Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of the RUNX3 expression in gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of LKB1 expression in gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Many studies report Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) plays a critical role in gastric cancer (GC). However, the relationship between LKB1 and the clinicopathological parameters of GC patients remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the above question and re-evaluate the prognostic significance of LKB1 in GC patients. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, CNKI, and Wan Fang to identify relevant studies published before April 20, 2023. After careful screening, 11 studies involving 1767 patients were included. We found that LKB1 expression was significantly related to tumor size (OR 0.515; 95% CI 0.316-0.839; P < 0.01), differentiation (OR 0.643; 95% CI 0.521-0.794; P < 0.001), depth of invasion (OR 0.397; 95% CI 0.319-0.494; P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (OR 0.487; 95% CI 0.397-0.598; P = 0.01), and TNM stage (OR 0.362; 95% CI 0.293-0.447; P = 0.006). However, LKB1 was unrelated to gender and age (P > 0.05). Moreover, low LKB1 expression was significant correlate with overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.59; 95% CI 1.29-1.96; P < 0.001). In conclusion, LKB1 expression is related to tumor size, differentiation, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage, and low LKB1 expression can predict a poor prognosis. LKB1 is a potentially valuable prognosis signature and therapeutic target in GC patients.

Antitumor activity of RUNX3: Upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

RUNX3 is a transcription factor and tumor suppressor that is silenced or inactivated in diverse tumors. The effect of RUNX3 on the epithelial–mesenchymal transition in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) remains unclear. We determined the expression of RUNX3 and E-cadherin in tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of 30 CCRCC patients; established cultured CCRCC cells with the overexpression of RUNX3; and examined the in vivo tumorigenic function of RUNX3 in a nude mouse xenograft model of CCRCC. RUNX3 and E-cadherin were downregulated in human CCRCC samples. Cell lines with RUNX3 overexpression had reduced cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, a prolonged cell cycle, increased apoptosis, and increased expression of E-cadherin. In the nude mouse xenograft model of CCRCC, tumors with the overexpression of RUNX3 had smaller volumes and weights and had increased expression of E-cadherin. In conclusion, RUNX3 overexpression increased the level of E-cadherin and inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of CCRCC in vitro and in vivo. RUNX3 has potential use as a biomarker for prognostic monitoring of CCRCC and as a therapeutic target for the treatment of this cancer.

The HIF-1α as a Potent Inducer of the Hallmarks in Gastric Cancer

Simple Summary

Gastric cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors in the clinic that is resistant to chemotherapy. Gastric tumors are rich in hypoxic niches, and high expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, strategies that target hypoxia-inducible factor-1α signaling may be highly effective in gastric cancer treatment. However, the precise mechanisms by which hypoxia-inducible factor-1α induces tumor hallmarks in gastric cancer are yet unrevealed. Here, we review the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α as a potent inducer of the cancer hallmarks in gastric cancer to provide a broad perspective and reveal missing links investigating which may offer new strategies to target hypoxia-inducible factor-1α signaling in gastric cancer.

Abstract

Hypoxia is the principal architect of the topographic heterogeneity in tumors. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) reinforces all hallmarks of cancer and donates cancer cells with more aggressive characteristics at hypoxic niches. HIF-1α potently induces sustained growth factor signaling, angiogenesis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and replicative immortality. Hypoxia leads to the selection of cancer cells that evade growth suppressors or apoptotic triggers and deregulates cellular energetics. HIF-1α is also associated with genetic instability, tumor-promoting inflammation, and escape from immunity. Therefore, HIF-1α may be an important therapeutic target in cancer. Despite that, the drug market lacks safe and efficacious anti-HIF-1α molecules, raising the quest for fully unveiling the complex interactome of HIF-1α in cancer to discover more effective strategies. The knowledge gap is even wider in gastric cancer, where the number of studies on hypoxia is relatively low compared to other well-dissected cancers. A comprehensive review of the molecular mechanisms by which HIF-1α induces gastric cancer hallmarks could provide a broad perspective to the investigators and reveal missing links to explore in future studies. Thus, here we review the impact of HIF-1α on the cancer hallmarks with a specific focus on gastric cancer.

Infection with a hypervirulent strain of Helicobacter pylori primes gastric cells toward intestinal transdifferentiation

BACKGROUND

Intestinal metaplasia, gastric-to-intestinal transdifferentiation, occurs as a result of the misexpression of certain regulatory factors, leading to genetic reprogramming. Here, we have evaluated the H. pylori-induced expression patterns of these candidate genes.

METHODS

The expression levels of 1) tissue-specific transcription factors (RUNX3, KLF5, SOX2, SALL4, CDX1 and CDX2), 2) stemness factors (TNFRSF19, LGR5, VIL1) and 3) tissue-specific mucins (MUC5AC, MUC2) were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR in gastric primary cells (GPCs), in parallel with two gastric cancer (MKN45 and AGS) cell lines, up to 96h following H. pylori infection.

RESULTS

Following H. pylori infection of GPCs, RUNX3 declined at 24h post infection (-6.2 ± 0.3) and remained downregulated for up to 96h. Subsequently, overexpression of self-renewal and pluripotency transcription factors, KLF5 (3.6 ± 0.2), SOX2 (7.6 ± 0.5) and SALL4 (4.3 ± 0.2) occurred. The expression of TNFRSF19 and LGR5, demonstrated opposing trends, with an early rise of the former (4.5 ± 0.3) at 8h, and a simultaneous fall of the latter (-1.8 ± 0.5). This trend was reversed at 96h, with the decline in TNFRSF19 (-5.5 ± 0.2), and escalation of LGR5 (2.6 ± 0.2) and VIL1 (1.8 ± 0.3). Ultimately, CDX1 and CDX2 were upregulated by 1.9 and 4.7-fold, respectively. The above scenario was, variably observed in MKN45 and AGS cells.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggests an interdependent gene regulatory network, induced by H. pylori infection. This interaction begins with the downregulation of RUNX3, upregulation of self-renewal and pluripotency transcription factors, KLF5, SOX2 and SALL4, leading to the downregulation of TNFRSF19, upregulation of LGR5 and aberrant expression of intestine-specific transcription factors, potentially facilitating the process of gastric-to-intestinal transdifferentiation.

DNA methylation analysis with methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM) reveals gene panel for glioma characteristics

INTRODUCTION

Local DNA hypermethylation is a potential source of cancer biomarkers. While the evaluation of single gene methylation has limited value, their selected panel may provide better information.

AIMS

This study aimed to analyze the promoter methylation level in a 7-gene panel in brain tumors and verifies the usefulness of methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM) for this purpose.

METHODS

Forty-six glioma samples and one non-neoplastic brain sample were analyzed by MS-HRM in terms of SFRP1, SFRP2, RUNX3, CBLN4, INA, MGMT, and RASSF1A promoter methylation. The results were correlated with patients' clinicopathological features.

RESULTS

DNA methylation level of all analyzed genes was significantly higher in brain tumor samples as compared to non-neoplastic brain and commercial, unmethylated DNA control. RASSF1A was the most frequently methylated gene, with statistically significant differences depending on the tumor WHO grade. Higher MGMT methylation levels were observed in females, whereas the levels of SFRP1 and INA promoter methylation significantly increased with patients' age. A positive correlation of promoter methylation levels was observed between pairs of genes, for example, CBLN4 and INA or MGMT and RASSF1A.

CONCLUSIONS

Our 7-gene panel of promoter methylation can be helpful in brain tumor diagnosis or characterization, and MS-HRM is a suitable method for its analysis.