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Nikolouzakis TK, Chrysos E, Docea AO, Fragkiadaki P, Souglakos J, Tsiaoussis J, Tsatsakis A. Current and Future Trends of Colorectal Cancer Treatment: Exploring Advances in Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1995. [PMID: 38893120 PMCID: PMC11171065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16111995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer of the colon and rectum (CRC) has been identified among the three most prevalent types of cancer and cancer-related deaths for both sexes. Even though significant progress in surgical and chemotherapeutic techniques has markedly improved disease-free and overall survival rates in contrast to those three decades ago, recent years have seen a stagnation in these improvements. This underscores the need for new therapies aiming to augment patient outcomes. A number of emerging strategies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and adoptive cell therapy (ACT), have exhibited promising outcomes not only in preclinical but also in clinical settings. Additionally, a thorough appreciation of the underlying biology has expanded the scope of research into potential therapeutic interventions. For instance, the pivotal role of altered telomere length in early CRC carcinogenesis, leading to chromosomal instability and telomere dysfunction, presents a promising avenue for future treatments. Thus, this review explores the advancements in CRC immunotherapy and telomere-targeted therapies, examining potential synergies and how these novel treatment modalities intersect to potentially enhance each other's efficacy, paving the way for promising future therapeutic advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emmanuel Chrysos
- Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71110 Heraklion, Greece; (T.K.N.); (E.C.)
| | - Anca Oana Docea
- Department of Toxicology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Persefoni Fragkiadaki
- Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (A.T.)
| | - John Souglakos
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Medical School, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - John Tsiaoussis
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (A.T.)
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2
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Rasouli S, Dakic A, Wang QE, Mitchell D, Blakaj DM, Putluri N, Li J, Liu X. Noncanonical functions of telomerase and telomeres in viruses-associated cancer. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29665. [PMID: 38738582 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The cause of cancer is attributed to the uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cells resulting from genetic changes and alterations in cell behavior, a phenomenon known as epigenetics. Telomeres, protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, regulate both cellular aging and cancer formation. In most cancers, telomerase is upregulated, with the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) enzyme and telomerase RNA component (TERC) RNA element contributing to the maintenance of telomere length. Additionally, it is noteworthy that two viruses, human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), utilize telomerase for their replication or persistence in infected cells. Also, TERT and TERC may play major roles in cancer not related to telomere biology. They are involved in the regulation of gene expression, signal transduction pathways, cellular metabolism, or even immune response modulation. Furthermore, the crosstalk between TERT, TERC, RNA-binding proteins, and microRNAs contributes to a greater extent to cancer biology. To understand the multifaceted roles played by TERT and TERC in cancer and viral life cycles, and then to develop effective therapeutic strategies against these diseases, are fundamental for this goal. By investigating deeply, the complicated mechanisms and relationships between TERT and TERC, scientists will open the doors to new therapies. In its analysis, the review emphasizes the significance of gaining insight into the multifaceted roles that TERT and TERC play in cancer pathogenesis, as well as their involvement in the viral life cycle for designing effective anticancer therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rasouli
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Aleksandra Dakic
- Division of Neuroscience, National Institute of Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Qi-En Wang
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Darrion Mitchell
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Dukagjin M Blakaj
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Nagireddy Putluri
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jenny Li
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Xuefeng Liu
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Urology, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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3
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De Lorenzis E, Wasson CW, Del Galdo F. Alveolar epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in scleroderma interstitial lung disease: Technical challenges, available evidence and therapeutic perspectives. JOURNAL OF SCLERODERMA AND RELATED DISORDERS 2024; 9:7-15. [PMID: 38333528 PMCID: PMC10848925 DOI: 10.1177/23971983231181727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
The alveolar epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is the process of transformation of differentiated epithelial cells into mesenchymal-like cells through functional and morphological changes. A partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process can indirectly contribute to lung fibrosis through a paracrine stimulation of the surrounding cells, while a finalized process could also directly enhance the pool of pulmonary fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix deposition. The direct demonstration of alveolar epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease is challenging due to technical pitfalls and the limited availability of lung tissue samples. Similarly, any inference on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition occurrence driven from preclinical models should consider the limitations of cell cultures and animal models. Notwithstanding, while the occurrence or the relevance of this phenomenon in scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease have not been directly and conclusively demonstrated until now, pre-clinical and clinical evidence supports the potential role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the development and progression of lung fibrosis. Evidence consolidation on scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition would pave the way for new therapeutic opportunities to prevent, slow or even reverse lung fibrosis, drawing lessons from current research lines in neoplastic epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico De Lorenzis
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Division of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Del Galdo
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
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Jo JH, Kim YT, Choi HS, Kim HG, Lee HS, Choi YW, Kim DU, Lee KH, Kim EJ, Han JH, Lee SO, Park CH, Choi EK, Kim JW, Cho JY, Lee WJ, Moon HR, Park MS, Kim S, Song SY. Efficacy of GV1001 with gemcitabine/capecitabine in previously untreated patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma having high serum eotaxin levels (KG4/2015): an open-label, randomised, Phase 3 trial. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:43-52. [PMID: 37903909 PMCID: PMC10781743 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02474-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The TeloVac study indicated GV1001 did not improve the survival of advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the cytokine examinations suggested that high serum eotaxin levels may predict responses to GV1001. This Phase III trial assessed the efficacy of GV1001 with gemcitabine/capecitabine for eotaxin-high patients with untreated advanced PDAC. METHODS Patients recruited from 16 hospitals received gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2, D 1, 8, and 15)/capecitabine (830 mg/m2 BID for 21 days) per month either with (GV1001 group) or without (control group) GV1001 (0.56 mg; D 1, 3, and 5, once on week 2-4, 6, then monthly thereafter) at random in a 1:1 ratio. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and secondary end points included time to progression (TTP), objective response rate, and safety. RESULTS Total 148 patients were randomly assigned to the GV1001 (n = 75) and control groups (n = 73). The GV1001 group showed improved median OS (11.3 vs. 7.5 months, P = 0.021) and TTP (7.3 vs. 4.5 months, P = 0.021) compared to the control group. Grade >3 adverse events were reported in 77.3% and 73.1% in the GV1001 and control groups (P = 0.562), respectively. CONCLUSIONS GV1001 plus gemcitabine/capecitabine improved OS and TTP compared to gemcitabine/capecitabine alone in eotaxin-high patients with advanced PDAC. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02854072.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Hyun Jo
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-Tae Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ho Soon Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ho Gak Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hong Sik Lee
- Department of Gastroenterology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Woo Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Dong Uk Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Kwang Hyuck Lee
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eui Joo Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
| | - Joung-Ho Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine & Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Seung Ok Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Research Institute for Medical Science, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Chang-Hwan Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Eun Kwang Choi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea
| | - Jae Woo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Yong Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Woo Jin Lee
- Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
| | - Hyungsik Roger Moon
- Department of Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Economics, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi-Suk Park
- Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sangjae Kim
- GemVax & KAEL Co., Ltd. 58, Techno 11-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Si Young Song
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Akrida I, Mulita F, Plachouri KM, Benetatos N, Maroulis I, Papadaki H. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in metaplastic breast cancer and phyllodes breast tumors. Med Oncol 2023; 41:20. [PMID: 38104042 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02259-4] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a transdifferentiation program whereby epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal phenotype, is essential during embryonic development. EMT has also been implicated in cancer progression by conferring migratory and metastatic potential, as well as cell plasticity and stem cell like traits, to cancer cells. Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare aggressive type of breast cancer characterized by the presence of heterologous elements, typically by the existence of epithelial and mesenchymal components. Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are uncommon fibroepithelial neoplasms consisting of epithelial and mesenchymal elements. Although various hypotheses have been proposed on the pathogenesis of these biphasic tumors, there is growing evidence supporting the theory that PTs and MBC could both correlate with cancer related EMT. This review summarizes the existing literature on the emerging role of EMT in the pathogenesis of MBC and PTs. Both malignant PTs and MBC are characterized by poor prognosis. Therefore, several anti-EMT targeting strategies such as blocking upstream signaling pathways, targeting the molecular drivers of EMT and targeting mesenchymal cells and the extracellular matrix, could potentially represent a promising therapeutic approach for patients suffering from these aggressive neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Akrida
- Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Patras, Rion, Greece.
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Greece.
- Department of Surgery, Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504, Rion, Greece.
| | - Francesk Mulita
- Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Patras, Rion, Greece
| | | | - Nikolaos Benetatos
- Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Patras, Rion, Greece
| | - Ioannis Maroulis
- Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Patras, Rion, Greece
| | - Helen Papadaki
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Greece
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6
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Chen X, Qin Z, Zhu X, Wang L, Li C, Wang H. Identification and validation of telomerase related lncRNAs signature to predict prognosis and tumor immunotherapy response in bladder cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21816. [PMID: 38071230 PMCID: PMC10710514 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49167-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase allows eukaryotic cells to proliferate indefinitely, an important characteristic of tumor cells. Telomerase-related long no coding RNAs (TERLs) are involved in prognosis and drug sensitivity prediction; however, their association with bladder cancer (BLCA) is still unreported. The objective of this research is to determine a predictive prognostic TERL signature for OS and to provide an efficient treatment option for BLCA. The RNA sequence, clinical information, and mutational data of BLCA patients were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. With the help of the data from least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and Cox regression, a prognostic signature was established including 14 TERLs, which could divide BLCA patients into low-risk (L-R) and high-risk (H-R) cohorts. The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrated the greater predictive power of the model. By combing the TERLs-based signature and clinical risk factors (age, sex, grade, and stage), a prognostic nomogram was constructed to forecast the survival rates of patients with BLCA at 1-, 3-, and 5-years, which was well matched by calibration plots C-index and Decision curve analysis (DCA). Furthermore, the L-R cohort showed higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) and lower tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) than the H-R cohort, as well as substantial variability in immune cell infiltration and immune function between the two cohorts was elucidated. As for external validation, LINC01711 and RAP2C-AS1 were identified as poor prognostic factors by survival analysis from the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database, which were validated in BLCA cell lines (EJ, 253J, T24, and 5637) and SV-HUC-1 cells as the control group using qRT-PCR. In addition, interference with the expression of RAP2C-AS1 suppresses the proliferation and migration of BLCA cells, and RAP2C-AS1 could affect the expression of CD274 and CTLA4, which could serve as prognostic markers and characterize the tumor microenvironment in BLCA. Overall, the model based on the 14-TERLs signature can efficiently predict the prognosis and drug treatment response in individuals with bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxu Chen
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zheng Qin
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiao Zhu
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lili Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Changying Li
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Haitao Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
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7
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Kumar N, Sethi G. Telomerase and hallmarks of cancer: An intricate interplay governing cancer cell evolution. Cancer Lett 2023; 578:216459. [PMID: 37863351 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Transformed cells must acquire specific characteristics to be malignant. Weinberg and Hanahan characterize these characteristics as cancer hallmarks. Though these features are independently driven, substantial signaling crosstalk in transformed cells efficiently promotes these feature acquisitions. Telomerase is an enzyme complex that maintains telomere length. However, its main component, Telomere reverse transcriptase (TERT), has been found to interact with various signaling molecules like cMYC, NF-kB, BRG1 and cooperate in transcription and metabolic reprogramming, acting as a strong proponent of malignant features such as cell death resistance, sustained proliferation, angiogenesis activation, and metastasis, among others. It allows cells to avoid replicative senescence and achieve endless replicative potential. This review summarizes both the canonical and noncanonical functions of TERT and discusses how they promote cancer hallmarks. Understanding the role of Telomerase in promoting cancer hallmarks provides vital insight into the underlying mechanism of cancer genesis and progression and telomerase intervention as a possible therapeutic target for cancer treatment. More investigation into the precise molecular mechanisms of telomerase-mediated impacts on cancer hallmarks will contribute to developing more focused and customized cancer treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Kumar
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology and NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117600, Singapore.
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Yegorov YE. Olovnikov, Telomeres, and Telomerase. Is It Possible to Prolong a Healthy Life? BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:1704-1718. [PMID: 38105192 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923110032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The science of telomeres and telomerase has made tremendous progress in recent decades. In this review, we consider it first in a historical context (the Carrel-Hayflick-Olovnikov-Blackburn chain of discoveries) and then review current knowledge on the telomere structure and dynamics in norm and pathology. Central to the review are consequences of the telomere shortening, including telomere position effects, DNA damage signaling, and increased genetic instability. Cell senescence and role of telomere length in its development are discussed separately. Therapeutic aspects and risks of telomere lengthening methods including use of telomerase and other approaches are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yegor E Yegorov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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Siraj AK, Parvathareddy SK, Al-Rasheed M, Annaiyappanaidu P, Siraj N, Lennartz M, Al-Sobhi SS, Al-Dayel F, Sauter G, Al-Kuraya KS. Loss of CDH16 expression is a strong independent predictor for lymph node metastasis in Middle Eastern papillary thyroid cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18559. [PMID: 37899424 PMCID: PMC10613612 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45882-x] [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: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Papillary Thyroid Cancer (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer. The membrane-associated glycoprotein cadherin-16 (CDH16) plays a significant role in the embryonal development of thyroid follicles and cell adhesion. Previous studies have indicated a substantial downregulation of CDH16 in PTC. However, its role in Middle Eastern PTC has not been elucidated. We analyzed a tissue microarray comprising 1606 PTC and 240 normal thyroid tissues using immunohistochemistry to assess CDH16 expression and determine its clinico-pathological associations. We also conducted BRAF and TERT mutations analyses through Sanger sequencing. Disease-free survival (DFS) was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves. CDH16 immunostaining was seen in 100% of normal thyroid tissues but only in 9.4% of PTC tissues (p < 0.0001). The loss of CDH16 expression was associated with aggressive PTC characteristics including bilaterality, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, tall cell variant, lymph node metastasis (LNM) and distant metastasis. Additionally a correlation between loss of CDH16 expression and BRAF and TERT mutations was identified. Intriguingly, upon conducting multivariate logistic regression analysis, CDH16 was determined to be an independent predictor for LNM (Odds ratio = 2.46; 95% confidence interval = 1.60-3.79; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, CDH16 loss was associated with a shorter DFS (p = 0.0015). However, when we further subdivided CDH16 negative patients based on the co-existence of TERT and/or BRAF mutations, we found that patients with both CDH16 negative expression and TERT mutation exhibited the shortest DFS (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, our results suggest that CDH16 protein expression could serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for PTC. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate that the loss of CDH16 expression is an independent predictor of LNM and may contribute to the aggressiveness of PTC. Therefore, downregulation of CDH16 in PTC might be a potential target for designing novel therapeutic strategies to treat PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul K Siraj
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, MBC#98-16, P.O. Box 3354, 11211, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sandeep Kumar Parvathareddy
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, MBC#98-16, P.O. Box 3354, 11211, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha Al-Rasheed
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, MBC#98-16, P.O. Box 3354, 11211, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Padmanaban Annaiyappanaidu
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, MBC#98-16, P.O. Box 3354, 11211, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabil Siraj
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, MBC#98-16, P.O. Box 3354, 11211, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maximilian Lennartz
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Saif S Al-Sobhi
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fouad Al-Dayel
- Department of Pathology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box 3354, 11211, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Guido Sauter
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Khawla S Al-Kuraya
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, MBC#98-16, P.O. Box 3354, 11211, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Cai Y, Sun H, Song X, Zhao J, Xu D, Liu M. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibits osteoporosis by regulating the expression of TERT: an in vivo and in vitro study. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:11471-11488. [PMID: 37862118 PMCID: PMC10637795 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205136] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Our study was performed to investigate whether the Wingless and int-1 (Wnt) signaling pathway promotes osteogenic differentiation and inhibits apoptosis in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by regulating telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression. An in vivo model of osteoporosis (OP) in C57BL/6J mice by bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) and an in vitro model of H2O2-induced BMSCs were established separately. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the pathway-related proteins TERT, β-catenin, and phosphorylated-glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (p-GSK3β)/GSK3β, the osteogenic-related markers osteopontin (OPN), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and the apoptosis-related indicators B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and BAX. Osteoblastic phenotypes were also evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and serum ALP activity assays. Osteogenic differentiation phenotypes in mice were verified by H&E staining, micro-CT, and parameter analysis of the femur. Western blotting results showed that the expression of the pathway-related proteins TERT, β-catenin, p-GSK3β/GSK3β was reduced in OVX mice and H2O2-induced BMSCs, accompanied by downregulated protein expression of osteogenic-related markers and antiapoptotic indicators and upregulated protein expression of apoptotic proteins compared to those in the control group. Mechanistic studies showed that the activation of Wnt signaling pathway in BMSCs promoted β-catenin translocation to the nucleus, as verified by immunofluorescence and facilitated colocalization between β-catenin and TERT, as verified by double-labeling immunofluorescence, thereby promoting osteogenic differentiation and reducing apoptosis. In summary, our experiments confirmed that the GSK3β/β-catenin/TERT pathway could regulate the osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis of BMSCs and that TERT might be a promising target for the future treatment of osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanqing Cai
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Xigang, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Huijun Sun
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Lvshunkou, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Xingyu Song
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Xigang, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Jianyu Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Xigang, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Dong Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Xigang, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Mozhen Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Xigang, Dalian 116011, China
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Han X, Yan Z, Fan K, Guan X, Hu B, Li X, Ou Y, Cui B, An L, Zhang Y, Gong J. The combined signatures of telomere and immune cell landscape provide a prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in glioma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1220100. [PMID: 37662954 PMCID: PMC10470026 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1220100] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Gliomas, the most prevalent primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system in adults, exhibit slow growth in lower-grade gliomas (LGG). However, the majority of LGG cases progress to high-grade gliomas, posing challenges for prognostication. The tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by telomere-related genes and immune cell infiltration, strongly influences glioma growth and therapeutic response. Therefore, our objective was to develop a Telomere-TME (TM-TME) classifier that integrates telomere-related genes and immune cell landscape to assess prognosis and therapeutic response in glioma. Methods This study encompassed LGG patients from the TCGA and CCGA databases. TM score and TME score were derived from the expression signatures of telomere-related genes and the presence of immune cells in LGG, respectively. The TM-TME classifier was established by combining TM and TME scores to effectively predict prognosis. Subsequently, we conducted Kaplan-Meier survival estimation, univariate Cox regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curves to validate the prognostic prediction capacity of the TM-TME classifier across multiple cohorts. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, biological processes, and proteomaps were performed to annotate the functional aspects of each subgroup and visualize the cellular signaling pathways. Results The TM_low+TME_high subgroup exhibited superior prognosis and therapeutic response compared to other subgroups (P<0.001). This finding could be attributed to distinct tumor somatic mutations and cancer cellular signaling pathways. GO analysis indicated that the TM_low+TME_high subgroup is associated with the neuronal system and modulation of chemical synaptic transmission. Conversely, the TM_high+TME_low subgroup showed a strong association with cell cycle and DNA metabolic processes. Furthermore, the classifier significantly differentiated overall survival in the TCGA LGG cohort and served as an independent prognostic factor for LGG patients in both the TCGA cohort (P<0.001) and the CGGA cohort (P<0.001). Conclusion Overall, our findings underscore the significance of the TM-TME classifier in predicting prognosis and immune therapeutic response in glioma, shedding light on the complex immune landscape within each subgroup. Additionally, our results suggest the potential of integrating risk stratification with precision therapy for LGG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiyu Fan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xueyi Guan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bohan Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunwei Ou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Cui
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lingxuan An
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Yaohua Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Gong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Ellingsen EB, O'Day S, Mezheyeuski A, Gromadka A, Clancy T, Kristedja TS, Milhem M, Zakharia Y. Clinical Activity of Combined Telomerase Vaccination and Pembrolizumab in Advanced Melanoma: Results from a Phase I Trial. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3026-3036. [PMID: 37378632 PMCID: PMC10425723 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancer vaccines represent a novel treatment modality with a complementary mode of action addressing a crucial bottleneck for checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) efficacy. CPIs are expected to release brakes in T-cell responses elicited by vaccination, leading to more robust immune responses. Increased antitumor T-cell responses may confer increased antitumor activity in patients with less immunogenic tumors, a subgroup expected to achieve reduced benefit from CPIs alone. In this trial, a telomerase-based vaccine was combined with pembrolizumab to assess the safety and clinical activity in patients with melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty treatment-naïve patients with advanced melanoma were enrolled. Patients received intradermal injections of UV1 with adjuvant GM-CSF at two dose levels, and pembrolizumab according to the label. Blood samples were assessed for vaccine-induced T-cell responses, and tumor tissues were collected for translational analyses. The primary endpoint was safety, with secondary objectives including progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS The combination was considered safe and well-tolerated. Grade 3 adverse events were observed in 20% of patients, with no grade 4 or 5 adverse events reported. Vaccination-related adverse events were mostly mild injection site reactions. The median PFS was 18.9 months, and the 1- and 2-year OS rates were 86.7% and 73.3%, respectively. The ORR was 56.7%, with 33.3% achieving complete responses. Vaccine-induced immune responses were observed in evaluable patients, and inflammatory changes were detected in posttreatment biopsies. CONCLUSIONS Encouraging safety and preliminary efficacy were observed. Randomized phase II trials are currently ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Espen B. Ellingsen
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Ultimovacs ASA, Oslo, Norway
| | - Steven O'Day
- Providence Saint John's Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yousef Zakharia
- University of Iowa and Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Iowa City, Iowa
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Yuan H, Qin X, Yang Q, Liu L, Fang Z, Fan Y, Xu D. Dyskerin and telomerase RNA component are sex-differentially associated with outcomes and Sunitinib response in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:46. [PMID: 37434223 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00526-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) displays sex-biased incidence, outcomes, molecular alterations and treatment efficacy; however, clinical managements are largely identical in male and female patients. Moreover, many biomarkers have been identified as predictors for ccRCC outcomes and response to therapeutic drugs, such as multitargeted tyrosine-kinase receptor (TKR) inhibitors, but little is known about their sex-specificity. Dyskerin (DKC1), encoded by the DKC1 gene within Xq28, is a telomerase co-factor stabilizing telomerase RNA component (TERC) and overexpressed in various cancers. Here, we determined whether DKC1 and/or TERC affect ccRCC sex-differentially. METHODS DKC1 and TERC expression in primary ccRCC tumors was assessed using RNA sequencing and qPCR. DKC1 association with molecular alterations and overall or progression-free survival (OS or PFS) was analyzed in the TCGA cohort of ccRCC. The IMmotion 151 and 150 ccRCC cohorts were analyzed to evaluate impacts of DKC1 and TERC on Sunitinib response and PFS. RESULTS DKC1 and TERC expression was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tumors. High DKC1 expression predicts shorter PFS independently in female but not male patients. Tumors in the female DKC1-high group exhibited more frequent alterations in PIK3CA, MYC and TP53 genes. Analyses of the IMmotion 151 ccRCC cohort treated with the TKR inhibitor Sunitinib showed that female patients in the DKC1-high group was significantly associated with lower response rates (P = 0.021) accompanied by markedly shortened PFS (6.1 vs 14.2 months, P = 0.004). DKC1 and TERC expression correlated positively with each other, and higher TERC expression predicted poor Sunitinib response (P = 0.031) and shorter PFS (P = 0.004), too. However, DKC1 rather than TERC acted as an independent predictor (P < 0.001, HR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.480-2.704). In male patients, DKC1 expression was associated with neither Sunitinib response (P = 0.131) nor PFS (P = 0.184), while higher TERC levels did not predict response rates. Similar results were obtained from the analysis of the Sunitinib-treated IMmotion 150 ccRCC patients. CONCLUSIONS DKC1 serves as an independent female-specific predictor for survival and Sunitinib efficacy in ccRCC, which contribute to better understanding of the sex-biased ccRCC pathogenesis and improve personalized interventions of ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyang Yuan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Xin Qin
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Qingya Yang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Li Liu
- School of Nursing, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhiqing Fang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| | - Yidong Fan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| | - Dawei Xu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Kroupa M, Kubecek O, Tomasova K, Hanak P, Krupova M, Cervena K, Siskova A, Rosendorf J, Hosek P, Vodickova L, Vodicka P, Liska V, John S, Vymetalkova V, Petera J. The dynamics of telomere length in primary and metastatic colorectal cancer lesions. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9097. [PMID: 37277368 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35835-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeric sequences, the structures comprised of hexanucleotide repeats and associated proteins, play a pivotal role in chromosome end protection and preservation of genomic stability. Herein we address telomere length (TL) dynamics in primary colorectal cancer (CRC) tumour tissues and corresponding liver metastases. TL was measured by multiplex monochrome real-time qPCR in paired samples of primary tumours and liver metastases along with non-cancerous reference tissues obtained from 51 patients diagnosed with metastatic CRC. Telomere shortening was observed in the majority of primary tumour tissues compared to non-cancerous mucosa (84.1%, p < 0.0001). Tumours located within the proximal colon had shorter TL than those in the rectum (p < 0.05). TL in liver metastases was not significantly different from that in primary tumours (p = 0.41). TL in metastatic tissue was shorter in the patients diagnosed with metachronous liver metastases than in those diagnosed with synchronous liver metastases (p = 0.03). The metastatic liver lesions size correlated with the TL in metastases (p < 0.05). Following the neoadjuvant treatment, the patients with rectal cancer had shortened telomeres in tumour tissue than prior to the therapy (p = 0.01). Patients with a TL ratio between tumour tissue and the adjacent non-cancerous mucosa of ≥ 0.387 were associated with increased overall survival (p = 0.01). This study provides insights into TL dynamics during progression of the disease. The results show TL differences in metastatic lesions and may help in clinical practice to predict the patient's prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Kroupa
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
| | - Ondrej Kubecek
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charles University, Medical Faculty and University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Simkova 870, 500 38, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Kristyna Tomasova
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hanak
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marketa Krupova
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 50005, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Klara Cervena
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, 1St Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Siskova
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, 1St Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jachym Rosendorf
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hosek
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Ludmila Vodickova
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, 1St Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Vodicka
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, 1St Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Liska
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav John
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charles University, Medical Faculty and University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Simkova 870, 500 38, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Vymetalkova
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University, Alej Svobody 76, 323 00, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, 1St Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Petera
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charles University, Medical Faculty and University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Simkova 870, 500 38, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
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15
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Ellingsen EB, Bjørheim J, Gaudernack G. Therapeutic cancer vaccination against telomerase: clinical developments in melanoma. Curr Opin Oncol 2023; 35:100-106. [PMID: 36700456 PMCID: PMC9894137 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have revolutionized treatment outcomes for patients with malignant melanoma. Long-term follow-up shows that a substantial subset of patients who exhibit clinical responses achieve extended overall survival. Nevertheless, most patients do not achieve durable benefit from CPIs, and improvements are urgently needed. The clinical efficacy of CPIs depends on highly variable preexisting spontaneous T-cell immune responses. Cancer vaccines represent an independent treatment modality uniquely capable of expanding the repertoire of tumor-specific T cells in cancer patients and thus have the capacity to compensate for the variability in spontaneous T-cell responses. Vaccines are, therefore, considered attractive components in a CPI-combination strategy. RECENT FINDINGS Here we discuss recent results obtained through therapeutic vaccination against telomerase human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Recent publications on translational research and clinical results from phase I trials indicate that vaccination against telomerase in combination with CPIs provides relevant immune responses, negligible added toxicity, and signals of clinical efficacy. CONCLUSION In the near future, randomized data from clinical trials involving therapeutic cancer vaccines and checkpoint inhibitors will be available. Positive readout may spark broad development and allow cancer vaccines to find their place in the clinic as an important component in multiple future CPI combinations.
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Cheng L, Zhang S, Wang M, Lopez-Beltran A. Biological and clinical perspectives of TERT promoter mutation detection on bladder cancer diagnosis and management. Hum Pathol 2023; 133:56-75. [PMID: 35700749 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations are associated with increased TERT mRNA and TERT protein levels, telomerase activity, and shorter but stable telomere length. TERT promoter mutation is the most common mutation that occurs in approximately 60-80% of patients with bladder cancer. The TERT promoter mutations occur in a wide spectrum of urothelial lesions, including benign urothelial proliferation and tumor-like conditions, benign urothelial tumors, premalignant and putative precursor lesions, urothelial carcinoma and its variants, and nonurothelial malignancies. The prevalence and incidence of TERT promoter mutations in a total of 7259 cases from the urinary tract were systematically reviewed. Different platforms of TERT promoter mutation detection were presented. In this review, we also discussed the significance and clinical implications of TERT promoter mutation detection in urothelial tumorigenesis, surveillance and early detection, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, prognosis, prediction of treatment responses, and clinical outcome. Identification of TERT promoter mutations from urine or plasma cell-free DNA (liquid biopsy) will facilitate bladder cancer screening program and optimal clinical management. A better understanding of TERT promoter mutation and its pathway would open new therapeutic avenues for patients with bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Lifespan Academic Medical Center, Providence, RI, 02903, USA.
| | - Shaobo Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Mingsheng Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Antonio Lopez-Beltran
- Department of Morphological Sciences, University of Cordoba Medical School, Cordoba, E-14004, Spain
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Liu T, Li S, Xia C, Xu D. TERT promoter mutations and methylation for telomerase activation in urothelial carcinomas: New mechanistic insights and clinical significance. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1071390. [PMID: 36713366 PMCID: PMC9877314 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1071390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase, an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase synthesizing telomeric TTAGGG sequences, is primarily silent in normal human urothelial cells (NHUCs), but widely activated in urothelial cell-derived carcinomas or urothelial carcinomas (UCs) including UC of the bladder (UCB) and upper track UC (UTUC). Telomerase activation for telomere maintenance is required for the UC development and progression, and the key underlying mechanism is the transcriptional de-repression of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), a gene encoding the rate-limiting, telomerase catalytic component. Recent mechanistic explorations have revealed important roles for TERT promoter mutations and aberrant methylation in activation of TERT transcription and telomerase in UCs. Moreover, these TERT-featured genomic and epigenetic alterations have been evaluated for their usefulness in non-invasive UC diagnostics, recurrence monitoring, outcome prediction and response to treatments such as immunotherapy. Importantly, the detection of the mutated TERT promoter and TERT mRNA as urinary biomarkers holds great promise for urine-based UC liquid biopsy. In the present article, we review recent mechanistic insights into altered TERT promoter-mediated telomerase activation in UCs and discuss potential clinical implications. Specifically, we compare differences in senescence and transformation between NHUCs and other types of epithelial cells, address the interaction between TERT promoter mutations and other factors to affect UC progression and outcomes, evaluate the impact of TERT promoter mutations and TERT-mediated activation of human endogenous retrovirus genes on UC immunotherapy including Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, we suggest the standardization of a TERT assay and evaluation system for UC clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shihong Li
- Department of Pathology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Liaocheng, Liaocheng, China
| | - Chuanyou Xia
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China,*Correspondence: Chuanyou Xia, ; Dawei Xu,
| | - Dawei Xu
- Department of Medicine, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden,*Correspondence: Chuanyou Xia, ; Dawei Xu,
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Sagris M, Theofilis P, Antonopoulos AS, Tsioufis K, Tousoulis D. Telomere Length: A Cardiovascular Biomarker and a Novel Therapeutic Target. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416010. [PMID: 36555658 PMCID: PMC9781338 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease with a high prevalence, particularly in developing countries. Currently, the investigation of telomeres as a potential tool for the early detection of the atherosclerotic disease seems to be a promising method. Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the extremities of chromosomes that maintain genetic stability. Telomere length (TL) has been associated with several human disorders and diseases while its attrition rate varies significantly in the population. The rate of TL shortening ranges between 20 and 50 bp and is affected by factors such as the end-replication phenomenon, oxidative stress, and other DNA-damaging agents. In this review, we delve not only into the pathophysiology of TL shortening but also into its association with cardiovascular disease and the progression of atherosclerosis. We also provide current and future treatment options based on TL and telomerase function, trying to highlight the importance of these cutting-edge developments and their clinical relevance.
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Udroiu I, Marinaccio J, Sgura A. Many Functions of Telomerase Components: Certainties, Doubts, and Inconsistencies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315189. [PMID: 36499514 PMCID: PMC9736166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing number of studies have evidenced non-telomeric functions of "telomerase". Almost all of them, however, investigated the non-canonical effects of the catalytic subunit TERT, and not the telomerase ribonucleoprotein holoenzyme. These functions mainly comprise signal transduction, gene regulation and the increase of anti-oxidative systems. Although less studied, TERC (the RNA component of telomerase) has also been shown to be involved in gene regulation, as well as other functions. All this has led to the publication of many reviews on the subject, which, however, are often disseminating personal interpretations of experimental studies of other researchers as original proofs. Indeed, while some functions such as gene regulation seem ascertained, especially because mechanistic findings have been provided, other ones remain dubious and/or are contradicted by other direct or indirect evidence (e.g., telomerase activity at double-strand break site, RNA polymerase activity of TERT, translation of TERC, mitochondrion-processed TERC). In a critical study of the primary evidence so far obtained, we show those functions for which there is consensus, those showing contradictory results and those needing confirmation. The resulting picture, together with some usually neglected aspects, seems to indicate a link between TERT and TERC functions and cellular stemness and gives possible directions for future research.
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Miki S, Koga T, Mckinney AM, Parisian AD, Tadokoro T, Vadla R, Marsala M, Hevner RF, Costello JF, Furnari F. TERT promoter C228T mutation in neural progenitors confers growth advantage following telomere shortening in vivo. Neuro Oncol 2022; 24:2063-2075. [PMID: 35325218 PMCID: PMC9713509 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterozygous TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) promoter mutations (TPMs) facilitate TERT expression and are the most frequent mutation in glioblastoma (GBM). A recent analysis revealed this mutation is one of the earliest events in gliomagenesis. However, no appropriate human models have been engineered to study the role of this mutation in the initiation of these tumors. METHOD We established GBM models by introducing the heterozygous TPM in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) using a two-step targeting approach in the context of GBM genetic alterations, CDKN2A/B and PTEN deletion, and EGFRvIII overexpression. The impact of the mutation was evaluated through the in vivo passage and in vitro experiment and analysis. RESULTS Orthotopic injection of neuronal precursor cells (NPCs) derived from hiPSCs with the TPM into immunodeficient mice did not enhance tumorigenesis compared to TERT promoter wild type NPCs at initial in vivo passage presumably due to relatively long telomeres. However, the mutation recruited GA-Binding Protein and engendered low-level TERT expression resulting in enhanced tumorigenesis and maintenance of short telomeres upon secondary passage as observed in human GBM. These results provide the first insights regarding increased tumorigenesis upon introducing a TPM compared to isogenic controls without TPMs. CONCLUSION Our novel GBM models presented the growth advantage of heterozygous TPMs for the first time in the context of GBM driver mutations relative to isogenic controls, thereby allowing for the identification and validation of TERT promoter-specific vulnerabilities in a genetically accurate background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunichiro Miki
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | | | - Alison D Parisian
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Takahiro Tadokoro
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Raghavendra Vadla
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Martin Marsala
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert F Hevner
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Joseph F Costello
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Frank Furnari
- Corresponding Authors: Frank Furnari, PhD, Ludwig Cancer Research, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., CMM-East Room 3053, La Jolla, CA 92093-0660, USA ()
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Ellingsen EB, Bounova G, Kerzeli I, Anzar I, Simnica D, Aamdal E, Guren T, Clancy T, Mezheyeuski A, Inderberg EM, Mangsbo SM, Binder M, Hovig E, Gaudernack G. Characterization of the T cell receptor repertoire and melanoma tumor microenvironment upon combined treatment with ipilimumab and hTERT vaccination. Lab Invest 2022; 20:419. [PMID: 36089578 PMCID: PMC9465869 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03624-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background This clinical trial evaluated a novel telomerase-targeting therapeutic cancer vaccine, UV1, in combination with ipilimumab, in patients with metastatic melanoma. Translational research was conducted on patient-derived blood and tissue samples with the goal of elucidating the effects of treatment on the T cell receptor repertoire and tumor microenvironment. Methods The trial was an open-label, single-center phase I/IIa study. Eligible patients had unresectable metastatic melanoma. Patients received up to 9 UV1 vaccinations and four ipilimumab infusions. Clinical responses were assessed according to RECIST 1.1. Patients were followed up for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Whole-exome and RNA sequencing, and multiplex immunofluorescence were performed on the biopsies. T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing was performed on the peripheral blood and tumor tissues. Results Twelve patients were enrolled in the study. Vaccine-specific immune responses were detected in 91% of evaluable patients. Clinical responses were observed in four patients. The mPFS was 6.7 months, and the mOS was 66.3 months. There was no association between baseline tumor mutational burden, neoantigen load, IFN-γ gene signature, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and response to therapy. Tumor telomerase expression was confirmed in all available biopsies. Vaccine-enriched TCR clones were detected in blood and biopsy, and an increase in the tumor IFN-γ gene signature was detected in clinically responding patients. Conclusion Clinical responses were observed irrespective of established predictive biomarkers for checkpoint inhibitor efficacy, indicating an added benefit of the vaccine-induced T cells. The clinical and immunological read-out warrants further investigation of UV1 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02275416. Registered October 27, 2014. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02275416?term=uv1&draw=2&rank=6 Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03624-z.
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22
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Villarinho NJ, Vasconcelos FDC, Mazzoccoli L, da Silva Robaina MC, Pessoa LS, Siqueira PET, Maia RC, de Oliveira DM, Leite de Sampaio E Spohr TC, Lopes GF. Effects of long-term exposure to MST-312 on lung cancer cells tumorigenesis: Role of SHH/GLI-1 axis. Cell Biol Int 2022; 46:1468-1479. [PMID: 35811464 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Replicative immortality is a key feature of cancer cells and it is maintained by the expression of telomerase, a promising target of novel therapies. Long-term telomerase inhibition can induce resistance, but the mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. The Sonic hedgehog pathway (SHH) is an embryogenic pathway involved in tumorigenesis and modulates the transcription of telomerase. We evaluated the effects of long-term treatment of the telomerase inhibitor MST-312 in morphology, proliferation, resistance, and in the SHH pathway molecules expression levels in lung cancer cells. Cells treated for 12 weeks with MST-312 showed changes in morphology, such as spindle-shaped cells, and a shift in the distribution of F-ACTIN from cortical to diffuse. Treatment also significantly reduced cells' efficiency to form spheroids and their clonogenic potential, independently of the cell cycle and telomeric DNA content. Moreover, GLI-1 expression levels were significantly reduced after 12 weeks of MST-312 treatment, indicating a possible inhibition of this signaling axis in the SHH pathway, without hindering NANOG and OCT4 expression. Here, we described a novel implication of long-term treatment with MST-312 functionally and molecularly, shedding new light on the molecular mechanisms of this drug in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Jones Villarinho
- Laboratório de Biomedicina do Cérebro, Instituto Estadual do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer IECPN, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina (Anatomia Patológica), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Flavia da Cunha Vasconcelos
- Laboratório de Hemato-oncologia Celular e Molecular, Coordenação de Pesquisa, Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciano Mazzoccoli
- Laboratório de Hemato-oncologia Celular e Molecular, Coordenação de Pesquisa, Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcela Cristina da Silva Robaina
- Laboratório de Hemato-oncologia Celular e Molecular, Coordenação de Pesquisa, Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana Santos Pessoa
- Laboratório de Biomedicina do Cérebro, Instituto Estadual do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer IECPN, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pablo Enrique Torres Siqueira
- Laboratório de Biomedicina do Cérebro, Instituto Estadual do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer IECPN, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel Ciuvalschi Maia
- Laboratório de Hemato-oncologia Celular e Molecular, Coordenação de Pesquisa, Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Diego Madureira de Oliveira
- Departamento de Bases Biológicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Brasília-Campus Ceilândia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Tania Cristina Leite de Sampaio E Spohr
- Laboratório de Biomedicina do Cérebro, Instituto Estadual do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer IECPN, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina (Anatomia Patológica), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Giselle Faria Lopes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina (Anatomia Patológica), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Hemato-oncologia Celular e Molecular, Coordenação de Pesquisa, Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Divisão de Bioprodutos, Departamento de Biotecnologia Marinha, Instituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira (IEAPM), Arraial do Cabo, Brazil
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23
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Rad FT, Gargari BN, Ghorbian S, Farsani ZS, Sharifi R. Inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells via hTERT gene editing using CRISPR-dCas9-dnmt3a system. Gene 2022; 828:146477. [PMID: 35398175 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology has pushed the boundaries of genetic modification. The principle of this method is based on the purposeful defense system of DNA degradation and will be one of the most powerful instruments for gene editing shortly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capability of this approach to manage melanoma cells. The present study used EF1a-hsaCas9-U6-gRNA as a hybrid vector of sgRNA and Cas9 for the transfection of A-375 melanoma cells. Transfection efficiency was enhanced by examining the two concentrations of 4 and 8 µg/mL of hexadimethrine bromide (trade name Polybrene). The existence of Cas9 in transfected cells was detected by flow cytometry. The expression level of the metabisulfite-modified hTERT gene was measured by real-time PCR technique. The presence of telomerase in cells was determined by flow cytometry and western blotting analysis. The hTERT gene promoter methylation was also evaluated by HRM assay. Finally, the induction of apoptosis in transfected A375 cells was assessed using flow cytometry. The results showed that the presence of gRNA significantly increased the transfection efficiency (up to about 7.75 times higher). The hTERT expression levels in A-375 cells were significantly decreased at different concentrations of Polybrene (in a dose-dependent manner) and various amounts of transfection (P < 0.05). The expression of hTERT in basal cells was not significantly different from the group transfected without gRNA (P˃0.05) but was significantly higher than the group transfected with gRNA (P < 0.05). The results of flow cytometry and western blotting analysis showed a decrease in hTERT level compared to cells transfected without gRNA as well as basal cells. The methylation of hTERT gene promoter in the cells transfected with gRNA at a concentration of 80 μg/mL in the presence of both 4 μg/mL and 8 μg/mL of Polybrene was significantly increased compared to those transfected without sRNA (P < 0.05). The flow cytometry results indicated no significant difference in the induction of apoptosis in the transfected cells compared to the basal cells (P < 0.05). Evidence suggests that the designed CRISPR/Cas9 system reduces the expression of the hTERT gene and telomerase presence, thereby inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farbod Taghavi Rad
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran
| | - Bahar Naghavi Gargari
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Basic Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saied Ghorbian
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran.
| | - Zeinab Shirvani Farsani
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rasoul Sharifi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran
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24
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IDH mutation and cancer stem cell. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:413-422. [PMID: 35611837 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of cells in human malignancies that resemble the biology of human pluripotent stem cells. CSCs are closely related to the critical hallmarks in human cancers, ranging from oncogenesis to disease progression, therapeutic resistance, and overall outcome. Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) were recently identified as founder mutations for human cancers. An increasing amount of evidence indicates that IDH mutations are closely related to the establishment and maintenance of CSCs. Biosynthesis of oncometabolite, metabolic reprogramming, and epigenetic shifts establish distinctive molecular signatures in IDH-mutated CSCs. Additionally, IDH mutation and IDH-related pathways could be valuable molecular targets to impact the CSC components in human cancers and to improve the disease outcome.
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25
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Ellingsen EB, Aamdal E, Guren T, Lilleby W, Brunsvig PF, Mangsbo SM, Aamdal S, Hovig E, Mensali N, Gaudernack G, Inderberg EM. Durable and dynamic hTERT immune responses following vaccination with the long-peptide cancer vaccine UV1: long-term follow-up of three phase I clinical trials. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e004345. [PMID: 35613827 PMCID: PMC9134181 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Therapeutic cancer vaccines represent a promising approach to improve clinical outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibition. UV1 is a second generation telomerase-targeting therapeutic cancer vaccine being investigated across multiple indications. Although telomerase is a near-universal tumor target, different treatment combinations applied across indications may affect the induced immune response. Three phase I/IIa clinical trials covering malignant melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and prostate cancer have been completed, with patients in follow-up for up to 8 years. METHODS 52 patients were enrolled across the three trials. UV1 was given as monotherapy in the lung cancer trial and concurrent with combined androgen blockade in the prostate cancer trial. In the melanoma study, patients initiated ipilimumab treatment 1 week after the first vaccine dose. Patients were followed for UV1-specific immune responses at frequent intervals during vaccination, and every 6 months for up to 8 years in a follow-up period. Phenotypic and functional characterizations were performed on patient-derived vaccine-specific T cell responses. RESULTS In total, 78.4% of treated patients mounted a measurable vaccine-induced T cell response in blood. The immune responses in the malignant melanoma trial, where UV1 was combined with ipilimumab, occurred more rapidly and frequently than in the lung and prostate cancer trials. In several patients, immune responses peaked years after their last vaccination. An in-depth characterization of the immune responses revealed polyfunctional CD4+ T cells producing interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α on interaction with their antigen. CONCLUSION Long-term immunomonitoring of patients showed highly dynamic and persistent telomerase peptide-specific immune responses lasting up to 7.5 years after the initial vaccination, suggesting a plausible functional role of these T cells in long-term survivors. The superior immune response kinetics observed in the melanoma study substantiate the rationale for future combinatorial treatment strategies with UV1 vaccination and checkpoint inhibition for rapid and frequent induction of anti-telomerase immune responses in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Espen Basmo Ellingsen
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Ultimovacs ASA, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elin Aamdal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Tormod Guren
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Paal F Brunsvig
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara M Mangsbo
- Department of Pharmacy, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Ultimovacs AB, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Eivind Hovig
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nadia Mensali
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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26
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Yuan H, Wu Y, Wang J, Qin X, Huang Y, Yan L, Fana Y, Zedenius J, Juhlin CC, Larsson C, Lui WO, Xu D. Synergistic effects of telomerase reverse transcriptase and regulator of telomere elongation helicase 1 on aggressiveness and outcomes in adrenocortical carcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 149:112796. [PMID: 35279598 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is one of the deadliest endocrine malignancies and telomere maintenance by activated telomerase is critically required for ACC development and progression. Because telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and regulator of telomere elongation helicase 1 (RTEL1) play key roles in telomere homeostasis, we determined their effect on ACC pathogenesis and outcomes. Analyses of TCGA and GEO datasets showed significantly higher expression of RTEL1 but not TERT in ACC tumors, compared to their benign or normal counterparts. Furthermore, gains/amplifications of both TERT and RTEL1 genes were widespread in ACC tumors and their expression correlated with their gene copy numbers. Higher expression of either TERT or RTEL1 was associated with shorter overall and progression-free survival (OS and PFS) in the TCGA ACC patient cohort, and higher levels of both TERT and RTEL1 mRNA predicted the shortest patient OS and PFS. However, multivariate analyses showed that only RTEL1 independently predicted patient OS and PFS. Gene set enrichment analysis further showed enrichments of wnt/β-catenin, MYC, glycolysis, MTOR, and DNA repair signaling pathways in ACC tumors expressing high TERT and RTEL1 mRNA levels. Taken together, TERT and RTEL1 promote ACC aggressiveness synergistically and may serve as prognostic factors and therapeutic targets for ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyang Yuan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yujiao Wu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Urologic Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xin Qin
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yongsheng Huang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Lei Yan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
| | - Yidong Fana
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden; Department of Urologic Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China; Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden; Department of Breast, Endocrine Tumors and Sarcoma, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden; Department of Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden; Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Bioclinicum, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden.
| | - Jan Zedenius
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden; Department of Breast, Endocrine Tumors and Sarcoma, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden
| | - C Christofer Juhlin
- Department of Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden; Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Bioclinicum, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden
| | - Catharina Larsson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Bioclinicum, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden
| | - Weng-Onn Lui
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Bioclinicum, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden
| | - Dawei Xu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm SE-171 64, Sweden.
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27
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Hodis E, Triglia ET, Kwon JYH, Biancalani T, Zakka LR, Parkar S, Hütter JC, Buffoni L, Delorey TM, Phillips D, Dionne D, Nguyen LT, Schapiro D, Maliga Z, Jacobson CA, Hendel A, Rozenblatt-Rosen O, Mihm MC, Garraway LA, Regev A. Stepwise-edited, human melanoma models reveal mutations' effect on tumor and microenvironment. Science 2022; 376:eabi8175. [PMID: 35482859 PMCID: PMC9427199 DOI: 10.1126/science.abi8175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Establishing causal relationships between genetic alterations of human cancers and specific phenotypes of malignancy remains a challenge. We sequentially introduced mutations into healthy human melanocytes in up to five genes spanning six commonly disrupted melanoma pathways, forming nine genetically distinct cellular models of melanoma. We connected mutant melanocyte genotypes to malignant cell expression programs in vitro and in vivo, replicative immortality, malignancy, rapid tumor growth, pigmentation, metastasis, and histopathology. Mutations in malignant cells also affected tumor microenvironment composition and cell states. Our melanoma models shared genotype-associated expression programs with patient melanomas, and a deep learning model showed that these models partially recapitulated genotype-associated histopathological features as well. Thus, a progressive series of genome-edited human cancer models can causally connect genotypes carrying multiple mutations to phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eran Hodis
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - John Y. H. Kwon
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Labib R. Zakka
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Saurabh Parkar
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Lorenzo Buffoni
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Toni M. Delorey
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Devan Phillips
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Danielle Dionne
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Lan T. Nguyen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Denis Schapiro
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zoltan Maliga
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Connor A. Jacobson
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ayal Hendel
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Institute, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | | | - Martin C. Mihm
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Levi A. Garraway
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Aviv Regev
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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28
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Maciejewska N, Olszewski M, Jurasz J, Serocki M, Dzierzynska M, Cekala K, Wieczerzak E, Baginski M. Novel chalcone-derived pyrazoles as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3703. [PMID: 35260633 PMCID: PMC8904451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07691-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is considered to account for approximately one-fifth of all malignant tumor-related deaths worldwide and is therefore one of the most lethal malignancies. Pyrazole scaffold possesses a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities, which play important roles in medicinal chemistry. The present study reports the synthesis and in vitro biological characterization of nine pyrazoles derived from chalcones as potential anticancer agents for non-small cell lung cancer A-549, H226, and H460 cell lines. Most of the compounds efficiently inhibited the growth of all the tested cancer cell lines at micromolar concentrations. One of the most active compounds (PCH-1) was further evaluated for its effect on cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, migration, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, studies on the mechanism of action revealed that PCH-1 disrupts microtubule assembly, leading to cancer cell death. Molecular modeling studies confirmed the potent interaction of PCH-1 with the vinblastine binding site on tubulin. Overall, this study provides novel opportunities to identify anticancer agents in the pyrazole series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Maciejewska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Mateusz Olszewski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jakub Jurasz
- Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marcin Serocki
- Ryvu Therapeutics, Leona Henryka Sternbacha 2, 30-394, Kraków, Poland
| | - Maria Dzierzynska
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Cekala
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Ewa Wieczerzak
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Maciej Baginski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
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A Critical YAP in Malignancy of HCC Is Regulated by Evodiamine. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031855. [PMID: 35163776 PMCID: PMC8837083 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer has relatively few early symptoms and is usually diagnosed in the advanced stage. Sorafenib is the only first-line anticancer drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for advanced HCC; however, its use is limited due to resistance. Therefore, the development of new drugs is essential to achieving customized treatment. Many studies have suggested that Yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) is associated with metastasis and cancer formation and progression in various cancers. In the present study, YAP was overexpressed in various patient-derived hepatocarcinoma (HCC) tissues. In addition, this study examined whether evodiamine (which has anticancer effects) can inhibit YAP and, if so, modulate HCC. Evodiamine significantly reduced both the YAP level and cell growth of HCC in a dose-dependent manner. Biochemical analysis indicated mitochondria dysfunction-mediated apoptosis to be the cause of the reduction in HCC cell growth by evodiamine. YAP was overexpressed in metastatic HCC tissues as well when compared to primary HCC tissues. Migration and invasion analysis showed that evodiamine has anti-metastatic ability on Hep3B and Huh-7 cells and reduces the level of vimentin, an EMT marker. In conclusion, YAP is a critical target in HCC therapy, and evodiamine can be an effective HCC anticancer drug by reducing the YAP level.
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30
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Telomerase in Cancer: Function, Regulation, and Clinical Translation. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030808. [PMID: 35159075 PMCID: PMC8834434 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cells undergoing malignant transformation must circumvent replicative senescence and eventual cell death associated with progressive telomere shortening that occurs through successive cell division. To do so, malignant cells reactivate telomerase to extend their telomeres and achieve cellular immortality, which is a “Hallmark of Cancer”. Here we review the telomere-dependent and -independent functions of telomerase in cancer, as well as its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target to diagnose and treat cancer patients. Abstract During the process of malignant transformation, cells undergo a series of genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic alterations, including the acquisition and propagation of genomic aberrations that impart survival and proliferative advantages. These changes are mediated in part by the induction of replicative immortality that is accompanied by active telomere elongation. Indeed, telomeres undergo dynamic changes to their lengths and higher-order structures throughout tumor formation and progression, processes overseen in most cancers by telomerase. Telomerase is a multimeric enzyme whose function is exquisitely regulated through diverse transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms to facilitate telomere extension. In turn, telomerase function depends not only on its core components, but also on a suite of binding partners, transcription factors, and intra- and extracellular signaling effectors. Additionally, telomerase exhibits telomere-independent regulation of cancer cell growth by participating directly in cellular metabolism, signal transduction, and the regulation of gene expression in ways that are critical for tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarize the complex mechanisms underlying telomere maintenance, with a particular focus on both the telomeric and extratelomeric functions of telomerase. We also explore the clinical utility of telomeres and telomerase in the diagnosis, prognosis, and development of targeted therapies for primary, metastatic, and recurrent cancers.
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Mao J, Zhang Q, Wang Y, Zhuang Y, Xu L, Ma X, Guan D, Zhou J, Liu J, Wu X, Liang Q, Wang M, Cong Y. TERT activates endogenous retroviruses to promote an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e52984. [PMID: 35107856 PMCID: PMC8982579 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202152984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis by both telomere-dependent and telomere-independent activities, although the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) across 9,264 tumour samples, we observe that expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is closely associated with immunosuppressive signatures. We demonstrate that TERT can activate a subclass of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) independent of its telomerase activity to form double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), which are sensed by the RIG-1/MDA5-MAVS signalling pathway and trigger interferon signalling in cancer cells. Furthermore, we show that TERT-induced ERV/interferon signalling stimulates the expression of chemokines, including CXCL10, which induces the infiltration of suppressive T-cell populations with increased percentage of CD4+ and FOXP3+ cells. These data reveal an unanticipated role for telomerase as a transcriptional activator of ERVs and provide strong evidence that TERT-mediated ERV/interferon signalling contributes to immune suppression in tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Mao
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Qian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Yaxiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Yang Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Lu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaohe Ma
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Di Guan
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Junzhi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Jiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaoying Wu
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Qian Liang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Miao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
| | - Yu‐Sheng Cong
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical SciencesHangzhouChina
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Wang LN, Wang L, Cheng G, Dai M, Yu Y, Teng G, Zhao J, Xu D. The association of telomere maintenance and TERT expression with susceptibility to human papillomavirus infection in cervical epithelium. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:110. [PMID: 35098380 PMCID: PMC11072999 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04113-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The role of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) induction and telomere maintenance in carcinogenesis including cervical cancer (CC) pathogenesis has been well established. However, it remains unclear whether they affect infection of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), an initiating event for CC development. Similarly, genetic variants at the TERT locus are shown to be associated with susceptibility to CC, but it is unclear whether these SNPs modify the risk for cervical HPV infection. Here we show that in CC-derived HeLa cells, TERT overexpression inhibits, while its depletion upregulates expression of Syndecan-1 (SDC-1), a key component for HPV entry receptors. The TCGA cohort of CC analyses reveals an inverse correlation between TERT and SDC-1 expression (R = -0.23, P = 0.001). We further recruited 1330 females (520 non-HPV and 810 hrHPV-infected) without CC or high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia to analyze telomeres in cervical epithelial cells and SNPs at rs2736098, rs2736100 and rs2736108, previously identified TERT SNPs for CC risk. Non-infected females exhibited age-related telomere shortening in cervical epithelial cells and their telomeres were significantly longer than those in hrHPV-infected group (1.31 ± 0.62 vs 1.19 ± 0.48, P < 0.001). There were no differences in rs2736098 and rs2736100 genotypes, but non-infected individuals had significantly a higher C-allele frequency (associated with higher TERT expression) while lower T-allele levels at rs2736108 compared with those in the hrHPV group (P = 0.020). Collectively, appropriate telomere maintenance and TERT expression in normal cervical cells may prevent CC by modulating hrHPV infection predisposition, although they are required for CC development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Na Wang
- Central Research Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Wang
- Central Research Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanghui Cheng
- Central Research Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingkai Dai
- Central Research Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunhai Yu
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoxin Teng
- Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjie Zhao
- Central Research Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People's Republic of China.
| | - Dawei Xu
- Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 64, Solna, Sweden.
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Prasad RR, Mishra DK, Kumar M, Yadava PK. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase promotes the epithelial to mesenchymal transition in lung cancer cells by enhancing c-MET upregulation. Heliyon 2022; 8:e08673. [PMID: 35024489 PMCID: PMC8732784 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the essential catalytic subunit of telomerase, is associated with telomere homeostasis to prevent replicative senescence and cellular aging. However, hTERT reactivation also has been linked to the acquisition of several hallmarks of cancer, although the underlying mechanism beyond telomere extension remains elusive. This study demonstrated that hTERT overexpression promotes, whereas its inhibition by shRNA suppresses, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung cancer cells (A549 and H1299). We found that hTERT modulates the expression of EMT markers E-cadherin, vimentin, and cytokeratin-18a through upregulation of the c-MET. Ectopic expression of hTERT induces expression of c-MET, while hTERT-shRNA treatment significantly decreases the c-MET level in A549 and H1299 through differential expression of p53 and c-Myc. Reporter assay suggests the regulation of c-MET expression by hTERT to be at the promoter level. An increase in c-MET level significantly promotes the expression of mesenchymal markers, including vimentin and N-cadherin, while a notable increase in epithelial markers E-cadherin and cytokeratin-18a is observed after the c-MET knockdown in A549.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Raj Prasad
- Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Deepak Kumar Mishra
- Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Pramod Kumar Yadava
- Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.,Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute for Science Education and Research, Berhampur 760010, Odisha, India
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Genetic Variants Associated with Thyroid Cancer Risk: Comprehensive Research Synopsis, Meta-Analysis, and Cumulative Epidemiological Evidence. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2021; 2021:9967599. [PMID: 34950210 PMCID: PMC8691982 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9967599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Purpose With the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer (TC), associations between genetic polymorphisms and TC risk have attracted a lot of attention. Considering that the results of associations of genetic variants with TC were usually inconsistent based on publications until now, we attempted to comprehensively evaluate the real evidence of associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and TC risk. Method We performed meta-analyses on 36 SNPs in 23 genes associated with TC susceptibility based on the data from 99 articles and comprehensively valued the epidemiological evidence of significant associations through the Venice criteria and false-positive report probability (FPRP) test. OR and P value were also calculated for 19 SNPs in 13 genes based on the insufficient data from 22 articles. Results 19 SNPs were found significantly associated with TC susceptibility. Of these, strong epidemiological evidence of associations was identified for the following seven SNPs: POU5F1B rs6983267, FOXE1 rs966423, TERT rs2736100, NKX2-1 rs944289, FOXE1 rs1867277, FOXE1 rs2439302, and RET rs1799939, in which moderate associations were found in four SNPs and weak associations were found in eight SNPs. In addition, probable significant associations with TC were found in nine SNPs. Conclusion Our study systematically evaluated associations between SNPs and TC risk and offered reference information for further understanding of polymorphisms and TC susceptibility.
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TERT Promoter Mutations Increase Sense and Antisense Transcription from the TERT Promoter. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121773. [PMID: 34944589 PMCID: PMC8698883 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121773] [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: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chief among mechanisms of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) reactivation is the appearance of mutations in the TERT promoter. The two main TERT promoter mutations are C>T transitions located −146C>T and −124C>T upstream from the translational start site. They generate a novel Ets/TCF binding site. Both mutations are mutually exclusive and −124C>T is strikingly overrepresented in most cancers. We investigated whether this mutational bias and mutual exclusion could be due to transcriptional constraints. Methods: We compared sense and antisense transcription of a panel of TERT promoter-luciferase vectors harboring the −124C>T and -146C>T mutations alone or together. lncRNA TAPAS levels were measured by RT-PCR. Results: Both mutations generally increased TERT transcription by 2–4-fold regardless of upstream and downstream regulatory elements. The double mutant increased transcription in an additive fashion, arguing against a direct transcriptional constraint. The −146C>T mutation, alone or in combination with −124C>T, also unleashed antisense transcription. In line with this finding, lncRNA TAPAS was higher in cells with mutated TERT promoter (T98G and U87) than in cells with wild-type promoter, suggesting that lncRNA TAPAS may balance the effect of TERT promoter mutations. Conclusions: −146C>T and −124C>T TERT promoter mutations increase TERT sense and antisense transcription, and the double mutant features higher transcription levels. Increased antisense transcription may contain TERT expression within sustainable levels.
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Kim HR, Seo CW, Yoo K, Han SJ, Kim J. Yes-associated protein 1 as a prognostic biomarker and its correlation with telomerase in various cancers. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2021; 12:324-332. [PMID: 34719224 PMCID: PMC8561022 DOI: 10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0207] [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: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The aims of this study were to investigate the expression of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), its prognostic significance, and the correlation between YAP1 and telomerase in various cancers. Methods The Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database was used to analyze RNA sequencing data and the survival rate of patients with various cancers in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. PrognoScan was used to analyze the prognostic value of YAP1 expression in various cancers. Tumor Immune Estimation Resource was used to determine the correlation between YAP1 expression and telomerase in various cancer types based on TCGA data. Results The analysis suggested that YAP1 was differentially expressed between tissues of various cancers and non-tumor tissues. High YAP1 expression was also related to a poor prognosis in adrenocortical carcinoma, bladder urothelial carcinoma, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Moreover, YAP1 expression was correlated with the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase and telomerase RNA component in various cancer types. Conclusion These results suggest that YAP1 is a potential biomarker with prognostic significance and relevance for oncogene research in various cancer types. The correlation between the expression of YAP1 and telomere-associated genes will help to understand their cancer-promoting mechanisms and interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Ran Kim
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, Busan, Korea
| | - Choong-Won Seo
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, Busan, Korea
| | - Keunje Yoo
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, Korea
| | - Sang Jun Han
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Fisheries Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Jongwan Kim
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, Busan, Korea
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Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) synergistic with Sp1 upregulate Gli1 expression and increase gastric cancer invasion and metastasis. J Mol Histol 2021; 52:1165-1175. [PMID: 34601664 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-021-10019-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) has been widely identified in tumors, but the relevant mechanism is not well known. This study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of hTERT in gastric cancer metastasis. Gastric cancer and adjacent non-tumor tissues were collected and the expression levels of hTERT and Gli1 were detected by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated that hTERT and Gli1 expression levels in gastric cancer tissue were significantly higher than adjacent non-tumor tissues. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to an identified expression of the related protein in BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cells. The interactions between hTERT and Sp1 were tested by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed to confirm that Sp1 and hTERT could bind to the Gli1 promoter. Chromatin reimmunoprecipitation assay further demonstrated that both hTERT and Sp1 bind to the Sp1 site of the Gli1 promoter. Moreover, the hTERT, Sp1, and Gli1 were upregulate was verified in human gastric cancer tissues. These results showed that the expression levels of hTERT in GC tissues were strongly closed to the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) stage, and distant metastasis. By combining Sp1 and Gli1 promoter, hTERT upregulated Gli1 expression and promoted invasion and metastasis of GC cells. Overall, these data provide a new molecular mechanism of hTERT to promotes gastric cancer progression. Targeting the hTERT/Sp1/Gli1 axis may represent a new therapeutic strategy.
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Yoon JY, Jiang W, Orr CR, Rushton C, Gargano S, Song SJ, Modi M, Hozack B, Abraham J, Mallick AB, Brooks JSJ, Rosenbaum JN, Zhang PJ. TERT gene rearrangement in chordomas and comparison to other TERT-rearranged solid tumors. Cancer Genet 2021; 258-259:74-79. [PMID: 34583232 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chordomas are rare, slow-growing neoplasms thought to arise from the foetal notochord remnant. A limited number of studies that examined the mutational profiles in chordomas identified potential driver mutations, including duplication in the TBXT gene (encoding brachyury), mutations in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and loss of the CDKN2A gene. Most chordomas remain without clear driver mutations, and no fusion genes have been identified thus far. We discovered a novel TERT in-frame fusion involving RPH3AL (exon 5) and TERT (exon 2) in the index chordoma case. We screened a discovery cohort of 18 additional chordoma cases for TERT gene rearrangement by FISH, in which TERT rearrangement was identified in one additional case. In our independent, validation cohort of 36 chordomas, no TERT rearrangement was observed by FISH. Immunohistochemistry optimized for nuclear TERT expression showed at least focal TERT expression in 40/55 (72.7%) chordomas. Selected cases underwent molecular genetic profiling, which showed low tumor mutational burdens (TMBs) without obvious driver oncogenic mutations. We next examined a cohort of 1,913 solid tumor patients for TERT rearrangements, and TERT fusions involving exon 2 were observed in 7/1,913 (0.4%) cases. The seven tumors comprised five glial tumors, and two poorly differentiated carcinomas. In contrast to chordomas, the other TERT-rearranged tumors were notable for higher TMBs, frequent TP53 mutations (6/7) and presence of other driver oncogenic mutations, including a concurrent fusion (TRIM24-MET). In conclusion, TERT gene rearrangements are seen in a small subset (2/55, 3.6%) of chordomas. In contrast to other TERT-rearranged tumors, where the TERT rearrangements are likely passenger events, the possibility that TERT protein overexpression representing a key event in chordoma tumorigenesis is left open.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Yoon Yoon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Department of Laboratory Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital/Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Christopher R Orr
- Center for Personalized Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Chase Rushton
- Center for Personalized Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Stacey Gargano
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Sharon J Song
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Mitul Modi
- Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Bryan Hozack
- Rothman Orthopedic Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - John Abraham
- Rothman Orthopedic Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Division of Sarcoma and Bone Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Atrayee Basu Mallick
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - John S J Brooks
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Jason N Rosenbaum
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Center for Personalized Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Paul J Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
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Parulekar A, Choksi A, Taye N, Totakura KVS, Firmal P, Kundu GC, Chattopadhyay S. SMAR1 suppresses the cancer stem cell population via hTERT repression in colorectal cancer cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2021; 141:106085. [PMID: 34551340 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of a cancer cell is the ability for indefinite proliferation leading to the immortalization of the cell. Activation of several signaling pathways leads to the immortalization of cancer cells via the reactivation of enzyme telomerase (hTERT). hTERT is active in germ cells, stem cells and also cancer cells. An earlier report from our lab suggests that SMAR1, a tumor suppressor protein, is significantly downregulated in the higher grades of colorectal cancers. Our study identifies SMAR1 as a transcriptional repressor of hTERT. We find that SMAR1 interacts with HDAC1/mSin3a co-repressor complex at the hTERT promoter and brings about HDAC1-mediated transcriptional repression of the promoter. Most solid tumors including colorectal cancer reactivate hTERT expression as it confers several advantages to the cancer cells like increased proliferation and angiogenesis. One of these non-canonical functions of hTERT is inducing the pool of cancer stem cell population. We find that in the CD133HighCD44High cancer stem cells population, SMAR1 expression is highly diminished leading to elevated hTERT expression. We also find that knockdown of SMAR1 promotes total CD133+CD44+ population and impart enhanced sphere-forming ability to the colorectal cancer cells. SMAR1 also inhibits invasion and metastasis in colorectal cancer cell lines via repression of hTERT. Our study provides evidence that downregulation of SMAR1 causes activation of hTERT leading to an increase in the cancer stem cell phenotype in colorectal cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Gopal C Kundu
- National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India; Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Samit Chattopadhyay
- National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India; Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Goa, India.
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Human chromosome 3p21.3 carries TERT transcriptional regulators in pancreatic cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15355. [PMID: 34321527 PMCID: PMC8319171 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94711-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on the short arm of human chromosome 3 (3p) region has been found in pancreatic cancer (PC), which suggests the likely presence of tumor suppressor genes in this region. However, the functional significance of LOH in this region in the development of PC has not been clearly defined. The human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (hTERT) contributes to unlimited proliferative and tumorigenicity of malignant tumors. We previously demonstrated that hTERT expression was suppressed by the introduction of human chromosome 3 in several cancer cell lines. To examine the functional role of putative TERT suppressor genes on chromosome 3 in PC, we introduced an intact human chromosome 3 into the human PK9 and murine LTPA PC cell lines using microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. PK9 microcell hybrids with an introduced human chromosome 3 showed significant morphological changes and rapid growth arrest. Intriguingly, microcell hybrid clones of LTPA cells with an introduced human chromosome 3 (LTPA#3) showed suppression of mTert transcription, cell proliferation, and invasion compared with LTPA#4 cells containing human chromosome 4 and parental LTPA cells. Additionally, the promoter activity of mTert was downregulated in LTPA#3. Furthermore, we confirmed that TERT regulatory gene(s) are present in the 3p21.3 region by transfer of truncated chromosomes at arbitrary regions. These results provide important information on the functional significance of the LOH at 3p for development and progression of PC.
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Ovarian Telomerase and Female Fertility. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9070842. [PMID: 34356906 PMCID: PMC8301802 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9070842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Women's fertility is characterized both quantitatively and qualitatively mainly by the pool of ovarian follicles. Monthly, gonadotropins cause an intense multiplication of granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte. This step of follicular development requires a high proliferation ability for these cells. Telomere length plays a crucial role in the mitotic index of human cells. Hence, disrupting telomere homeostasis could directly affect women's fertility. Strongly expressed in ovaries, telomerase is the most effective factor to limit telomeric attrition and preserve ovarian reserve. Considering these facts, two situations of infertility could be correlated with the length of telomeres and ovarian telomerase activity: PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which is associated with a high density of small antral follicles, and Premature Ovarian Failure (POF), which is associated with a premature decrease in ovarian reserve. Several authors have studied this topic, expecting to find long telomeres and strong telomerase activity in PCOS and short telomeres and low telomerase activity in POF patients. Although the results of these studies are contradictory, telomere length and the ovarian telomerase impact in women's fertility disorders appear obvious. In this context, our research perspectives aimed to explore the stimulation of ovarian telomerase to limit the decrease in the follicular pool while avoiding an increase in cancer risk.
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Vonderheide RH, Kraynyak KA, Shields AF, McRee AJ, Johnson JM, Sun W, Chintakuntlawar AV, Pawlicki J, Sylvester AJ, McMullan T, Samuels R, Kim JJ, Weiner D, Boyer JD, Morrow MP, Humeau L, Skolnik JM. Phase 1 study of safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of the human telomerase (hTERT)-encoded DNA plasmids INO-1400 and INO-1401 with or without IL-12 DNA plasmid INO-9012 in adult patients with solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-003019. [PMID: 34230114 PMCID: PMC8261871 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003019] [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] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is frequently classified as a ‘universal’ tumor associated antigen due to its expression in a vast number of cancers. We evaluated plasmid DNA-encoded hTERT as an immunotherapy across nine cancer types. Methods A phase 1 clinical trial was conducted in adult patients with no evidence of disease following definitive surgery and standard therapy, who were at high risk of relapse. Plasmid DNA encoding one of two hTERT variants (INO-1400 or INO-1401) with or without plasmid DNA encoding interleukin 12 (IL-12) (INO-9012) was delivered intramuscularly concurrent with the application of the CELLECTRA constant-current electroporation device 4 times across 12 weeks. Safety assessments and immune monitoring against native (germline, non-mutated, non-plasmid matched) hTERT antigen were performed. The largest cohort of patients enrolled had pancreatic cancer, allowing for additional targeted assessments for this tumor type. Results Of the 93 enrolled patients who received at least one dose, 88 had at least one adverse event; the majority were grade 1 or 2, related to injection site. At 18 months, 54.8% (51/93) patients were disease-free, with median disease-free survival (DFS) not reached by end of study. For patients with pancreatic cancer, the median DFS was 9 months, with 41.4% of these patients remaining disease-free at 18 months. hTERT immunotherapy induced a de novo cellular immune response or enhanced pre-existing cellular responses to native hTERT in 96% (88/92) of patients with various cancer types. Treatment with INO-1400/INO-1401±INO-9012 drove hTERT-specific IFN-γ production, generated hTERT-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing the activation marker CD38, and induced hTERT-specific activated CD8 +CTLs as defined by cells expressing perforin and granzymes. The addition of plasmid IL-12 adjuvant elicited higher magnitudes of cellular responses including IFN-γ production, activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and activated CD8+CTLs. In a subset analysis of pancreatic cancer patients, the presence of immunotherapy-induced activated CD8+ T cells expressing PD-1, granzymes and perforin correlated with survival. Conclusions Plasmid DNA-encoded hTERT/IL-12 DNA immunotherapy was well-tolerated, immune responses were noted across all tumor types, and a specific CD8+ phenotype increased by the immunotherapy was significantly correlated with survival in patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Vonderheide
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Anthony F Shields
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Autumn J McRee
- University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer M Johnson
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Weijing Sun
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | | | - Jan Pawlicki
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Robert Samuels
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joseph J Kim
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David Weiner
- Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jean D Boyer
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Laurent Humeau
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA
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Ellingsen EB, Mangsbo SM, Hovig E, Gaudernack G. Telomerase as a Target for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines and Considerations for Optimizing Their Clinical Potential. Front Immunol 2021; 12:682492. [PMID: 34290704 PMCID: PMC8288190 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.682492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase-based therapeutic cancer vaccines (TCVs) have been under clinical investigation for the past two decades. Despite past failures, TCVs have gained renewed enthusiasm for their potential to improve the efficacy of checkpoint inhibition. Telomerase stands as an attractive target for TCVs due to its almost universal presence in cancer and its essential function promoting tumor growth. Herein, we review tumor telomerase biology that may affect the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination and provide insights on optimal vaccine design and treatment combinations. Tumor types possessing mechanisms of increased telomerase expression combined with an immune permissive tumor microenvironment are expected to increase the therapeutic potential of telomerase-targeting cancer vaccines. Regardless, rational treatment combinations, such as checkpoint inhibitors, are likely necessary to bring out the true clinical potential of TCVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Espen Basmo Ellingsen
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Research and Development, Ultimovacs ASA, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara M Mangsbo
- Research and Development, Ultimovacs AB, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eivind Hovig
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Haakensen VD, Nowak AK, Ellingsen EB, Farooqi SJ, Bjaanæs MM, Horndalsveen H, Mcculloch T, Grundberg O, Cedres SM, Helland Å. NIPU: a randomised, open-label, phase II study evaluating nivolumab and ipilimumab combined with UV1 vaccination as second line treatment in patients with malignant mesothelioma. J Transl Med 2021; 19:232. [PMID: 34059094 PMCID: PMC8165504 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-021-02905-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive tumour. For patients with inoperable disease, few treatment options are available after first line chemotherapy. The combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab has recently shown increased survival compared to standard chemotherapy, but most patients do not respond and improvements are called for. Telomerase is expressed in mesothelioma cells, but only sparsely in normal tissues and is therefore an attractive target for therapeutic vaccination. Vaccination against telomerase is tolerable and has shown to induce immune responses associated with increased survival in other cancer types. There is a well-founded scientific rationale for the combination of a telomerase vaccine and checkpoint inhibition to improve treatment response in MPM patients. Methods NIPU is a randomized, multi-centre, open-label, phase II study comparing the efficacy and safety of nivolumab and ipilimumab with or without telomerase vaccine in patients with inoperable malignant pleural mesothelioma after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Participants (n = 118) are randomized 1:1 into two treatment arms. All participants receive treatment with nivolumab (240 mg every 2 weeks) and ipilimumab (1 mg/kg every 6 weeks) until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or for a maximum of 2 years. Patients randomised to the experimental arm receive 8 intradermal injections of UV1 vaccine during the first three months of treatment. Tumour tissue, blood, urine, faeces and imaging will be collected for biomarker analyses and exploration of mechanisms for response and resistance to therapy. Discussion Checkpoint inhibition is used for treatment of mesothelioma, but many patients still do not respond. Increasing therapy response to immunotherapy is an important goal. Possible approaches include combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and other immunotherapeutic agents. Predictive biomarkers are necessary to ensure optimal treatment for each patient and to prevent unnecessary side effects. This trial seeks to improve treatment response by combining checkpoint inhibition with a telomerase vaccine and also to explore mechanisms for treatment response and resistance. Knowledge gained in the NIPU study may be transferred to the first line setting and to other cancers with limited benefit from immunotherapy. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04300244, registered March 8th, 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04300244?term=NIPU&draw=2&rank=1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vilde Drageset Haakensen
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna K Nowak
- National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, Institute for Respiratory Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia
| | - Espen Basmo Ellingsen
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Ultimovacs, Oslo, Norway
| | - Saima Jamil Farooqi
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria Moksnes Bjaanæs
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Henrik Horndalsveen
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tine Mcculloch
- Department of Oncology and Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Oscar Grundberg
- Thoracic Oncology Center, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Susana M Cedres
- Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Åslaug Helland
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. .,Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. .,Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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Xing X, Yuan X, Liu T, Dai M, Fan Y, Liu C, Strååt K, Björkholm M, Xu D. Regulatory region mutations of TERT, PLEKHS1 and GPR126 genes as urinary biomarkers in upper tract urothelial carcinomas. J Cancer 2021; 12:3853-3861. [PMID: 34093793 PMCID: PMC8176235 DOI: 10.7150/jca.56779] [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: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The hotspot regulatory region mutations of the TERT, PLEKHS1 and GPR126 genes have been shown to occur frequently in urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC). However, it is currently unclear whether these mutations are all present in upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC) including renal pelvic carcinoma (RPC) and ureter carcinoma (UC), although TERT promoter mutations were previously observed in these malignancies. Methods: The hotspot mutations of TERT and PLEKHS1 promoters and GPR126 intron 6 (enhancer) in tumors derived from 164 patients with UTUC were determined using Sanger sequencing, and the obtained results were further compared with the mutation frequency in 106 UBCs. The mutations were also assessed in urine from patients with UTUC and UBC. Results: The mutation frequencies in UTUC tumors were 28%, 5.8% and 11% for TERT and PLEKHS1 promoters and GPR126 intron 6, respectively, which were lower than those (44.3%, 26.4%, and 31.4%, respectively) in UBCs. The total frequencies for the presence of any of these mutations were 50.8% and 34.4% for RPCs and UCs, respectively. All these mutated DNA sequences were detectable in urine from both UTUC and UBC patients and disappeared rapidly in most patients after surgery. Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that the hotspot mutations in the TERT, PLEKHS1 and GPR126 non-coding regions are present in UTUCs, and that urinary assays of these mutated sequences serve as potential biomarkers for UTUC diagnostics and disease monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangling Xing
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinsk Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiaotian Yuan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinsk Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tiantian Liu
- Pathology Department, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Mingkai Dai
- Central Research Laboratory, the Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, PR China
| | - Yidong Fan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Klas Strååt
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinsk Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus Björkholm
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinsk Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dawei Xu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinsk Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
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Wang WL, Gokgoz N, Samman B, Andrulis IL, Wunder JS, Demicco EG. RNA expression profiling reveals PRAME, a potential immunotherapy target, is frequently expressed in solitary fibrous tumors. Mod Pathol 2021; 34:951-960. [PMID: 33009490 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-020-00687-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Solitary fibrous tumors are a type of translocation-associated sarcoma with up to 30% rates of metastasis and poor response to conventional chemotherapy. Other translocation-associated sarcomas have been shown to display elevated expression of various cancer-testis antigens which may render them susceptible to immunotherapy strategies such as cancer vaccines and adoptive T-cell therapy. After an RNA sequencing assay brought the cancer-testis antigen Preferentially Expressed Antigen In Melanoma (PRAME) to our attention as possibly being upregulated in aggressive TERT promoter-mutated solitary fibrous tumors, we used tissue microarrays to asses PRAME expression in a large series of previously characterized solitary fibrous tumors, with correlation to various clinicopathologic features, as well as with tumor-infiltrating macrophages and the associated signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα)-CD47 regulatory checkpoint. We found that PRAME was expressed in 165/180 solitary fibrous tumors, with high expression seen in 58%, irrespective of TERT promoter status. Elevated PRAME expression was more frequent in primary intrathoracic solitary fibrous tumors and correlated with older age at primary diagnosis. Elevated PRAME was also associated with features suggestive of immune evasion, including lower numbers of antigen-presenting CD163+ and CD68+ macrophages, and expression of the "don't eat me" receptor CD47 on tumor cells. Taken together, these features suggest that strategies targeting PRAME with or without concomitant SIRPα-CD47 axis inhibition may represent a potential future therapeutic option in aggressive solitary fibrous tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Lien Wang
- Departments of Pathology & Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nalan Gokgoz
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bana Samman
- Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Irene L Andrulis
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jay S Wunder
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada.,University of Toronto Musculoskeletal Oncology Unit, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth G Demicco
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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47
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Telomerase in Brain: The New Kid on the Block and Its Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9050490. [PMID: 33946850 PMCID: PMC8145691 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase is an enzyme that in its canonical function extends and maintains telomeres, the ends of chromosomes. This reverse transcriptase function is mainly important for dividing cells that shorten their telomeres continuously. However, there are a number of telomere-independent functions known for the telomerase protein TERT (Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase). This includes the shuttling of the TERT protein from the nucleus to mitochondria where it decreases oxidative stress, apoptosis sensitivity and DNA damage. Recently, evidence has accumulated on a protective role of TERT in brain and postmitotic neurons. This function might be able to ameliorate the effects of toxic proteins such as amyloid-β, pathological tau and α-synuclein involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the protective mechanisms of TERT are not clear yet. Recently, an activation of autophagy as an important protein degradation process for toxic neuronal proteins by TERT has been described. This review summarises the current knowledge about the non-canonical role of the telomerase protein TERT in brain and shows its potential benefit for the amelioration of brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and PD. This might form the basis for the development of novel strategies and therapies against those diseases.
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Kato T, Nakamori M, Matsumura S, Nakamura M, Ojima T, Fukuhara H, Ino Y, Todo T, Yamaue H. Oncolytic virotherapy with human telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter regulation enhances cytotoxic effects against gastric cancer. Oncol Lett 2021; 21:490. [PMID: 33968206 PMCID: PMC8100961 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, gastric cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Oncolytic virotherapy using herpes simplex virus (HSV) has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy against cancer. Telomerase is activated in >90of malignant tumors, including gastric cancer, and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is one of the major components of telomerase enzyme. Therefore, in oncolytic HSV, placing the essential genes under the regulation of the hTERT promoter may enhance its antitumor efficacy. The present study examined the antitumor effect of fourth-generation oncolytic HSVs, which contain the ICP6 gene under the regulation of the hTERT promoter (T-hTERT). To examine the association between hTERT expression and prognosis in patients with gastric cancer, immunohistochemical analysis of resected tumor specimens was performed. The enhanced efficacy of T-hTERT was determined in human gastric cancer cell lines in vitro and in human gastric adenocarcinoma specimens in vivo. In in vitro experiments, enhanced cytotoxicity of T-hTERT was observed in MKN1, MKN28 and MKN45 cells compared with that of a third-generation oncolytic HSV, T-null. In particular, the cytotoxicity of T-hTERT was markedly enhanced in MKN45 cells. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that 36.7 and 54.9% of cells were found to be lysed 48 h after infection with T-null or T-hTERT viruses at 0.01 pfu/cell, respectively. The T-hTERT-treated group exhibited considerably lower cell viability than the control [phosphate-buffered saline (-)] group. Therefore, employing oncolytic HSVs that contain the ICP6 gene under the regulation of the hTERT promoter may be an effective therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer. To the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to describe the effect of an oncolytic HSV with ICP6 expression regulated by the hTERT promoter on gastric cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kato
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan
| | - Mikihito Nakamori
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan
| | - Shuichi Matsumura
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan
| | - Masaki Nakamura
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan
| | - Toshiyasu Ojima
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Fukuhara
- Department of Urology, Kyorin University, School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan
| | - Yasushi Ino
- Division of Innovative Cancer Therapy, The Advanced Clinical Research Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Tomoki Todo
- Division of Innovative Cancer Therapy, The Advanced Clinical Research Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yamaue
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan
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Behrooz AB, Syahir A. Could We Address the Interplay Between CD133, Wnt/β-Catenin, and TERT Signaling Pathways as a Potential Target for Glioblastoma Therapy? Front Oncol 2021; 11:642719. [PMID: 33869033 PMCID: PMC8047678 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.642719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most lethal forms of primary brain tumors. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) play an undeniable role in tumor development by activating multiple signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT/mTOR that facilitate brain tumor formation. CD133, a transmembrane glycoprotein, has been used to classify cancer stem cells (CSCs) in GBM. The therapeutic value of CD133 is a biomarker of the CSC in multiple cancers. It also leads to growth and recurrence of the tumor. More recent findings have confirmed the association of telomerase/TERT with Wnt/β-catenin and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. Advance studies have shown that crosstalk between CD133, Wnt/β-catenin, and telomerase/TERT can facilitate GBM stemness and lead to therapeutic resistance. Mechanistic insight into signaling mechanisms downstream of surface biomarkers has been revolutionized by facilitating targeting of tumor-specific molecular deregulation. This review also addresses the importance of interplay between CD133, Wnt/β-catenin and TERT signaling pathways in GSCs and outlines the future therapeutic goals for glioblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Barzegar Behrooz
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Amir Syahir
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
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SUMO E3 ligase CBX4 regulates hTERT-mediated transcription of CDH1 and promotes breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Biochem J 2021; 477:3803-3818. [PMID: 32926159 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
hTERT, the catalytic component of the human telomerase enzyme, is regulated by post-translational modifications, like phosphorylation and ubiquitination by multiple proteins which remarkably affects the overall activity of the enzyme. Here we report that hTERT gets SUMOylated by SUMO1 and polycomb protein CBX4 acts as the SUMO E3 ligase of hTERT. hTERT SUMOylation positively regulates its telomerase activity which can be inhibited by SENP3-mediated deSUMOylation. Interestingly, we have established a new role of hTERT SUMOylation in the repression of E-cadherin gene expression and consequent triggering on the epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) program in breast cancer cells. We also observed that catalytically active CBX4, leads to retention of hTERT/ZEB1 complex onto E-cadherin promoter leading to its repression through hTERT-SUMOylation. Further through wound healing and invasion assays in breast cancer cells, we showed the tumor promoting ability of hTERT was significantly compromised upon overexpression of SUMO-defective mutant of hTERT. Thus our findings establish a new post-translational modification of hTERT which on one hand is involved in telomerase activity maintenance and on the other hand plays a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression thereby promoting migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.
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