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Busch EL, Crous-Bou M, Prescott J, Downing MJ, Rosner BA, Mutter GL, De Vivo I. Adiponectin, Leptin, and Insulin-Pathway Receptors as Endometrial Cancer Subtyping Markers. Discov Oncol 2018; 9:33-39. [PMID: 29297146 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-017-0318-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing a system of molecular subtyping for endometrial tumors might improve insight into disease etiology and clinical prediction of patient outcomes. High body mass index (BMI) has been implicated in development of endometrial cancer through hormonal pathways and might influence tumor expression of biomarkers involved in BMI-sensitive pathways. We evaluated whether endometrial tumor expression of 7 markers from BMI-sensitive pathways of insulin resistance could effectively characterize molecular subtypes: adiponectin receptor 1, adiponectin receptor 2, leptin receptor, insulin receptor (beta subunit), insulin receptor substrate 1, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, and insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor. Using endometrial carcinoma tissue specimens from a case-only prospective sample of 360 women from the Nurses' Health Study, we scored categorical immunohistochemical measurements of protein expression for each marker. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between endometrial cancer risk factors, especially BMI, and tumor marker expression. Proportional hazard modeling was performed to estimate associations between marker expression and time to all-cause mortality as well as time to endometrial cancer-specific mortality. No association was observed between BMI and tumor expression of any marker. No marker was associated with time to either all-cause mortality or endometrial cancer-specific mortality in models with or without standard clinical predictors of patient mortality (tumor stage, grade, and histologic type). It did not appear that any of the markers evaluated here could be used effectively to define molecular subtypes of endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan L Busch
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Marta Crous-Bou
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Clinical Research Unit, BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jennifer Prescott
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael J Downing
- Division of Women's and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bernard A Rosner
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - George L Mutter
- Division of Women's and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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2
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Westley RL, May FEB. A twenty-first century cancer epidemic caused by obesity: the involvement of insulin, diabetes, and insulin-like growth factors. Int J Endocrinol 2013; 2013:632461. [PMID: 23983688 PMCID: PMC3747439 DOI: 10.1155/2013/632461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 03/25/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the developed world. The progression from obesity to diabetes mellitus type 2, via metabolic syndrome, is recognised, and the significant associated increase in the risk of major human cancers acknowledged. We review the molecular basis of the involvement of morbidly high concentrations of endogenous or therapeutic insulin and of insulin-like growth factors in the progression from obesity to diabetes and finally to cancer. Epidemiological and biochemical studies establish the role of insulin and hyperinsulinaemia in cancer risk and progression. Insulin-like growth factors, IGF-1 and IGF-2, secreted by visceral or mammary adipose tissue have significant paracrine and endocrine effects. These effects can be exacerbated by increased steroid hormone production. Structural studies elucidate how each of the three ligands, insulin, IGF-1, and IGF-2, interacts differently with isoforms A and B of the insulin receptor and with type I IGF receptor and explain how these protagonists contribute to diabetes-associated cancer. The above should inform appropriate treatment of cancers that arise in obese individuals and in those with diabetes mellitus type 2. Novel drugs that target the insulin and insulin-like growth factor signal transduction pathways are in clinical trial and should be effective if appropriate biomarker-informed patient stratification is implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalyne L. Westley
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Felicity E. B. May
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
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3
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Abstract
The IGF (insulin-like growth factor) system is essential for physiological growth and it is also implicated in a number of diseases including cancer. IGF activity is modulated by a family of high-affinity IGF-binding proteins, and IGFBP-6 is distinctive because of its marked binding preference for IGF-II over IGF-I. A principal role for IGFBP-6 is inhibition of IGF-II actions, but recent studies have indicated that IGFBP-6 also has IGF-independent effects, including inhibition of angiogenesis and promotion of cancer cell migration. The present review briefly summarizes the IGF system in physiology and disease before focusing on recent studies on the regulation and actions of IGFBP-6, and its potential roles in cancer cells. Given the widespread interest in IGF inhibition in cancer therapeutics, increasing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the actions of the IGF ligands, receptors and binding proteins, including IGFBP-6, will enhance our ability to develop optimal treatments that can be targeted to the most appropriate patients.
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4
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Spirina LV, Yunusova NV, Kondakova IV, Kolomiets LA, Koval VD, Chernyshova AL, Shpileva OV. Association of growth factors, HIF-1 and NF-κB expression with proteasomes in endometrial cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39:8655-62. [PMID: 22711307 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-012-1720-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) are known to play an important role in endometrial cancer pathogenesis. However, the proteolytic regulation of these factors is still poorly understood. We studied the correlation between chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasomes and IGF-I, IGF-II, VEGF, HIF-1, and NF-κB levels in endometrial cancer tissues. It was shown that the total activity of proteasomes and the activity of the 20S and 26S proteasomes in malignant tumors were significantly higher than those observed in the normal endometrium. Negative relationships between the proteasome activity and IGF-I, HIF-1, and NF-κB p50 expressions were found. High 20S proteasome activity was associated with increase of HIF-1 level. Positive relationships between IGF-I expression and two classic forms of NF-κB p50 and p65 in endometrial cancer were revealed. The data obtained indicate the possible proteasomal regulation of growth and transcription factors. The major pool of IGF-I is located in the extracellular space, and it is likely that extracellular proteasomes also take part in the regulation of the IGF-I content. The present data show the evidence of proteasome regulation of growth and nuclear factors that can play an important role in cancer pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludmila V Spirina
- Cancer Research Institute of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tomsk, Russia.
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5
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Wang S, Aarts JMMJG, Evers NM, Peijnenburg AACM, Rietjens IMCM, Bovee TFH. Proliferation assays for estrogenicity testing with high predictive value for the in vivo uterotrophic effect. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2012; 128:98-106. [PMID: 22138011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2011.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2011] [Revised: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Proliferation assays based on human cell lines are the most used in vitro tests to determine estrogenic properties of compounds. Our objective was to characterise to what extent these in vitro tests provide alternatives for the in vivo Allen and Doisy test, a uterotrophic assay in immature or ovariectomised rodents with uterus weight as a crucial read-out parameter. In the present study four different human cell lines derived from three different female estrogen-sensitive tissues, i.e. breast (MCF-7/BOS and T47D), endometrial (ECC-1) and ovarian (BG-1) cells, were characterised by investigating their relative ERα and ERβ amounts, as the ERα/ERβ ratio is a dominant factor determining their estrogen-dependent proliferative responses. All four cell lines clearly expressed the ERα type and a very low but detectable amount of ERβ on both the mRNA and protein level, with the T47D cell line expressing the highest level of the ERβ type. Subsequently, a set of reference compounds representing different modes of estrogen action and estrogenic potency were used to investigate the proliferative response in the four cell lines, to determine which cell line most accurately predicts the effect observed in vivo. All four cell lines revealed a reasonable to good correlation with the in vivo uterotrophic effect, with the correlation being highest for the MCF-7/BOS cell line (R²=0.85). The main differences between the in vivo uterotrophic assay and the in vitro proliferation assays were observed for tamoxifen and testosterone. The proliferative response of the MCF-7/BOS cells to testosterone was partially caused by its conversion to estradiol by aromatase or via androstenedione to estrone. It is concluded that of the four cell lines tested, the best assay to include in an integrated testing strategy for replacement of the in vivo uterotrophic assay is the human MCF-7/BOS breast cancer cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Wang
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Tuinlaan 5, 6703 HE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Mokhtar NM, Ramzi NH, Yin-Ling W, Rose IM, Hatta Mohd Dali AZ, Jamal R. Laser capture microdissection with genome-wide expression profiling displayed gene expression signatures in endometrioid endometrial cancer. Cancer Invest 2011; 30:156-64. [PMID: 22122087 DOI: 10.3109/07357907.2011.633290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
This research determined genes contributing to the pathogenesis of endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC). Eight pairs of microdissected EEC samples matched with normal glandular epithelium were analyzed using microarray. Unsupervised analysis identified 162 transcripts (58 up- and 104 down-regulated) that were differentially expressed (p < .01, fold change ≥ 1.5) between both groups. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validated the genes of interest: SLC7A5, SATB1, H19, and ZAK (p < .05). Pathway analysis revealed genes involved in acid amino transport, translation, and chromatin remodeling (p < .05). Laser capture microdissection (LCM) followed by microarray enabled precise assessment of homogeneous cell population and identified putative genes for endometrial carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norfilza Mohd Mokhtar
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Cheras 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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7
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Azrad M, Chang PL, Gower BA, Hunter GR, Nagy TR. Reduced mitogenicity of sera following weight loss in premenopausal women. Nutr Cancer 2011; 63:916-23. [PMID: 21774593 PMCID: PMC3209713 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2011.594209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
We investigated whether serum from normal weight women is less mitogenic and more apoptotic than sera from the same women in the overweight state. Sera from premenopausal women, age (mean ± SEE) 34.6 ± 0.53 years, who were randomized to caloric restriction (CR) (n = 13), CR + aerobic exercise (AE) (n = 14), or CR + resistance training (RT) (n = 20) were used to culture endometrial cancer cells. Phases of the cell cycle were determined, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positivity was used to assess proliferation and apoptosis was assessed by determining cleaved caspase-3 and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Analyses showed that overall, cells grown in sera from the weight-reduced state had significantly more cells in G0/G1 and significantly fewer cells in the S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle than cells grown in sera from the overweight state. PCNA staining confirmed that cells grown in sera from the weight-reduced state had fewer proliferating cells. Cleaved caspase-3 and PARP were not different in cells grown in sera from the weight-reduced state compared to the overweight state. We conclude that weight loss with or without exercise could lower the risk for cancer through changes in serum that result in reduced cellular mitogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Azrad
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, 35294, USA
| | - Pi-Ling Chang
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, 35294, USA
| | - Barbara A. Gower
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, 35294, USA
| | - Gary R. Hunter
- Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, 35294, USA
| | - Tim R. Nagy
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, 35294, USA
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8
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Jaffer S, Shynlova O, Lye S. Mammalian target of rapamycin is activated in association with myometrial proliferation during pregnancy. Endocrinology 2009; 150:4672-80. [PMID: 19589861 DOI: 10.1210/en.2009-0419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The adaptive growth of the uterus during gestation involves gradual changes in cellular phenotypes from the early proliferative to the intermediate synthetic phase of cellular hypertrophy, ending in the final contractile/labour phenotype. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway regulates cell growth and proliferation in many tissues. We hypothesized that mTOR was a mediator of hormone-initiated myometrial hyperplasia during gestation. The protein expression and phosphorylation levels of mTOR, its upstream regulators [insulin receptor substrate-1, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), Akt], and downstream effectors [S6-kinase-1 (S6K1) and eI4FE-binding protein 1 (4EBP1)] were analyzed throughout normal pregnancy in rats. In addition, we used an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model to analyze the modulation of the mTOR pathway and proliferative activity of the uterine myocytes by estradiol alone and in combination with the mTOR-specific inhibitor rapamycin. Our results demonstrate that insulin receptor substrate-1 protein levels and the phosphorylated (activated) forms of PI3K, mTOR, and S6K1 were significantly up-regulated in the rat myometrium during the proliferative phase of pregnancy. Treatment of the OVX rats with estradiol caused a transient increase in IGF-I followed by an up-regulation of the PI3K/mTOR pathway, which became apparent by a cascade of phosphorylation reactions (P-P85, P-Akt, P-mTOR, P-S6K1, and P-4EBP1). Rapamycin blocked activation of P-mTOR, P-S6K1, and P-4EBP1 proteins and significantly reduced the number of proliferating cells in the myometrium of OVX rats. Our in vivo data demonstrate that estradiol was able to activate the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway in uterine myocytes and suggest that this activation is responsible for the induction of myometrial hyperplasia during early gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabana Jaffer
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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9
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Gielen SCJP, Santegoets LAM, Hanifi-Moghaddam P, Burger CW, Blok LJ. Signaling by estrogens and tamoxifen in the human endometrium. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2008; 109:219-23. [PMID: 18434135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2008.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Tamoxifen is used as adjuvant treatment for postmenopausal breast cancer patients. The mechanism of action of tamoxifen in breast cancer patients is that tamoxifen inhibits growth of cancer cells by competitive antagonism for estrogens at the estrogen receptor (ER). In the endometrium, tamoxifen has an effect that varies with the ambient concentration of estrogen: in premenopausal women (high estrogen levels), tamoxifen displays an estrogen-antagonistic effect, while in postmenopausal women (low estrogen levels), tamoxifen displays an estrogen-agonistic mode of action. Here, using microarray technology we have compared estrogen signaling with tamoxifen signaling in the human endometrium. It was observed that on the one hand tamoxifen-treatment results in modulation of expression of specific genes (370 genes) and on the other hand tamoxifen-treatment results in modulation of a set of genes which are also regulated by estrogen treatment (142 genes). Upon focusing on regulation of proliferation, we found that tamoxifen-induced endometrial proliferation is largely accomplished by using the same set of genes as are regulated by estradiol. So, as far as regulation of proliferation goes, tamoxifen seems to act as estrogen agonist. Furthermore, tamoxifen-specific gene regulation may explain why tamoxifen-induced endometrial tumors behave more aggressively than sporadic endometrial tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne C J P Gielen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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10
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Gielen SCJP, Santegoets LAM, Kühne LCM, Van Ijcken WFJ, Boers-Sijmons B, Hanifi-Moghaddam P, Helmerhorst TJM, Blok LJ, Burger CW. Genomic and nongenomic effects of estrogen signaling in human endometrial cells: involvement of the growth factor receptor signaling downstream AKT pathway. Reprod Sci 2008; 14:646-54. [PMID: 18000226 DOI: 10.1177/1933719107306872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
For the endometrium, estradiol and tamoxifen induce proliferation, and consequently, tamoxifen treatment of breast cancer results in a 2-fold to 7-fold increased risk for endometrial cancer. Here, the role of activation of growth factor receptor signaling in mediating the effects of estrogen and tamoxifen is determined. Microarray analysis of ECC-1 cells treated with estradiol or tamoxifen indicate that rapid responses to treatment (1 hour) are very distinct from long-term responses (>24 hours). Furthermore, estradiol and tamoxifen are observed to induce AKT activation. Comparing long-term estrogen- and tamoxifen-regulated genes with genes regulated by insulin-like growth factor 1 and amphiregulin reveals that the late effects of estrogen and tamoxifen signaling may partly be mediated via activation of growth factor receptor signaling pathways. It is hypothesized that both early and late effects of estrogen and tamoxifen signaling in the endometrium are partly mediated via the activation of growth factor receptor signaling, putatively at the level of AKT activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sussane C J P Gielen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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11
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Bakkum-Gamez JN, Gonzalez-Bosquet J, Laack NN, Mariani A, Dowdy SC. Current issues in the management of endometrial cancer. Mayo Clin Proc 2008; 83:97-112. [PMID: 18174012 DOI: 10.4065/83.1.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) remains the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States. It is expected to become more common as the prevalence of obesity, one of the most common risk factors for EC, increases worldwide. The 2 main histologic subcategories of EC, endometrioid and nonendometrioid EC, show unique molecular aberrations and are responsible for markedly disparate clinical behaviors. The primary treatment of EC is surgery, ie, hysterectomy, removal of the adnexa, and pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, either via laparotomy or endoscopic techniques. Adjuvant therapy is necessary for patients at high risk of recurrence and consists of vaginal brachytherapy, teletherapy, systemic chemotherapy, or some combination thereof. Multi-institutional trials are in progress in this country and in Europe to better define optimal adjuvant treatment for subsets of patients, as well as the role of surgical staging in reducing both overuse and underuse of radiation therapy. Hormonal therapy is an option for some young women with EC who wish to preserve fertility. This review summarizes the diagnosis and management of EC and discusses current controversies and upcoming investigations pertaining to EC staging and adjuvant treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie N Bakkum-Gamez
- Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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12
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Xie Y, Liu J, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Ward JM, Logsdon D, Diwan BA, Waalkes MP. Aberrant DNA methylation and gene expression in livers of newborn mice transplacentally exposed to a hepatocarcinogenic dose of inorganic arsenic. Toxicology 2007; 236:7-15. [PMID: 17451858 PMCID: PMC2465467 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2007.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2007] [Revised: 03/16/2007] [Accepted: 03/21/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Our prior work showed that brief exposure of pregnant C3H mice to inorganic arsenic-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) formation in adult male offspring. The current study examined the early hepatic events associated with this oncogenic transformation. Pregnant mice were exposed to a known carcinogenic dose of arsenic (85 ppm) in the drinking water from gestation days 8 to 18. The dams were allowed to give birth and liver samples from newborn males were analyzed for arsenic content, global DNA methylation and aberrant expression of genes relevant to the carcinogenic process. Arsenic content in newborn liver reached 57 ng/g wet weight, indicating arsenic had crossed the placenta, reached the fetal liver and that significant amounts remained after birth. Global methylation status of hepatic DNA was not altered by arsenic in the newborn. However, a significant reduction in methylation occurred globally in GC-rich regions. Microarray and real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that arsenic exposure enhanced expression of genes encoding for glutathione production and caused aberrant expression of genes related to insulin growth factor signaling pathways and cytochrome P450 enzymes. Other expression alterations observed in the arsenic-treated male mouse newborn liver included the overexpression of cdk-inhibitors and stress response genes including increased expression of metallothionein-1 and decreased expression of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase and thioether S-methyltransferase. Thus, transplacental exposure to arsenic at a hepatocarcinogenic dose induces alterations in DNA methylation and a complex set of aberrant gene expressions in the newborn liver, a target of arsenic carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxiong Xie
- Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Jie Liu
- Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Lamia Benbrahim-Tallaa
- Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Jerry M. Ward
- The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel Logsdon
- Office of Laboratory Animal Science, NCI-Frederick, MD, United States
| | | | - Michael P. Waalkes
- Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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13
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Shen J, Liu J, Xie Y, Diwan BA, Waalkes MP. Fetal onset of aberrant gene expression relevant to pulmonary carcinogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma development induced by in utero arsenic exposure. Toxicol Sci 2007; 95:313-20. [PMID: 17077188 PMCID: PMC2692318 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfl151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenic is a human pulmonary carcinogen. Our work indicates that in utero arsenic exposure in mice can induce or initiate lung cancer in female offspring. To define early molecular changes, pregnant C3H mice were given 85 ppm arsenic in drinking water from days 8 to 18 of gestation and expression of selected genes in the fetal lung or in lung tumors developing in adults was examined. Transplacental arsenic exposure increased estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) transcript and protein levels in the female fetal lung. An overexpression of various estrogen-regulated genes also occurred, including trefoil factor-3, anterior gradient-2, and the steroid metabolism genes 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 and aromatase. The insulin growth factor system, which can be influenced by ER and has been implicated in the pulmonary oncogenic process, was activated in fetal lung after gestational arsenic exposure. In utero arsenic exposure also induced overexpression of alpha-fetoprotein, epidermal growth factor receptor, L-myc, and metallothionein-1 in fetal lung, all of which are associated with lung cancer. Lung adenoma and adenocarcinoma from adult female mice exposed to arsenic in utero showed widespread, intense nuclear ER-alpha expression. In contrast, normal adult lung and diethylnitrosamine-induced lung adenocarcinoma showed little evidence of ER-alpha expression. Thus, transplacental arsenic exposure at a carcinogenic dose produced aberrant estrogen-linked pulmonary gene expression. ER-alpha activation was specifically associated with arsenic-induced lung adenocarcinoma and adenoma but not with nitrosamine-induced lung tumors. These data provide evidence that arsenic-induced aberrant ER signaling could disrupt early life stage genetic programing in the lung leading eventually to lung tumor formation much later in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Shen
- Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Jie Liu
- Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Yaxiong Xie
- Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Bhalchandra A. Diwan
- Basic Research Program, Science Applications International Corp. at Frederick, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Michael P. Waalkes
- Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
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Zhang H, Yee D. Is the type I insulin-like growth factor receptor a therapeutic target in endometrial cancer? Clin Cancer Res 2007; 12:6323-5. [PMID: 17085640 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-1707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
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15
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Kabir-Salmani M, Shimizu Y, Sakai K, Iwashita M. Posttranslational modifications of decidual IGFBP-1 by steroid hormones in vitro. Mol Hum Reprod 2005; 11:667-71. [PMID: 16126771 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gah222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) appears to regulate insulin-like growth factors (IGFs; IGF-I and IGF-II) biological activity within the local environment of human placenta by modulating IGFs interaction with their receptors. Considering that posttranslational modifications of IGFBP-1 such as phosphorylation and proteolysis affect its affinity for IGFs, this study was undertaken to identify the role of estrogen and progesterone in this regard. The conditioned media of steroid hormone-treated decidual cells were evaluated using different approaches using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and non-denaturing PAGE following immunoblotting as well as zymographys that contained gelatin and IGFBP-1 as substrates. Our results demonstrated that medroxy progesterone acetate (MPA) treatment increased both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated decidual-secreted IGFBP-1, whereas 17beta-estradiol (E2) treatment attenuated its phosphorylated forms. Furthermore, the results of zymography revealed that steroid hormones regulated the activity of decidual-secreted matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9, in which E2 treatment up-regulated the MMP-9 activity. Finally, it was demonstrated in our study that decidual-secreted MMP-9 was capable of degrading human amniotic fluid-derived IGFBP-1. In conclusion, our data implicate steroid hormones in the control of IGF system activities at the embryo-maternal interface, at least in part, through their effects on the post-translation changes of decidual-secreted IGFBP-1 such as its phosphorylation and/or proteolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kabir-Salmani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan.
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Abstract
Each year, endometrial cancer develops in about 142,000 women worldwide, and an estimated 42,000 women die from this cancer. The typical age-incidence curve for endometrial cancer shows that most cases are diagnosed after the menopause, with the highest incidence around the seventh decade of life. The appearance of symptoms early in the course explains why most women with endometrial cancer have early-stage disease at presentation. For all stages taken together, the overall 5-year survival is around 80%. There is a substantial prognostic difference between the histological types of endometrial cancers. The most common lesions (type 1) are typically hormone sensitive and low stage and have an excellent prognosis, whereas tumours of type 2 are high grade with a tendency to recur, even in early stage. The cornerstone of treatment for endometrial cancer is surgery, which not only is important for staging purposes but also enables appropriate tailoring of adjuvant treatment modalities that benefit high-risk patients only. We review current concepts about epidemiology, pathology, pathogenesis, risk factors and prevention, diagnosis, staging, prognostic factors, treatment, and follow-up of endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Amant
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Gynaecological Oncology, UZ Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium
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