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Sofía M, Sebastián R, Emanuel C, Branham MT, Marzese DM, Matthew S, De Blas G, Rodolfo A, Michael L, María R. When left does not seem right: epigenetic and bioelectric differences between left- and right-sided breast cancer. Mol Med 2022; 28:15. [PMID: 35123413 PMCID: PMC8817536 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-022-00440-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During embryogenesis lateral symmetry is broken, giving rise to Left/Right (L/R) breast tissues with distinct identity. L/R-sided breast tumors exhibit consistently-biased incidence, gene expression, and DNA methylation. We postulate that a differential L/R tumor-microenvironment crosstalk generates different tumorigenesis mechanisms. Methods We performed in-silico analyses on breast tumors of public datasets, developed xenografted tumors, and conditioned MDA-MB-231 cells with L/R mammary extracts. Results We found L/R differential DNA methylation involved in embryogenic and neuron-like functions. Focusing on ion-channels, we discovered significant L/R epigenetic and bioelectric differences. Specifically, L-sided cells presented increased methylation of hyperpolarizing ion channel genes and increased Ca2+ concentration and depolarized membrane potential, compared to R-ones. Functional consequences were associated with increased proliferation in left tumors, assessed by KI67 expression and mitotic count. Conclusions Our findings reveal considerable L/R asymmetry in cancer processes, and suggest specific L/R epigenetic and bioelectric differences as future targets for cancer therapeutic approaches in the breast and many other paired organs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10020-022-00440-5.
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Laurito S, Branham MT, Campoy E, Real S, Cueto J, Urrutia G, Gago F, Tello O, Glatstein T, De la Iglesia P, Atanesyan L, Savola S, Roqué M. Working together for the family: determination of HER oncogene co-amplifications in breast cancer. Oncotarget 2020; 11:2774-2792. [PMID: 32733648 PMCID: PMC7367656 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
HER2 is a well-studied tyrosine kinase (TK) membrane receptor which functions as a therapeutic target in invasive ductal breast carcinomas (IDC). The standard of care for the treatment of HER2-positive breast is the antibody trastuzumab. Despite specific treatment unfortunately, 20% of primary and 70% of metastatic HER2 tumors develop resistance. HER2 belongs to a gene family, with four members (HER1-4) and these members could be involved in resistance to anti-HER2 therapies. In this study we designed a probemix to detect the amplification of the four HER oncogenes in a single reaction. In addition, we developed a protocol based on the combination of MLPA with ddPCR to detect the tumor proportion of co-amplified HERs. On 111 IDC, the HER2 MLPA results were validated by FISH (Adjusted r 2 = 0,91, p < 0,0001), CISH (Adjusted r 2 = 0,938, p < 0,0001) and IHC (Adjusted r 2 = 0,31, p < 0,0001). HER1-4 MLPA results were validated by RT-qPCR assays (Spearman Rank test p < 0,05). Of the 111 samples, 26% presented at least one HER amplified, of which 23% showed co-amplifications with other HERs. The percentage of cells with HER2 co-amplified varied among the tumors (from 2-72,6%). Independent in-silico findings show that the outcome of HER2+ patients is conditioned by the status of HER3 and HER4. Our results encourage further studies to investigate the relationship with patient's response to single or combined treatment. The approach could serve as proof of principle for other tumors in which the HER oncogenes are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Laurito
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Teresita Branham
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Emanuel Campoy
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Real
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Juan Cueto
- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Urrutia
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | - Olga Tello
- Instituto Gineco-Mamario, Mendoza, Argentina
| | | | | | - Lilit Atanesyan
- MRC-Holland BV, Department of Oncogenetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Suvi Savola
- MRC-Holland BV, Department of Oncogenetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Roqué
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, National Council of Research, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Mendoza, Argentina
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3
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Campoy EM, Branham MT, Mayorga LS, Roqué M. Intratumor heterogeneity index of breast carcinomas based on DNA methylation profiles. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:328. [PMID: 30953488 PMCID: PMC6451266 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-5550-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer cells evolve and constitute heterogeneous populations that fluctuate in space and time and are subjected to selection generating intratumor heterogeneity. This phenomenon is determined by the acquisition of genetic/epigenetic alterations and their selection over time which has clinical implications on drug resistance. Methods DNA extracted from different tumor cell populations (breast carcinomas, cancer cell lines and cellular clones) were analyzed by MS-MLPA. Methylation profiles were used to generate a heterogeneity index to quantify the magnitude of epigenetic heterogeneity in these populations. Cellular clones were obtained from single cells derived of MDA-MB 231 cancer cell lines applying serial limiting dilution method and morphology was analyzed by optical microscopy and flow cytometry. Clones characteristics were examined through cellular proliferation, migration capacity and apoptosis. Heterogeneity index was also calculated from beta values derived from methylation profiles of TCGA tumors. Results The study of methylation profiles of 23 fresh breast carcinomas revealed heterogeneous allele populations in these tumor pieces. With the purpose to measure the magnitude of epigenetic heterogeneity, we developed an heterogeneity index based on methylation information and observed that all tumors present their own heterogeneity level. Applying the index calculation in pure cancer cell populations such as cancer cell lines (MDA-MB 231, MCF-7, T47D, HeLa and K-562), we also observed epigenetic heterogeneity. In addition, we detected that clones obtained from the MDA-MB 231 cancer cell line generated their own new heterogeneity over time. Using TCGA tumors, we determined that the heterogeneity index correlated with prognostic and predictive factors like tumor size (p = 0.0088), number of affected axillary nodes (p = 0.007), estrogen receptor expression (p < 0.0001) and HER2 positivity (p = 0.0007). When we analyzed molecular subtypes we found that they presented different heterogeneity levels. Interestingly, we also observed that all mentioned tumor cell populations shared a similar Heterogeneity index (HI) mean. Conclusions Our results show that each tumor presents a unique epigenetic heterogeneity level, which is associated with prognostic and predictive factors. We also observe that breast tumor subtypes differ in terms of epigenetic heterogeneity, which could serve as a new contribution to understand the different prognosis of these groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel M Campoy
- IHEM-CONICET, Av del libertador, 80, Mendoza, Argentina. .,Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Av del Libertador 80, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
| | | | - Luis S Mayorga
- IHEM-CONICET, Av del libertador, 80, Mendoza, Argentina.,Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Av del Libertador 80, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Roqué
- IHEM-CONICET, Av del libertador, 80, Mendoza, Argentina.,Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Padre Jorge Contreras 1300, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
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4
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Graff-Baker AN, Orozco JIJ, Marzese DM, Salomon MP, Hoon DSB, Goldfarb M. Epigenomic and Transcriptomic Characterization of Secondary Breast Cancers. Ann Surg Oncol 2018; 25:3082-3087. [PMID: 29956094 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-018-6582-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular alterations impact tumor prognosis and response to treatment. This study was designed to identify transcriptomic and epigenomic signatures of breast cancer (BC) tumors from patients with any prior malignancy. METHODS RNA-sequencing and genome-wide DNA methylation profiles from BCs were generated in the Cancer Genome Atlas project. Patients with secondary breast cancer (SBC) were separated by histological subtype and matched to primary breast cancer controls to create two independent cohorts of invasive ductal (IDC, n = 36) and invasive lobular (ILC, n = 40) carcinoma. Differentially expressed genes, as well as differentially methylated genomic regions, were integrated to identify epigenetically regulated abnormal gene pathways in SBCs. RESULTS Differentially expressed genes were identified in IDC SBCs (n = 727) and in ILC SBCs (n = 261; Wilcoxon's test; P < 0.05). In IDC SBCs, 105 genes were upregulated and hypomethylated, including an estrogen receptor gene, and 73 genes were downregulated and hypermethylated, including genes involved in antigen presentation and interferon response pathways (HLA-E, IRF8, and RELA). In ILC SBCs, however, only 17 genes were synchronously hypomethylated and upregulated, whereas 46 genes hypermethylated and downregulated. Interestingly, the SBC gene expression signatures closely corresponded with each histological subtype with only 1.51% of genes overlapping between the two histological subtypes. CONCLUSIONS Differential gene expression and DNA methylation signatures are seen in both IDC and ILC SBCs, including genes that are relevant to tumor growth and proliferation. Differences in gene expression signatures corresponding with each histological subtype emphasize the importance of disease subtype-specific evaluations of molecular alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda N Graff-Baker
- Center for Endocrine Tumors and Disorders, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Javier I J Orozco
- Center for Endocrine Tumors and Disorders, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Diego M Marzese
- Center for Endocrine Tumors and Disorders, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Matthew P Salomon
- Center for Endocrine Tumors and Disorders, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Dave S B Hoon
- Center for Endocrine Tumors and Disorders, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Melanie Goldfarb
- Center for Endocrine Tumors and Disorders, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
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5
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Gomez LC, Sottile ML, Guerrero-Gimenez ME, Zoppino FCM, Redondo AL, Gago FE, Orozco JI, Tello OM, Roqué M, Nadin SB, Marzese DM, Vargas-Roig LM. TP73 DNA methylation and upregulation of ΔNp73 are associated with an adverse prognosis in breast cancer. J Clin Pathol 2017; 71:52-58. [PMID: 28743687 DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2017-204499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIM Accumulated evidence suggests that aberrant methylation of the TP73 gene and increased levels of ΔNp73 in primary tumours correlate with poor prognosis. However, little is known regarding the transcriptional and functional regulation of the TP73 gene in breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine the expression of the ΔNp73 isoform, its relationship with DNA methylation of TP73 and their clinical prognostic significance in breast cancer patients. METHODS TP73 gene methylation was studied in TCGA datasets and in 70 invasive ductal breast carcinomas (IDCs). The expression of p73 isoforms was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot and correlated with clinicopathological variables and clinical outcome. RESULTS We observed that the methylation of diverse CpG islands of TP73 differed significantly between molecular subtypes. An inverse correlation was found between p73 protein expression and the methylation status of the TP73 gene. The expression of exon 3' of p73 (only expressed in ΔNp73) was significantly higher in patients with wild-type p53. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that all p73 isoforms were localised in both the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. We confirmed a positive association between the expression of ∆Np73 and high histological grade. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that high expression of ΔNp73 could be used to determine the aggressiveness of IDCs and could be incorporated in the pathologist's report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Gomez
- Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina.,Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Mayra L Sottile
- Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Martin E Guerrero-Gimenez
- Oncology Laboratory, IMBECU-CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina.,Medical School, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Felipe C M Zoppino
- Oncology Laboratory, IMBECU-CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina.,Medical School, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Analia L Redondo
- Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina.,Medical School, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | | | - Javier I Orozco
- Medical School, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.,Gineco-Mamario Institute, San Lorenzo, Mendoza, Argentina.,Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, USA
| | - Olga M Tello
- Gineco-Mamario Institute, San Lorenzo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Maria Roqué
- Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.,IHEM-CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Silvina B Nadin
- Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Diego M Marzese
- Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, USA
| | - Laura M Vargas-Roig
- Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina.,Medical School, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
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6
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Asymmetric Cancer Hallmarks in Breast Tumors on Different Sides of the Body. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157416. [PMID: 27383829 PMCID: PMC4934783 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During the last decades it has been established that breast cancer arises through the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in different cancer related genes. These alterations confer the tumor oncogenic abilities, which can be resumed as cancer hallmarks (CH). The purpose of this study was to establish the methylation profile of CpG sites located in cancer genes in breast tumors so as to infer their potential impact on 6 CH: i.e. sustained proliferative signaling, evasion of growth suppressors, resistance to cell death, induction of angiogenesis, genome instability and invasion and metastasis. For 51 breast carcinomas, MS-MLPA derived-methylation profiles of 81 CpG sites were converted into 6 CH profiles. CH profiles distribution was tested by different statistical methods and correlated with clinical-pathological data. Unsupervised Hierarchical Cluster Analysis revealed that CH profiles segregate in two main groups (bootstrapping 90–100%), which correlate with breast laterality (p = 0.05). For validating these observations, gene expression data was obtained by RealTime-PCR in a different cohort of 25 tumors and converted into CH profiles. This analyses confirmed the same clustering and a tendency of association with breast laterality (p = 0.15). In silico analyses on gene expression data from TCGA Breast dataset from left and right breast tumors showed that they differed significantly when data was previously converted into CH profiles (p = 0.033). We show here for the first time, that breast carcinomas arising on different sides of the body present differential cancer traits inferred from methylation and expression profiles. Our results indicate that by converting methylation or expression profiles in terms of Cancer Hallmarks, it would allow to uncover veiled associations with clinical features. These results contribute with a new finding to the better understanding of breast tumor behavior, and can moreover serve as proof of principle for other bilateral cancers like lung, testes or kidney.
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7
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Branham MT, Campoy E, Laurito S, Branham R, Urrutia G, Orozco J, Gago F, Urrutia R, Roqué M. Epigenetic regulation of ID4 in the determination of the BRCAness phenotype in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2016; 155:13-23. [PMID: 26610810 PMCID: PMC6036618 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-015-3648-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BRCAness breast tumors represent a group of sporadic tumors characterized by a reduction in BRCA1 gene expression. As BRCA1 is involved in double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair, dysfunctional BRCA pathway could make a tumor sensitive to DNA damaging drugs (e.g., platinum agents). Thus, accurately identifying BRCAness could contribute to therapeutic decision making in patients harboring these tumors. The purpose of this study was to identify if BRCAness tumors present a characteristic methylation profile and/or were related to specific clinico-pathological features. BRCAness was measured by MLPA in 63 breast tumors; methylation status of 98 CpG sites within 84 cancer-related genes was analyzed by MS-MLPA. Protein and mRNA expressions of the selected genes were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and Western Blot. BRCAness was associated with younger age, higher nuclear pleomorphism, and triple-negative (TN) status. Epigenetically, we found that the strongest predictors for BRCAness tumors were the methylations of MLH1 and PAX5 plus the unmethylations of CCND2 and ID4. We determined that ID4 unmethylation correlated with the expression levels of both its mRNA and protein. We observed an inverse relation between the expressions of ID4 and BRCA1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report suggesting an epigenetic regulation of ID4 in BRCAness tumors. Our findings give new information of BRCAness etiology and encourage future studies on potential drug targets for BRCAness breast tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Branham
- IHEM-CCT-CONICET Mendoza and National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
| | - E Campoy
- IHEM-CCT-CONICET Mendoza and National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - S Laurito
- IHEM-CCT-CONICET Mendoza and National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - R Branham
- IANIGLA-CCT-CONICET Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - G Urrutia
- IHEM-CCT-CONICET Mendoza and National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - J Orozco
- Gineco-Mamario Institute of Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - F Gago
- Gineco-Mamario Institute of Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - R Urrutia
- GI Research Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Epigenomics Translational Program, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
| | - M Roqué
- IHEM-CCT-CONICET Mendoza and National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
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8
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Marzese DM, Hoon DS. Emerging technologies for studying DNA methylation for the molecular diagnosis of cancer. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2015; 15:647-64. [PMID: 25797072 DOI: 10.1586/14737159.2015.1027194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that plays a key role in regulating gene expression and other functions. Although this modification is seen in different sequence contexts, the most frequently detected DNA methylation in mammals involves cytosine-guanine dinucleotides. Pathological alterations in DNA methylation patterns are described in a variety of human diseases, including cancer. Unlike genetic changes, DNA methylation is heavily influenced by subtle modifications in the cellular microenvironment. In all cancers, aberrant DNA methylation is involved in the alteration of a large number of oncological pathways with relevant theranostic utility. Several technologies for DNA methylation mapping have been developed recently and successfully applied in cancer studies. The scope of these technologies varies from assessing a single cytosine-guanine locus to genome-wide distribution of DNA methylation. Here, we review the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches in the context of clinical utility for the molecular diagnosis of human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego M Marzese
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Saint John's Health Center, John Wayne Cancer Institute, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
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9
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Urrutia G, Laurito S, Marzese DM, Gago F, Orozco J, Tello O, Branham T, Campoy EM, Roqué M. Epigenetic variations in breast cancer progression to lymph node metastasis. Clin Exp Metastasis 2015; 32:99-110. [PMID: 25628026 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-015-9695-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease characterized by the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations that contribute to the development of regional and distant metastases. Lymph node metastasis (LNM) status is the single most important prognostic factor. Metastatic cancer cells share common molecular alterations with those of the primary tumor, but in addition, they develop distinct changes that allow the cancer to progress. There is an urgent need for molecular studies which focus on identifying genomic and epigenomic markers that can predict the progression to metastasis. The objective of this study was to identify epigenetic similarities and differences between paired primary breast tumor (PBT) and LNM. We employed Methylation-Specific-MLPA (Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification) to assess the methylation status of 33 cancer-related genes in a cohort of 50 paired PBT and LNM specimens. We found that the methylation index, which represents the degree of aberrantly methylated genes in a specimen, was maintained during the progression to LNM. However, some genes presented differential methylation profiles. Interestingly, PAX6 presented a significant negative correlation between paired PBT and LNM (p = 0.03), which indicated a switch from methylated to unmethylated status in the progression from PBT to LNM. We further identified that the methylation status of PAX6 on the identified CpG site functionally affected the expression of PAX6 at the mRNA level. Our study unraveled significant epigenetic changes during the progression from PBT to LNM, which may contribute to improved prognosis, prediction and therapeutic management of metastatic breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Urrutia
- IHEM-CCT-CONICET Mendoza and National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
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10
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Marzese DM, Scolyer RA, Roqué M, Vargas-Roig LM, Huynh JL, Wilmott JS, Murali R, Buckland ME, Barkhoudarian G, Thompson JF, Morton DL, Kelly DF, Hoon DSB. DNA methylation and gene deletion analysis of brain metastases in melanoma patients identifies mutually exclusive molecular alterations. Neuro Oncol 2014; 16:1499-509. [PMID: 24968695 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nou107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brain is a common target of metastases for melanoma patients. Little is known about the genetic and epigenetic alterations in melanoma brain metastases (MBMs). Unraveling these molecular alterations is a key step in understanding their aggressive nature and identifying novel therapeutic targets. METHODS Genome-wide DNA methylation analyses of MBMs (n = 15) and normal brain tissues (n = 91) and simultaneous multigene DNA methylation and gene deletion analyses of metastatic melanoma tissues (99 MBMs and 43 extracranial metastases) were performed. BRAF and NRAS mutations were evaluated in MBMs by targeted sequencing. RESULTS MBMs showed significant epigenetic heterogeneity. RARB, RASSF1, ESR1, APC, PTEN, and CDH13 genes were frequently hypermethylated. Deletions were frequently detected in the CDKN2A/B locus. Of MBMs, 46.1% and 28.8% had BRAF and NRAS missense mutations, respectively. Compared with lung and liver metastases, MBMs exhibited higher frequency of CDH13 hypermethylation and CDKN2A/B locus deletion. Mutual exclusivity between hypermethylated genes and CDKN2A/B locus deletion identified 2 clinically relevant molecular subtypes of MBMs. CDKN2A/B deletions were associated with multiple MBMs and frequently hypermethylated genes with shorter time to brain metastasis. CONCLUSIONS Melanoma cells that colonize the brain harbor numerous genetically and epigenetically altered genes. This study presents an integrated genomic and epigenomic analysis that reveals MBM-specific molecular alterations and mutually exclusive molecular subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego M Marzese
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Maria Roqué
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Laura M Vargas-Roig
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Jamie L Huynh
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - James S Wilmott
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Rajmohan Murali
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Michael E Buckland
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Garni Barkhoudarian
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - John F Thompson
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Donald L Morton
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Daniel F Kelly
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
| | - Dave S B Hoon
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.M.M., J.L.H., D.S.B.H.); Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology (R.A.S., M.E.B., J.F.T.) and Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.F.T.); Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W., M.E.B., J.F.T.); Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia (R.A.S., J.S.W.); Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Mendoza, Argentina (M.R.); Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (L.M.V.-R.); Department of Pathology (R.M.), Center for Molecular Oncology (R.M.), and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (R.M.); Division of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California (D.L.M.); Brain Tumor Center, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California (G.B., D.F.K.)
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11
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Flamini MI, Gauna GV, Sottile ML, Nadin BS, Sanchez AM, Vargas-Roig LM. Retinoic acid reduces migration of human breast cancer cells: role of retinoic acid receptor beta. J Cell Mol Med 2014; 18:1113-23. [PMID: 24720764 PMCID: PMC4508151 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the appearance of distant metastases produces the death in 98% of cases. The retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) is not expressed in 50% of invasive breast carcinoma compared with normal tissue and it has been associated with lymph node metastasis. Our hypothesis is that RARβ protein participates in the metastatic process. T47D and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines were used to perform viability assay, immunobloting, migration assays, RNA interference and immunofluorescence. Administration of retinoic acid (RA) in breast cancer cells induced RARβ gene expression that was greatest after 72 hrs with a concentration 1 μM. High concentrations of RA increased the expression of RARβ causing an inhibition of the 60% in cell migration and significantly decreased the expression of migration-related proteins [moesin, c-Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)]. The treatment with RARα and RARγ agonists did not affect the cell migration. On the contrary, the addition of the selective retinoid RARβ-agonist (BMS453) significantly reduced cell migration comparable to RA inhibition. When RARβ gene silencing was performed, the RA failed to significantly inhibit migration and resulted ineffective to reduce moesin, c-Src and FAK expressions. RARβ is necessary to inhibit migration induced by RA in breast cancer cells modulating the expression of proteins involved in cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Ines Flamini
- Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo, National Research Council of Argentina, Mendoza, Argentina
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12
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Jung EJ, Kim IS, Lee EY, Kang JE, Lee SM, Kim DC, Kim JY, Park ST. Comparison of methylation profiling in cancerous and their corresponding normal tissues from korean patients with breast cancer. Ann Lab Med 2013; 33:431-40. [PMID: 24205493 PMCID: PMC3819443 DOI: 10.3343/alm.2013.33.6.431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Revised: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant DNA hypermethylation plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis and disease progression; therefore, accurate measurement of differential gene methylation patterns among many genes is likely to reveal biomarkers for improved risk assessment. We evaluated the gene hypermethylation profiles of primary breast tumors and their corresponding normal tissues and investigated the association between major clinicopathological features and gene hypermethylation. METHODS A single reaction using methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was used to analyze the DNA methylation status of 24 tumor suppressor genes in 60 cancerous tissues and their corresponding normal tissues from patients with primary breast cancer. RESULTS In cancerous breast tissues, 21 of 24 genes displayed promoter methylation in one or more samples. The most frequently methylated genes included RASSF1 (43.3%), APC (31.7%), CDKN2B (25.0%), CDH13 (23.3%), GSTP1 (16.7%), and BRCA1 (10%). APC was associated with lymph node metastasis, and BRCA1 was associated with negative estrogen receptor and negative progesterone receptor expression. In normal breast tissues, 8 of 24 tumor suppressor genes displayed promoter hypermethylation; CDKN2B (28.3%) and RASSF1 (8.3%) hypermethylation were most frequently observed. CONCLUSIONS RASSF1 and CDKN2B hypermethylation in Korean breast cancer patients were the most frequent in cancerous tissue and corresponding normal tissue, respectively. Our data indicates that methylation of specific genes is a frequent event in morphologically normal breast tissues adjacent to breast tumors as well as the corresponding breast cancers. This study also suggests that gene methylation is linked to various pathological features of breast cancer; however, this requires confirmation in a larger study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Jung Jung
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
| | - In-Suk Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Eun Yup Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Jeong-Eun Kang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
| | - Sun-Min Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
| | - Dong Chul Kim
- Department of Pathology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
| | - Ju-Yeon Kim
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
| | - Soon-Tae Park
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
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13
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Abáigar M, Ramos F, Benito R, Díez-Campelo M, Sánchez-del-Real J, Hermosín L, Rodríguez JN, Aguilar C, Recio I, Alonso JM, de las Heras N, Megido M, Fuertes M, del Cañizo MC, Hernández-Rivas JM. Prognostic impact of the number of methylated genes in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemias treated with azacytidine. Ann Hematol 2013; 92:1543-52. [PMID: 23740492 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-013-1799-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The prognostic impact of the aberrant hypermethylation in response to azacytidine (AZA) remains to be determined. Therefore, we have analyzed the influence of the methylation status prior to AZA treatment on the overall survival and clinical response of myeloid malignancies. DNA methylation status of 24 tumor suppressor genes was analyzed by methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in 63 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia treated with azacytidine. Most patients (73 %) showed methylation of at least one gene, but only 12 % of patients displayed ≥3 methylated genes. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of a high number (≥2) of methylated genes (P = 0.022), a high WBC count (P = 0.033), or anemia (P = 0.029) were independent prognostic factors associated with shorter overall survival. The aberrant methylation status did not correlate with the response to AZA, although four of the five patients with ≥3 methylated genes did not respond. By contrast, favorable cytogenetics independently influenced the clinical response to AZA as 64.7 % of patients with good-risk cytogenetic abnormalities responded (P = 0.03). Aberrant methylation status influences the survival of patients treated with AZA, being shorter in those patients with a high number of methylated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Abáigar
- Cancer Research Center-IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain
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14
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Verschuur-Maes AHJ, de Bruin PC, van Diest PJ. Epigenetic progression of columnar cell lesions of the breast to invasive breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2012; 136:705-15. [PMID: 23104224 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-012-2301-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Promoter hypermethylation of several tumour suppressor genes often occurs during breast carcinogenesis, but little is known about epigenetic silencing in the possible precursor columnar cell lesion (CCL). Promoter hypermethylation of 50 different tumour suppressor genes was assessed in normal breast tissue (N = 10), CCL (N = 15), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) grade I originating in CCL (N = 5) and paired CCL (N = 15) with DCIS (N = 7) and/or invasive carcinoma (N = 14) by Methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Increasing mean cumulative methylation levels were found from normal breast tissue to CCL to DCIS and invasive carcinoma (P < 0.001) with similar methylation levels in DCIS and invasive carcinoma. Methylation levels and frequencies (in the overall analysis and analysis of only the synchronous lesions) were the highest for RASSF1, CCND2, ID4, SCGB3A1 and CDH13. The methylation levels of ID4, CCND2, and CDH13 increased significantly from normal breast tissue to CCL and to DCIS/invasive carcinoma. RASSF1, SCGB3A1 and SFRP5 had significant higher methylation levels in CCL compared to normal breast tissue, but showed no significant differences between CCL, DCIS and invasive carcinoma. Also, no difference was found between CCLs with and without atypia, or CCLs with or without synchronous cancer. In conclusion, promoter hypermethylation for several established tumour suppressor genes is already present in CCLs, underlining that promoter hypermethylation is an early event in breast carcinogenesis. Atypia in CCL or the presence of synchronous more advanced lesions does not seem to be accompanied by higher methylation levels.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Breast Neoplasms/genetics
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Breast Neoplasms/surgery
- Cadherins/genetics
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/genetics
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/pathology
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/surgery
- Cyclin D2/genetics
- Cytokines/genetics
- DNA Methylation
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Genes, Tumor Suppressor
- Humans
- Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins/genetics
- Mammary Glands, Human/pathology
- Mammary Glands, Human/surgery
- Middle Aged
- Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Precancerous Conditions/genetics
- Precancerous Conditions/surgery
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Reference Values
- Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Anoek H J Verschuur-Maes
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht Cancer Center, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
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15
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Huynh KT, Chong KK, Greenberg ES, Hoon DSB. Epigenetics of estrogen receptor-negative primary breast cancer. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2012; 12:371-82. [PMID: 22616702 DOI: 10.1586/erm.12.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Increasingly, breast cancer is being recognized as a heterogeneous disease comprised of molecularly and phenotypically distinct intrinsic tumor subtypes with different clinical outcomes. This biological heterogeneity has significant implications, particularly as it relates to expression profiling of estrogen receptor (ER) status, as classifying breast cancers based on hormone receptor expression impacts not only prognosis but also treatment options and long-term outcomes. Epigenetics has emerged as a promising field for the assessment of hormone receptor status. Epigenetic aberrations have been shown to regulate ER and offer reversible targets for development of new therapies. This review covers ER-negative breast tumor epigenetic aberrations and summarizes the major epigenetic mechanisms governing ER expression and how it impacts treatment of ER-negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly T Huynh
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
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16
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Marzese DM, Hoon DSB, Chong KK, Gago FE, Orozco JI, Tello OM, Vargas-Roig LM, Roqué M. DNA methylation index and methylation profile of invasive ductal breast tumors. J Mol Diagn 2012; 14:613-22. [PMID: 22925694 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2012.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2011] [Revised: 06/13/2012] [Accepted: 07/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast carcinogenesis is a multistep process that involves both genetic and epigenetic alterations. Identification of aberrantly methylated genes in breast tumors and their relation to clinical parameters can contribute to improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic decision making. Our objective in the present study was to identify the methylation status of 34 cancer-involved genes in invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC). Each of the 70 IDC cases analyzed had a unique methylation profile. The highest methylation frequency was detected in the WT1 (95.7%) and RASSF1 (71.4%) genes. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three clusters with different distribution of the prognostic factors tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, and proliferation rate. Methylation of TP73 was associated with high histological grade and high proliferation rate; methylation of RARB was associated with lymph node metastasis. Concurrent methylation of TP73 and RARB was associated with high histological grade, high proliferation rate, increased tumor size, and lymph node metastasis. Patients with more than six methylated genes had higher rates of relapse events and cancer deaths. In multivariate analysis, TP73 methylation and the methylation index were associated with disease outcome. Our results indicate that methylation index and methylation of TP73 and/or RARB are related to unfavorable prognostic factors in patients with IDC. These epigenetic markers should be validated in further studies to improve breast cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego M Marzese
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Histology and Embryology (IHEM-CCT-CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina
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17
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Branham MT, Marzese DM, Laurito SR, Gago FE, Orozco JI, Tello OM, Vargas-Roig LM, Roqué M. Methylation profile of triple-negative breast carcinomas. Oncogenesis 2012; 1:e17. [PMID: 23552734 PMCID: PMC3412652 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2012.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a group of clinically, histopathologically and molecularly heterogeneous diseases, with different outcomes and responses to treatment. Triple-negative (TN) breast cancers are defined as tumors that lack the expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor 2. This subgroup accounts for 15% of all types of breast cancer and its prevalence is higher among young African, African-American and Latino women. The hypermethylation of CpG islands (CpGI) is a common epigenetic alteration for suppressing gene expression in breast cancer and has been shown to be a key factor in breast carcinogenesis. In this study we analyzed the hypermethylation of 110 CpGI within 69 cancer-related genes in TN tumors. For the methylation analysis, we used the methyl-specific multiplex-ligation probe amplification assay. We found that the number of methylated CpGI is similar between TN and non-TN tumors, but the methylated genes between the groups are different. The methylation profile of TN tumors is defined by the methylation of five genes (that is, CDKN2B, CD44, MGMT, RB and p73) plus the non-methylation of 11 genes (that is, GSTP1, PMS2, MSH2, MLH1, MSH3, MSH6, DLC1, CACNA1A, CACNA1G, TWIST1 and ID4). We conclude that TN tumors have a specific methylation profile. Our findings give new information for better understanding tumor etiology and encourage future studies on potential drug targets for triple-negative breast tumors, which now lack a specific treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Branham
- 1] Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, IHEM-CCT-CONICET, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina [2] School of Medical Sciences, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
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18
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Stuppia L, Antonucci I, Palka G, Gatta V. Use of the MLPA assay in the molecular diagnosis of gene copy number alterations in human genetic diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2012; 13:3245-3276. [PMID: 22489151 PMCID: PMC3317712 DOI: 10.3390/ijms13033245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2011] [Revised: 02/28/2012] [Accepted: 02/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) assay is a recently developed technique able to evidence variations in the copy number of several human genes. Due to this ability, MLPA can be used in the molecular diagnosis of several genetic diseases whose pathogenesis is related to the presence of deletions or duplications of specific genes. Moreover, MLPA assay can also be used in the molecular diagnosis of genetic diseases characterized by the presence of abnormal DNA methylation. Due to the large number of genes that can be analyzed by a single technique, MLPA assay represents the gold standard for molecular analysis of all pathologies derived from the presence of gene copy number variation. In this review, the main applications of the MLPA technique for the molecular diagnosis of human diseases are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liborio Stuppia
- Department of Oral Sciences, Nano and Biotechnologies, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti, Italy; E-Mails: (I.A.); (G.P.); (V.G.)
| | - Ivana Antonucci
- Department of Oral Sciences, Nano and Biotechnologies, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti, Italy; E-Mails: (I.A.); (G.P.); (V.G.)
| | - Giandomenico Palka
- Department of Oral Sciences, Nano and Biotechnologies, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti, Italy; E-Mails: (I.A.); (G.P.); (V.G.)
| | - Valentina Gatta
- Department of Oral Sciences, Nano and Biotechnologies, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti, Italy; E-Mails: (I.A.); (G.P.); (V.G.)
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Marzese DM, Gago FE, Orozco JI, Tello OM, Roqué M, Vargas-Roig LM. Aberrant DNA methylation of cancer-related genes in giant breast fibroadenoma: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2011; 5:516. [PMID: 22011321 PMCID: PMC3206866 DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-5-516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 10/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Giant fibroadenoma is an uncommon variant of benign breast lesions. Aberrant methylation of CpG islands in promoter regions is known to be involved in the silencing of genes (for example, tumor-suppressor genes) and appears to be an early event in the etiology of breast carcinogenesis. Only hypermethylation of p16INK4a has been reported in non-giant breast fibroadenoma. In this particular case, there are no previously published data on epigenetic alterations in giant fibroadenomas. Our previous results, based on the analysis of 49 cancer-related CpG islands have confirmed that the aberrant methylation is specific to malignant breast tumors and that it is completely absent in normal breast tissue and breast fibroadenomas. Case presentation A 13-year-old Hispanic girl was referred after she had noted a progressive development of a mass in her left breast. On physical examination, a 10 × 10 cm lump was detected and axillary lymph nodes were not enlarged. After surgical removal the lump was diagnosed as a giant fibroadenoma. Because of the high growth rate of this benign tumor, we decided to analyze the methylation status of 49 CpG islands related to cell growth control. We have identified the methylation of five cancer-related CpG islands in the giant fibroadenoma tissue: ESR1, MGMT, WT-1, BRCA2 and CD44. Conclusion In this case report we show for the first time the methylation analysis of a giant fibroadenoma. The detection of methylation of these five cancer-related regions indicates substantial epigenomic differences with non-giant fibroadenomas. Epigenetic alterations could explain the higher growth rate of this tumor. Our data contribute to the growing knowledge of aberrant methylation in breast diseases. In this particular case, there exist no previous data regarding the role of methylation in giant fibroadenomas, considered by definition as a benign breast lesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego M Marzese
- School of Medical Sciences, National University of Cuyo, Parque General San Martín s/n, CP 5500, Mendoza, Argentina.
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