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Chen W, Kang Y, Sheng W, Huang Q, Cheng J, Pei S, Meng Y. A new 4-gene-based prognostic model accurately predicts breast cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response by integrating WGCNA and bioinformatics analysis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1331841. [PMID: 38370403 PMCID: PMC10869553 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1331841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer (BRCA) is a common malignancy in women, and its resistance to immunotherapy is a major challenge. Abnormal expression of genes is important in the occurrence and development of BRCA and may also affect the prognosis of patients. Although many BRCA prognosis model scores have been developed, they are only applicable to a limited number of disease subtypes. Our goal is to develop a new prognostic score that is more accurate and applicable to a wider range of BRCA patients. Methods BRCA patient data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to identify breast cancer-related genes (BRGs). Differential expression analysis of BRGs was performed using the 'limma' package in R. Prognostic BRGs were identified using co-expression and univariate Cox analysis. A predictive model of four BRGs was established using Cox regression and the LASSO algorithm. Model performance was evaluated using K-M survival and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The predictive ability of the signature in immune microenvironment and immunotherapy was investigated. In vitro experiments validated POLQ function. Results Our study identified a four-BRG prognostic signature that outperformed conventional clinicopathological characteristics in predicting survival outcomes in BRCA patients. The signature effectively stratified BRCA patients into high- and low-risk groups and showed potential in predicting the response to immunotherapy. Notably, significant differences were observed in immune cell abundance between the two groups. In vitro experiments demonstrated that POLQ knockdown significantly reduced the viability, proliferation, and invasion capacity of MDA-MB-231 or HCC1806 cells. Conclusion Our 4-BRG signature has the potential as an independent biomarker for predicting prognosis and treatment response in BRCA patients, complementing existing clinicopathological characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Chen
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yakun Kang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenyi Sheng
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qiyan Huang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiale Cheng
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shengbin Pei
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - You Meng
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
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Xu Y, Liu K, Li C, Li M, Liu F, Zhou X, Sun M, Ranganathan M, Zhang L, Wang S, Hu X, Xu Y. The Largest Chinese Cohort Study Indicates Homologous Recombination Pathway Gene Mutations as Another Major Genetic Risk Factor for Colorectal Cancer with Heterogeneous Clinical Phenotypes. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2023; 6:0249. [PMID: 37854294 PMCID: PMC10581333 DOI: 10.34133/research.0249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
While genetic factors were associated with over 30% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, mutations in CRC-susceptibility genes were identified in only 5% to 10% of these patients. Besides, previous studies on hereditary CRC were largely designed to analyze germline mutations in patients with single genetic high-risk factor, which limited understanding of the association between genotype and phenotypes. From January 2015 to December 2018, we retrospectively enrolled 2,181 patients from 8,270 consecutive CRC cases, covering 5 categories of genetic high-risk factors. Leukocyte genomic DNA was analyzed for germline mutations in cancer predisposition genes. The germline mutations under each category were detected and analyzed in association with CRC susceptibility, clinical phenotypes, and prognoses. A total of 462 pathogenic variants were detected in 19.3% of enrolled CRC patients. Mismatch repair gene mutation was identified in 9.1% of patients, most prevalent across all high-risk groups. Homologous recombination (HR) gene mutations were detected in 6.5% of cases, penetrated in early-onset and extra-colonic cancer risk groups. Mutations in HR genes, including BARD1, RAD50, and ATM, were found to increase CRC risk with odds ratios of 2.8-, 3.1-, and 3.1-fold, respectively. CRC patients with distinct germline mutations manifested heterogeneous phenotypes in clinicopathology and long-term prognoses. Thus, germline mutation screenings should be performed for CRC patients with any of those genetic risk factors. This study also reveals that HR gene mutations may be another major driver for increased CRC risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Xu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Cong Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Minghan Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Fangqi Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhou
- Department of Pathology,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Menghong Sun
- Department of Pathology, Tissue Bank,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Megha Ranganathan
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Liying Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine,
University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xin Hu
- Precision Cancer Medical Center,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ye Xu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
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Fanale D, Corsini LR, Pedone E, Randazzo U, Fiorino A, Di Piazza M, Brando C, Magrin L, Contino S, Piraino P, Bazan Russo TD, Cipolla C, Russo A, Bazan V. Potential agnostic role of BRCA alterations in patients with several solid tumors: One for all, all for one? Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023; 190:104086. [PMID: 37536445 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Germline BRCA1/2 alterations in the Homologous Recombination (HR) pathway are considered as main susceptibility biomarkers to Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancers (HBOC). The modern molecular biology technologies allowed to characterize germline and somatic BRCA1/2 alterations in several malignancies, broadening the landscape of BRCA1/2-alterated tumors. In the last years, BRCA genetic testing, beyond the preventive value, also assumed a predictive and prognostic significance for patient management. The approval of molecules with agnostic indication is leading to a new clinical model, defined "mutational". Among these drugs, the Poly (ADP)-Ribose Polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) for BRCA1/2-deficient tumors were widely studied leading to increasing therapeutic implications. In this Review we provided an overview of the main clinical studies describing the association between BRCA-mutated tumors and PARPi response, focusing on the controversial evidence about the potential agnostic indication based on BRCA1/2 alterations in several solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Fanale
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Lidia Rita Corsini
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Erika Pedone
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Ugo Randazzo
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessia Fiorino
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Marianna Di Piazza
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Chiara Brando
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luigi Magrin
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Silvia Contino
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Paola Piraino
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Tancredi Didier Bazan Russo
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Calogero Cipolla
- Division of General and Oncological Surgery, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Russo
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Viviana Bazan
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
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DNA Damage Response Inhibitors in Cholangiocarcinoma: Current Progress and Perspectives. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091463. [PMID: 35563769 PMCID: PMC9101358 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a poorly treatable type of cancer and its incidence is dramatically increasing. The lack of understanding of the biology of this tumor has slowed down the identification of novel targets and the development of effective treatments. Based on next generation sequencing profiling, alterations in DNA damage response (DDR)-related genes are paving the way for DDR-targeting strategies in CCA. Based on the notion of synthetic lethality, several DDR-inhibitors (DDRi) have been developed with the aim of accumulating enough DNA damage to induce cell death in tumor cells. Observing that DDRi alone could be insufficient for clinical use in CCA patients, the combination of DNA-damaging regimens with targeted approaches has started to be considered, as evidenced by many emerging clinical trials. Hence, novel therapeutic strategies combining DDRi with patient-specific targeted drugs could be the next level for treating cholangiocarcinoma.
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DNA Methylation Malleability and Dysregulation in Cancer Progression: Understanding the Role of PARP1. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030417. [PMID: 35327610 PMCID: PMC8946700 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian genomic DNA methylation represents a key epigenetic modification and its dynamic regulation that fine-tunes the gene expression of multiple pathways during development. It maintains the gene expression of one generation of cells; particularly, the mitotic inheritance of gene-expression patterns makes it the key governing mechanism of epigenetic change to the next generation of cells. Convincing evidence from recent discoveries suggests that the dynamic regulation of DNA methylation is accomplished by the enzymatic action of TET dioxygenase, which oxidizes the methyl group of cytosine and activates transcription. As a result of aberrant DNA modifications, genes are improperly activated or inhibited in the inappropriate cellular context, contributing to a plethora of inheritable diseases, including cancer. We outline recent advancements in understanding how DNA modifications contribute to tumor suppressor gene silencing or oncogenic-gene stimulation, as well as dysregulation of DNA methylation in cancer progression. In addition, we emphasize the function of PARP1 enzymatic activity or inhibition in the maintenance of DNA methylation dysregulation. In the context of cancer remediation, the impact of DNA methylation and PARP1 pharmacological inhibitors, and their relevance as a combination therapy are highlighted.
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