Fibronectin-1 expression is increased in aggressive thyroid cancer and favors the migration and invasion of cancer cells

Gene Expression Profiles of AHNAK2, DCSTAMP, FN1, and TERT Correlate With Mutational Status and Recurrence in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common malignancy of follicular cell derivation, is generally associated with good prognosis. Nevertheless, it is important to identify patients with aggressive PTCs and unfavorable outcome. Molecular markers such as BRAFV600E mutation and TERT promoter mutations have been proposed for risk stratification. While TERT promoter mutations have been frequently associated with aggressive PTCs, the association of BRAFV600E mutation with increased recurrence and mortality is less clear and has been controversially discussed. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether differentially expressed genes can predict BRAFV600E mutations as well as TERT promoter mutations in PTCs. RNA sequencing identified a large number of differentially expressed genes between BRAFV600E and BRAFwildtype PTCs. Of those, AHNAK2, DCSTAMP, and FN1 could be confirmed in a larger cohort (n = 91) to be significantly upregulated in BRAFV600E mutant PTCs using quantitative RT-PCR. Moreover, individual PTC expression values of DCSTAMP and FN1 were able to predict the BRAFV600E mutation status with high sensitivity and specificity. The expression of TERT was detected in all PTCs harboring TERT promoter mutations and in 19% of PTCs without TERT promoter mutations. Tumors with both TERT expression and TERT promoter mutations were particularly associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and a shorter recurrence-free survival. Altogether, it will be interesting to explore the biological function of AHNAK2, DCSTAMP, and FN1 in PTC in more detail. The analysis of their expression patterns could allow the characterization of PTC subtypes and thus enabling a more individualized surgical and medical treatment.

Comparative profiling by data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry reveals featured plasma proteins in breast cancer: a pilot study

Purpose

Breast cancer is known to be influenced by genetic and environmental factors, and several susceptibility genes have been discovered. Still, the majority of genetic contributors remain unknown. We aimed to analyze the plasma proteome of breast cancer patients in comparison to healthy individuals to identify differences in protein expression profiles and discover novel biomarkers.

Methods

This pilot study was conducted using bioresources from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital's Human Bioresource Center. Serum samples from 10 breast cancer patients and 10 healthy controls were obtained. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed proteins.

Results

We identified 891 proteins; 805 were expressed in the breast cancer group and 882 in the control group. Gene set enrichment and differential expression analysis identified 30 upregulated and 100 downregulated proteins in breast cancer. Among these, 10 proteins were selected as potential biomarkers. Three proteins were upregulated in breast cancer patients, including cluster of differentiation 44, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-α kinase 3, and fibronectin 1. Seven proteins downregulated in breast cancer patients were also selected: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, α-enolase, heat shock protein member 8, integrin-linked kinase, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1, vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, and 14-3-3 protein gamma. All proteins had been previously reported to be related to tumor development and progression.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that plasma proteome profiling can reveal potential diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer and may contribute to early detection and personalized treatment strategies. A further validation study with a larger sample cohort of breast cancer patients is planned.

Transcription Factors and Markers Related to Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Their Role in Resistance to Therapies in Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are heterogeneous and aggressive tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract. Although various histological types exist, the most common is squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The incidence of HNSCC is increasing, making it an important public health concern. Tumor resistance to contemporary treatments, namely, chemo- and radiotherapy, and the recurrence of the primary tumor after its surgical removal cause huge problems for patients. Despite recent improvements in these treatments, the 5-year survival rate is still relatively low. HNSCCs may develop local lymph node metastases and, in the most advanced cases, also distant metastases. A key process associated with tumor progression and metastasis is epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), when poorly motile epithelial tumor cells acquire motile mesenchymal characteristics. These transition cells can invade different adjacent tissues and finally form metastases. EMT is governed by various transcription factors, including the best-characterized TWIST1 and TWIST2, SNAIL, SLUG, ZEB1, and ZEB2. Here, we highlight the current knowledge of the process of EMT in HNSCC and present the main protein markers associated with it. This review focuses on the transcription factors related to EMT and emphasizes their role in the resistance of HNSCC to current chemo- and radiotherapies. Understanding the role of EMT and the precise molecular mechanisms involved in this process may help with the development of novel anti-cancer therapies for this type of tumor.

Dual targeting of MAPK and PI3K pathways unlocks redifferentiation of Braf-mutated thyroid cancer organoids

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and several genetic events have been described to promote the development of thyroid carcinogenesis. Besides the effects of specific mutations on thyroid cancer development, the molecular mechanisms controlling tumorigenesis, tumor behavior, and drug resistance are still largely unknown. Cancer organoids have been proposed as a powerful tool to study aspects related to tumor development and progression and appear promising to test individual responses to therapies. Here, using mESC-derived thyroid organoids, we developed a BrafV637E-inducible model able to recapitulate the features of papillary thyroid cancer in vitro. Overexpression of the murine BrafV637E mutation, equivalent to BrafV600E in humans, rapidly triggers to MAPK activation, cell dedifferentiation, and disruption of follicular organization. BrafV637E-expressing organoids show a transcriptomic signature for p53, focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interactions, EMT, and inflammatory signaling pathways. Finally, PTC-like thyroid organoids were used for drug screening assays. The combination of MAPK and PI3K inhibitors reversed BrafV637E oncogene-promoted cell dedifferentiation while restoring thyroid follicle organization and function in vitro. Our results demonstrate that pluripotent stem cells-derived thyroid cancer organoids can mimic tumor development and features while providing an efficient tool for testing novel targeted therapies.

NF-κB signaling activation and roles in thyroid cancers: implication of MAP3K14/NIK

Among follicular-derived thyroid cancers (TC), those with aggressive behavior and resistance to current treatments display poor prognosis. NF-κB signaling pathways are involved in tumor progression of various cancers. Here, we finely characterize the NF-κB pathways and their involvement in TC. By using immunoblot and gel shift assays, we demonstrated that both classical and alternative NF-κB pathways are activated in ten TC-derived cell lines, leading to activated RelA/p50 and RelB/p50 NF-κB dimers. By analyzing the RNAseq data of the large papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project, we identified a tumor progression-related NF-κB signature in BRAFV600E mutated-PTCs. That corroborated with the role of RelA and RelB in cell migration and invasion processes that we demonstrated specifically in BRAFV600E mutated-cell lines, together with their role in the control of expression of genes implicated in invasiveness (MMP1, PLAU, LCN2 and LGALS3). We also identified NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) as a novel actor of the constitutive activation of the NF-κB pathways in TC-derived cell lines. Finally, its implication in invasiveness and its overexpression in PTC samples make NIK a potential therapeutic target for advanced TC treatment.

The important role of miR-1-3p in cancers

Cancer is a malignant tumor that seriously threatens human life and health. At present, the main treatment methods include surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. However, the mechanism of tumor occurrence and development is complex, and it produces resistance to some traditional treatment methods, leading to treatment failure and a high mortality rate for patients. Therefore, exploring the molecular mechanisms of tumor occurrence, development, and drug resistance is a very important task. MiRNAs are a type of non-coding small RNA that regulate a series of biological effects by binding to the 3'-UTR of the target mRNA, degrading the mRNA, or inhibiting its translation. MiR-1-3p is an important member of them, which is abnormally expressed in various tumors and closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. This article introduces miR-1-3p from multiple aspects, including its production and regulation, role in tumor occurrence and development, clinical significance, role in drug resistance, and approaches for targeting miR-1-3p. Intended to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the important role of miR-1-3p in tumors.

Fibronectin Contributes to a BRAF Inhibitor-driven Invasive Phenotype in Thyroid Cancer through EGR1, Which Can Be Blocked by Inhibition of ERK1/2

Mutations in BRAF are common in advanced papillary and anaplastic thyroid cancer (PTC and ATC). However, patients with BRAF-mutant PTC currently lack therapies targeting this pathway. Despite the approved combination of BRAF and MEK1/2 inhibition for patients with BRAF-mutant ATC, these patients often progress. Thus, we screened a panel of BRAF-mutant thyroid cancer cell lines to identify new therapeutic strategies. We showed that thyroid cancer cells resistant to BRAF inhibition (BRAFi) exhibit an increase in invasion and a proinvasive secretome in response to BRAFi. Using reverse-phase protein array (RPPA), we identified a nearly 2-fold increase in expression of the extracellular matrix protein, fibronectin, in response to BRAFi treatment, and a corresponding 1.8- to 3.0-fold increase in fibronectin secretion. Accordingly, the addition of exogenous fibronectin phenocopied the BRAFi-induced increase in invasion while depletion of fibronectin in resistant cells resulted in loss of increased invasion. We further showed that BRAFi-induced invasion can be blocked by inhibition of ERK1/2. In a BRAFi-resistant patient-derived xenograft model, we found that dual inhibition of BRAF and ERK1/2 slowed tumor growth and decreased circulating fibronectin. Using RNA sequencing, we identified EGR1 as a top downregulated gene in response to combined BRAF/ERK1/2 inhibition, and we further showed that EGR1 is necessary for a BRAFi-induced increase in invasion and for induction of fibronectin in response to BRAFi.

IMPLICATIONS

Together, these data show that increased invasion represents a new mechanism of resistance to BRAF inhibition in thyroid cancer that can be targeted with an ERK1/2 inhibitor.

The impact of fibronectin knockout on invasion and migration of endometrial cell in adenomyosis

The present study aimed to investigate the potential effect of fibronectin (FN) in adenomyosis progression. Small guide RNAs were designed to knock down FN expression in Ishikawa cells. The impact of FN on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of the cells was assessed. Cell proliferation was detected using a Celigo Imaging Cytometer system; apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometry; and cell migration and invasion were investigated via transwell assays. Cell proliferation was markedly suppressed in the FN knockout (KO) group compared with the control group, while apoptosis significantly increased. The levels of cell migration and invasion in the KO group were significantly decreased compared with the control group. Our study revealed that downregulation of FN expression is likely to restrain cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in endometrial cells in adenomyosis.

Shielding and nurturing: Fibronectin as a modulator of cancer drug resistance

Resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies constitute a common hallmark of most cancers and represent a dominant factor fostering tumor relapse and metastasis. Fibronectin, an abundant extracellular matrix glycoprotein, has long been proposed to play an important role in the pathobiology of cancer. Recent research has unraveled the role of Fibronectin in the onset of chemoresistance against a variety of antineoplastic drugs including DNA-damaging agents, hormone receptor antagonists, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, microtubule destabilizing agents, etc. The current review summarizes the role played by Fibronectin in mediating drug resistance against diverse anticancer drugs. We have also discussed how the aberrant expression of Fibronectin drives the oncogenic signaling pathways ultimately leading to drug resistance through the inhibition of apoptosis, promotion of cancer cell growth and proliferation.

Proteomic Alteration in the Progression of Multiple Myeloma: A Comprehensive Review

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematologic malignancy. Most MM patients are diagnosed at a late stage because the early symptoms of the disease can be uncertain and nonspecific, often resembling other, more common conditions. Additionally, MM patients are commonly associated with rapid relapse and an inevitable refractory phase. MM is characterized by the abnormal proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells in the bone marrow. During the progression of MM, massive genomic alterations occur that target multiple signaling pathways and are accompanied by a multistep process involving differentiation, proliferation, and invasion. Moreover, the transformation of healthy plasma cell biology into genetically heterogeneous MM clones is driven by a variety of post-translational protein modifications (PTMs), which has complicated the discovery of effective treatments. PTMs have been identified as the most promising candidates for biomarker detection, and further research has been recommended to develop promising surrogate markers. Proteomics research has begun in MM, and a comprehensive literature review is available. However, proteomics applications in MM have yet to make significant progress. Exploration of proteomic alterations in MM is worthwhile to improve understanding of the pathophysiology of MM and to search for new treatment targets. Proteomics studies using mass spectrometry (MS) in conjunction with robust bioinformatics tools are an excellent way to learn more about protein changes and modifications during disease progression MM. This article addresses in depth the proteomic changes associated with MM disease transformation.

MicroRNA-142-3P suppresses the progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma by targeting FN1 and inactivating FAK/ERK/PI3K signaling

OBJECTIVES

miR-142-3P is a tumor suppressor in various malignant cancers. However, the function of miR-142-3P in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the function and mechanism of miR-142-3P in PTC.

METHODS

Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to assess the expression of miR-142-3P and Fibronectin 1 (FN1) in PTC. The correlation between FN1 and miR-142-3P expression was analyzed by Spearman's correlation analysis. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, cell migration and invasion assay and wound healing measures evaluated the effect of miR-142-3P and FN1 on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Dural Luciferase reported gene assay evaluated the interaction between miR-142-3P and 3' untranslated region (UTR) of FN1. The Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT) and apoptosis related marker genes were measured using western blot analysis (WB).

RESULTS

miR-142-3P was significantly decreased in both PTC specimens and relevant cell lines. Functionally, miR-142-3P inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT, and induced the cell apoptosis in PTC. In addition, miR-142-3P bound directly with 3' UTR of FN1 and negatively regulated the expression of FN1 in PTC. FN1 expression is elevated in PTC, and its aberrant high correlated with declines in recurrence-free survival (RFS). Moreover, FN1 promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT, induced cell apoptosis in PTC cells. Depletion of FN1 rescues the effect of miR-142-3P inhibitor on cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and EMT via inactivating Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK)/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) / Phosphoinostide 3-kinase (P13K) signaling.

CONCLUSION

miR-142-3P suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT through modulating FN1/FAK/ERK/PI3K signaling in PTC, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target for PTC.

Proteomics profiling for the global and acetylated proteins of papillary thyroid cancers

BACKGROUND

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy cancer among the malignancies of thyroid. Despite of wide usages of proteomics in PTC, the profile of acetylated proteins in PTC remains unsettled, which is helpful for understanding the carcinogenesis mechanism and identifying useful biomarkers for PTC.

METHODS

The surgically removed specimens of cancer tissues (Ca-T) and adjacent normal tissues (Ca-N) from 10 female patients pathological diagnosed as PTC (TNM stage III) were enrolled in the study. After preparing the pooled extracts of the whole proteins and the acetylated proteins from 10 cases, TMT labeling and LC/MS/MS methods were applied to the assays of global proteomics and acetylated proteomics separately. Bioinformatics analysis, including KEGG, gene ontology (GO) and hierarchical clustering were performed. Some differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and differentially expressed acetylated proteins (DEAPs) were validated by individual Western blots.

RESULTS

Controlled with the normal tissues adjacent to the lesions, 147 out of 1923 identified proteins in tumor tissues were considered as DEPs in global proteomics, including 78 up-regulated and 69 down-regulated ones, while 57 out of 311 identified acetylated proteins in tumor tissues were DEAPs in acetylated proteomics, including 32 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated, respectively. The top 3 up- and down-regulated DEPs were fibronectin 1, KRT1B protein and chitinase-3-like protein 1, as well as keratin, type I cytoskeletal 16, A-gamma globin Osilo variant and Huntingtin interacting protein-1. The top 3 up- and down-regulated DEAPs were ribosomal protein L18a-like protein, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein 2 and eukaryotic peptide chain release factor GTP-binding subunit ERF3A, as well as trefoil factor 3, thyroglobulin and histone H2B. Functional GO annotation and KEGG pathway analysis based on the DEPs and DEAPs showed completely different changing pictures. Contrary to the top 10 up- and -down regulated DEPs, most of which were addressed in PTC and other types of carcinomas, changes of the majority DEAPs were not mentioned in the literatures.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken the profiling of the global and acetylated proteomics together will provide more broad view of protein alterations on the carcinogenesis and new direction for selecting biomarker for diagnosis of PTC.

Expression of miR-31-5p affects growth, migration and invasiveness of papillary thyroid cancer cells

PURPOSE

In this study, we evaluated the biological role of miRNA-31-5p in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

METHODS

By using the real-time PCR, we measured miRNA-31-5p expression levels in 25 PTC tissues and in two human PTC cell lines (K1 and TPC-1). Then, K1 cells were transiently transfected with mirVana inhibitor or mirVana mimic to miRNA-31-5-p. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT and colony formation assays. The in vitro metastatic ability of thyroid cancer cells was evaluated by adhesion, migration and invasion assays. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Hippo pathway related gene and protein levels were evaluated by using the TaqMan™ Gene Expression Assays and western blot analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

We found a significant increase of miR-31-5-p expression in tumor tissue and in K1 cells harboring the BRAF p.V600E mutation. Knockdown of miR-31-5p determined a reduction of cell proliferation, associated with a significant decrease in cell adhesion, migration and invasion properties. A downregulation of EMT markers and YAP/β-catenin axis was also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that miRNA-31-5p acts as oncogenic miRNA in human thyrocytes and its overexpression may be involved in the BRAF-related tumorigenesis in PTCs, providing new understanding into its pathological role in PTC progression and invasiveness.

An integrative approach toward identification and analysis of therapeutic targets involved in HPV pathogenesis with a focus on carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Persistent infection of high-risk HPVs is known to cause diverse carcinomas, mainly cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, etc. However, efficient treatment is still lacking.

OBJECTIVE

Identify and analyze potential therapeutic targets involved in HPV oncogenesis and repurposing drug candidates.

METHODS

Integrative analyses were performed on the compendium of 1887 HPV infection-associated or integration-driven disrupted genes cataloged from the Open Targets Platform and HPVbase resource. Potential target genes are prioritized using STRING, Cytoscape, cytoHubba, and MCODE. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis are performed. Further, TCGA cancer genomic data of CESC and HNSCC is analyzed. Moreover, regulatory networks are also deduced by employing NetworkAnalyst.

RESULTS

We have implemented a unique approach for identifying and prioritizing druggable targets and repurposing drug candidates against HPV oncogenesis. Overall, hundred key genes with 44 core targets were prioritized with transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) regulators pertinent to HPV pathogenesis. Genomic alteration profiling further substantiated our findings. Among identified druggable targets, TP53, NOTCH1, PIK3CA, EP300, CREBBP, EGFR, ERBB2, PTEN, and FN1 are frequently mutated in CESC and HNSCC. Furthermore, PIK3CA, CCND1, RFC4, KAT5, MYC, PTK2, EGFR, and ERBB2 show significant copy number gain, and FN1, CHEK1, CUL1, EZH2, NRAS, and H2AFX was marked for the substantial copy number loss in both carcinomas. Likewise, under-explored relevant regulators, i.e., TFs (HINFP, ARID3A, NFATC2, NKX3-2, EN1) and miRNAs (has-mir-98-5p, has-mir-24-3p, has-mir-192-5p, has-mir-519d-3p) is also identified.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified potential therapeutic targets, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators to explicate HPV pathogenesis as well as potential repurposing drug candidates. This study would aid in biomarker and drug discovery against HPV-mediated carcinoma.

Eight Aging-Related Genes Prognostic Signature for Cervical Cancer

This study searched for aging-related genes (ARGs) to predict the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer (CC). All data were obtained from Molecular Signatures Database, Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Integration, and Genotype Organization Expression. The R software was used to screen out the differentially expressed ARGs (DE-ARGs) between CC and normal tissues. A protein-protein interaction network was established by the DE-ARGs. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted on the first extracted Molecular Complex Detection component, and a prognostic model was constructed. The prognostic model was further validated in the testing set and GSE44001 dataset. Prognosis was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves, and accuracy of the prognostic model was assessed by receiver operating characteristic area under the curve analysis. An independent prognostic analysis of risk score and some clinicopathological factors of CC was also performed. The copy-number variant (CNV) and single-nucleotide variant (SNV) of prognostic ARGs were analyzed by the BioPortal database. A clinical practical nomogram was established to predict individual survival probability. Finally, we carried out cell experiment to further verify the prognostic model. An eight-ARG prognostic signature for CC was constructed. High-risk CC patients had significantly shorter overall survival than low-risk patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve validated the good performance of the signature in survival prediction. The Figo_stage and risk score served as independent prognostic factors. The eight ARGs mainly enriched in growth factor regulation and cell cycle pathway, and the deep deletion of FN1 was the most common CNV. An eight-ARG prognostic signature for CC was successfully constructed.

FN1 Promotes Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Proliferation and Metastasis by Activating the NF-Κb Pathway

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer (THCA) is a common endocrine tumor. This study aims to identify the THCA-related key gene Fibronectin 1 (FN1) by bioinformatics methods and explore its function and regulatory mechanism.

METHODS

Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE3678, GSE33630, and GSE53157 datasets) was searched for the analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in THCA tissues v.s. (normal tissues). The enrichment of DEGs was investigated by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways using the DAVID database. Screening the hub gene was performed with the STRING database and Cytoscape software. The expression and survival analyses of these hub genes in THCA were studied with the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database. LinkedOmics database was searched for the related signaling pathways regulated by FN1 in THCA. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was adopted to detect the mRNA expression of Fibromodulin, microfibril-associated protein 4, Osteoglycin, and FN1. The cell viability, growth, migration and aggressiveness were examined by Cell counting kit-8, 5-Ethynyl-2 '- deoxyuridine assay, scratch assay, and Transwell assay. The expression levels of NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins (p-IκB-α, p-IKK-β, NF-κB p65) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

FN1 mRNA was up-regulated in THCA tissues and cell lines (MDA-T85 and MDA-T41). The high expression of FN1 is relevant to larger tumor diameters and lymph node metastasis in sufferers with THCA. Functional experiments showed that overexpression of FN1 in the MDA-T85 cell line promoted growth, migration and aggressiveness; knockdown of FN1 in MDA-T41 cells inhibited these malignant behaviors. In mechanism, FN1 promoted the expression levels of proteins related with NF-κB signaling pathway and activated NF-κB signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

FN1 is up-regulated in THCA and facilitates cell growth, migration and invasion by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. FN1 will be a promising biomarker of THCA and may become a molecular target for THCA treatment.

Identification of potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) based on TMT-labeled LC-MS/MS and machine learning

OBJECTIVES

To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying aggressive progression of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and identify potential biomarkers.

METHODS

Samples were collected and sequenced using tandem mass tag-labeled liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified and further analyzed using Mfuzz and protein-protein interaction analysis (PPI). Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to validate the DEPs.

RESULTS

Five thousand, two hundred and three DEPs were identified and quantified from the tumor/normal comparison group or the N1/N0 comparison group. Mfuzz analysis showed that clusters of DEPs were enriched according to progressive status, followed by normal tissue, tumors without lymphatic metastases, and tumors with lymphatic metastases. Analysis of PPI revealed that DEPs interacted with and were enriched in the following metabolic pathways: apoptosis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, PI3K-Akt pathway, cholesterol metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and thyroid hormone synthesis. In addition, 18 of the 20 target proteins were successfully validated with PRM and IHC in another 20 paired validation samples. Based on machine learning, the five proteins that showed the best performance in discriminating between tumor and normal nodules were PDLIM4, ANXA1, PKM, NPC2, and LMNA. FN1 performed well in discriminating between patients with lymph node metastases (N1) and N0 with an AUC of 0.690. Finally, five validated DEPs showed a potential prognostic role after examining The Cancer Genome Atlas database: FN1, IDH2, VDAC1, FABP4, and TG. Accordingly, a nomogram was constructed whose concordance index was 0.685 (confidence interval: 0.645-0.726).

CONCLUSIONS

PDLIM4, ANXA1, PKM, NPC2, LMNA, and FN1 are potential diagnostic biomarkers. The five-protein nomogram could be a prognostic biomarker.

Co-Encapsulation of Paclitaxel and JQ1 in Zein Nanoparticles as Potential Innovative Nanomedicine

The manuscript describes the development of zein nanoparticles containing paclitaxel (PTX) and the bromo-and extra-terminal domain inhibitor (S)-tertbutyl2-(4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3,9-trimethyl-6H-thieno(3,2-f)(1,2,4)triazolo(4,3-a)(1,4)diazepin-6-yl)acetate (JQ1) together with their cytotoxicity on triple-negative breast cancer cells. The rationale of this association is that of exploiting different types of cancer cells as targets in order to obtain increased pharmacological activity with respect to that exerted by the single agents. Zein, a protein found in the endosperm of corn, was used as a biomaterial to obtain multidrug carriers characterized by mean sizes of ˂200 nm, a low polydispersity index (0.1-0.2) and a negative surface charge. An entrapment efficiency of ~35% of both the drugs was obtained when 0.3 mg/mL of the active compounds were used during the nanoprecipitation procedure. No adverse phenomena such as sedimentation, macro-aggregation or flocculation occurred when the nanosystems were heated to 37 °C. The multidrug nanoformulation demonstrated significant in vitro cytototoxic activity against MDA-MB-157 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells by MTT-test and adhesion assay which was stronger than that of the compounds encapsulated as single agents. The results evidence the potential application of zein nanoparticles containing PTX and JQ1 as a novel nanomedicine.

Identification of Candidate Therapeutic Target Genes and Profiling of Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells in Pancreatic Cancer via Integrated Transcriptomic Analysis

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a dismal prognosis despite advancing scientific and technological knowledge. The exploration of novel genes is critical to improving current therapeutic measures. This research is aimed at selecting hub genes that can act as candidate therapeutic target genes and as prognostic biomarkers in PC. Gene expression profiles of datasets GSE101448, GSE15471, and GSE62452 were extracted from the GEO database. The “limma” package was performed to select differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PC and normal tissue samples in each dataset. Robust rank aggregation (RRA) algorithm was conducted to integrate multiple expression profiles and identify robust DEGs. GO analysis and KEGG analysis were conducted to identify the functional correlation of the DEGs. The CIBERSORT algorithm was conducted to estimate the immune cell composition of each tissue sample. STRING and Cytoscape were used to establish the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The cytoHubba plugin in Cytoscape was performed to identify hub genes. Survival analysis based on hub gene expression was performed with clinical information from TCGA database. 566 robust DEGs (338 upregulated genes and 226 downregulated genes) were identified. Tumor tissue had a higher infiltration of resting dendritic cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), including M0, M1, and M2 macrophages, while infiltration levels of B memory cells, plasma cells, T cells CD8, T follicular helper cells, and NK cells in normal tissue were relatively higher. GO terms and KEGG pathway analysis results revealed enrichment in tumor-associated pathways, including the extracellular matrix organization, cell−substrate adhesion cytokine−cytokine receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, to name a few. Finally, FN1, MSLN, PLAU, and VCAN were selected as hub genes. High expression of FN1, MSLN, PLAU, and VCAN in PC significantly correlated with poor prognosis. Integrated transcriptomic analysis was used to provide new insights into PC pathogenesis. FN1, MSLN, PLAU, and VCAN may be considered as novel biomarkers of PC.

FN1 overexpression is correlated with unfavorable prognosis and immune infiltrates in breast cancer

Objective: To investigate the correlation of fibronectin 1 (FN1) expression with prognosis and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in breast cancer (BRCA).

Methods: FN1 mRNA and protein expressions were analyzed through Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Gene Set Cancer Analysis (GSCA), Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases, and immunohistochemical analysis. The clinicopathological characteristics and genetic factors affecting the FN1 mRNA expression were assessed by various public databases. Then, we analyzed the prognostic value of FN1 in BRCA by Kaplan-Meier plotter, receiver operating characteristic, and Cox regression analyses. Further, the UCSC Xena database was used to retrieve TCGA-BRCA expression profiles for functional enrichment analysis and immune cell infiltration analysis. The potential drugs for the BRCA patients with high- FN1 expression were identified using the connectivity map analysis.

Results: FN1 was upregulated in BRCA tissues compared with normal tissues. High FN1 mRNA expression was correlated with poor clinical outcomes and had good performance in predicting the survival status of BRCA patients. Further, Cox regression analysis showed that FN1 was an independent prognostic factor for predicting the overall survival of patients with BRCA. Moreover, hypermethylation of FN1 contributed to a better prognosis for BRCA patients. Functional enrichment analyses revealed the ECM-receptor interaction pathway and focal adhesion as the common pathways. Moreover, FN1 showed a significant association with tumor-infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Several drugs such as telmisartan, malotilate, and seocalcitol may have therapeutic effects in BRCA patients with high FN1 expression.

Conclusion: FN1 might serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for BRCA. Besides, the association of FN1 with immune cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors may provide assistance for BRCA treatment.

Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Inter-Tumor Heterogeneity in Bilateral Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Background

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in cancer progression in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), yet the composition and the phenotype of cells within the TME in bilateral PTC are poorly understood.

Methods

We performed unbiased transcriptome-wide single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis on 29,561 cells from 3 pairs of bilateral PTC and 1 non-tumor thyroid sample. The results of the analysis were validated by a large-scale bulk transcriptomic dataset deposited in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

Results

Our integrative analysis of thyroid follicular cells revealed 42 signaling pathways enriched in malignant follicular cells, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway. A 6-gene signature (CXCL3, CXCL1, IL1A, CCL5, TNFRSF12A, and IL18) in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway was constructed to predict the prognosis of patients with PTC, with high risk scores being associated with decreased overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.863, 95% CI = 2.233-6.682, p < 0.001]. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) indicated that the pathways enriched in bilateral PTC were significantly different, indicating great heterogeneity in bilateral PTC, even with the same BRAF V600E mutation. Comprehensive analysis of T cells revealed that the proportion of CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells expressing IFNG decreased in tumor samples with advanced N stage. Within the myeloid compartment, the ratio of suppressive M2-like to pro-inflammatory M1-like macrophages increased with advanced disease stage, which was confirmed in the bulk dataset using transcriptomic profiles. In addition, we also identified numerous biologically critical interactions among myeloid cells, T cells, and follicular cells, which were related to T-cell recruitment, M2-like macrophage polarization, malignant follicular cell progression, and T-cell inhibitory signaling.

Conclusion

Our integrative analyses revealed great inter-tumor heterogeneity within the TME in bilateral PTC, which will offer assistance for precise diagnosis and treatment.

Recurrence of Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Systematic Appraisal of Risk Factors

CONTEXT

Thyroid cancer recurrence is associated with increased mortality and adverse outcomes. Recurrence risk is currently predicted using clinical tools, often restaging patients after treatment. Detailed understanding of recurrence risk at disease onset could lead to personalized and improved patient care.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to perform a comprehensive bioinformatic and experimental analysis of 3 levels of genetic change (mRNA, microRNA, and somatic mutation) apparent in recurrent tumors and construct a new combinatorial prognostic risk model.

METHODS

We analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas data (TCGA) to identify differentially expressed genes (mRNA/microRNA) in 46 recurrent vs 455 nonrecurrent thyroid tumors. Two exonic mutational pipelines were used to identify somatic mutations. Functional gene analysis was performed in cell-based assays in multiple thyroid cell lines. The prognostic value of genes was evaluated with TCGA datasets.

RESULTS

We identified 128 new potential biomarkers associated with recurrence, including 40 mRNAs, 39 miRNAs, and 59 genetic variants. Among differentially expressed genes, modulation of FN1, ITGα3, and MET had a significant impact on thyroid cancer cell migration. Similarly, ablation of miR-486 and miR-1179 significantly increased migration of TPC-1 and SW1736 cells. We further utilized genes with a validated functional role and identified a 5-gene risk score classifier as an independent predictor of thyroid cancer recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Our newly proposed risk model based on combinatorial mRNA and microRNA expression has potential clinical utility as a prognostic indicator of recurrence. These findings should facilitate earlier prediction of recurrence with implications for improving patient outcome by tailoring treatment to disease risk and increasing posttreatment surveillance.

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Revealed a 3-Gene Panel Predicted the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma and Associated With Tumor Immune Microenvironment

Objective

The objective of this research was to screen prognostic related genes of thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), to construct the diagnostic and prognostic models based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Thyroid Cancer (TCGA-THCA) data, and to evaluate the association between tumor immune microenvironment and the prognostic model.

Method

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and tumor evolution were analyzed by scRNA-seq based on public databases. The potential regulatory networks of DEGs related to prognosis were analyzed by multi-omics data in the THCA. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were utilized to construct the diagnosis and prognostic model of PTC. The performance of the diagnostic model was verified by bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of our cohort. The tumor immune microenvironment associated with the prognostic model was evaluated using multi-omics data. In addition, qRT-PCR was performed on tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of 20 patients to verify the expression levels of DEGs.

Results

The DEGs screened by scRNA-seq can distinguish between tumor and healthy samples. DEGs play different roles in the evolution from normal epithelial cells to malignant cells. Three DEGs ((FN1, CLU, and ANXA1)) related to prognosis were filtered, which may be regulated by DNA methylation, RNA methylation (m6A) and upstream transcription factors. The area under curve (AUC) of the diagnostic model based on 3-gene in the validation of our RNA-seq was 1. In the prognostic model based on 3-gene, the overall survival (OS) of high-risk patients was shorter. Combined with the clinical information of patients, a nomogram was constructed by using tumor size (pT) and risk score to quantify the prognostic risk. The age and tumor size of high-risk patients in the prognostic model were greater. In addition, the increase of tumor mutation burden (TMB) and diversity of T cell receptor (TCR), and the decrease of CD8⁺ T cells in high-risk group suggest the existence of immunosuppressive microenvironment.

Conclusion

We applied the scRNA-seq pipeline to focus on epithelial cells in PTC, simulated the process of tumor evolution, and revealed a prognostic prediction model based on 3 genes, which is related to tumor immune microenvironment.

The Autoantibodies against Tumor-Associated Antigens as Potential Blood-Based Biomarkers in Thyroid Neoplasia: Rationales, Opportunities and Challenges

The Autoantibodies targeting Tumor-Associated Antigens (TAA-AAbs) emerge as a result of a variety of tumor-related immunogenic stimuli and may be regarded as the eyewitnesses to the anti-tumor immune response. TAA-AAbs may be readily detected in peripheral blood to unveil the presence of a particular TAA-expressing tumor, and a fair number of TAAs eliciting the tumor-associated autoantibody response have been identified. The potential of TAA-AAbs as tumor biomarkers has been extensively studied in many human malignancies with a major influence on public health; however, tumors of the endocrine system, and, in particular, the well-differentiated follicular cell-derived thyroid neoplasms, remain understudied in this context. This review provides a detailed perspective on and legitimate rationales for the potential use of TAA-AAbs in thyroid neoplasia, with particular reference to the already established diagnostic implications of the TAA-AAbs in human cancer, to the windows for improvement and diagnostic niches in the current workup strategies in nodular thyroid disease and differentiated thyroid cancer that TAA-AAbs may successfully occupy, as well as to the proof-of-concept studies demonstrating the usefulness of TAA-AAbs in thyroid oncology, particularly for the pre-surgical discrimination between tumors of different malignant potential in the context of the indeterminate results of the fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Over-Expression and Prognostic Significance of FN1, Correlating With Immune Infiltrates in Thyroid Cancer

Background

Thyroid cancer (THCA) is a malignancy affecting the endocrine system, which currently has no effective treatment due to a limited number of suitable drugs and prognostic markers.

Methods

Three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were selected to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between THCA and normal thyroid samples using GEO2R tools of National Center for Biotechnology Information. We identified hub gene FN1 using functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction network analyses. Subsequently, we evaluated the importance of gene expression on clinical prognosis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and GEO datasets. MEXPRESS was used to investigate the correlation between gene expression and DNA methylation; the correlations between FN1 and cancer immune infiltrates were investigated using CIBERSORT. In addition, we assessed the effect of silencing FN1 expression, using an in vitro cellular model of THCA. Immunohistochemical(IHC) was used to elevate the correlation between CD276 and FN1.

Results

FN1 expression was highly correlated with progression-free survival and moderately to strongly correlated with the infiltration levels of M2 macrophages and resting memory CD4+ T cells, as well as with CD276 expression. We suggest promoter hypermethylation as the mechanism underlying the observed changes in FN1 expression, as 20 CpG sites in 507 THCA cases in TCGA database showed a negative correlation with FN1 expression. In addition, silencing FN1 expression suppressed clonogenicity, motility, invasiveness, and the expression of CD276 in vitro. The correlation between FN1 and CD276 was further confirmed by immunohistochemical.

Conclusion

Our findings show that FN1 expression levels correlate with prognosis and immune infiltration levels in THCA, suggesting that FN1 expression be used as an immunity-related biomarker and therapeutic target in THCA.

The deubiquitinating enzyme ATXN3 promotes the progression of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma by stabilizing EIF5A2

Ataxin-3 (ATXN3) is a ubiquitous deubiquitinating enzyme that plays an essential role in the carcinogenesis of numerous tumors and stabilizes the expression of substrates by deubiquitination. However, the functional role of ATXN3 in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) remains unknown. In this research, we report that ATXN3 was overexpressed in ATC compared to that in paracancerous samples. Moreover, various gain/loss functional assays were performed to indicate that ATXN3 overexpression enhanced ATC cell proliferation and metastasis. We also found that ATXN3 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A2 (EIF5A2) protein levels in ATC tissues are positively correlated, and ATXN3 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of ATC cells through EIF5A2. Mechanistically, ATXN3 promotes EIF5A2 expression by directly binding to EIF5A2 to reduce its ubiquitination and degradation. Therefore, for the first time, we clarified the role of ATXN3 in the carcinogenesis of ATC cells, which provides novel insights into potential therapeutic targets for ATC progression.

The Oncogene MYCN Modulates Glycolytic and Invasive Genes to Enhance Cell Viability and Migration in Human Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is usually initiated by biallelic RB1 gene inactivation. In addition, MYCN copy number alterations also contribute to RB pathogenesis. However, MYCN expression, its role in disease progression and correlation with RB histological risk factors are not well understood. We studied the expression of MYCN in enucleated RB patient specimens by immunohistochemistry. MYCN is overexpressed in RB compared to control retina. Our microarray gene expression analysis followed by qRT-PCR validation revealed that genes involved in glucose metabolism and migration are significantly downregulated in MYCN knockdown cells. Further, targeting MYCN in RB cells using small molecule compounds or shRNAs led to decreased cell survival and migration, increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, suggesting that MYCN inhibition can be a potential therapeutic strategy. We also noted that MYCN inhibition results in reduction in glucose uptake, lactate production, ROS levels and gelatinolytic activity of active-MMP9, explaining a possible mechanism of MYCN in RB. Taking clues from our findings, we tested a combination treatment of RB cells with carboplatin and MYCN inhibitors to find enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to single drug treatment. Thus, MYCN inhibition can be a potential therapeutic strategy in combination with existing chemotherapy drugs to restrict tumor cell growth in RB.

Prognostic signatures associated with high infiltration of Tregs in bone metastatic prostate cancer

Metastatic cancer especially bone metastasis (BM) is the lethal end-stage of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). To understand the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the distant metastasis is of potential clinical value. We sought to identify differentially expressed genes between patient-matched primary and bone metastatic CRPC tumors. Functional enrichment, protein-protein interaction networks, and survival analysis of DEGs were performed. DEGs with a prognostic value considered as candidate genes were evaluated, followed by genetic analysis of tumor infiltrating immune cells based on Wilcoxon test and immunofluorescence identification. Expression profiles analysis showed that 381 overlapping genes were screened as differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 16 DEGs were randomly selected to be validated and revealed that most of these genes showed a transcriptional profile similar to that seen in the datasets (Pearson’s r = 0.76). Six core genes were found to be involved in regulation of extracellular matrix receptor interaction and chemotactic activity, and four of them were significantly correlated with the survival of PCa patients with bone metastases. Immune infiltration analysis showed that the expressions levels of COL3A1, RAC1, FN1, and SDC2 in CD4+T cells were significantly higher than those in tumor cells, especially regulatory T cell infiltration was significantly increased in BM tumors. We analyzed gene expression signatures specifically associated with the development of bone metastases of CRPC patients. Characterization of genes associated with BM of mCRPC is critical for identification of predictive biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.

A Five-Gene Prognostic Nomogram Predicting Disease-Free Survival of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Background

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most common type of thyroid tumor with a high recurrence rate. Here, we developed a nomogram to effectively predict postoperative disease-free survival (DFS) in DTC patients.

Methods

The mRNA expressions and clinical data of DTC patients were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Seventy percent of patients were randomly selected as the training dataset, and thirty percent of patients were classified into the testing dataset. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was adopted to establish a nomogram to predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year DFS rate of DTC patients.

Results

A five-gene signature comprised of TENM1, FN1, APOD, F12, and BTNL8 genes was established to predict the DFS rate of DTC patients. Results from the concordance index (C-index), area under curve (AUC), and calibration curve showed that both the training dataset and the testing dataset exhibited good prediction ability, and they were superior to other traditional models. The risk score and distant metastasis (M) of the five-gene signature were independent risk factors that affected DTC recurrence. A nomogram that could predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year DFS rate of DTC patients was established with a C-index of 0.801 (95% CI: 0.736, 0.866).

Conclusion

Our study developed a prediction model based on the gene expression and clinical characteristics to predict the DFS rate of DTC patients, which may be applied to more accurately assess patient prognosis and individualized treatment.

Overcoming resistance to BRAFV600E inhibition in melanoma by deciphering and targeting personalized protein network alterations

BRAFV600E melanoma patients, despite initially responding to the clinically prescribed anti-BRAFV600E therapy, often relapse, and their tumors develop drug resistance. While it is widely accepted that these tumors are originally driven by the BRAFV600E mutation, they often eventually diverge and become supported by various signaling networks. Therefore, patient-specific altered signaling signatures should be deciphered and treated individually. In this study, we design individualized melanoma combination treatments based on personalized network alterations. Using an information-theoretic approach, we compute high-resolution patient-specific altered signaling signatures. These altered signaling signatures each consist of several co-expressed subnetworks, which should all be targeted to optimally inhibit the entire altered signaling flux. Based on these data, we design smart, personalized drug combinations, often consisting of FDA-approved drugs. We validate our approach in vitro and in vivo showing that individualized drug combinations that are rationally based on patient-specific altered signaling signatures are more efficient than the clinically used anti-BRAFV600E or BRAFV600E/MEK targeted therapy. Furthermore, these drug combinations are highly selective, as a drug combination efficient for one BRAFV600E tumor is significantly less efficient for another, and vice versa. The approach presented herein can be broadly applicable to aid clinicians to rationally design patient-specific anti-melanoma drug combinations.

DNA methylation association with stage progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, which accounts for approximately 6% of all cases and is responsible for an estimated 2% of all cancer deaths. Despite progress in the treatment of squamous cell carcinomas, survival rates remain low. It is a fact that epigenetic modifications have numerous associations with biological processes and complex diseases such as cancer. Hence, a more systematic approach is needed to provide potential screening targets and have an effective therapy method. This study developed a workflow to analyze HM450 methylation arrays with mRNA expression profiles that identified novel signatures of epigenetic regulators for tumor progression. We identified differentially expressed genes and differentially methylated regions and the correlation between associated genes to identify epigenetic modifications underlying regulation roles. We have taken the differentiation direction of expressions into account during the integration of gene expression and DNA methylation modification to detect epigenetic regulators of core genes of tumor-stage progression. Enrichment analysis of selected key genes provides better insight into their functionality. Thus, we have investigated gene copy number alteration and mutations to filter differentially expressed genes, including some members of the fibroblast growth factor family and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor family with other potential known regulators. Our analysis has revealed the list of 61 commercial methylation probes positively correlated with 31 differentially expressed genes, which can be associated with HNSC metastasis stages. Most of these genes have already reported potential epigenetic regulators, and their role in cancer progression was studied. We suggest these selected probes of DNA methylation as potential targets of the epigenetic regulators in revealed genes that have displayed significant genetic and epigenetic modification behavior during cancer stage progression and tumor metastasis.

Identification of the EMT-Related Genes Signature for Predicting Occurrence and Progression in Thyroid Cancer

BACKGROUND

The detection rate of thyroid cancer (TC) has been continuously improved due to the development of detection technology. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to be closely related to the malignant progression of tumors. However, the relationship between EMT-related genes (ERGs) characteristics and the diagnosis and prognosis of TC patients has not been studied.

METHODS

Four datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were used to perform transcriptomic profile analysis. The overlapping differentially expressed ERGs (DEERGs) were analyzed using the R package "limma". Then, the hub genes, which had a higher degree, were identified by the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Gene expression analysis between the TC and normal data, the disease-free survival (DFS) analysis of TC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas Thyroid Cancer (TCGA-THCA) cohort, function analysis, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to verify the importance of the hub genes. Finally, a prognostic risk scoring was constructed to predict DFS in patients with the selected genes.

RESULTS

A total of 43 DEERGs were identified and 10 DEERGs were considered hub ERGs, which had a high degree of connectivity in the PPI network. Then, the differential expressions of FN1, ITGA2, and KIT between TC and normal tissues were verified in the TCGA-THCA cohort and their protein expressions were also verified by IHC. DFS analysis indicated upregulations of FN1 expression (P<0.01) and ITGA2 expression (P<0.01) and downregulation of KIT expression (P=0.01) increased risks of decreased DFS for TCGA-THCA patients. Besides, by building a prognostic risk scoring model, we found that the DFS of TCGA-THCA patients was significantly worse in high-risk groups.

CONCLUSION

In summary, these hub ERGs were potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of TC, which can provide a basis for further exploring the efficacy of EMT in patients with TC.

Review of novel tissue-based biomarkers for prostate cancer: towards personalised and targeted medicine

Background:

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and responsible for about 10% of all cancer mortality in both Canadian and American men. Currently, serum PSA level is the most commonly used test for the detection of prostate cancer, though the levels can also be elevated in benign conditions, has limited specificity and has a high rate of overdiagnosis and treatment of indolent disease. Consequently, in recent years, several investigations have been conducted to identify novel cancer biomarkers capable of both effective screening and diagnosis, as well as assisting to shift the diagnostic and treatment paradigm of prostate cancer towards more patient-specific and targeted medicine. The goal of this narrative review paper is to describe eleven novel and promising tissue-based biomarkers for prostate cancer capable to account for individual patient variabilities and have the potential for risk assessment, early detection and diagnosis, identification of patients who will benefit from a particular treatment and monitoring patient response to treatment.

Materials and methods:

We searched several databases from August to December 2020 for relevant studies published in English between 2000 and 2020 and reporting on tissue-based biomarkers for screening and early diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of prostate cancer.

Conclusions:

Emerging prostate cancer biomarkers have the potential to guide clinical decision-making since they have the potential to detect the disease early, measure the risk of developing the disease and the risk of progression, provide accurate information of patient response to a specific treatment and are capable of informing clinicians about the likely outcome of a cancer diagnosis independent of the treatment received. Therefore, the future holds promise for personalised and targeted medicine from prevention to diagnosis and treatment that considers the individual patient’s variabilities in the management of prostate cancer.

Weighted correlation network analysis identifies FN1, COL1A1 and SERPINE1 associated with the progression and prognosis of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most deadliest tumours worldwide, and its prognosis remains poor.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify and validate hub genes associated with the progression and prognosis of GC by constructing a weighted correlation network.

METHODS

The gene co-expression network was constructed by the WGCNA package based on GC samples and clinical data from the TCGA database. The module of interest that was highly related to clinical traits, including stage, grade and overall survival (OS), was identified. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the clusterprofiler package in R. Cytoscape software was used to identify the 10 hub genes. Differential expression and survival analyses were performed on GEPIA web resources and verified by four GEO datasets and our clinical gastric specimens. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of hub genes were plotted using the pROC package in R. The potential pathogenic mechanisms of hub genes were analysed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) software.

RESULTS

A total of ten modules were detected, and the magenta module was identified as highly related to OS, stage and grade. Enrichment analysis of magenta module indicated that ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, PI3K-Akt pathway, proteoglycans in cancer were significantly enriched. The PPI network identified ten hub genes, namely COL1A1, COL1A2, FN1, POSTN, THBS2, COL11A1, SPP1, MMP13, COMP, and SERPINE1. Three hub genes (FN1, COL1A1 and SERPINE1) were finally identified to be associated with carcinogenicity and poor prognosis of GC, and all were independent risk factors for GC. The area under the curve (AUC) values of FN1, COL1A1 and SERPINE1 for the prediction of GC were 0.702, 0.917 and 0.812, respectively. GSEA showed that three hub genes share 15 common upregulated biological pathways, including hypoxia, epithelial mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

We identified FN1, COL1A1 and SERPINE1 as being associated with the progression and poor prognosis of GC.

Key drug-targeting genes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal type of cancer. In this study, we undertook a pairwise comparison of gene expression pattern between tumor tissue and its matching adjacent normal tissue for 45 PDAC patients and identified 22 upregulated and 32 downregulated genes. PPI network revealed that fibronectin 1 and serpin peptidase inhibitor B5 were the most interconnected upregulated-nodes. Virtual screening identified bleomycin exhibited reasonably strong binding to both proteins. Effect of bleomycin on cell viability was examined against two PDAC cell lines, AsPC-1 and MIA PaCa-2. AsPC-1 did not respond to bleomycin, however, MIA PaCa-2 responded to bleomycin with an IC₅₀ of 2.6 μM. This implicates that bleomycin could be repurposed for the treatment of PDAC, especially in combination with other chemotherapy agents. In vivo mouse xenograft studies and patient clinical trials are warranted to understand the functional mechanism of bleomycin towards PDAC and optimize its therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, we will evaluate the antitumor activity of the other identified drugs in our future studies.

Molecular alterations in oral cancer using high-throughput proteomic analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue

Loss of cell differentiation is a hallmark for the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Archival Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissues constitute a valuable resource for studying the differentiation of OSCC and can offer valuable insights into the process of tumor progression. In the current study, we performed LC-MS/MS-based quantitative proteomics of FFPE specimens from pathologically-confirmed well-differentiated, moderately-differentiated, and poorly-differentiated OSCC cases. The data were analyzed in four technical replicates, resulting in the identification of 2376 proteins. Of these, 141 and 109 were differentially expressed in moderately-differentiated and poorly differentiated OSCC cases, respectively, compared to well-differentiated OSCC. The data revealed significant metabolic reprogramming with respect to lipid metabolism and glycolysis with proteins belonging to both these processes downregulated in moderately-differentiated OSCC when compared to well-differentiated OSCC. Signaling pathway analysis indicated the alteration of extracellular matrix organization, muscle contraction, and glucose metabolism pathways across tumor grades. The extracellular matrix organization pathway was upregulated in moderately-differentiated OSCC and downregulated in poorly differentiated OSCC, compared to well-differentiated OSCC. PADI4, an epigenetic enzyme transcriptional regulator, and its transcriptional target HIST1H1B were both found to be upregulated in moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated OSCC, indicating epigenetic events underlying tumor differentiation. In conclusion, the findings support the advantage of using high-resolution mass spectrometry-based FFPE archival blocks for clinical and translational research. The candidate signaling pathways identified in the study could be used to develop potential therapeutic targets for OSCC.

CSN5 Promotes Carcinogenesis of Thyroid Carcinoma Cells Through ANGPTL2

COP9 signalosome subunit 5 (CSN5) plays a key role in carcinogenesis of multiple cancers and contributes to the stabilization of target proteins through deubiquitylation. However, the underlying role of CSN5 in thyroid carcinoma has not been reported. In this research, our data showed that CSN5 was overexpressed in thyroid carcinoma tissues compared with paracancerous tissues. Furthermore, a series of gain/loss functional assays were performed to demonstrate the role of CSN5 in facilitating thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis. Additionally, we found there was a positive correlation between CSN5 and angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) protein levels in thyroid carcinoma tissues and that CSN5 promoted thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis through ANGPTL2. We also identified the underlying mechanism that CSN5 elevated ANGPTL2 protein level by directly binding it, decreasing its ubiquitination and degradation. Overall, our results highlight the significance of CSN5 in promoting thyroid carcinoma carcinogenesis and implicate CSN5 as a promising candidate for thyroid carcinoma treatment.

Boosting GWAS using biological networks: A study on susceptibility to familial breast cancer

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) explore the genetic causes of complex diseases. However, classical approaches ignore the biological context of the genetic variants and genes under study. To address this shortcoming, one can use biological networks, which model functional relationships, to search for functionally related susceptibility loci. Many such network methods exist, each arising from different mathematical frameworks, pre-processing steps, and assumptions about the network properties of the susceptibility mechanism. Unsurprisingly, this results in disparate solutions. To explore how to exploit these heterogeneous approaches, we selected six network methods and applied them to GENESIS, a nationwide French study on familial breast cancer. First, we verified that network methods recovered more interpretable results than a standard GWAS. We addressed the heterogeneity of their solutions by studying their overlap, computing what we called the consensus. The key gene in this consensus solution was COPS5, a gene related to multiple cancer hallmarks. Another issue we observed was that network methods were unstable, selecting very different genes on different subsamples of GENESIS. Therefore, we proposed a stable consensus solution formed by the 68 genes most consistently selected across multiple subsamples. This solution was also enriched in genes known to be associated with breast cancer susceptibility (BLM, CASP8, CASP10, DNAJC1, FGFR2, MRPS30, and SLC4A7, P-value = 3 × 10-4). The most connected gene was CUL3, a regulator of several genes linked to cancer progression. Lastly, we evaluated the biases of each method and the impact of their parameters on the outcome. In general, network methods preferred highly connected genes, even after random rewirings that stripped the connections of any biological meaning. In conclusion, we present the advantages of network-guided GWAS, characterize their shortcomings, and provide strategies to address them. To compute the consensus networks, implementations of all six methods are available at https://github.com/hclimente/gwas-tools.

Oleacein inhibits STAT3, activates the apoptotic machinery, and exerts anti-metastatic effects in the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells

Several studies published in the last decade suggest that the beneficial role of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) in human health is mostly attributable to the main secoiridoid derivatives (oleuropein, oleocanthal, and oleacein). Anti-cancer properties have also been demonstrated for certain compounds present in small quantities in EVOO, including oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, which have been extensively studied, while minor attention has been given to the most abundant secoiridoid oleacein. The aim of our research was to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic capacity of oleacein in the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line. Our results demonstrate that oleacein is able to reduce the proliferation of the SH-SY5Y cells by blocking the cell cycle in the S phase and inducing apoptotic cell death through the increase in both Bax and p53 as well as a reduction in the Bcl-2 expression and STAT3 phosphorylation. Moreover, oleacein caused reduction in the SH-SY5Y cell adhesion and migration. Overall, these findings indicate that oleacein exerts anti-cancer effects against neuroblastoma cells, suggesting a promising role as a candidate against this type of cancer.

Thyroid Carcinoma: Phenotypic Features, Underlying Biology and Potential Relevance for Targeting Therapy

Thyroid carcinoma consists a group of phenotypically heterogeneous cancers. Recent advances in biological technologies have been advancing the delineation of genetic, epigenetic, and non-genetic factors that contribute to the heterogeneities of these cancers. In this review article, we discuss new findings that are greatly improving the understanding of thyroid cancer biology and facilitating the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention. We review the phenotypic features of different subtypes of thyroid cancers and their underlying biology. We discuss recent discoveries in thyroid cancer heterogeneities and the critical mechanisms contributing to the heterogeneity with emphases on genetic and epigenetic factors, cancer stemness traits, and tumor microenvironments. We also discuss the potential relevance of the intratumor heterogeneity in understanding therapeutic resistance and how new findings in tumor biology can facilitate designing novel targeting therapies for thyroid cancer.

Identification of Potential BRAF Inhibitor Joint Therapy Targets in PTC based on WGCAN and DCGA

As the most common mutation in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), B-type Raf kinase V600E mutation (BRAFV600E ) has become an important target for the clinical treatment of PTC. However, the clinical application still faces the problem of resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi). Therefore, exploring BRAFV600E-associated prognostic factors to providing potential joint targets is important for combined targeted therapy with BRAFi. In this study, we combined transcript data and clinical information from 199 BRAF wild-type (BRAFWT ) patients and 283 BRAFV600E mutant patients collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and screened 455 BRAFV600E- associated genes through differential analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Based on these BRAFV600E -associated genes, we performed functional enrichment analysis and co-expression differential analysis and constructed a core co-expression network. Next, genes in the differential co-expression network were used to predict drugs for therapy in the crowd extracted expression of differential signatures (CREEDS) database, and the key genes were selected based on the hub co-expression network through survival analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Finally, we obtained eight BRAFV600E -associated biomarkers with both prognostic and diagnostic values as potential BRAFi joint targets, including FN1, MET, SLC34A2, NGEF, TBC1D2, PLCD3, PROS1, and NECTIN4. Among these genes, FN1, MET, PROS1, and TBC1D2 were validated through GEO database. Two novel biomarkers, PROS1 and TBC1D2, were further validated by qRT-PCR experiment. Besides, we obtained four potential targeted drugs that could be used in combination with BRAFi to treat PTC, including MET inhibitor, ERBB3 inhibitor, anti-NaPi2b antibody-drug conjugate, and carboplatin through literature review. The study provided potential drug targets for combination therapy with BRAFi for PTC to overcome the drug resistance for BRAFi.

Lung cancer cell-derived EDA-containing fibronectin induces an inflammatory response from monocytes and promotes metastatic tumor microenvironment

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a pivotal role in facilitating tumor growth and metastasis. This tumor-promoting propensity of TAMs sets in as a result of their complex cross-talk with tumor cells mediated primarily by tumor cell-secreted proteins in the tumor microenvironment. To explore such interactions, we employed an immunoscreening approach involving the immunization of Balb-c mice with model human lung carcinoma cell line, A549. From serological examination combined with mass spectrometric analysis, EDA-containing fibronectin (EDA_FN ) was identified as a conspicuous immunogenic protein in A549 cell secretome. We showed that A549 secreted EDA_FN engages TLR-4 on THP-1 monocytes to drive the proinflammatory response via NF-κB signaling cascade. Conversely, A549 derived EDA_FN potentiates their metastatic capacity by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition through its autocrine activity. In conclusion, the study proposes a possible mechanism of cellular cross-talk between lung cancer cells and associated monocytes mediated by lung cancer-derived EDA_FN and resulting in the establishment of proinflammatory and metastatic tumor microenvironment.

The anti-tumor effect of ursolic acid on papillary thyroid carcinoma via suppressing Fibronectin-1

This study aims to discover the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Human PTC cells were under UA treatment, and cell viability, clone formation, and apoptosis were measured by MTT assay, clone formation assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Expressions of apoptosis- and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers were determined via qRT-PCR and western blot. Fibronectin-1 (FN1) expression in thyroid carcinoma was analyzed by GEPIA2 and qRT-PCR. The effects of overexpressed FN1 on UA-treated cells were detected following the previous procedures. Cell viability, proliferation, and EMT-related marker expressions were inhibited, while cell apoptosis and apoptosis-related marker expressions were promoted by UA. FN1 was higher expressed in thyroid carcinoma and downregulated by UA. Effects of FN1 on cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis- and EMT-related marker expressions were partially reversed by UA. UA inhibited human PTC cell viability, proliferation, and EMT but promoted apoptosis via suppressing FN1.

Circulating Tumor Cells and Fibronectin 1 in the Prognosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective:

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is highly endemic in Southeast China. Circulating tumor cell is an important biomarker in the prognosis of variety kinds of cancers. Overexpression of fibronectin 1 was observed in variety kinds of malignancies and may contribute to progress and metastasis of the cancers. The current study was aimed to investigate phenotypes of circulating tumor cell in nasopharyngeal carcinoma blood and fibronectin 1 expression in the circulating tumor cell, and their clinical application in predicting nasopharyngeal carcinoma prognosis.

Methods:

Blood samples were obtained from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients before and after treatment. CanPatrol circulating tumor cell enrichment and RNA in situ hybridization were applied to identify circulating tumor cell and its phenotypes. Fibronectin 1 messenger RNA expression in the cells of circulating tumors was examined by messenger RNA-in situ hybridization.

Results:

Circulating tumor cell was not associated with tumor characteristics or lymph node metastasis. Patients with >9 circulating tumor cells or >5 mesenchymal phenotype circulating tumor cell per 5-mL blood had poorer progression-free survival (P < .05). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that 2 or more mesenchymal phenotype circulating tumor cells with high fibronectin 1 messenger RNA expression predicted shorter progression-free survival (P < .05).

Conclusions:

Circulating tumor cells with high-level fibronectin 1 expression was associated with poor survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and could be an independent prognostic factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Roles of Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase 1 in Tumour and Tumour Microenvironments

Farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 (FDFT1, squalene synthase), a membrane-associated enzyme, synthesizes squalene via condensation of two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate. Accumulating evidence has noted that FDFT1 plays a critical role in cancer, particularly in metabolic reprogramming, cell proliferation, and invasion. Based on these advances in our knowledge, FDFT1 could be a potential target for cancer treatment. This review focuses on the contribution of FDFT1 to the hallmarks of cancer, and further, we discuss the applicability of FDFT1 as a cancer prognostic marker and target for anticancer therapy.

Hsa_circ_0081534 increases the proliferation and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through regulating the miR-508-5p/FN1 axis

Accumulating lines of evidence indicate that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of human cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the influences of hsa_circ_0081534 upon the pathogenesis and dynamics of NPC are undescribed. In this study, we identified a circRNA hsa_circ_0081534 was significantly upregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines. Inhibition of hsa_circ_0081534 induced a decrease in NPC cells proliferation and invasion in vitro, and repressed tumor growth in vivo. In mechanism, hsa_circ_0081534 promoted NPC progression by sponging miR-508-5p. Fibronectin 1 (FN1) is a target gene of miR-508-5p. In addition, rescue assays showed that FN1 overexpression (or miR-508-5p inhibitors) abolished the roles of hsa_circ_0081534 inhibition on NPC cells proliferation and invasion. Therefore, hsa_circ_0081534 promoted the proliferation, and invasion of NPC cells via regulating the miR-508-5p/FN1 axis. Our findings suggested that hsa_circ_0081534 could be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of NPC patients.

Piperlongumine induces ROS mediated cell death and synergizes paclitaxel in human intestinal cancer cells

Piperlongumine (PL), a herbal drug extracted from long pepper (Piper longum L), is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Although, its anti-cancer potential has been evaluated in cancer models like breast, pancreatic, gastric, hepatocellular and lung carcinoma, there is no report on its bio-activity evaluation in intestinal cancers. Here, we report the anti-neoplastic potential of PL against human intestinal carcinoma in-vitro and its possible mechanisms of action. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrate that PL inhibits cell proliferation of INT-407 and HCT-116 cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Also, PL elevated the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species, which may lead to lethal oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and nuclear fragmentation. Remarkably, P53, P21, BAX, and SMAD4 were significantly upregulated after PL treatment whereas; BCL2 and SURVIVIN were down-regulated. Moreover, the combination study also shows the synergistic effect of PL with the current chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel. These findings suggest that PL possesses anti-neoplastic properties in intestinal cancer cells.

IL-34 is a potential biomarker for the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer

Background

Interleukin (IL)‐34 is a recently discovered pro‐inflammatory cytokine and is a vital regulator in different tumor types. However, the function of IL‐34 in thyroid carcinoma has yet to be investigated. In this study, we analyzed the expression of IL‐34 in human papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) samples and determined its effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of PTC cells.

Methods

We examined the expression of IL‐34 in serum and tissue samples of patients with PTC by Western blotting and ELISA assay and analyzed its association with clinicopathological features including tumor size, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, and lymph node metastasis (LNM). We selected TPC1 and K1 for knockdown or overexpressing of IL‐34 via small interference RNA transfection. The proliferation of PTC cells was evaluated by CCK8 assay. We further investigated the role of IL‐34 in apoptosis by flow cytometry and studied the protein levels of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers, phosphorylated extracellular‐regulated kinase (ERK), and total‐ERK (t‐ERK) by Western blotting.

Results

Our results show that IL‐34 is significantly upregulated in serum and tissue samples from patients with PTC. IL‐34 promotes the proliferation and suppresses apoptosis in PTC cells. In addition, IL‐34 can promote the EMT and activate ERK signaling pathway in PTC cells.

Conclusion

This study provides novel evidence that IL‐34 serves as an oncogene in PTC. IL‐34 promotes proliferation, EMT phenotype, and ERK signaling pathway and inhibits apoptosis in PTC cells. Therefore, IL‐34 may be a potent therapeutic target for the treatment of PTC.

The Thyroid Tumor Microenvironment: Potential Targets for Therapeutic Intervention and Prognostication

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and incidences are rising rapidly, in both pediatric and adult populations. Many thyroid tumors are successfully treated which results in low mortality rates, but there is often a significant morbidity associated with thyroid cancer treatments. For patients with tumors that are not successfully treated with surgical resection or radioactive iodine treatment, prognosis is dramatically reduced. Patients diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer face a very grim prognosis with a median survival of 6 months post-diagnosis. There is a critical need to identify patients who are at greatest risk of developing persistent disease and progressing to poorly differentiated or anaplastic disease. Furthermore, development of treatments associated with less morbidity would represent a significant improvement for thyroid cancer survivors. It is well established the stromal cells and components of the tumor microenvironment can drive tumor progression and resistance to therapy. Here we review the current state of what is known regarding the thyroid tumor microenvironment and how these factors may contribute to thyroid tumor pathogenesis. Study of the tumor microenvironment within thyroid cancer is a relatively new field, and more studies are needed to dissect the complex and dynamic crosstalk between thyroid tumor cells and its tumor niche.

Identification of glutathione S-transferase π 1 as a prognostic proteomic biomarker for multiple myeloma using proteomic profiling

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell hematological malignancy with monoclonal plasma cell proliferation in the bone marrow. Early diagnosis of MM remains difficult due to the lack of specific symptoms and biomarkers. In the present study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and the ClinProt system was used to detect potential biomarkers for MM from the bone marrow samples of 30 patients and 30 healthy controls. A total of 10 of the most significantly differentiated peaks between the patients and controls were identified. When patients with MM were compared with controls, 6 peaks with m/z values of 1,779.24, 1,866.32, 2,022.36, 2,878.9, 4,417.76 and 7,155.38 were upregulated, and 4 peaks with m/z values of 1,466.54, 1,520.02, 1,546.53 and 2,991.05 were downregulated. Of these 10 peaks, 4 peaks (pk 8, 1,866.32 Da; pk 15, 2,878.90 Da; pk 17, 2,991.05 Da; and pk 3, 1,520.02 Da) were further sequenced and identified using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Furthermore, the expression of fibronectin 1 and glutathione S-transferase π 1 (GSTP1) were validated in patients with MM via ELISAs. Clinical data and statistical analysis indicated that GSTP1 expression was closely associated with the clinical stage of patients with MM. High GSTP1 levels were an independent risk factor for worse prognosis in patients with MM. These results demonstrate that GSTP1 may be a novel biomarker for early diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of minimal residual disease in MM.