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Zhang C, Liu H, Li X, Xiao N, Chen H, Feng H, Li Y, Yang Y, Zhang R, Zhao X, Du Y, Bai L, Ma R, Wan J. Cold atmospheric plasma enhances SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis in non-small cell lung cancer by regulating PCAF mediated HOXB9 acetylation. Redox Biol 2024; 75:103299. [PMID: 39127016 PMCID: PMC11363999 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with high incidence and poor survival rates. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) technology has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for cancer treatment, inducing oxidative stress in malignant tissues without causing thermal damage. However, the role of CAP in regulating lung cancer cell ferroptosis remains unclear. Here, we observed that CAP effectively suppressed the growth and migration abilities of lung cancer cells, with significantly increased ferroptotic cell death, lipid peroxidation, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Mechanistically, CAP regulates SLC7A11-mediated cell ferroptosis by modulating HOXB9. SLC7A11, a potent ferroptosis suppressor, was markedly reduced by HOXB9 knockdown, while it was enhanced by overexpressing HOXB9. The luciferase and ChIP assays confirmed that HOXB9 can directly target SLC7A11 and regulate its gene transcription. Additionally, CAP enhanced the acetylation modification level of HOXB9 by promoting its interaction with acetyltransferase p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF). Acetylated HOXB9 affects its protein ubiquitination modification level, which in turn affects its protein stability. Notably, the upregulation of SLC7A11 and HOXB9 mitigated the suppressive effects of CAP on ferroptosis status, cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in lung cancer cells. Furthermore, animal models have also confirmed that CAP can inhibit the progression of lung cancer in vivo. Overall, this study highlights the significance of the downregulation of the HOXB9/SLC7A11 axis by CAP treatment in inhibiting lung cancer, offering novel insights into the potential mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of CAP for lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxing Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hongyang Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaohu Li
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Nan Xiao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Huanxiang Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Haoran Feng
- Henan Key Laboratory of Ion-beam Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ruike Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiangzhuan Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yanmin Du
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lu Bai
- Department of General Surgery, Zhecheng People's Hospital, Shangqiu, Henan, China
| | - Ruonan Ma
- Henan Key Laboratory of Ion-beam Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Junhu Wan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
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Jin Q, Xu L, Wang J, Lin J, Lin H. Pan-cancer analysis of Homeobox B9 as a predictor for prognosis and immunotherapy in human tumors. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:204785. [PMID: 37301547 PMCID: PMC10292867 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although several animal and cell studies have described the association between HOXB9 and cancers, there is no pan-cancer investigation of HOXB9. In this article, we explored the expression levels and prognosis of HOXB9 in pan-cancer. We evaluated the correlation of HOXB9 expression level with the efficacy of immunotherapy. METHODS We conducted a survival analysis of HOXB9 in various types of cancer using publicly available databases. We also examined the relationship between HOXB9 expression levels and several factors including prognosis, immune infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, mismatch repair, and DNA methylation. TIMER2.0 tool was conducted to explore the immune cell infiltrations related to HOXB9 in this analysis. RESULTS It was discovered through a comprehensive analysis of multiple public datasets that HOXB9 expression was highly expressed in most tumor tissues and cancer cell lines and that distinct associations exist between HOXB9 expression and tumor patient prognosis. Besides, HOXB9 expression was closely associated with immune cell infiltration and checkpoint genes in many cancers. Further, HOXB9 was associated with immune cell infiltration, TMB, MSI, MMR, and DNA methylation. It was also confirmed that HOXB9 was highly expressed in clinical GBM tissues. Experiments further revealed that knockdown of HOXB9 expression could suppress proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that HOXB9, a robust tumor biomarker, has a significant prognostic value. HOXB9 may act as a new predictor to assess cancer prognosis and therapeutic efficacy of the immune in various cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingdong Jin
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Putian City, Putian, Fujian Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Translational Tumor Medicine in Fujian Province, Putian University, Putian, Fujian Province, China
| | - Li Xu
- Key Laboratory of Translational Tumor Medicine in Fujian Province, Putian University, Putian, Fujian Province, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Putian City, Putian, Fujian Province, China
| | - Junling Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Putian City, Putian, Fujian Province, China
| | - Huang Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Putian City, Putian, Fujian Province, China
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Wang C, Zhao Z, Zhang Y, Liang W, Zhou C, Lin W, He Y, Wu M, Meng Z, Liao Y, Li M, El Akkawi M, Zhao J, He Y. Identification and verification of the prognostic value of CUL7 in colon adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1043512. [PMID: 36304472 PMCID: PMC9592904 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1043512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
CUL7, a gene composed of 26 exons associated with cullin 7 protein, is also an E3 ligase that is closely related to cell senescence, apoptosis, and cell transformation and also plays an important role in human cancer. However, there is no systematic pan-cancer analysis has been performed to explore its role in prognosis and immune prediction. In this study, the expression of CUL7 in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) was investigated to determine its prognosis value. First, based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotypic-Tissue Expression Project(GTEx), Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedias(CCLE), and TISIDB database, the potential role of CUL7 in different tumors was explored. Subsequently, the expression of CUL7 in COAD was explored and verified by Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Furthermore, the mutation frequency of CUL7 in COAD was analyzed, and the prognostic value of CUL7 in COAD was discussed. In addition, the nomogram was constructed, and its prognostic value was verified by follow-up data from Jiangmen Central Hospital. Finally, PPI network analysis explored the potential biological function of CUL7 in COAD. The results show that CUL7 is upregulated in most tumors, which is significantly associated with poor survival. At the same time, CUL7 is correlated with the clinical stage and immune landscape of various tumors. In colorectal cancer, CUL7 was overexpressed in tumor tissues by IHC with a mutation frequency of about 4%. CUL7 is an independent prognostic factor for colorectal cancer. The nomogram constructed has effective predictive performance, and external databases proved the prognostic value of CUL7. In addition, PPI network analysis showed that CUL7 was closely related to FBXW8, and further pathway enrichment analysis showed that CUL7 was mainly involved in ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Therefore, our study provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential role of CUL7 in different tumors, and CUL7 might be a prognostic marker for COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengxing Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhao Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
| | - Weijun Liang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
| | - Chaorong Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
| | - Weixing Lin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
| | - Yu He
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
| | - Meimei Wu
- Clinical Experimental Center, Jiangmen Key Laboratory of Clinical Biobanks and Translational Research, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
| | - Zijie Meng
- Clinical Experimental Center, Jiangmen Key Laboratory of Clinical Biobanks and Translational Research, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
| | - Yuehua Liao
- Department of Pathology, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
| | - Min Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mariya El Akkawi
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Zhujiang hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yaoming He, ; Jinglin Zhao, ; Mariya El Akkawi,
| | - Jinglin Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
- *Correspondence: Yaoming He, ; Jinglin Zhao, ; Mariya El Akkawi,
| | - Yaoming He
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
- *Correspondence: Yaoming He, ; Jinglin Zhao, ; Mariya El Akkawi,
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Homeobox B9 Promotes the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via TGF-β1/Smad and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:1080315. [PMID: 36158877 PMCID: PMC9507699 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1080315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Homeobox B9 (HOXB9), a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, may play a role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the exact mechanisms underlying its action remain unclear. Materials and methods. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression of HOBX9 and its prognostic values in HCC patients. HCC cells were transfected with pBabe-HOXB9 and shHOXB9 plasmids, and MTT assay, Transwell assays, and xenograft mouse models were employed to determine the effects of HOXB9 on HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. The biological mechanisms involved in the role of HOXB9 were determined with Western blot and RT-qPCR methods. Results HOXB9 expression was significantly increased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Patients with higher HOXB9 levels were associated with poor prognosis. Overexpression of HOXB9 in BEL-7405 cells promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas knockdown of HOXB9 in HepG2 cells significantly reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities. Mechanically, a positive correlation was found between HOXB9 expression and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 pathway in HCC tissues. HOXB9 overexpression stimulated TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway in BEL-7405 cells. In contrast, HOXB9 knockdown inhibited the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway in HepG2 cells. In addition, the treatment with TGF-β1 inhibitor, LY364947, significantly reserved HOXB9 overexpression-induced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities. Conclusions These findings validated that HOXB9 promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cells by stimulating the TGF-β1/Smads and ERK1/2 signaling pathway. HOXB9 could be a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in HCC.
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SPTSSA Is a Prognostic Marker for Glioblastoma Associated with Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells and Oxidative Stress. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:6711085. [PMID: 36062185 PMCID: PMC9434331 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6711085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background. SPTSSA encodes the small subunit A of serine palmitoyltransferase. It catalyzes the formation of sphingoid long-chain base backbone of sphingolipids. Its role in glioma prognosis and tumor-infiltrating immune cells remains unclear. Methods. We analyzed SPTSSA expression and association with clinical prognosis using GEPIA and CGGA database. Then, GSEA was performed to identify relevant biological functions of SPTSSA. The correlations between SPTSSA expression and tumor immune infiltrates were investigated using CIBERSORT and TIMER. Finally, IHC and IF were performed to confirm the value of prognosis and the correlation with immune infiltration. Results. SPTSSA expression was significantly upregulated in diffuse glioma compared to normal tissues and associated with poor survival in GEPIA and CGGA database. Then, we identified biological processes and signaling pathways associated with SPTSSA expression. The result showed that SPTSSA enriched in the GO term like oxidative stress. Finally, we showed that SPTSSA expression was significantly associated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells and overall survival via IHC. Conclusion. These findings suggest that SPTSSA expression might be used as a prognostic biomarker for glioma and potential target for novel glioma therapy.
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Yao Y, Liu C, Wang B, Guan X, Fang L, Zhan F, Sun H, Li H, Lou C, Yan F, Lu X, Cui L, Liao Y, Han S, Yao Y, Zhang Y. HOXB9 blocks cell cycle progression to inhibit pancreatic cancer cell proliferation through the DNMT1/RBL2/c-Myc axis. Cancer Lett 2022; 533:215595. [PMID: 35182659 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Homeobox B9 (HOXB9) is involved in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors. However, the functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of HOXB9 in pancreatic cancer have yet to be identified. In this study, we find that both HOXB9 mRNA and protein levels are down-regulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. Kaplan-Meier survival plots of 150 pancreatic cancer cases show that higher expression of HOXB9 in pancreatic cancer patients is associated with higher survival rates. We also find that over-expression of HOXB9 inhibits pancreatic cancer cell proliferation both in cell lines and the nude mouse xenograft as well as PDX models. Applying cell cycle PCR array analysis, Flow CytoMetry, ChIP-qPCR, and luciferase experiments, we observe that HOXB9 blocks cell cycle progression in the G0/G1 phase via up-regulating RBL2 and inhibiting c-Myc, and we further find that DNMT1 inhibits the expression of HOXB9 in pancreatic cancer by promoting the methylation of its promoter. Our findings highlight a novel mechanism of the DNMT1/HOXB9/RBL2/c-Myc pathway in regulating the cell cycle and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells and provide a research basis for the prognosis and therapeutic application of HOXB9 in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, China
| | - Bojun Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Lin Fang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Fei Zhan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Haoxiu Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Hengzhen Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Changjie Lou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Feihu Yan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaolin Lu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Luying Cui
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yuanyu Liao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Shuling Han
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yuanfei Yao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, China.
| | - Yanqiao Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, China.
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HOXB9 Overexpression Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression and Is Associated with Worse Survival in Liver Resection Patients for Colorectal Liver Metastases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042281. [PMID: 35216396 PMCID: PMC8879839 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As is known, HOXB9 is an important factor affecting disease progression and overall survival (OS) in cancer. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. We aimed to explore the role of HOXB9 in CRC progression and its association with OS in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). We analysed differential HOXB9 expression in CRC using the Tissue Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). We modulated HOXB9 expression in vitro to assess its impact on cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Lastly, we explored the association of HOXB9 protein expression with OS, using an institutional patient cohort (n = 110) who underwent liver resection for CRLM. Furthermore, HOXB9 was upregulated in TCGA-CRC (n = 644) vs. normal tissue (n = 51) and its expression levels were elevated in KRAS mutations (p < 0.0001). In vitro, HOXB9 overexpression increased cell proliferation (p < 0.001) and upregulated the mRNA expression of EMT markers (VIM, CDH2, ZEB1, ZEB2, SNAI1 and SNAI2) while downregulated CDH1, (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conversely, HOXB9 silencing disrupted cell growth (p < 0.0001). High HOXB9 expression (HR = 3.82, 95% CI: 1.59-9.2, p = 0.003) was independently associated with worse OS in CRLM-HOXB9-expressing patients after liver resection. In conclusion, HOXB9 may be associated with worse OS in CRLM and may promote CRC progression, whereas HOXB9 silencing may inhibit CRC growth.
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Morgan R, Hunter K, Pandha HS. Downstream of the HOX genes: explaining conflicting tumour suppressor and oncogenic functions in cancer. Int J Cancer 2022; 150:1919-1932. [PMID: 35080776 PMCID: PMC9304284 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The HOX genes are a highly conserved group of transcription factors that have key roles in early development, but which are also highly expressed in most cancers. Many studies have found strong associative relationships between the expression of individual HOX genes in tumours and clinical parameters including survival. For the majority of HOX genes, high tumour expression levels seem to be associated with a worse outcome for patients, and in some cases this has been shown to result from the activation of pro-oncogenic genes and pathways. However, there are also many studies that indicate a tumour suppressor role for some HOX genes, sometimes with conclusions that contradict earlier work. In this review, we have attempted to clarify the role of HOX genes in cancer by focusing on their downstream targets as identified in studies that provide experimental evidence for their activation or repression. On this basis, the majority of HOX genes would appear to have a pro-oncogenic function, with the notable exception of HOXD10, which acts exclusively as a tumour suppressor. HOX proteins regulate a wide range of target genes involved in metastasis, cell death, proliferation, and angiogenesis, and activate key cell signalling pathways. Furthermore, for some functionally related targets, this regulation is achieved by a relatively small subgroup of HOX genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Morgan
- School of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of West LondonLondonUK
| | - Keith Hunter
- Unit of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Clinical DentistryUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Hardev S. Pandha
- Faculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of SurreyGuildfordUK
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A Systematic Review on HOX Genes as Potential Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer: An Emerging Role of HOXB9. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413429. [PMID: 34948228 PMCID: PMC8707253 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence shows that Homeobox (HOX) genes are important in carcinogenesis, and their dysregulation has been linked with metastatic potential and poor prognosis. This review (PROSPERO-CRD42020190953) aims to systematically investigate the role of HOX genes as biomarkers in CRC and the impact of their modulation on tumour growth and progression. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched for eligible studies exploring two research questions: (a) the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of HOX dysregulation in patients with CRC and (b) the functional role of HOX genes in CRC progression. Twenty-five studies enrolling 3003 CRC patients, showed that aberrant expression of HOX proteins was significantly related to tumour depth, nodal invasion, distant metastases, advanced stage and poor prognosis. A post-hoc meta-analysis on HOXB9 showed that its overexpression was significantly associated with the presence of distant metastases (pooled OR 4.14, 95% CI 1.64–10.43, I2 = 0%, p = 0.003). Twenty-two preclinical studies showed that HOX proteins are crucially related to tumour growth and metastatic potential by affecting cell proliferation and altering the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition modulators. In conclusion, HOX proteins may play vital roles in CRC progression and are associated with overall survival. HOXB9 may be a critical transcription factor in CRC.
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Wilmerding A, Bouteille L, Rinaldi L, Caruso N, Graba Y, Delfini MC. HOXB8 Counteracts MAPK/ERK Oncogenic Signaling in a Chicken Embryo Model of Neoplasia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8911. [PMID: 34445617 PMCID: PMC8396257 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
HOX transcription factors are members of an evolutionarily conserved family of proteins required for the establishment of the anteroposterior body axis during bilaterian development. Although they are often deregulated in cancers, the molecular mechanisms by which they act as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes are only partially understood. Since the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway is deregulated in most cancers, we aimed at apprehending if and how the Hox proteins interact with ERK oncogenicity. Using an in vivo neoplasia model in the chicken embryo consisting in the overactivation of the ERK1/2 kinases in the trunk neural tube, we analyzed the consequences of the HOXB8 gain of function at the morphological and transcriptional levels. We found that HOXB8 acts as a tumor suppressor, counteracting ERK-induced neoplasia. The HOXB8 tumor suppressor function relies on a large reversion of the oncogenic transcriptome induced by ERK. In addition to showing that the HOXB8 protein controls the transcriptional responsiveness to ERK oncogenic signaling, our study identified new downstream targets of ERK oncogenic activation in an in vivo context that could provide clues for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axelle Wilmerding
- Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM-UMR 7288), 13288 Marseille, France; (A.W.); (L.B.); (L.R.); (N.C.)
| | - Lauranne Bouteille
- Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM-UMR 7288), 13288 Marseille, France; (A.W.); (L.B.); (L.R.); (N.C.)
| | - Lucrezia Rinaldi
- Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM-UMR 7288), 13288 Marseille, France; (A.W.); (L.B.); (L.R.); (N.C.)
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Medicine and the Cancer Center, Division of Hematology, Harvard Initiative of RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nathalie Caruso
- Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM-UMR 7288), 13288 Marseille, France; (A.W.); (L.B.); (L.R.); (N.C.)
| | - Yacine Graba
- Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM-UMR 7288), 13288 Marseille, France; (A.W.); (L.B.); (L.R.); (N.C.)
| | - Marie-Claire Delfini
- Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM-UMR 7288), 13288 Marseille, France; (A.W.); (L.B.); (L.R.); (N.C.)
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11
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Wei XG, Bi KW, Li B. Phenotypic Plasticity Conferred by the Metastatic Microenvironment of the Brain Strengthens the Intracranial Tumorigenicity of Lung Tumor Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 11:637911. [PMID: 34055607 PMCID: PMC8155524 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.637911] [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: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and is the primary source of brain metastases. Despite great advances in the study of the genetics and etiology of lung cancer in previous decades, the identification of the factors and mechanisms underlying the brain metastasis of lung tumors is still an open question. In this study, the results of bioinformatic conjoint analysis revealed that the metastatic microenvironment in the brain conferred lung tumor cell phenotypic plasticity, characterized by neural cell-like and embryonic–stem cell-like features. Meanwhile, the metabolic phenotype of the educated tumor cells underwent transition characterized by oxygen-related metabolism. The results of the experiments demonstrated that the downregulation of HOXB9 weakened the tumorigenicity of lung tumor cells. Bioinformatic prediction analysis also determined that many cell cycle-associated factors were potentially transcribed by HOXB9. Collectively, the results of this study suggested that under the influence of the metastatic environment of the brain, lung tumor cells seemed to acquire phenotypic plasticity characterized by neural cell-like features, and this transition may be associated with the aberrant upregulation of HOXB9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Ge Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Developmental Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ke-Wei Bi
- Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Developmental Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bo Li
- Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Developmental Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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12
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Zheng H, Li C, Li Z, Zhu K, Bao H, Xiong J, Liang P. HOXB9 enhances the ability of lung cancer cells to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 13:4999-5019. [PMID: 33411683 PMCID: PMC7950248 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Even after multimodal therapy, the prognosis is dismal for patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits tumor cell penetration into the brain parenchyma, some nevertheless colonize brain tissue through mechanisms that are not fully clear. Here we show that homeobox B9 (HOXB9), which is commonly overexpressed in NSCLC, promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor migration and invasion. Animal experiments showed that HOXB9 expression correlates positively with the brain metastatic potential of human NSCLC cells, while brain metastatic cells derived through in vivo selection showed greater HOXB9 expression than their cells of origin. Comparable results were obtained after immunohistochemical analysis of clinical primary NSCLC and matched brain metastasis samples obtained after surgery. Using an in vitro BBB model, knockdown and overexpression experiments showed that HOXB9-dependent expression of MMP9 in NSCLC cells leads to reduced expression of junctional proteins in cultured human vascular endothelial cells and enhanced transmigration of tumor cells. These data indicate that HOXB9 enables NSCLC cells to break away from the primary tumor by inducing EMT, and promotes brain metastasis by driving MMP9 production and degradation of intercellular adhesion proteins in endothelial cells comprising the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- HongShan Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, P.R. China
| | - ChenLong Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, P.R. China
| | - ZhenZhe Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, P.R. China
| | - KaiBin Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, P.R. China
| | - HongBo Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, P.R. China
| | - JinSheng Xiong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, P.R. China
| | - Peng Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, P.R. China
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13
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Maintenance of Cell Fate by the Polycomb Group Gene Sex Combs Extra Enables a Partial Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Drosophila. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:4459-4471. [PMID: 33051260 PMCID: PMC7718746 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic silencing by Polycomb group (PcG) complexes can promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness and is associated with malignancy of solid cancers. Here we report a role for Drosophila PcG repression in a partial EMT event that occurs during wing disc eversion, an early event during metamorphosis. In a screen for genes required for eversion we identified the PcG genes Sex combs extra (Sce) and Sex combs midleg (Scm). Depletion of Sce or Scm resulted in internalized wings and thoracic clefts, and loss of Sce inhibited the EMT of the peripodial epithelium and basement membrane breakdown, ex vivo. Targeted DamID (TaDa) using Dam-Pol II showed that Sce knockdown caused a genomic transcriptional response consistent with a shift toward a more stable epithelial fate. Surprisingly only 17 genes were significantly upregulated in Sce-depleted cells, including Abd-B, abd-A, caudal, and nubbin. Each of these loci were enriched for Dam-Pc binding. Of the four genes, only Abd-B was robustly upregulated in cells lacking Sce expression. RNAi knockdown of all four genes could partly suppress the Sce RNAi eversion phenotype, though Abd-B had the strongest effect. Our results suggest that in the absence of continued PcG repression peripodial cells express genes such as Abd-B, which promote epithelial state and thereby disrupt eversion. Our results emphasize the important role that PcG suppression can play in maintaining cell states required for morphogenetic events throughout development and suggest that PcG repression of Hox genes may affect epithelial traits that could contribute to metastasis.
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14
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Taieb J, Jung A, Sartore-Bianchi A, Peeters M, Seligmann J, Zaanan A, Burdon P, Montagut C, Laurent-Puig P. The Evolving Biomarker Landscape for Treatment Selection in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Drugs 2019; 79:1375-1394. [PMID: 31347092 PMCID: PMC6728290 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-019-01165-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The approval of targeted therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has led to important improvements in patient outcomes. However, it is still necessary to increase individualisation of treatments based on tumour genetic profiles to optimise efficacy, while minimising toxicity. As such, there is currently great focus on the discovery and validation of further biomarkers in mCRC, with many new potential prognostic and predictive markers being identified alongside developments in patient molecular profiling technologies. Here, we review data for validated and emerging biomarkers impacting treatment strategies in mCRC. We completed a structured literature search of the PubMed database to identify relevant publications, limiting for English-language publications published between 1 January 2014 and 11 July 2018. In addition, we performed a manual search of the key general oncology and CRC-focused congresses to identify abstracts reporting emerging mCRC biomarker data, and of ClinicalTrials.gov to identify ongoing clinical trials investigating emerging biomarkers in mCRC and/or molecular-guided clinical trials. There is solid evidence supporting the use of BRAF status as a prognostic biomarker and DYPD, UGT1A1, RAS, and microsatellite instability as predictive biomarkers in mCRC. There are a number of emerging biomarkers that may prove to be clinically relevant in the future to have prognostic (HPP1 methylation), predictive (HER3, microRNAs, anti-angiogenic markers, and CRC intrinsic subtypes), or both prognostic and predictive values (HER2, CpG island methylator phenotype, tumour mutational load, gene fusions, and consensus molecular subtypes). As such, new biomarker-led treatment strategies in addition to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor and anti-angiogenetic treatments are being explored. Biomarkers that are not recommended to be tested in clinical practice or are unlikely to be imminently clinically relevant for mCRC include thymidylate transferase, ERCC1, PIK3CA, and PTEN. We highlight the clinical utility of existing and emerging biomarkers in mCRC and provide recommended treatment strategies according to the biomarker status. An update on ongoing molecular-guided clinical trials is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Taieb
- Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris, France.
| | - Andreas Jung
- Pathology Institute, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Sartore-Bianchi
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marc Peeters
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital/Antwerp University, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Jenny Seligmann
- Division of Cancer Studies and Pathology, St James's Institute of Oncology, Leeds, UK
| | - Aziz Zaanan
- Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Peter Burdon
- European Medical, Amgen (Europe) GmbH, Rotkreuz, Switzerland
| | - Clara Montagut
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-IMIM, CIBERONC, HM Delfos, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pierre Laurent-Puig
- Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris, France
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15
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Zeng C, Chen Y. HTR1D, TIMP1, SERPINE1, MMP3 and CNR2 affect the survival of patients with colon adenocarcinoma. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:2448-2454. [PMID: 31452735 PMCID: PMC6676656 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a tumor that derives from the rectum or colon, and colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is the most common type of CRC. The present study was performed to identify genes that serve critical roles in the survival of patients with COAD. RNA-sequencing data of COAD was extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, which included 480 tumor samples and 41 normal samples. Using the limma package, differential expression analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In addition, the potential functions and pathways for the identified DEGs were analyzed using the clusterProfiler package. After the samples were divided into high and low expression groups, survival analysis for the two groups was performed using the Kaplan-Meier model. Using Cytoscape software, a protein-protein interaction network was generated for the survival-associated genes. A total of 1,519 DEGs, including 568 upregulated genes and 951 downregulated genes, were identified in the COAD samples. Enrichment analysis suggested that the DEGs were implicated in numerous functional terms and pathways. Furthermore, 109 DEGs were identified to be survival-associated genes in COAD. According to the degrees of the network nodes, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1D (HTR1D), TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP1), serpin family E member 1 (SERPINE1), matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP3) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CNR2) were key nodes, and the expression levels of these genes were analyzed in clinical samples of CRC. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest HTR1D, TIMP1, SERPINE1, MMP3 and CNR2 may affect the prognosis of patients with COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Youxiang Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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16
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Zhan J, Wang P, Li S, Song J, He H, Wang Y, Liu Z, Wang F, Bai H, Fang W, Du Q, Ye M, Chang Z, Wang J, Zhang H. HOXB13 networking with ABCG1/EZH2/Slug mediates metastasis and confers resistance to cisplatin in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:2084-2099. [PMID: 31037158 PMCID: PMC6485289 DOI: 10.7150/thno.29463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Distant metastasis and chemoresistance are the major causes of short survival after initial chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma patients. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Our pilot study identified high expression of the homeodomain transcription factor HOXB13 in chemoresistant lung adenocarcinomas. We aimed to investigate the role of HOXB13 in mediating lung adenocarcinoma chemoresistance. Methods: Immunohistochemistry assays were employed to assess HOXB13 protein levels in 148 non-small cell lung cancer patients. The role of HOXB13 in lung adenocarcinoma progression and resistance to cisplatin therapy was analyzed in cells, xenografted mice, and patient-derived xenografts. Needle biopsies from 15 lung adenocarcinoma patients who were resistant to cisplatin and paclitaxel therapies were analyzed for HOXB13 and EZH2 protein levels using immunohistochemistry. Results: High expression of HOXB13 observed in 17.8% of the lung adenocarcinoma patients in this study promoted cancer progression and predicted poor prognosis. HOXB13 upregulated an array of metastasis- and drug-resistance-related genes, including ABCG1, EZH2, and Slug, by directly binding to their promoters. Cisplatin induced HOXB13 expression in lung adenocarcinoma cells, and patient-derived xenografts and depletion of ABCG1 enhanced the sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells to cisplatin therapy. Our results suggest that determining the combined expression of HOXB13 and its target genes can predict patient outcomes. Conclusions: A cisplatin-HOXB13-ABCG1/EZH2/Slug network may account for a novel mechanism underlying cisplatin resistance and metastasis after chemotherapy. Determining the levels of HOXB13 and its target genes from needle biopsy specimens may help predict the sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma patients to platinum-based chemotherapy and patient outcomes.
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17
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Wang W, Ding S, Zhang H, Li J, Zhan J, Zhang H. G protein-coupled receptor LGR6 is an independent risk factor for colon adenocarcinoma. Front Med 2018; 13:482-491. [PMID: 29971639 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-018-0633-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
LGR6 is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family that plays a tumor-suppressive role in colon cancer. However, the relationship between LGR6 expression in patients and clinicopathological factors remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify whether the expression level of LGR6 is correlated with colon adenocarcinoma progression. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect LGR6 expression in colon adenoma tissues (n = 21), colon adenocarcinoma tissues (n = 156), and adjacent normal tissues (n = 124). The expression levels of LGR6 in colon adenoma and adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than those in normal colon epithelial tissues (P < 0.001). Low LGR6 expression predicted a short overall survival in patients with colon adenocarcinoma (log-rank test, P = 0.016). Univariate and multivariate survival analyses showed that, in addition to N and M classification, LGR6 expression served as an independent prognostic factor. Thus, low expression of LGR6 can be used as an independent prognostic parameter in patients with colon adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Shigang Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Hejun Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jun Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, and Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Hongquan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, and Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
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18
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Wan J, Liu H, Feng Q, Liu J, Ming L. HOXB9 promotes endometrial cancer progression by targeting E2F3. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:509. [PMID: 29724991 PMCID: PMC5938704 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0556-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2017] [Revised: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
HOXB9, as a HOX family transcription factor, playing a significant role in embryonic development and cancer progression. However, the function of HOXB9 and its precise mechanism in regulating endometrial cancer progression remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that the expression of HOXB9 was increased in endometrial cancer, and associated with histological grade and lymph node metastasis. In addition, elevated HOXB9 predicts a poor prognosis in endometrial cancer patients. Interestingly, bioinformatics analysis of TCGA cancer database showed that HOXB9 expression is positively correlated with E2F3 expression. Moreover, HOXB9 promoted E2F3 expression by directly targeting to its promoter. Furthermore, we found that knocking down E2F3 abolished the ability of HOXB9 in enhancing cell migration. Taken together, for the first, we demonstrated the function and mechanism of HOXB9 in regulating endometrial cancer progression, and indicated HOXB9 may be a novel prognostic marker of endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhu Wan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Hongyang Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Quanling Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhecheng People's Hospital, 476000, Shangqiu, Henan, China
| | - Liang Ming
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
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19
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Song J, Wang T, Xu W, Wang P, Wan J, Wang Y, Zhan J, Zhang H. HOXB9 acetylation at K27 is responsible for its suppression of colon cancer progression. Cancer Lett 2018; 426:63-72. [PMID: 29654889 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported that HOXB9 is overexpressed in colon cancer and predicts a favourable patient outcome, which is opposite to the tumour-promoting role of HOXB9 in other cancers. We hypothesized that HOXB9 acetylation may account for its inhibitory role in colon cancer. We aim to examine the role of acetylated HOXB9 in colon cancer cells and patients. The AcK27-HOXB9 levels in colon cancer cells and patients were analysed by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry separately. Correlation between AcK27-HOXB9 expression and patient survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. HOXB9 target gene EZH2 was determined by luciferase assay in HOXB9-transfected colon cancer cells. Nucleocytoplasmic translocation of HOXB9 was detected by subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence. The AcK27-HOXB9 level was decreased in colon cancer patients and predicted better outcome. HOXB9 upregulated oncogenic EZH2 expression, whereas AcK27-HOXB9 suppressed it by translocating HOXB9 from nuclei into cytoplasm. We demonstrated that AcK27-HOXB9 inhibits while non-acetylated HOXB9 promotes EZH2 expression and colon cancer progression. Thus, AcK27-HOXB9 underlies the tumour suppressive role of HOXB9. Detection of the ratio between AcK27-HOXB9 and HOXB9 is of differential diagnostic value for colon cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiagui Song
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Tianzhuo Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Weizhi Xu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Junhu Wan
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yunling Wang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jun Zhan
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Hongquan Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China.
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20
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Evaluation of Anti-Metastatic Potential of the Combination of Fisetin with Paclitaxel on A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19030661. [PMID: 29495431 PMCID: PMC5877522 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19030661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification and development of new agents with a therapeutic potential as well as novel drug combinations are gaining the attention of scientists and clinicians as a plausible approach to improve therapeutic regimens for chemoresistant tumors. We have recently reported that the flavonoid fisetin (FIS), at physiologically attainable concentrations, acts synergistically with clinically achievable doses of paclitaxel (PTX) to produce growth inhibitory and pro-death effects on A549 human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. To further investigate a potential therapeutic efficacy of the combination of fisetin with paclitaxel, we decided to assess its impact on metastatic capability of A549 cells as well as its toxicity toward normal human lung fibroblast. Cell viability, cell migration, and invasion were measured by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell chamber assay, respectively. The expression of metastasis-related genes was assessed with quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Actin and vimentin filaments were examined under the fluorescence microscope. The combination of FIS and PTX significantly reduced cancer cell migration and invasion, at least partially, through a marked rearrangement of actin and vimentin cytoskeleton and the modulation of metastasis-related genes. Most of these effects of the combination treatment were significantly greater than those of individual agents. Paclitaxel alone was even more toxic to normal cells than the combination of this drug with the flavonoid, suggesting that FIS may provide some protection against PTX-mediated cytotoxicity. The combination of FIS and PTX is expected to have a synergistic anticancer efficacy and a significant potential for the treatment of NSCLC, however, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to confirm this preliminary evidence.
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21
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Vychytilova-Faltejskova P, Merhautova J, Machackova T, Gutierrez-Garcia I, Garcia-Solano J, Radova L, Brchnelova D, Slaba K, Svoboda M, Halamkova J, Demlova R, Kiss I, Vyzula R, Conesa-Zamora P, Slaby O. MiR-215-5p is a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer targeting EGFR ligand epiregulin and its transcriptional inducer HOXB9. Oncogenesis 2017; 6:399. [PMID: 29199273 PMCID: PMC5868056 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-017-0006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 09/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that microRNAs are involved in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). In the present study, deregulation and functioning of tumor-suppressive miR-215-5p was evaluated in CRC. In total, 448 tumor tissues and 325 paired adjacent healthy tissues collected from Czech and Spain cohorts of CRC patients have been used for miR-215-5p expression analyses. A series of in vitro experiments have been performed using transient transfection of miR-215-5p mimics into four CRC cell lines to identify specific cellular processes affected by miR-215-5p. Further, the effects of miR-215-5p on tumor growth were evaluated in vivo using NSG mice and stable cell line overexpressing miR-215-5p. Target mRNAs of miR-215-5p were tested using luciferase assay and western blot analyses. We found that miR-215-5p is significantly downregulated in tumor tissues compared with non-tumor adjacent tissues and its decreased levels correlate with the presence of lymph node metastases, tumor stage, and shorter overall survival in CRC patients. Overexpression of miR-215-5p significantly reduced proliferation, clonogenicity, and migration of CRC cells, lead to cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and p53-dependent induction of apoptosis. The ability of miR-215-5p to inhibit tumor growth was confirmed in vivo. Finally, we confirmed epiregulin and HOXB9 to be the direct targets of miR-215-5p. As epiregulin is EGFR ligand and HOXB9 is its transcriptional inducer, we suggest that the main molecular link between miR-215-5p and CRC cells phenotypes presents the EGFR signaling pathway, which is one of the canonical pathogenic pathways in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Vychytilova-Faltejskova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Merhautova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tana Machackova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - José Garcia-Solano
- Department of Pathology, Santa Lucia University Hospital, Cartagena, Spain
| | - Lenka Radova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dominika Brchnelova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Slaba
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Svoboda
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Halamkova
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Regina Demlova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Igor Kiss
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rostislav Vyzula
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pablo Conesa-Zamora
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Santa Lucia University Hospital, Cartagena, Spain
| | - Ondrej Slaby
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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22
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Liu J, Liu F, Li X, Song X, Zhou L, Jie J. Screening key genes and miRNAs in early-stage colon adenocarcinoma by RNA-sequencing. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317714899. [PMID: 28714374 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317714899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Colon adenocarcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths across the world, developing novel and non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for the early-stage colon adenocarcinoma at molecular level is essential. In our study, RNA-sequencing was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes and miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) in early-stage colon adenocarcinoma compared to tissues of precancerous lesions, colonic intraepithelial neoplasia. The DEmiRNA-target interaction network was constructed and functional annotation of targets of DEmiRNAs was performed. The Cancer Genome Atlas was used to verify the expression of selected differentially expressed genes. The receiver operating characteristic analyses of selected differentially expressed genes was performed. In total, 865 differentially expressed genes, 26 DEmiRNAs, and 329 DEmiRNA-target pairs were obtained. Based on the early-stage colon adenocarcinoma network, miR-548c-5p, miR-548i, and miR-548am-5p were the top three DEmiRNAs that covered most differentially expressed genes. NTRK2, DTNA, and BTG2 were the top three differentially expressed genes regulated by most DEmiRNAs. Cancer and colorectal cancer pathways were two significantly enriched pathways in early-stage colon adenocarcinoma. The common differentially expressed genes in both the pathways were AXIN2, Smad2, Smad4, PIK3R1, and BCL2. The expression levels of eight differentially expressed genes (NTRK2, DTNA, BTG2, COL11A1, Smad2, Smad4, PIK3R1, and BCL2) in The Cancer Genome Atlas database were compatible with our RNA-sequencing. All these eight differentially expressed genes and AXIN2 had the potential diagnosis value for Colon adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, a total of ten differentially expressed genes (NTRK2, DTNA, BTG2, COLCA1, COL11A1, AXIN2, Smad2, Smad4, PIK3R1, and BCL2) and four DEmiRNAs (miR-548c-5p, miR-548i, mir-424-5p, and miR-548am-5p) may be involved in the pathogenesis of early-stage colon adenocarcinoma which may make a contribution for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for early-stage colon adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixi Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoou Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Song
- Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jianzheng Jie
- Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
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23
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Carbone C, Piro G, Simionato F, Ligorio F, Cremolini C, Loupakis F, Alì G, Rossini D, Merz V, Santoro R, Zecchetto C, Zanotto M, Di Nicolantonio F, Bardelli A, Fontanini G, Tortora G, Melisi D. Homeobox B9 Mediates Resistance to Anti-VEGF Therapy in Colorectal Cancer Patients. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:4312-4322. [PMID: 28298545 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-3153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: The identification of predictive biomarkers for antiangiogenic therapies remains an unmeet need. We hypothesized that the transcription factor Homeobox B9 (HOXB9) could be responsible for the tumor resistance to the anti-VEGF agent bevacizumab.Experimental Design: HOXB9 expression and activation were measured in eight models of colorectal and pancreatic cancer with different resistance to bevacizumab. Serum levels of Angiopoietin-like Protein (Angptl)2, CXC receptor ligand (CXCL)1, IL8, and TGFβ1 in tumor-bearing mice were measured by multiplex xMAP technology. HOXB9 expression was measured by immunohistochemical analysis in 81 pretreatment specimens from metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Differences in progression-free survival (PFS) were determined using a log-rank test.Results: HOXB9-positive tumors were resistant to bevacizumab, whereas mice bearing HOXB9-negative tumors were cured by this agent. Silencing HOXB9 in bevacizumab-resistant models significantly (P < 0.05) reduced Angptl2, CXCL1, IL8, and TGFβ1 levels, reverted their mesenchymal phenotype, reduced CD11b+ cells infiltration, and restored, in turn, sensitivity to bevacizumab. HOXB9 had no prognostic value in patients treated with a first-line chemotherapeutic regimen noncontaining bevacizumab. However, patients affected by an HOXB9-negative tumor had a significantly longer PFS compared with those with an HOXB9-positive tumor if treated with a first-line regimen containing bevacizumab (18.0 months vs. 10.4 months; HR 2.037; 95% confidence interval, 1.006-4.125; P = 0.048).Conclusions: These findings integrate the complexity of numerous mechanisms of anti-VEGF resistance into the single transcription factor HOXB9. Silencing HOXB9 could be a promising approach to modulate this resistance. Our results candidate HOXB9 as predictive biomarker for selecting colorectal cancer patients for antiangiogenic therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 23(15); 4312-22. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Carbone
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Università degli studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Geny Piro
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Università degli studi di Verona, Verona, Italy.,Laboratory of Oncology and Molecular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Università degli studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Simionato
- Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Ligorio
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Università degli studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Cremolini
- Polo Oncologico, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Pisa, Italy University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fotios Loupakis
- Unit of Oncology 1, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Greta Alì
- Division of Pathology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology, and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Rossini
- Polo Oncologico, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Pisa, Italy University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Merz
- Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Raffaela Santoro
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Università degli studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Camilla Zecchetto
- Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Marco Zanotto
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Università degli studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Federica Di Nicolantonio
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute-FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | | | - Gabriella Fontanini
- Division of Pathology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology, and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Laboratory of Oncology and Molecular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Università degli studi di Verona, Verona, Italy.,Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Davide Melisi
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Università degli studi di Verona, Verona, Italy. .,Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
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24
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Xue M, Zhu FY, Chen L, Wang K. HoxB9 promotes the migration and invasion via TGF-β1/Smad2/Slug signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Am J Transl Res 2017; 9:1151-1161. [PMID: 28386341 PMCID: PMC5376006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
HoxB9, as a HOX family member, is known to play important roles in embryonic development. Recent studies have shown that HoxB9 is involved in cancer progression. However, little is known about the role of HoxB9 and the underlying mechanisms that suppress oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression. In the present study, we used immunohistochemical staining to demonstrate that HoxB9 is over-expressed in OSCC cells and found that high levels of HoxB9 were significantly associated with shorter overall survival in patients with OSCC. Functional studies revealed that knocking down HoxB9 in OSCC cells using RNA interference decreased the migration and invasion of OSCC cells in vitro. Our mechanistic studies suggested that HoxB9 could stimulate the migration and invasion of OSCC cells by targeting EMT via the TGF-β1/Smad2/Slug signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings suggest the vital roles of HoxB9 in OSCC progression through its effects in promoting EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Xue
- Department of Stomatology, Third Hospital, Peking UniversityBeijing, PR China
| | - Fei-Ya Zhu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangsha, Hunan, PR China
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangsha, Hunan, PR China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangsha, Hunan, PR China
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25
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Sauvegarde C, Paul D, Bridoux L, Jouneau A, Degrelle S, Hue I, Rezsohazy R, Donnay I. Dynamic Pattern of HOXB9 Protein Localization during Oocyte Maturation and Early Embryonic Development in Mammals. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165898. [PMID: 27798681 PMCID: PMC5087947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We previously showed that the homeodomain transcription factor HOXB9 is expressed in mammalian oocytes and early embryos. However, a systematic and exhaustive study of the localization of the HOXB9 protein, and HOX proteins in general, during mammalian early embryonic development has so far never been performed. Results The distribution of HOXB9 proteins in oocytes and the early embryo was characterized by immunofluorescence from the immature oocyte stage to the peri-gastrulation period in both the mouse and the bovine. HOXB9 was detected at all studied stages with a dynamic expression pattern. Its distribution was well conserved between the two species until the blastocyst stage and was mainly nuclear. From that stage on, trophoblastic cells always showed a strong nuclear staining, while the inner cell mass and the derived cell lines showed important dynamic variations both in staining intensity and in intra-cellular localization. Indeed, HOXB9 appeared to be progressively downregulated in epiblast cells and only reappeared after gastrulation had well progressed. The protein was also detected in the primitive endoderm and its derivatives with a distinctive presence in apical vacuoles of mouse visceral endoderm cells. Conclusions Together, these results could suggest the existence of unsuspected functions for HOXB9 during early embryonic development in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Sauvegarde
- Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire Animale (AMCB), Institut des Sciences de la Vie (ISV), Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Delphine Paul
- Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire Animale (AMCB), Institut des Sciences de la Vie (ISV), Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Laure Bridoux
- Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire Animale (AMCB), Institut des Sciences de la Vie (ISV), Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Alice Jouneau
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Séverine Degrelle
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMR-S1139, U767, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- PremUp Foundation, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Hue
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - René Rezsohazy
- Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire Animale (AMCB), Institut des Sciences de la Vie (ISV), Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Donnay
- Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire Animale (AMCB), Institut des Sciences de la Vie (ISV), Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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26
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Wan J, Xu W, Zhan J, Ma J, Li X, Xie Y, Wang J, Zhu WG, Luo J, Zhang H. PCAF-mediated acetylation of transcriptional factor HOXB9 suppresses lung adenocarcinoma progression by targeting oncogenic protein JMJD6. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:10662-10675. [PMID: 27613418 PMCID: PMC5159546 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
HOXB9 is a homeobox domain-containing transcription factor, playing an important role in embryonic development and cancer progression. However, the precise post-translational modifications (PTMs) of HOXB9 and the corresponding roles are unclear. Here, we report that acetyltransferase p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) interacts with and acetylates HOXB9 both in vivo and in vitro Conversely, the acetylation of HOXB9 can be reversed by deacetylase SIRT1. Furthermore, we found that HOXB9 is acetylated at lysine 27 (AcK27). Functionally, in contrast to the wild type HOXB9, AcK27-HOXB9 decreased its capacity in promoting lung cancer cell migration and tumor growth in mice. Mechanistically, AcK27-HOXB9 suppresses the transcription of its target gene Jumonji domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6) by direct occupying the promoter of JMJD6 gene. For clinical relevance, elevated HOXB9 acetylation at K27 predicts a better prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Taken together, we identified the first PTM of HOXB9 by demonstrating that HOXB9 can be acetylated and AcK27-HOXB9 counteracts the role of the wild-type HOXB9 in regulating lung adenocarcinoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhu Wan
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Weizhi Xu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jun Zhan
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ji Ma
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xueying Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yuping Xie
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiadong Wang
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wei-Guo Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jianyuan Luo
- Department of Medical Genetics, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hongquan Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
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27
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Characterization of cancer stem cells from different grades of human colorectal cancer. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:14069-14081. [PMID: 27507615 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5232-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common solid tumors worldwide. Recent evidence suggests that a population of cancer cells, called cancer stem cells (CSCs), is responsible for tumor heterogeneity, invasion, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence of CRC. The isolation and characterization of CSCs using cell surface markers have been reported previously with varying results. In this study, we investigated a panel of four putative CSC markers, CD44, CD24, CD166, and EpCAM, to define CRC-CSC. Paraffin embedded tissue samples from different grades of primary, untreated CRC were analyzed for the expression of four CSC markers CD44, CD326, CD24, and CD166, using immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometric analysis of CRC-CSC from HT29 (low grade) and HCT116 (high grade) human colorectal cancer cell lines was done. Marker-based isolation of CSC and non-CSC-bulk-tumor cells from HT29 was done using FACS, and tumor sphere assay was performed. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the expression of CD44, CD326, and CD166 between cases and controls. A novel cutoff distribution of CD44 and CD166 was suggested to help for better immunohistochemical analysis of CRC. Higher prevalence of CSC was seen in high-grade CRC as compared to low-grade CRC. Sorted and cultured CD44 + CD166+ cells formed tumor spheres, suggesting that these cells, having properties of self renewal and anchorage independent proliferation, were in fact CSC. Hence, CD44 and CD166 may serve as good CRC-CSC markers when used together with novel cutoff immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression levels.
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28
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Li Q, Qin Y, Wei P, Lian P, Li Y, Xu Y, Li X, Li D, Cai S. Gas1 Inhibits Metastatic and Metabolic Phenotypes in Colorectal Carcinoma. Mol Cancer Res 2016; 14:830-40. [PMID: 27401611 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-16-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Growth arrest-specific 1 (Gas1) plays a critical role in growth suppression. Previous study indicated that Gas1 was closely associated with survival in patients with colorectal cancer; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we sought to determine the role of Gas1 in tumorigenesis and metastasis, and elucidate the possible mechanism. First, Gas1 was determined as a negative regulator of oncogenesis and metastasis in colorectal cancer. Mechanistically, Gas1 negatively regulated the aerobic glycolysis, a process that contributed to tumor progression and metastasis by providing energy source and building blocks for macromolecule synthesis. To further consolidate the role of Gas1 in glycolysis, the impact of Gas1 in the transcription of key glycolytic enzymes for glucose utilization was examined. As expected, GLUT4, HK2, and LDHB exhibited a decreased expression pattern. Consistent with this observation, an in vivo subcutaneous xenograft mouse model also confirmed the hypothesis that Gas1 is a negative regulator of glycolysis as reflected by the decreased 18FDG uptake in PET/CT system. Moreover, Gas1 negatively regulated the AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling axis, a well-established cascade that regulates malignant cancer cell behaviors including proliferation, metastasis, and aberrant cancer metabolism. In the end, it was determined that Gas1 is a transcriptional target of FOXM1, whose role in colorectal cancer has been widely studied. Taken together, these studies establish Gas1 as a negative regulator in colorectal cancer. IMPLICATIONS Gas1 suppresses cell proliferation, invasion, and aerobic glycolysis of colorectal cancer both in vitro and in vivo Mechanistically, Gas1 inhibited EMT and the Warburg effect via AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling, and Gas1 itself was directly regulated by the transcription factor FOXM1. Mol Cancer Res; 14(9); 830-40. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingguo Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Qin
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ping Wei
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Lian
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaqi Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ye Xu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinxiang Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dawei Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sanjun Cai
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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29
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Fonseca FP, Bingle L, Santos-Silva AR, Lopes MA, Coletta RD, de Andrade BAB, Mariano FV, Kowalski LP, Rangel ALCA, Martins MD, Meurer L, Hunter KD, Speight PM, Vargas PA. Immunoexpression of hoxb7 and hoxb9 in salivary gland tumours. J Oral Pathol Med 2016; 45:672-681. [DOI: 10.1111/jop.12438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Paiva Fonseca
- Piracicaba Dental School and Faculty of Medicine; University of Campinas; Piracicaba Brazil
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology; School of Clinical Dentistry; The University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
| | - Lynne Bingle
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology; School of Clinical Dentistry; The University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
| | | | - Márcio Ajudarte Lopes
- Piracicaba Dental School and Faculty of Medicine; University of Campinas; Piracicaba Brazil
| | - Ricardo D. Coletta
- Piracicaba Dental School and Faculty of Medicine; University of Campinas; Piracicaba Brazil
| | | | | | - Luiz Paulo Kowalski
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery; A.C. Camargo Cancer Center; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | | | | | - Luise Meurer
- Medical and Dental Schools; Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul; Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
| | - Keith D. Hunter
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology; School of Clinical Dentistry; The University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
- Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology; School of Dentistry; Faculty of Health Sciences; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
| | - Paul M. Speight
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology; School of Clinical Dentistry; The University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
| | - Pablo Agustin Vargas
- Piracicaba Dental School and Faculty of Medicine; University of Campinas; Piracicaba Brazil
- Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology; School of Dentistry; Faculty of Health Sciences; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
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30
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Zhan J, Song J, Wang P, Chi X, Wang Y, Guo Y, Fang W, Zhang H. Kindlin-2 induced by TGF-β signaling promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression through downregulation of transcriptional factor HOXB9. Cancer Lett 2015; 361:75-85. [PMID: 25724625 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths with no effective therapeutics. Invasion and metastasis are the major characteristics of PDAC. However, mechanisms underlying PDAC invasion and metastasis are elusive. In this report, we found that Kindlin-2 is a target protein of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling and is upregulated by TGF-β1 in PDAC cells. TGF-β1-upregulated Kindlin-2 promotes PDAC cell growth, migration and invasion, whereas Kindlin-2 upregulates transforming growth factor receptor I (TβRI), a key component of TGF-β signaling. Thereby Kindlin-2 and TGF-β signaling constitute a positive feedback loop. Mechanistically, Kindlin-2 promotes PDAC progression by downregulation of HOXB9 and E-cadherin. For clinical relevance, enhanced expression of Kindlin-2 predicts a poor overall survival for PDAC patients. Gene expression levels of Kindlin-2, TGF-β, TβRI and HOXB9 are all correlated with the overall survival of PDAC patients in an Oncomine dataset. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that TGF-β1-induced Kindlin-2 expression promotes PDAC progression by downregulation of HOXB9 and E-cadherin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Tumor Biology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jiagui Song
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Tumor Biology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Tumor Biology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiaochun Chi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Tumor Biology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yunling Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Tumor Biology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yongqing Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sino-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100123, China
| | - Weigang Fang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Pathology, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Hongquan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Tumor Biology, Beijing 100191, China.
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