging androgen receptor loss to AP-1 activation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1038. [PMID: 38310103 PMCID: PMC10838290 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45308-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: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
There are significant commonalities among several pathologies involving fibroblasts, ranging from auto-immune diseases to fibrosis and cancer. Early steps in cancer development and progression are closely linked to fibroblast senescence and transformation into tumor-promoting cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), suppressed by the androgen receptor (AR). Here, we identify ANKRD1 as a mesenchymal-specific transcriptional coregulator under direct AR negative control in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and a key driver of CAF conversion, independent of cellular senescence. ANKRD1 expression in CAFs is associated with poor survival in HNSCC, lung, and cervical SCC patients, and controls a specific gene expression program of myofibroblast CAFs (my-CAFs). ANKRD1 binds to the regulatory region of my-CAF effector genes in concert with AP-1 transcription factors, and promotes c-JUN and FOS association. Targeting ANKRD1 disrupts AP-1 complex formation, reverses CAF activation, and blocks the pro-tumorigenic properties of CAFs in an orthotopic skin cancer model. ANKRD1 thus represents a target for fibroblast-directed therapy in cancer and potentially beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Mazzeo
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Soumitra Ghosh
- ORL service, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emery Di Cicco
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jovan Isma
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Tavernari
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Paola Ostano
- Cancer Genomics Laboratory, Edo and Elvo Tempia Valenta Foundation, Biella, 13900, Italy
| | - Markus K Youssef
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Christian Simon
- ORL service, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
- International Cancer Prevention Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - G Paolo Dotto
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- ORL service, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- International Cancer Prevention Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland.
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Levra Levron C, Elettrico L, Duval C, Piacenti G, Proserpio V, Donati G. Bridging tissue repair and epithelial carcinogenesis: epigenetic memory and field cancerization. Cell Death Differ 2024:10.1038/s41418-023-01254-6. [PMID: 38228801 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-023-01254-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The epigenome coordinates spatial-temporal specific gene expression during development and in adulthood, for the maintenance of homeostasis and upon tissue repair. The upheaval of the epigenetic landscape is a key event in the onset of many pathologies including tumours, where epigenetic changes cooperate with genetic aberrations to establish the neoplastic phenotype and to drive cell plasticity during its evolution. DNA methylation, histone modifiers and readers or other chromatin components are indeed often altered in cancers, such as carcinomas that develop in epithelia. Lining the surfaces and the cavities of our body and acting as a barrier from the environment, epithelia are frequently subjected to acute or chronic tissue damages, such as mechanical injuries or inflammatory episodes. These events can activate plasticity mechanisms, with a deep impact on cells' epigenome. Despite being very effective, tissue repair mechanisms are closely associated with tumour onset. Here we review the similarities between tissue repair and carcinogenesis, with a special focus on the epigenetic mechanisms activated by cells during repair and opted by carcinoma cells in multiple epithelia. Moreover, we discuss the recent findings on inflammatory and wound memory in epithelia and describe the epigenetic modifications that characterise them. Finally, as wound memory in epithelial cells promotes carcinogenesis, we highlight how it represents an early step for the establishment of field cancerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Levra Levron
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Elettrico
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Carlotta Duval
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Gabriele Piacenti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Valentina Proserpio
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Giacomo Donati
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
- Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
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Ghosh A, Mitra AK. Metastasis and cancer associated fibroblasts: taking it up a NOTCH. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 11:1277076. [PMID: 38269089 PMCID: PMC10806909 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1277076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the least understood aspect of cancer biology. 90% of cancer related deaths occur due extensive metastatic burden in patients. Apart from metastasizing cancer cells, the pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic role of the tumor stroma plays a crucial part in this complex process often leading to disease relapse and therapy resistance. Cellular signaling processes play a crucial role in the process of tumorigenesis and metastasis when aberrantly turned on, not just in the cancer cells, but also in the cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME). One of the most conserved pathways includes the Notch signaling pathway that plays a crucial role in the development and progression of many cancers. In addition to its well documented role in cancer cells, recent evidence suggests crucial involvement of Notch signaling in the stroma as well. This review aims to highlight the current findings focusing on the oncogenic role of notch signaling in cancer cells and the TME, with a specific focus on cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which constitute a major part of the tumor stroma and are important for tumor progression. Recent efforts have focused on the development of anti-cancer and anti-metastatic therapies targeting TME. Understanding the importance of Notch signaling in the TME would help identify important drivers for stromal reprogramming, metastasis and importantly, drive future research in the effort to develop TME-targeted therapies utilizing Notch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argha Ghosh
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Anirban K. Mitra
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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9
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Cui Z, Wei H, Goding C, Cui R. Stem cell heterogeneity, plasticity, and regulation. Life Sci 2023; 334:122240. [PMID: 37925141 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
As a population of homogeneous cells with both self-renewal and differentiation potential, stem cell pools are highly compartmentalized and contain distinct subsets that exhibit stable but limited heterogeneity during homeostasis. However, their striking plasticity is showcased under natural or artificial stress, such as injury, transplantation, cancer, and aging, leading to changes in their phenotype, constitution, metabolism, and function. The complex and diverse network of cell-extrinsic niches and signaling pathways, together with cell-intrinsic genetic and epigenetic regulators, tightly regulate both the heterogeneity during homeostasis and the plasticity under perturbation. Manipulating these factors offers better control of stem cell behavior and a potential revolution in the current state of regenerative medicine. However, disruptions of normal regulation by genetic mutation or excessive plasticity acquisition may contribute to the formation of tumors. By harnessing innovative techniques that enhance our understanding of stem cell heterogeneity and employing novel approaches to maximize the utilization of stem cell plasticity, stem cell therapy holds immense promise for revolutionizing the future of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Cui
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
| | - Hope Wei
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America
| | - Colin Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX37DQ, UK
| | - Rutao Cui
- Skin Disease Research Institute, The 2nd Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
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10
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Li J, Xia Y, Kong S, Yang K, Chen H, Zhang Y, Liu D, Chen L, Sun X. Single-cell RNA-seq reveals actinic keratosis-specific keratinocyte subgroups and their crosstalk with secretory-papillary fibroblasts. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2023; 37:2273-2283. [PMID: 37357444 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Actinic keratosis (AK) represents an intraepidermal malignant neoplasm with the proliferation of atypical keratinocytes. AK lesions are regarded as early in situ squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) having the potential to progress into invasive SCC (iSCC) and metastasize, causing death. This study aimed to investigate the heterogeneity of keratinocytes and how this heterogeneity promoted AK development and progression. METHODS We employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to examine the heterogeneity of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblast clusters in AKs and adjacent normal skins. Cell clustering, pseudotime trajectory construction, gene ontology enrichment analysis, transcription factor network analysis, and cell-cell communication were used to investigate the heterogeneity of keratinocytes in AK. The cellular identity and function were verified by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS Using scRNA-seq, we revealed 13 keratinocyte subgroups (clusters 0-12) in AK tissues and characterized 2 AK-specific clusters. Cluster 9 displayed high levels of IL1R2 and WFDC2, and cluster 11 showed high levels of FADS2 and FASN. The percentages of cells in these two clusters significantly increased in AK compared with normal tissues. The existence and spatial localization of AK-specific IL1R2+WFDC2+ cluster were verified by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. Functional studies indicated that the genes identified in the IL1R2+WFDC2+ cluster were crucial for epithelial cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Further immunofluorescent staining revealed the interactions between AK-specific keratinocytes and secretory-papillary fibroblasts mainly through ANGPTL4-ITGA5 signalling pathway rarely seen in normal tissues. CONCLUSION The findings of this study might help better understand AK pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Department of Dermatology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Xia
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Shumin Kong
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Dongxian Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Lan Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
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Fisher GJ, Wang B, Cui Y, Shi M, Zhao Y, Quan T, Voorhees JJ. Skin aging from the perspective of dermal fibroblasts: the interplay between the adaptation to the extracellular matrix microenvironment and cell autonomous processes. J Cell Commun Signal 2023; 17:523-529. [PMID: 37067763 PMCID: PMC10409944 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-023-00743-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
This article summarizes important molecular mechanisms that drive aging in human skin from the perspective of dermal fibroblasts. The dermis comprises the bulk of the skin and is largely composed of a collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM). The dermal ECM provides mechanical strength, resiliency, and an environment that supports the functions of ibroblasts and other types of dermal cells. Fibroblasts produce the dermal ECM and maintain its homeostasis. Fibroblasts attach to the ECM and this attachment controls their morphology and function. During aging, the ECM undergoes gradual degradation that is nitiated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This degradation alters mechanical forces within the dermal ECM and disrupts he interactions between fibroblasts and the ECM thereby generating an aged fibroblast phenotype. This aged fibroblast phenotype is characterized by collapsed morphology, altered mechanosignaling, induction of CCN1, and activation of transcription factor AP-1, with consequent upregulation of target genes including MMPs and pro-inflammatory mediators. The TGF-beta pathway coordinately regulates ECM production and turnover. Altered mechanical forces, due to ECM fragmentation, down-regulate the type II TGF-beta receptor, thereby reducing ECM production and further increasing ECM breakdown. Thus, dermal aging involves a feed-forward process that reinforces the aged dermal fibroblast phenotype and promotes age-related dermal ECM deterioration. As discussed in the article, the expression of the aged dermal fibroblast phenotype involves both adaptive and cell-autonomous mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary J Fisher
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Dermatology, Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yilei Cui
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Mai Shi
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Taihao Quan
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - John J Voorhees
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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12
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Bukkuri A, Adler FR. Mathematical Modeling of Field Cancerization through the Lens of Cancer Behavioral Ecology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.07.552382. [PMID: 37609179 PMCID: PMC10441298 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.07.552382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Field cancerization is a process in which a normal tissue is replaced with pre-cancerous but histologically normal tissue. This transformed field can give rise to malignancy and contribute to tumor relapse. In this paper, we create a mathematical model of field cancerization from the perspective of cancer behavioral ecology. In our model, field cancerization arises from a breakdown in signaling integrity and control, and investigate implications for acute wounding, chronic wounding, aging, and therapeutic interventions. We find that restoration of communication networks can lead to cancer regression in the context of acute injury. Conversely, long term loss of controls, such as through chronic wounding or aging, can promote oncogenesis. These results are paralleled in therapeutic interventions: those that simply target cells in cancerous states may be less effective than those that reestablish signaling integrity. Viewing cancer as a corruption of communication systems rather than as a corruption of individual cells may lead to novel approaches for understanding and treating this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuraag Bukkuri
- Cancer Biology and Evolution Program and Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Frederick R Adler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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13
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Deutscher K, Hillen T, Newby J. A computational model for the cancer field effect. Front Artif Intell 2023; 6:1060879. [PMID: 37469932 PMCID: PMC10352683 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2023.1060879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Cancer Field Effect describes an area of pre-cancerous cells that results from continued exposure to carcinogens. Cells in the cancer field can easily develop into cancer. Removal of the main tumor mass might leave the cancer field behind, increasing risk of recurrence. Methods The model we propose for the cancer field effect is a hybrid cellular automaton (CA), which includes a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) to compute the effects of the carcinogens on the gene expression of the genes related to cancer development. We use carcinogen interactions that are typically associated with smoking and alcohol consumption and their effect on cancer fields of the tongue. Results Using simulations we support the understanding that tobacco smoking is a potent carcinogen, which can be reinforced by alcohol consumption. The effect of alcohol alone is significantly less than the effect of tobacco. We further observe that pairing tumor excision with field removal delays recurrence compared to tumor excision alone. We track cell lineages and find that, in most cases, a polyclonal field develops, where the number of distinct cell lineages decreases over time as some lineages become dominant over others. Finally, we find tumor masses rarely form via monoclonal origin.
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14
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Kim YS, Bang CH, Chung YJ. Mutational Landscape of Normal Human Skin: Clues to Understanding Early-Stage Carcinogenesis in Keratinocyte Neoplasia. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:1187-1196.e9. [PMID: 36716918 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.01.006] [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: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Normal skin contains numerous clones carrying cancer driver mutations. However, the mutational landscape of normal skin and its clonal relationship with skin cancer requires further elucidation. The aim of our study was to investigate the mutational landscape of normal human skin. We performed whole-exome sequencing using physiologically normal skin tissues and the matched peripheral blood (n = 39) and adjacent-matched skin cancers from a subset of patients (n = 10). Exposed skin harbored a median of 530 mutations (10.4/mb, range = 51-2,947), whereas nonexposed skin majorly exhibited significantly fewer mutations (median = 13, 0.25/mb, range = 1-166). Patient age was significantly correlated with the mutational burden. Mutations in six driver genes (NOTCH1, FAT1, TP53, PPM1D, KMT2D, and ASXL1) were identified. De novo mutational signature analysis identified a single signature with components of UV- and aging-related signatures. Normal skin harbored only three instances of copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity in 9q (n = 2) and 6q (n = 1). The mutational burden of normal skin was not correlated with that of matched skin cancers, and no protein-coding mutations were shared. In conclusion, we revealed the mutational landscape of normal skin, highlighting the role of driver genes in the malignant progression of normal skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon-Seob Kim
- Precision Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Integrated Research Center for Genome Polymorphism, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul Hwan Bang
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeun-Jun Chung
- Precision Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Integrated Research Center for Genome Polymorphism, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Winge MCG, Kellman LN, Guo K, Tang JY, Swetter SM, Aasi SZ, Sarin KY, Chang ALS, Khavari PA. Advances in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Nat Rev Cancer 2023:10.1038/s41568-023-00583-5. [PMID: 37286893 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00583-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Human malignancies arise predominantly in tissues of epithelial origin, where the stepwise transformation from healthy epithelium to premalignant dysplasia to invasive neoplasia involves sequential dysregulation of biological networks that govern essential functions of epithelial homeostasis. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a prototype epithelial malignancy, often with a high tumour mutational burden. A plethora of risk genes, dominated by UV-induced sun damage, drive disease progression in conjunction with stromal interactions and local immunomodulation, enabling continuous tumour growth. Recent studies have identified subpopulations of SCC cells that specifically interact with the tumour microenvironment. These advances, along with increased knowledge of the impact of germline genetics and somatic mutations on cSCC development, have led to a greater appreciation of the complexity of skin cancer pathogenesis and have enabled progress in neoadjuvant immunotherapy, which has improved pathological complete response rates. Although measures for the prevention and therapeutic management of cSCC are associated with clinical benefit, the prognosis remains poor for advanced disease. Elucidating how the genetic mechanisms that drive cSCC interact with the tumour microenvironment is a current focus in efforts to understand, prevent and treat cSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mårten C G Winge
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Laura N Kellman
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Program in Cancer Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Konnie Guo
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jean Y Tang
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Susan M Swetter
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Redwood City, CA, USA
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Sumaira Z Aasi
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Kavita Y Sarin
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Anne Lynn S Chang
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Paul A Khavari
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Redwood City, CA, USA.
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Stanford Program in Cancer Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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16
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Qin Z, He T, Guo C, Kim JY, Quan T. CCN1 is predominantly elevated in human skin dermis by solar-simulated ultraviolet irradiation and accumulated in dermal extracellular matrix. J Cell Commun Signal 2023:10.1007/s12079-023-00767-6. [PMID: 37245186 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-023-00767-6] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin primarily comprises a collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides structural and functional support to the skin. Aging causes progressive loss and fragmentation of dermal collagen fibrils, leading to thin and weakened skin (Dermal aging). We previously reported that CCN1 is elevated in naturally aged human skin, photoaged human skin, and acute UV-irradiated human skin dermal fibroblasts in vivo. Elevated CCN1 alters the expression of numerous secreted proteins that have deleterious effects on the dermal microenvironment, impairing the structural integrity and function of the skin. Here we show that CCN1 is predominantly elevated in the human skin dermis by UV irradiation and accumulated in the dermal extracellular matrix. Laser capture microdissection indicated that CCN1 is predominantly induced in the dermis, not in the epidermis, by acute UV irradiation in human skin in vivo. Interestingly, while UV-induced CCN1 in the dermal fibroblasts and in the medium is transient, secreted CCN1 accumulates in the ECM. We explored the functionality of the matrix-bound CCN1 by culturing dermal fibroblasts on an acellular matrix plate that was enriched with a high concentration of CCN1. We observed that matrix-bound CCN1 activates integrin outside-in signaling resulting in the activation of FAK and its downstream target paxillin and ERK, as well as elevated MMP-1 and inhibition of collagen, in human dermal fibroblasts. These data suggest that accumulation of CCN1 in the dermal ECM is expected to progressively promote the aging of the dermis and thereby negatively impact the function of the dermis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoping Qin
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine, Medical Science I, Room 6447, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-0609, USA
| | - Tianyuan He
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine, Medical Science I, Room 6447, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-0609, USA
| | - Chunfang Guo
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine, Medical Science I, Room 6447, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-0609, USA
| | - Jun Young Kim
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine, Medical Science I, Room 6447, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-0609, USA
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Taihao Quan
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine, Medical Science I, Room 6447, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-0609, USA.
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17
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Kehrberg RJ, Bhyravbhatla N, Batra SK, Kumar S. Epigenetic regulation of cancer-associated fibroblast heterogeneity. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188901. [PMID: 37120098 PMCID: PMC10375465 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a significant component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), contribute to cancer progression through the secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM), growth factors, and metabolites. It is now well recognized that CAFs are a heterogenous population with ablation experiments leading to reduced tumor growth and single-cell RNA sequencing demonstrating CAF subgroups. CAFs lack genetic mutations yet substantially differ from their normal stromal precursors. Here, we review epigenetic changes in CAF maturation, focusing on DNA methylation and histone modifications. DNA methylation changes in CAFs have been demonstrated globally, while roles of methylation at specific genes affect tumor growth. Further, loss of CAF histone methylation and gain of histone acetylation has been shown to promote CAF activation and tumor promotion. Many CAF activating factors, such as transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), lead to these epigenetic changes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve as targets and orchestrators of epigenetic modifications that influence gene expression. Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET), an epigenetic reader, recognizes histone acetylation and activates the transcription of genes leading to the pro-tumor phenotype of CAFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel J Kehrberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Namita Bhyravbhatla
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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18
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FGFR2c Upregulation Contributes to Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Program Activation and to Enhanced Autophagy in Actinic Keratosis-Derived Dermal Fibroblasts: A Possible Role in Precancerous Cell/Stromal Cell Crosstalk. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12030463. [PMID: 36979155 PMCID: PMC10045898 DOI: 10.3390/biology12030463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Actinic keratosis (AK) is a preneoplastic skin disorder which can rapidly progress to cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). In light of our previous findings, indicating a possible oncogenic role of the mesenchymal isoform of FGFR2 (FGFR2c) aberrantly expressed in AK keratinocytes, we analyzed the possible tumor-promoting role of this receptor in the stromal AK counterpart in this work. Molecular analysis showed that, particularly in early AK lesions, FGFR2c dermal upregulation is accompanied by the downregulation of the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) transcription repressor CSL, the upregulation of the CAF activator ULK3, and the consequent CAF gene induction. Immunofluorescence and molecular analysis, coupled with silencing approaches by siRNA, applied on primary cultures of KIN I-derived fibroblasts, indicated that FGFR2c upregulation contribute to CAF signature and the increased autophagy in response to FGF2. Magnetic bead-based multiplex assay, combined with FGFR2 signaling shut-off approaches, indicated that, especially in response to FGF2, IL-6 secretion could depend on FGFR2c high expression and signaling, suggesting the possible establishment of FGFR2c-dependent secretory autophagy, contributing to tumor-promoting factor release. Overall, our results identified FGFR2c as a signaling molecule involved in controlling precancerous/stromal cell oncogenic crosstalk, pointing to this receptor as a possible early molecular marker predictive for AK’s rapid malignant progression.
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19
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Shea LK, Akhave NS, Sutton LA, Compton LA, York C, Ramakrishnan SM, Miller CA, Wartman LD, Chen DY. Combined Kdm6a and Trp53 Deficiency Drives the Development of Squamous Cell Skin Cancer in Mice. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:232-241.e6. [PMID: 36055401 PMCID: PMC10334302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) has among the highest mutation burdens of all cancers, reflecting its pathogenic association with the mutagenic effects of UV light exposure. Although mutations in cancer-relevant genes such as TP53 and NOTCH1 are common in cSCC, they are also tolerated in normal skin and suggest that other events are required for transformation; it is not yet clear whether epigenetic regulators cooperate in the pathogenesis of cSCC. KDM6A encodes a histone H3K27me2/me3 demethylase that is frequently mutated in cSCC and other cancers. Previous sequencing studies indicate that roughly 7% of cSCC samples harbor KDM6A mutations, including frequent truncating mutations, suggesting a role for this gene as a tumor suppressor in cSCC. Mice with epidermal deficiency of both Kdm6a and Trp53 exhibited 100% penetrant, spontaneous cSCC development within a year, and exome sequencing of resulting tumors reveals recurrent mutations in Ncstn and Vcan. Four of 16 tumors exhibited deletions in large portions of chromosome 1 involving Ncstn, whereas another 25% of tumors harbored deletions in chromosome 19 involving Pten, implicating the loss of other tumor suppressors as cooperating events for combined KDM6A- and TRP53-dependent tumorigenesis. This study suggests that KDM6A acts as an important tumor suppressor for cSCC pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K Shea
- Division of Oncology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Neal S Akhave
- Division of Oncology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Leslie A Sutton
- Division of Dermatology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Leigh A Compton
- Division of Dermatology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Conner York
- Division of Oncology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sai Mukund Ramakrishnan
- Division of Oncology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Christopher A Miller
- Division of Oncology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Lukas D Wartman
- Division of Oncology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - David Y Chen
- Division of Dermatology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
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20
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Gao Y, Walker JV, Tredwin C, Hu B. Deletion of RBP-Jkappa gene in mesenchymal cells causes rickets like symptoms in the mouse. CURRENT MEDICINE 2022; 1:7. [PMID: 35694720 PMCID: PMC9177048 DOI: 10.1007/s44194-022-00007-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Crosstalk between different signalling pathways provide deep insights for how molecules play synergistic roles in developmental and pathological conditions. RBP-Jkappa is the key effector of the canonical Notch pathway. Previously we have identified that Wnt5a, a conventional non-canonical Wnt pathway member, was under the direct transcriptional control of RBP-Jkappa in dermal papilla cells. In this study we further extended this regulation axis to the other two kind of skeletal cells: chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Mice with conditional mesenchymal deletion of RBP-Jkappa developed Rickets like symptoms. Molecular analysis suggested local defects of Wnt5a expression in chondrocytes and osteoblasts at both mRNA and protein levels, which impeded chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation. The defects existing in the RBP-Jkappa deficient mutants could be rescued by recombinant Wnt5a treatment at both cellular level and tissue/organ level. Our results therefore provide a model of studying the connection of Notch and Wnt5a pathways with Rickets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Gao
- Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Peninsula Dental School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, 16 Research Way, Plymouth, PL6 8BU UK
| | - Jemma Victoria Walker
- Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Peninsula Dental School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, 16 Research Way, Plymouth, PL6 8BU UK
| | - Christopher Tredwin
- Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Peninsula Dental School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, 16 Research Way, Plymouth, PL6 8BU UK
| | - Bing Hu
- Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Peninsula Dental School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, 16 Research Way, Plymouth, PL6 8BU UK
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21
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Rahal Z, Sinjab A, Wistuba II, Kadara H. Game of clones: Battles in the field of carcinogenesis. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 237:108251. [PMID: 35850404 PMCID: PMC10249058 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108251] [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: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in bulk sequencing approaches as well as genomic decoding at the single-cell level have revealed surprisingly high somatic mutational burdens in normal tissues, as well as increased our understanding of the landscape of "field cancerization", that is, molecular and immune alterations in mutagen-exposed normal-appearing tissues that recapitulated those present in tumors. Charting the somatic mutational landscapes in normal tissues can have strong implications on our understanding of how tumors arise from mutagenized epithelium. Making sense of those mutations to understand the progression along the pathologic continuum of normal epithelia, preneoplasias, up to malignant tissues will help pave way for identification of ideal targets that can guide new strategies for preventing or eliminating cancers at their earliest stages of development. In this review, we will provide a brief history of field cancerization and its implications on understanding early stages of cancer pathogenesis and deviation from the pathologically "normal" state. The review will provide an overview of how mutations accumulating in normal tissues can lead to a patchwork of mutated cell clones that compete while maintaining an overall state of functional homeostasis. The review also explores the role of clonal competition in directing the fate of normal tissues and summarizes multiple mechanisms elicited in this phenomenon and which have been linked to cancer development. Finally, we highlight the importance of understanding mutations in normal tissues, as well as clonal competition dynamics (in both the epithelium and the microenvironment) and their significance in exploring new approaches to combatting cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahraa Rahal
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
| | - Ansam Sinjab
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
| | - Ignacio I Wistuba
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
| | - Humam Kadara
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA.
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22
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Hu W, Jing Y, Yu Q, Huang N. Differential gene screening and bioinformatics analysis of epidermal stem cells and dermal fibroblasts during skin aging. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12019. [PMID: 35835980 PMCID: PMC9283434 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16314-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
To explore the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and potential therapeutic targets of skin aging in GEO database by bioinformatics methods. Dermal fibroblasts and skin aging related data sets GSE110978 and GSE117763 were downloaded from GEO database, and epidermal stem cells and skin aging related data sets GSE137176 were downloaded. GEO2R was used to screen DEGs of candidate samples from the three microarrays, GO function analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were performed. Protein interaction network was constructed using String database, and hub gene was obtained by Cytoscape. NetworkAnalys was used to analyze the coregulatory network of DEGs and MicroRNA (miRNA), interaction with TF, and protein-chemical interactions of DEGs. Finally, DSigDB was used to determine candidate drugs for DEGs. Six DEGs were obtained. It mainly involves the cytological processes such as response to metal ion, and is enriched in mineral absorption and other signal pathways. Ten genes were screened by PPI analysis. Gene-miRNA coregulatory network found that Peg3 and mmu-miR-1931 in DEGs were related to each other, and Cybrd1 was related to mmu-miR-290a-5p and mmu-miR-3082-5p. TF-gene interactions found that the transcription factor UBTF co-regulated two genes, Arhgap24 and Mpzl1. Protein-chemical Interactions analysis and identification of candidate drugs show results for candidate drugs. Try to explore the mechanism of hub gene action in skin aging progression, and to discover the key signaling pathways leading to skin aging, which may be a high risk of skin aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weisheng Hu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350003, China
| | - Yuan Jing
- College of Acupuncture, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Qingqian Yu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100105, China
| | - Ning Huang
- Key Laboratory of Dermatology in Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350003, China.
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23
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Segmentation and Recognition of the Pathological Features of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin Based on Multispectral Imaging. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11133815. [PMID: 35807100 PMCID: PMC9267474 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11133815] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common skin cancers, a definitive diagnosis of cSCC is crucial to prevent patients from missing out on treatment. The gold standard for the diagnosis of cSCC is still pathological biopsy. Currently, its diagnostic efficiency and accuracy largely depend on the experience of pathologists. Here, we present a simple, fast, and robust technique, a microscopic multispectral imaging system based on LED illumination, to diagnose cSCC qualitatively and quantitatively. The adaptive threshold segmentation method was used to segment the multispectral images into characteristic structures. There was a statistically significant difference between the average nucleocytoplasmic ratio of normal skin (4.239%) and cSCC tissues (15.607%) (p < 0.01), and the keratin pearls cSCC have well-defined qualitative features. These results show that the qualitative and quantitative features obtained from multispectral imaging can be used to comprehensively determine whether or not the tissue is cancerous. This work has significant implications for the development of a low-cost and easy-to-use device, which can not only reduce the complexity of pathological diagnosis but can also achieve the goal of convenient digital staining and access to critical histological information.
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24
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Ge S, Wang B, Wang Z, He J, Ma X. Common Multiple Primary Cancers Associated With Breast and Gynecologic Cancers and Their Risk Factors, Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prognosis: A Review. Front Oncol 2022; 12:840431. [PMID: 35756608 PMCID: PMC9213651 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.840431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammary gland is closely related to the female reproductive system in many aspects, affecting the whole gynecological system. Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women and associated with considerable negative effects. Due to various factors including co-pathogenic genetic mutations, environment factors, lifestyle, behavioral factors, treatment regimens and in-creased survival of patients with BC, there is an increased probability of developing additional primary gynecologic cancers such as ovarian cancer (OC), endometrial cancer (EC), and cervical cancer (CC). More and more studies have been conducted in recent years. Multiple primary cancers (MPCs), also known as multiple primary malignancies, refers to two or more different primary cancers in the same patient occurring in the same or different organs or tissues. The pathogenesis of multiple primary cancers is complex and has a negative effect on the prognosis and survival of patients. This review discusses the common types of BC-associated MPCs, namely, BC associated with OC, BC associated with EC and BC associated with CC, as well as risk factors, pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis of MPCs associated with breast and gynecologic cancers. It provides new intervention and treatment ideas for patients with BC-associated MPCs to improve quality of life and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuwen Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Zihao Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Junjian He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoxin Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
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25
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Field carcinogenesis and biological significance of the potential of the bystander effect: carcinogenesis, therapeutic response, and tissue regeneration. Surg Today 2022; 53:545-553. [PMID: 35576018 DOI: 10.1007/s00595-022-02524-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The "bystander effect" is a transmission phenomenon mediating communication from target to non-target cells, as well as cell-to-cell interactions between neighboring and distantly located cells. In this narrative review, we describe the fundamental and clinical significance of the bystander effect with respect to cell-to-cell interactions in carcinogenesis, therapeutic response, and tissue regeneration. In carcinogenesis, the bystander effect mediates communications between tumor microenvironments and non-malignant epithelial cells and has been suggested to impact heterogeneous tumorigenic cells in tumors and cancerized fields. In therapeutic response, the bystander effect mediates communications between drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cells and may transmit both drug efficacy and resistance. Therefore, control of therapeutic response transmission via the bystander effect might offer a promising future cancer treatment. Finally, in tissue regeneration, circulating cells and stromal cells may differentiate into various cells for the purpose of tissue regeneration under direction of the bystander effect arising from surrounding cells in a defective space. We hope that the findings we present will promote the development of innovative cancer therapies and tissue regeneration methodologies from the viewpoint of cell-to-cell interactions through the bystander effect.
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26
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Gadaleta E, Thorn GJ, Ross-Adams H, Jones LJ, Chelala C. Field cancerization in breast cancer. J Pathol 2022; 257:561-574. [PMID: 35362092 PMCID: PMC9322418 DOI: 10.1002/path.5902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer affects one in seven women worldwide during their lifetime. Widespread mammographic screening programs and education campaigns allow for early detection of the disease, often during its asymptomatic phase. Current practice in treatment and recurrence monitoring is based primarily on pathological evaluations but can also encompass genomic evaluations, both of which focus on the primary tumor. Although breast cancer is one of the most studied cancers, patients still recur at a rate of up to 15% within the first 10 years post‐surgery. Local recurrence was originally attributed to tumor cells contaminating histologically normal (HN) tissues beyond the surgical margin, but advances in technology have allowed for the identification of distinct aberrations that exist in the peri‐tumoral tissues themselves. One leading theory to explain this phenomenon is the field cancerization theory. Under this hypothesis, tumors arise from a field of molecularly altered cells that create a permissive environment for malignant evolution, which can occur with or without morphological changes. The traditional histopathology paradigm dictates that molecular alterations are reflected in the tissue phenotype. However, the spectrum of inter‐patient variability of normal breast tissue may obfuscate recognition of a cancerized field during routine diagnostics. In this review, we explore the concept of field cancerization focusing on HN peri‐tumoral tissues: we present the pathological and molecular features of field cancerization within these tissues and discuss how the use of peri‐tumoral tissues can affect research. Our observations suggest that pathological and molecular evaluations could be used synergistically to assess risk and guide the therapeutic management of patients. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Gadaleta
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Graeme J Thorn
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Helen Ross-Adams
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Louise J Jones
- Centre for Tumour Biology Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Claude Chelala
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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27
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Ghosh A, Das C, Ghose S, Maitra A, Roy B, Majumder PP, Biswas NK. Integrative analysis of genomic and transcriptomic data of normal, tumour and co-occurring leukoplakia tissue triads drawn from patients with gingivobuccal oral cancer identifies signatures of tumour initiation and progression. J Pathol 2022; 257:593-606. [PMID: 35358331 PMCID: PMC9545831 DOI: 10.1002/path.5900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A thickened, white patch — leukoplakia — in the oral cavity is usually benign, but sometimes (in ~9% of individuals) it progresses to malignant tumour. Because the genomic basis of this progression is poorly understood, we undertook this study and collected samples of four tissues — leukoplakia, tumour, adjacent normal, and blood — from each of 28 patients suffering from gingivobuccal oral cancer. We performed multiomics analysis of the 112 collected tissues (four tissues per patient from 28 patients) and integrated information on progressive changes in the mutational and transcriptional profiles of each patient to create this genomic narrative. Additionally, we generated and analysed whole‐exome sequence data from leukoplakia tissues collected from 11 individuals not suffering from oral cancer. Nonsynonymous somatic mutations in the CASP8 gene were identified as the likely events to initiate malignant transformation, since these were frequently shared between tumour and co‐occurring leukoplakia. CASP8 alterations were also shown to enhance expressions of genes that favour lateral spread of mutant cells. During malignant transformation, additional pathogenic mutations are acquired in key genes (TP53, NOTCH1, HRAS) (41% of patients); chromosomal‐instability (arm‐level deletions of 19p and q, focal‐deletion of DNA‐repair pathway genes and NOTCH1, amplification of EGFR) (77%), and increased APOBEC‐activity (23%) are also observed. These additional alterations were present singly (18% of patients) or in combination (68%). Some of these alterations likely impact immune‐dynamics of the evolving transformed tissue; progression to malignancy is associated with immune suppression through infiltration of regulatory T‐cells (56%), depletion of cytotoxic T‐cells (68%), and antigen‐presenting dendritic cells (72%), with a concomitant increase in inflammation (92%). Patients can be grouped into three clusters by the estimated time to development of cancer from precancer by acquiring additional mutations (range: 4–10 years). Our findings provide deep molecular insights into the evolutionary processes and trajectories of oral cancer initiation and progression. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnab Ghosh
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India
| | | | - Sandip Ghose
- Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata, India
| | - Arindam Maitra
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India
| | - Bidyut Roy
- Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Partha P Majumder
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India.,Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India
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28
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Notch signaling pathway: architecture, disease, and therapeutics. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:95. [PMID: 35332121 PMCID: PMC8948217 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00934-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 319] [Impact Index Per Article: 159.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The NOTCH gene was identified approximately 110 years ago. Classical studies have revealed that NOTCH signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway. NOTCH receptors undergo three cleavages and translocate into the nucleus to regulate the transcription of target genes. NOTCH signaling deeply participates in the development and homeostasis of multiple tissues and organs, the aberration of which results in cancerous and noncancerous diseases. However, recent studies indicate that the outcomes of NOTCH signaling are changeable and highly dependent on context. In terms of cancers, NOTCH signaling can both promote and inhibit tumor development in various types of cancer. The overall performance of NOTCH-targeted therapies in clinical trials has failed to meet expectations. Additionally, NOTCH mutation has been proposed as a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint blockade therapy in many cancers. Collectively, the NOTCH pathway needs to be integrally assessed with new perspectives to inspire discoveries and applications. In this review, we focus on both classical and the latest findings related to NOTCH signaling to illustrate the history, architecture, regulatory mechanisms, contributions to physiological development, related diseases, and therapeutic applications of the NOTCH pathway. The contributions of NOTCH signaling to the tumor immune microenvironment and cancer immunotherapy are also highlighted. We hope this review will help not only beginners but also experts to systematically and thoroughly understand the NOTCH signaling pathway.
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29
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Kofler K, Breuninger H, Eigentler T, Kofler L, Schaefer V, Blumenstock G, Häfner HM, Schnabl SM. Local Tumor Infiltration and Locoregional Recurrence in Desmoplastic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Dermatol Surg 2022; 48:283-289. [PMID: 34966121 DOI: 10.1097/dss.0000000000003324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perusal of the literature of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) reveals that the role of the desmoplastic subtype is indistinct. Data on local infiltration and recurrence are inconsistent dependent on surgical technique, histological method, and investigated collective. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to analyze local infiltration and locoregional recurrence of the desmoplastic subtype under a uniform procedure. METHODS AND MATERIALS Between 2005 and 2015, 320 SCCs were analyzed and histological sections of all tumors were examined. Data collection included locoregional recurrence, metastasis rate, and tumor-specific death. The median follow-up was 36.5 months. RESULTS The desmoplastic subtype required significant more re-excisions (70.0% vs 23.9%, p < .001), more interventions until tumor-free margins were achieved (maximal 6 vs 2; p < .001), showed more widespread tumor infiltration with larger excisional margins (median 9 mm, 2-51 mm vs median 4 mm, 1-10 mm; p < .001), and a 5-fold higher local recurrence rate (26.7% vs 5.0%, p < .001). The metastasis rate (16.6% vs 2.3%, p < .001) was increased. CONCLUSION The desmoplastic subtype is characterized by a widespread local infiltration associated with perineural infiltration. It seems to be a marker for decreased histological detectability with a high rate of locoregional recurrence and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Gunnar Blumenstock
- Clinical Epidemiology and Applied Biometry, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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30
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Kouprianov VA, Selmek AA, Ferguson JL, Mo X, Shive HR. brca2-mutant zebrafish exhibit context- and tissue-dependent alterations in cell phenotypes and response to injury. Sci Rep 2022; 12:883. [PMID: 35042909 PMCID: PMC8766490 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04878-9] [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: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells frequently co-opt molecular programs that are normally activated in specific contexts, such as embryonic development and the response to injury. Determining the impact of cancer-associated mutations on cellular phenotypes within these discrete contexts can provide new insight into how such mutations lead to dysregulated cell behaviors and subsequent cancer onset. Here we assess the impact of heritable BRCA2 mutation on embryonic development and the injury response using a zebrafish model (Danio rerio). Unlike most mouse models for BRCA2 mutation, brca2-mutant zebrafish are fully viable and thus provide a unique tool for assessing both embryonic and adult phenotypes. We find that maternally provided brca2 is critical for normal oocyte development and embryonic survival in zebrafish, suggesting that embryonic lethality associated with BRCA2 mutation is likely to reflect defects in both meiotic and embryonic developmental programs. On the other hand, we find that adult brca2-mutant zebrafish exhibit aberrant proliferation of several cell types under basal conditions and in response to injury in tissues at high risk for cancer development. These divergent effects exemplify the often-paradoxical outcomes that occur in embryos (embryonic lethality) versus adult animals (cancer predisposition) with mutations in cancer susceptibility genes such as BRCA2. The altered cell behaviors identified in brca2-mutant embryonic and adult tissues, particularly in adult tissues at high risk for cancer, indicate that the effects of BRCA2 mutation on cellular phenotypes are both context- and tissue-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aubrie A Selmek
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jordan L Ferguson
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Xiaokui Mo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Heather R Shive
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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31
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Bi Z, Fu Y, Wadgaonkar P, Qiu Y, Almutairy B, Zhang W, Seno A, Thakur C, Chen F. New Discoveries and Ambiguities of Nrf2 and ATF3 Signaling in Environmental Arsenic-Induced Carcinogenesis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 11:77. [PMID: 35052581 PMCID: PMC8773296 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11010077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Environment exposure to arsenic had been linked to increased incidents of human cancers. In cellular and animal experimental systems, arsenic has been shown to be highly capable of activating several signaling pathways that play critical roles in cell growth regulation, malignant transformation and the stemness of cancer stem-like cells. Emerging evidence indicates certain oncogenic properties of the Nrf2 transcription factor that can be activated by arsenic and many other environmental hazards. In human bronchial epithelial cells, our most recent data suggested that arsenic-activated Nrf2 signaling fosters metabolic reprogramming of the cells through shifting mitochondrial TCA cycle to cytosolic glycolysis, and some of the metabolites in glycolysis shunt the hexosamine biosynthesis and serine-glycine pathways important for the energy metabolism of the cancer cells. In the current report, we further demonstrated direct regulation of oncogenic signals by arsenic-activated Nrf2 and connection of Nrf2 with ATF3 stress transcription factor. Meanwhile, we also highlighted some unanswered questions on the molecular characteristics of the Nrf2 protein, which warrants further collaborative efforts among scientists for understanding the important role of Nrf2 in human cancers either associated or not to environmental arsenic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoyue Bi
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Brookhaven, NY 11794, USA; (Z.B.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (W.Z.); (C.T.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (P.W.); (B.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Yao Fu
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Brookhaven, NY 11794, USA; (Z.B.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (W.Z.); (C.T.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (P.W.); (B.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Priya Wadgaonkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (P.W.); (B.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Yiran Qiu
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Brookhaven, NY 11794, USA; (Z.B.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (W.Z.); (C.T.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (P.W.); (B.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Bandar Almutairy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (P.W.); (B.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Wenxuan Zhang
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Brookhaven, NY 11794, USA; (Z.B.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (W.Z.); (C.T.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (P.W.); (B.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Akimasa Seno
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (P.W.); (B.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Chitra Thakur
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Brookhaven, NY 11794, USA; (Z.B.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (W.Z.); (C.T.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (P.W.); (B.A.); (A.S.)
- Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, 101 Nicolls Road, Brookhaven, NY 11794, USA
| | - Fei Chen
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Brookhaven, NY 11794, USA; (Z.B.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (W.Z.); (C.T.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (P.W.); (B.A.); (A.S.)
- Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, 101 Nicolls Road, Brookhaven, NY 11794, USA
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32
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Xue B, Chuang CH, Prosser HM, Fuziwara CS, Chan C, Sahasrabudhe N, Kühn M, Wu Y, Chen J, Biton A, Chen C, Wilkinson JE, McManus MT, Bradley A, Winslow MM, Su B, He L. miR-200 deficiency promotes lung cancer metastasis by activating Notch signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Genes Dev 2021; 35:1109-1122. [PMID: 34301766 PMCID: PMC8336896 DOI: 10.1101/gad.347344.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In this study, Xue et al. identified miR-200 miRNAs as potent suppressors for lung adenocarcinoma metastasis. They show that miR-200 regulates the functional interaction between cancer cells and CAFs at least in part by targeting Notch ligand Jagged1 and Jagged2 in cancer cells and inducing Notch activation in adjacent CAFs, providing new insight into the interaction between cancer cells and CAFs as a mechanism to promote metastatic potential. Lung adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent lung cancer subtype, is characterized by its high propensity to metastasize. Despite the importance of metastasis in lung cancer mortality, its underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain largely elusive. Here, we identified miR-200 miRNAs as potent suppressors for lung adenocarcinoma metastasis. miR-200 expression is specifically repressed in mouse metastatic lung adenocarcinomas, and miR-200 decrease strongly correlates with poor patient survival. Consistently, deletion of mir-200c/141 in the KrasLSL-G12D/+; Trp53flox/flox lung adenocarcinoma mouse model significantly promoted metastasis, generating a desmoplastic tumor stroma highly reminiscent of metastatic human lung cancer. miR-200 deficiency in lung cancer cells promotes the proliferation and activation of adjacent cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which in turn elevates the metastatic potential of cancer cells. miR-200 regulates the functional interaction between cancer cells and CAFs, at least in part, by targeting Notch ligand Jagged1 and Jagged2 in cancer cells and inducing Notch activation in adjacent CAFs. Hence, the interaction between cancer cells and CAFs constitutes an essential mechanism to promote metastatic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xue
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94705, USA
| | - Chen-Hua Chuang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Haydn M Prosser
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom.,Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, United Kingdom
| | - Cesar Seigi Fuziwara
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94705, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Claudia Chan
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94705, USA
| | - Neil Sahasrabudhe
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94705, USA
| | - Maximilian Kühn
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94705, USA
| | - Yalei Wu
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, South San Francisco, California 94080, USA
| | - Jingqi Chen
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94705, USA
| | - Anne Biton
- Department of Statistics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94705, USA.,Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Department of Computational Biology, USR 3756, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Pasteur, Paris 01 45 68 80 00, France
| | - Caifu Chen
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, South San Francisco, California 94080, USA
| | - John Erby Wilkinson
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Michael T McManus
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at San Francisco Diabetes Center, W.M. Keck Center for Noncoding RNAs, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Allan Bradley
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom.,Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, United Kingdom
| | - Monte M Winslow
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Bo Su
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Lin He
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94705, USA
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33
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Papaccio F, Kovacs D, Bellei B, Caputo S, Migliano E, Cota C, Picardo M. Profiling Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7255. [PMID: 34298873 PMCID: PMC8306538 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid tumors are complex systems characterized by dynamic interactions between neoplastic cells, non-tumoral cells, and extracellular components. Among all the stromal cells that populate tumor microenvironment, fibroblasts are the most abundant elements and are critically involved in disease progression. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have pleiotropic functions in tumor growth and extracellular matrix remodeling implicated in local invasion and distant metastasis. CAFs additionally participate in the inflammatory response of the tumor site by releasing a variety of chemokines and cytokines. It is becoming clear that understanding the dynamic, mutual melanoma-fibroblast relationship would enable treatment options to be amplified. To better characterize melanoma-associated fibroblasts, here we analyzed low-passage primary CAFs derived from advanced-stage primary skin melanomas, focusing on the immuno-phenotype. Furthermore, we assessed the expression of several CAF markers and the production of growth factors. To deepen the study of CAF-melanoma cell crosstalk, we employed CAF-derived supernatants and trans-well co-culture systems to evaluate the influences of CAFs on (i) the motogenic ability of melanoma cells, (ii) the chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity, and (iii) the release of mediators active in modulating tumor growth and spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Papaccio
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy; (D.K.); (B.B.); (S.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Daniela Kovacs
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy; (D.K.); (B.B.); (S.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Barbara Bellei
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy; (D.K.); (B.B.); (S.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Silvia Caputo
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy; (D.K.); (B.B.); (S.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Emilia Migliano
- Department of Plastic and Regenerative Surgery, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Carlo Cota
- Genetic Research, Molecular Biology and Dermatopathology Unit, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Mauro Picardo
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy; (D.K.); (B.B.); (S.C.); (M.P.)
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Baker SG. The case for a cancer paradox initiative. Carcinogenesis 2021; 42:1023-1025. [PMID: 34128969 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgab052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stuart G Baker
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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35
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Gonzalez-Meljem JM, Martinez-Barbera JP. Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma as a model to understand paracrine and senescence-induced tumourigenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:4521-4544. [PMID: 34019103 PMCID: PMC8195904 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03798-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a process that can prevent tumour development in a cell autonomous manner by imposing a stable cell cycle arrest after oncogene activation. Paradoxically, senescence can also promote tumour growth cell non-autonomously by creating a permissive tumour microenvironment that fuels tumour initiation, progression to malignancy and metastasis. In a pituitary tumour known as adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP), cells that carry oncogenic β-catenin mutations and overactivate the WNT signalling pathway form cell clusters that become senescent and activate a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Research in mouse models of ACP has provided insights into the function of the senescent cell clusters and revealed a critical role for SASP-mediated activities in paracrine tumour initiation. In this review, we first discuss this research on ACP and subsequently explore the theme of paracrine tumourigenesis in other tumour models available in the literature. Evidence is accumulating supporting the notion that paracrine signalling brought about by senescent cells may underlie tumourigenesis across different tumours and cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Pedro Martinez-Barbera
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Research and Teaching Programme, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
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36
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Choi J, West CE, Roh YS, Sutaria N, Kwatra SG, Kwatra MM. Mouse models for actinic keratoses. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2021; 110:107071. [PMID: 33933627 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2021.107071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Actinic keratoses (AKs) represent a premalignant skin condition due to chronic sun damage that dramatically increases in prevalence in the aging population. Currently, animal models of AKs utilize photocarcinogenesis, chemical carcinogens, or targeted gene modulation, and each method possesses unique strengths and weaknesses. Models using photodamage most comprehensively describe methods for preferentially selecting AK lesions, while replicating the pathogenesis of AKs with greater fidelity than models utilizing other carcinogenic methods. The following review of current murine models of AKs will aid in the selection of mouse models appropriate for future in vivo studies to test the efficacy of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of AKs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Choi
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | | | - Youkyung S Roh
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Nishadh Sutaria
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Shawn G Kwatra
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
| | - Madan M Kwatra
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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37
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Mezawa Y, Orimo A. Phenotypic heterogeneity, stability and plasticity in tumor-promoting carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. FEBS J 2021; 289:2429-2447. [PMID: 33786982 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Reciprocal interactions between cancer cells and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are essential for full-blown tumor development. Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the TME together with a wide variety of stromal cell types including vascular, inflammatory, and immune cells in the extracellular matrix. CAFs not only promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, but also dampen the efficacy of various therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors. CAFs are composed of distinct fibroblast populations presumably with diverse activated fibroblastic states and tumor-promoting phenotypes in a tumor, indicating intratumor heterogeneity in these fibroblasts. Given that CAFs have been implicated in both disease progression and therapeutic responses, elucidating the functional roles of each fibroblast population in CAFs and the molecular mechanisms mediating their phenotypic stability and plasticity in the TME would be crucial for understanding tumor biology. We herein discuss how distinct fibroblast populations comprising CAFs establish their cell identities, in terms of cells-of-origin, stimuli from the TME, and the phenotypes characteristic of activated states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Mezawa
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Orimo
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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38
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Notch Signaling and Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oral Tumorigenesis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1287:105-122. [PMID: 33034029 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-55031-8_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The NOTCH pathway is critical for the development of many cell types including the squamous epithelium lining of cutaneous and mucosal surfaces. In genetically engineered mouse models, Notch1 acts as one of the first steps to commit basal keratinocytes to terminally differentiate. Similarly, in human head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs), NOTCH1 is often lost consistent with its essential tumor-suppressive role for initiating keratinocyte differentiation. However, constitutive NOTCH1 activity in the epithelium results in expansion of the spinous keratinocyte layers and impaired terminal differentiation is consistent with the role of NOTCH1 as an oncogene in other cancers, especially in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We have previously observed that NOTCH1 plays a dual role as both a tumor suppressor and oncogene, depending on the mutational context of the tumor. Namely, gain or loss or NOTCH1 activity promotes the development of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. The additional HPV oncogenes likely disrupt the tumor-suppressive activities of NOTCH and enable the oncogenic pathways activated by NOTCH to promote tumor growth. In this review, we detail the role of NOTCH pathway in head and neck cancers with a focus on HPV-associated cancers.
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39
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Haykal MM, Nahmias C, Varon C, Martin OCB. Organotypic Modeling of the Tumor Landscape. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:606039. [PMID: 33330508 PMCID: PMC7732527 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.606039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease and it is now clear that not only epithelial tumor cells play a role in carcinogenesis. The tumor microenvironment is composed of non-stromal cells, including endothelial cells, adipocytes, immune and nerve cells, and a stromal compartment composed of extracellular matrix, cancer-associated fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells. Tumorigenesis is a dynamic process with constant interactions occurring between the tumor cells and their surroundings. Even though all connections have not yet been discovered, it is now known that crosstalk between actors of the microenvironment drives cancer progression. Taking into account this complexity, it is important to develop relevant models to study carcinogenesis. Conventional 2D culture models fail to represent the entire tumor microenvironment properly and the use of animal models should be decreased with respect to the 3Rs rule. To this aim, in vitro organotypic models have been significantly developed these past few years. These models have different levels of complexity and allow the study of tumor cells alone or in interaction with the microenvironment actors during the multiple stages of carcinogenesis. This review depicts recent insights into organotypic modeling of the tumor and its microenvironment all throughout cancer progression. It offers an overview of the crosstalk between epithelial cancer cells and their microenvironment during the different phases of carcinogenesis, from the early cell autonomous events to the late metastatic stages. The advantages of 3D over classical 2D or in vivo models are presented as well as the most promising organotypic models. A particular focus is made on organotypic models used for studying cancer progression, from the less complex spheroids to the more sophisticated body-on-a-chip. Last but not least, we address the potential benefits of these models in personalized medicine which is undoubtedly a domain paving the path to new hopes in terms of cancer care and cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M. Haykal
- Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Gustave Roussy, Inserm U981, Biomarqueurs Prédictifs et Nouvelles Stratégies Thérapeutiques en Oncologie, Villejuif, France
| | - Clara Nahmias
- Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Gustave Roussy, Inserm U981, Biomarqueurs Prédictifs et Nouvelles Stratégies Thérapeutiques en Oncologie, Villejuif, France
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40
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Sequeira I, Rashid M, Tomás IM, Williams MJ, Graham TA, Adams DJ, Vigilante A, Watt FM. Genomic landscape and clonal architecture of mouse oral squamous cell carcinomas dictate tumour ecology. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5671. [PMID: 33168804 PMCID: PMC7652942 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19401-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
To establish whether 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide-induced carcinogenesis mirrors the heterogeneity of human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we have performed genomic analysis of mouse tongue lesions. The mutational signatures of human and mouse OSCC overlap extensively. Mutational burden is higher in moderate dysplasias and invasive SCCs than in hyperplasias and mild dysplasias, although mutations in p53, Notch1 and Fat1 occur in early lesions. Laminin-α3 mutations are associated with tumour invasiveness and Notch1 mutant tumours have an increased immune infiltrate. Computational modelling of clonal dynamics indicates that high genetic heterogeneity may be a feature of those mild dysplasias that are likely to progress to more aggressive tumours. These studies provide a foundation for exploring OSCC evolution, heterogeneity and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Sequeira
- Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK
- Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Mamunur Rashid
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Inês M Tomás
- Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Marc J Williams
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Trevor A Graham
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - David J Adams
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Alessandra Vigilante
- Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Fiona M Watt
- Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
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41
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Konger RL, Ren L, Sahu RP, Derr-Yellin E, Kim YL. Evidence for a non-stochastic two-field hypothesis for persistent skin cancer risk. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19200. [PMID: 33154396 PMCID: PMC7645611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75864-2] [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: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
With recurring carcinogen exposures, individual tumors develop in a field of genetic mutations through a stepwise process of clonal expansion and evolution. Once established, this “cancer field” persists in the absence of continued carcinogen exposures, resulting in a sustained risk for cancer development. Using a bioimaging approach, we previously demonstrated that a dermal premalignant field characterized by inflammatory angiogenesis persists following the cessation of ultraviolet light exposures and accurately predicts future overlying epidermal tumor formation. Following ultraviolet light treatments, others have observed that patches of p53 immunopositive cells persist stochastically throughout the epidermal stem cell population. However, these studies were done by random biopsies, introducing sampling bias. We now show that, rather than being randomly distributed, p53+ epidermal cells are enriched only in areas overlying this multi-focal dermal field. Moreover, we also show that the dermal field is characterized by a senescent phenotype. We propose that persistence of the overlying epithelial cancerization field in the absence of exogenous carcinogens or promoters requires a two-field composite consisting of a dermal senescent field driving the persistence of the overlying epidermal cancer field. These observations challenge current models that suggest that persistence of cancer risk in the absence of continued carcinogen exposures is simply a function of stochastically arranged, long-lived but dormant epithelial clonal stem cells mutants. The model proposed here could provide new insights into how cancer risk persists following cessation of carcinogenic exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond L Konger
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 975 West Walnut Street, IB424F, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. .,Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Department of Pathology, Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Lu Ren
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 975 West Walnut Street, IB424F, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Ravi P Sahu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA
| | - Ethel Derr-Yellin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 975 West Walnut Street, IB424F, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Young L Kim
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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42
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Zhang Y, Zeng F, Han X, Weng J, Gao Y. Lineage tracing: technology tool for exploring the development, regeneration, and disease of the digestive system. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:438. [PMID: 33059752 PMCID: PMC7559019 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01941-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Lineage tracing is the most widely used technique to track the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of specific cells in vivo. The currently available gene-targeting technologies have been developing for decades to study organogenesis, tissue injury repairing, and tumor progression by tracing the fates of individual cells. Recently, lineage tracing has expanded the platforms available for disease model establishment, drug screening, cell plasticity research, and personalized medicine development in a molecular and cellular biology perspective. Lineage tracing provides new views for exploring digestive organ development and regeneration and techniques for digestive disease causes and progression. This review focuses on the lineage tracing technology and its application in digestive diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Organ and Tissue Engineering, Guangzhou Clinical Research and Transformation Center for Artificial Liver, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fanhong Zeng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Organ and Tissue Engineering, Guangzhou Clinical Research and Transformation Center for Artificial Liver, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Organ and Tissue Engineering, Guangzhou Clinical Research and Transformation Center for Artificial Liver, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.,State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Weng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Organ and Tissue Engineering, Guangzhou Clinical Research and Transformation Center for Artificial Liver, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yi Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Organ and Tissue Engineering, Guangzhou Clinical Research and Transformation Center for Artificial Liver, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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43
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Fasoulakis Z, Daskalakis G, Theodora M, Antsaklis P, Sindos M, Diakosavvas M, Angelou K, Loutradis D, Kontomanolis EN. The Relevance of Notch Signaling in Cancer Progression. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1287:169-181. [PMID: 33034032 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-55031-8_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway controls normal embryonic development and tissue homeostasis of many cell types. It regulates cell proliferation, fate, differentiation, and cell death by short-range signaling between nearby cells that come in contact. The Notch pathway has also been critically involved in the pathobiology of a variety of malignancies, regulating cancer initiation and development, as well as early stages of cancer progression, by adjusting conserved cellular programs. Fibroblasts, an essential for tumor growth component of stroma, have also been affected by Notch regulation. Sequencing Notch gene mutations have been identified in a number of human tumors, revealing information on the progression of specific cancer types, such as ovarian cancer and melanoma, immune-associated tumors such as myeloid neoplasms, but especially in lymphocytic leukemia. Activation of the Notch can be either oncogenic or it may contain growth-suppressive functions, acting as a tumor suppressor in other hematopoietic cells, hepatocytes, skin, and pancreatic epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zacharias Fasoulakis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens, Greece.
| | - George Daskalakis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens, Greece
| | - Marianna Theodora
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens, Greece
| | - Panos Antsaklis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Sindos
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens, Greece
| | - Michail Diakosavvas
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens, Greece
| | - Kyveli Angelou
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Loutradis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanuel N Kontomanolis
- Democritus University of Thrace - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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44
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Katarkar A, Bottoni G, Clocchiatti A, Goruppi S, Bordignon P, Lazzaroni F, Gregnanin I, Ostano P, Neel V, Dotto GP. NOTCH1 gene amplification promotes expansion of Cancer Associated Fibroblast populations in human skin. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5126. [PMID: 33046701 PMCID: PMC7550609 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18919-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the tumor microenvironment. Genomic alterations in these cells remain a point of contention. We report that CAFs from skin squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) display chromosomal alterations, with heterogeneous NOTCH1 gene amplification and overexpression that also occur, to a lesser extent, in dermal fibroblasts of apparently unaffected skin. The fraction of the latter cells harboring NOTCH1 amplification is expanded by chronic UVA exposure, to which CAFs are resistant. The advantage conferred by NOTCH1 amplification and overexpression can be explained by NOTCH1 ability to block the DNA damage response (DDR) and ensuing growth arrest through suppression of ATM-FOXO3a association and downstream signaling cascade. In an orthotopic model of skin SCC, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of NOTCH1 activity suppresses cancer/stromal cells expansion. Here we show that NOTCH1 gene amplification and increased expression in CAFs are an attractive target for stroma-focused anti-cancer intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atul Katarkar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Bottoni
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Andrea Clocchiatti
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Sandro Goruppi
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Pino Bordignon
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Lazzaroni
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Ilaria Gregnanin
- Cancer Genomics Laboratory, Edo and Elvo Tempia Valenta Foundation, Biella, 13900, Italy
| | - Paola Ostano
- Cancer Genomics Laboratory, Edo and Elvo Tempia Valenta Foundation, Biella, 13900, Italy
| | - Victor Neel
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - G Paolo Dotto
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland. .,Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA. .,Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02125, USA. .,International Cancer Prevention Institute, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland.
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45
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Li X, Zhou Q, Wang S, Wang P, Li J, Xie Z, Liu C, Wen J, Wu X. Prolonged treatment with Y-27632 promotes the senescence of primary human dermal fibroblasts by increasing the expression of IGFBP-5 and transforming them into a CAF-like phenotype. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:16621-16646. [PMID: 32843583 PMCID: PMC7485707 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Rho-kinases (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 has been shown to promote the growth of epidermal cells, however, its potential effects on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) need to be clarified. Here we show that prolonged treatment of HDFs with Y-27632 decreased their growth by inducing senescence, which was associated with induction of the senescence markers p16 and p21, and downmodulation of the ERK pathways. The senescent HDFs induced by Y-27632 acquired a cancer-associated-fibroblast (CAF)-like phenotype to promote squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell growth in vitro. Expression of a newly identified target of Y-27632 by RNA-seq, insulin growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP-5), was dramatically increased after 24 h of treatment with Y-27632. Adding recombinant IGFBP-5 protein to the culture medium produced similar phenotypes of HDFs as did treatment with Y-27632, and knockdown of IGFBP-5 blocked the Y-27632-induced senescence. Furthermore, Y-27632 induced the expression of an IGFBP-5 upstream gene, GATA4, and knockdown of GATA4 also reduced the Y-27632-induced senescence. In summary, these results demonstrate for the first time that Y-27632 promotes cellular senescence in primary HDFs by inducing the expression of IGFBP-5 and that prolonged treatment with Y-27632 potentially transforms primary HDFs into CAF-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyong Li
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University and Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Biological Resource Utilization in Universities of Shandong and College of Life Science, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University and Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shuangshuang Wang
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University and Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Outpatient Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Biological Resource Utilization in Universities of Shandong and College of Life Science, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Zhiwei Xie
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University and Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, China.,Department of Stomatology, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying, Shandong, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University and Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, China
| | - Jie Wen
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University and Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, China
| | - Xunwei Wu
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University and Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, China
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[Actinic keratosis]. Hautarzt 2020; 71:588-596. [PMID: 32468291 DOI: 10.1007/s00105-020-04612-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Actinic keratoses (AK) are common precancerous cutaneous lesions in fair-skinned individuals as a result of cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Due to their high prevalence, AK account for a large disease burden, in particular in older persons. As AK may potentially progress into invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, guidelines recommend early and consequent treatment. Numerous lesion- and field-directed interventions with different efficacy and safety profiles are currently licensed in Germany. The appropriate intervention should be chosen together with the patient based on his or her motivation and expectations towards the treatment.
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Meisel CT, Porcheri C, Mitsiadis TA. Cancer Stem Cells, Quo Vadis? The Notch Signaling Pathway in Tumor Initiation and Progression. Cells 2020; 9:cells9081879. [PMID: 32796631 PMCID: PMC7463613 DOI: 10.3390/cells9081879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway regulates cell proliferation, cytodifferentiation and cell fate decisions in both embryonic and adult life. Several aspects of stem cell maintenance are dependent from the functionality and fine tuning of the Notch pathway. In cancer, Notch is specifically involved in preserving self-renewal and amplification of cancer stem cells, supporting the formation, spread and recurrence of the tumor. As the function of Notch signaling is context dependent, we here provide an overview of its activity in a variety of tumors, focusing mostly on its role in the maintenance of the undifferentiated subset of cancer cells. Finally, we analyze the potential of molecules of the Notch pathway as diagnostic and therapeutic tools against the various cancers.
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Steeb T, Koch EAT, Wessely A, Wiest LG, Schmitz L, Berking C, Heppt MV. Chemical peelings for the treatment of actinic keratosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2020; 35:641-649. [PMID: 32745330 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.16844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common precancerous lesion of the skin that may be treated with chemical peelings. Despite their long-standing usage and clinical experience, no evidence-based recommendation regarding the efficacy and safety of chemical peelings for AK exists. OBJECTIVES To systematically review and synthesize the current knowledge on chemically exfoliative peelings as interventions for AK. METHODS We performed a systematic literature research in Medline, Embase and CENTRAL and hand-searched pertinent trial registers for eligible records until 5 August 2019. Results from individual studies were pooled using a random-effects model or described in a qualitative synthesis. The risk of bias was estimated with the tools provided by the Cochrane Collaboration (randomized and non-randomized trials) and the Evidence Project (single-arm trials). RESULTS Four randomized controlled trials, two non-randomized controlled trials and two single-arm studies with a total sample size of n = 170 patients were included. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) plus Jessner's solution showed significantly lower participant complete clearance (RR 0.36, 95% CI: 0.14-0.90, two studies, I2 = 0%, P = 0.03) and lower lesion clearance (RR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85-0.99, one study, P = 0.03) compared to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 5% cream. TCA as monotherapy showed lower lesion complete clearance (RR 0.75, 95% CI: 0.69-0.82, two studies, I2 = 7%, P < 0.001) and lower mean lesion reduction per patient compared to conventional photodynamic therapy (cPDT) (MD -20.48, 95% CI: -31.55 to -9.41, two studies, I2 = 43%, P = 0.0003). Pain was more pronounced in patients treated with cPDT in comparison with TCA (MD -1.71 95% CI: -3.02 to -0.41, two studies, I2 = 55%, P = 0.01). In the single-arm studies, 5-FU plus glycolic acid showed 92% lesion clearance and phenol peeling 90.6% participant complete clearance. All studies showed a high risk for bias. CONCLUSIONS Future high-quality studies and a standardization of peeling protocols are warranted to determine the value of chemical peelings in the treatment of AK.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Steeb
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - E A T Koch
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - A Wessely
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - L G Wiest
- Private Practice of Dermatology, Munich, Germany
| | - L Schmitz
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany.,Institute of Dermatopathology, MVZ Corius DermPathBonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - C Berking
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - M V Heppt
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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Ji AL, Rubin AJ, Thrane K, Jiang S, Reynolds DL, Meyers RM, Guo MG, George BM, Mollbrink A, Bergenstråhle J, Larsson L, Bai Y, Zhu B, Bhaduri A, Meyers JM, Rovira-Clavé X, Hollmig ST, Aasi SZ, Nolan GP, Lundeberg J, Khavari PA. Multimodal Analysis of Composition and Spatial Architecture in Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cell 2020; 182:497-514.e22. [PMID: 32579974 PMCID: PMC7391009 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 416] [Impact Index Per Article: 104.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To define the cellular composition and architecture of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), we combined single-cell RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptomics and multiplexed ion beam imaging from a series of human cSCCs and matched normal skin. cSCC exhibited four tumor subpopulations, three recapitulating normal epidermal states, and a tumor-specific keratinocyte (TSK) population unique to cancer, which localized to a fibrovascular niche. Integration of single-cell and spatial data mapped ligand-receptor networks to specific cell types, revealing TSK cells as a hub for intercellular communication. Multiple features of potential immunosuppression were observed, including T regulatory cell (Treg) co-localization with CD8 T cells in compartmentalized tumor stroma. Finally, single-cell characterization of human tumor xenografts and in vivo CRISPR screens identified essential roles for specific tumor subpopulation-enriched gene networks in tumorigenesis. These data define cSCC tumor and stromal cell subpopulations, the spatial niches where they interact, and the communicating gene networks that they engage in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Ji
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Adam J Rubin
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kim Thrane
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Gene Technology, Tomtebodavägen 23, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Sizun Jiang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David L Reynolds
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Robin M Meyers
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Margaret G Guo
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Benson M George
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Annelie Mollbrink
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Gene Technology, Tomtebodavägen 23, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Joseph Bergenstråhle
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Gene Technology, Tomtebodavägen 23, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Ludvig Larsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Gene Technology, Tomtebodavägen 23, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Yunhao Bai
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Bokai Zhu
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Aparna Bhaduri
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94122, USA
| | - Jordan M Meyers
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Xavier Rovira-Clavé
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - S Tyler Hollmig
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sumaira Z Aasi
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Garry P Nolan
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joakim Lundeberg
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Gene Technology, Tomtebodavägen 23, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Paul A Khavari
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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Prognostic Significance of RAS Mutations and P53 Expression in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070751. [PMID: 32640663 PMCID: PMC7397334 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TP53 is considered the most commonly-altered gene in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Conversely, RAS mutations have been reported in a low percentage of cSCC. The objective of our study was to evaluate the frequency of p53 expression and RAS mutations in cSCC and correlate them with clinicopathological features and patient outcome. We performed immunohistochemistry for p53 and genetic profiling for RAS mutations in a retrospective series of cSCC. The predictive value of p53 expression, RAS mutations, and clinicopathological parameters was assessed using logistic regression models. The overall frequency of RAS mutations was 9.3% (15/162), and 82.1% of the cases (133/162) had p53 overexpression. RAS mutations rate was 3.2% (1/31) of in situ cSCCs and 10.7% (14/131) of invasive cSCCs. RAS mutations were more frequently associated with an infiltrative than an expansive pattern of invasion (p = 0.046). p53 overexpression was a predictor of recurrence in the univariate analysis. Our results indicate that RAS mutations associate with features of local aggressiveness. Larger studies with more recurrent and metastatic cSCCs are necessary to further address the prognostic significance of p53 overexpression in patients’ risk stratification.
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