1
|
Wang H, Zhang L, Hu C, Li H, Jiang M. Wnt signaling and tumors (Review). Mol Clin Oncol 2024; 21:45. [PMID: 38798312 PMCID: PMC11117032 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2024.2743] [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: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling is a highly conserved evolutionary pathway that plays a key role in regulation of embryonic development, as well as tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Abnormalities in Wnt signaling are associated with tumorigenesis and development, leading to poor prognosis in patients with cancer. However, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms underlying Wnt signaling and its inhibition in cancer treatment remain unclear. In addition, potential side effects of inhibiting this process are not well understood. Therefore, the present review outlines the role of Wnt signaling in tumorigenesis, development, metastasis, cancer stem cells, radiotherapy resistance and tumor immunity. The present review further identifies inhibitors that target Wnt signaling to provide a potential novel direction for cancer treatment. This may facilitate early application of safe and effective drugs targeting Wnt signaling in clinical settings. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying inhibition of Wnt signaling may improve the prognosis of patients with cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huaishi Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| | - Lihai Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| | - Chao Hu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| | - Mingyan Jiang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gao C, Ge H, Kuan SF, Cai C, Lu X, Esni F, Schoen RE, Wang JH, Chu E, Hu J. FAK loss reduces BRAF V600E-induced ERK phosphorylation to promote intestinal stemness and cecal tumor formation. eLife 2024; 13:RP94605. [PMID: 38921956 PMCID: PMC11208045 DOI: 10.7554/elife.94605] [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] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BRAFV600E mutation is a driver mutation in the serrated pathway to colorectal cancers. BRAFV600E drives tumorigenesis through constitutive downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, but high-intensity ERK activation can also trigger tumor suppression. Whether and how oncogenic ERK signaling can be intrinsically adjusted to a 'just-right' level optimal for tumorigenesis remains undetermined. In this study, we found that FAK (Focal adhesion kinase) expression was reduced in BRAFV600E-mutant adenomas/polyps in mice and patients. In Vil1-Cre;BRAFLSL-V600E/+;Ptk2fl/fl mice, Fak deletion maximized BRAFV600E's oncogenic activity and increased cecal tumor incidence to 100%. Mechanistically, our results showed that Fak loss, without jeopardizing BRAFV600E-induced ERK pathway transcriptional output, reduced EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)-dependent ERK phosphorylation. Reduction in ERK phosphorylation increased the level of Lgr4, promoting intestinal stemness and cecal tumor formation. Our findings show that a 'just-right' ERK signaling optimal for BRAFV600E-induced cecal tumor formation can be achieved via Fak loss-mediated downregulation of ERK phosphorylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghUnited States
| | - Huaibin Ge
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Shih-Fan Kuan
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghUnited States
| | - Chunhui Cai
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Xinghua Lu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Farzad Esni
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghUnited States
| | - Robert E Schoen
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghUnited States
| | - Jing H Wang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Edward Chu
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Jing Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gonzalez-Cárdenas M, Treviño V. The Impact of Mutational Hotspots on Cancer Survival. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1072. [PMID: 38473427 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16051072] [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: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cofactors, biomarkers, and the mutational status of genes such as TP53, EGFR, IDH1/2, or PIK3CA have been used for patient stratification. However, many genes exhibit recurrent mutational positions known as hotspots, specifically linked to varying degrees of survival outcomes. Nevertheless, few hotspots have been analyzed (e.g., TP53 and EGFR). Thus, many other genes and hotspots remain unexplored. METHODS We systematically screened over 1400 hotspots across 33 TCGA cancer types. We compared the patients carrying a hotspot against (i) all cases, (ii) gene-mutated cases, (iii) other mutated hotspots, or (iv) specific hotspots. Due to the limited number of samples in hotspots and the inherent group imbalance, besides Cox models and the log-rank test, we employed VALORATE to estimate their association with survival precisely. RESULTS We screened 1469 hotspots in 6451 comparisons, where 314 were associated with survival. Many are discussed and linked to the current literature. Our findings demonstrate associations between known hotspots and survival while also revealing more potential hotspots. To enhance accessibility and promote further investigation, all the Kaplan-Meier curves, the log-rank tests, Cox statistics, and VALORATE-estimated null distributions are accessible on our website. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis revealed both known and putatively novel hotspots associated with survival, which can be used as biomarkers. Our web resource is a valuable tool for cancer research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Gonzalez-Cárdenas
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Ave. Morones Prieto 3000, Monterrey 64710, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, The Institute for Obesity Research, Eugenio Garza Sada Avenue 2501, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Víctor Treviño
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Ave. Morones Prieto 3000, Monterrey 64710, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, The Institute for Obesity Research, Eugenio Garza Sada Avenue 2501, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, oriGen Project, Eugenio Garza Sada Avenue 2501, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Saberi F, Youssef O, Kokkola A, Khodadoostan M, Puolakkainen P, Salehi R, Knuutila S. The frequency of NRAS mutation in stool samples of Iranian colorectal cancers compared to Finnish patients. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF ISFAHAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2024; 29:4. [PMID: 38524743 PMCID: PMC10956560 DOI: 10.4103/jrms.jrms_208_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Background Stools from colorectal cancer patients are noninvasive samples that could be used to compare the frequency of hotspot mutations between two different ethnic cohorts. Materials and Methods We collected stool samples from the Iranian cohort (52 patients and 49 controls) and the Finnish cohort (40 patients and 14 controls). Following stool DNA extraction, we used the AmpliSeq Colon and Lung Cancer panel to prepare DNA libraries before sequencing. Results The Iranian cohort exhibited 35 hotspot mutations in the BRAF, ERBB4, FBXW7, FGFR1, FGFR3, KRAS, MAP2K, MET, NRAS, PIK3C, SMAD4, and TP53 genes. In the Finnish cohort, 13 hotspot mutations were found in the AKT1, APC, KIT, KRAS, SMO, STK11, and TP53 genes. Mutations in NRAS and FGFR3 were observed only in the Iranian cohort, while APC mutations were exclusive for the Finnish cohort. Conclusion Genes involved in MAPK and PI3K-MAPK pathways showed a higher frequency of mutations in Iranian patients which may have therapeutic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farideh Saberi
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Omar Youssef
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, Europe
- Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland, Europe
| | - Arto Kokkola
- The HUCH Gastrointestinal Clinic, University Central Hospital of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, Europe
| | - Mahsa Khodadoostan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Pauli Puolakkainen
- The HUCH Gastrointestinal Clinic, University Central Hospital of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, Europe
| | - Rasoul Salehi
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Pediatric Inherited Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sakari Knuutila
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, Europe
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gao C, Ge H, Kuan SF, Cai C, Lu X, Esni F, Schoen R, Wang J, Chu E, Hu J. FAK loss reduces BRAF V600E-induced ERK phosphorylation to promote intestinal stemness and cecal tumor formation. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-2531119. [PMID: 36778401 PMCID: PMC9915899 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2531119/v2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
BRAF V600E mutation is a driver mutation in the serrated pathway to colorectal cancers. BRAFV600E drives tumorigenesis through constitutive downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, but high-intensity ERK activation can also trigger tumor suppression. Whether and how oncogenic ERK signaling can be intrinsically adjusted to a "just-right" level optimal for tumorigenesis remains undetermined. In this study, we found that FAK (Focal adhesion kinase) expression was reduced in BRAFV600E-mutant adenomas/polyps in mice and patients. In Vill-Cre;BRAFV600E/+;Fakfl/fl mice, Fak deletion maximized BRAFV600E's oncogenic activity and increased cecal tumor incidence to 100%. Mechanistically, our results showed that Fak loss, without jeopardizing BRAFV600E-induced ERK pathway transcriptional output, reduced EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)-dependent ERK phosphorylation. Reduction in ERK phosphorylation increased the level of Lgr4, promoting intestinal stemness and cecal tumor formation. Our findings show that a "just-right" ERK signaling optimal for BRAFV600E-induced cecal tumor formation can be achieved via Fak loss-mediated downregulation of ERK phosphorylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jing Wang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center/University of Pittsburgh
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gao C, Ge H, Kuan SF, Cai C, Lu X, Esni F, Schoen R, Wang J, Chu E, Hu J. FAK loss reduces BRAF V600E-induced ERK phosphorylation to promote intestinal stemness and cecal tumor formation. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-2531119. [PMID: 36778401 PMCID: PMC9915899 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2531119/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BRAF V600E mutation is a driver mutation in the serrated pathway to colorectal cancers. BRAFV600E drives tumorigenesis through constitutive downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, but high-intensity ERK activation can also trigger tumor suppression. Whether and how oncogenic ERK signaling can be intrinsically adjusted to a "just-right" level optimal for tumorigenesis remains undetermined. In this study, we found that FAK (Focal adhesion kinase) expression was reduced in BRAFV600E-mutant adenomas/polyps in mice and patients. In Vill-Cre;BRAFV600E/+;Fakfl/fl mice, Fak deletion maximized BRAFV600E's oncogenic activity and increased cecal tumor incidence to 100%. Mechanistically, our results showed that Fak loss, without jeopardizing BRAFV600E-induced ERK pathway transcriptional output, reduced EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)-dependent ERK phosphorylation. Reduction in ERK phosphorylation increased the level of Lgr4, promoting intestinal stemness and cecal tumor formation. Our findings show that a "just-right" ERK signaling optimal for BRAFV600E-induced cecal tumor formation can be achieved via Fak loss-mediated downregulation of ERK phosphorylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jing Wang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center/University of Pittsburgh
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
McGowan KP, Delgado E, Keeley TM, Hibdon ES, Turgeon DK, Stoffel EM, Samuelson LC. Region-specific Wnt signaling responses promote gastric polyp formation in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e174546. [PMID: 37943618 PMCID: PMC10896006 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.174546] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Germline adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) mutation in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) promotes gastrointestinal polyposis, including the formation of frequent gastric fundic gland polyps (FGPs). In this study, we investigated how dysregulated Wnt signaling promotes FGPs and why they localize to the corpus region of the stomach. We developed a biobank of FGP and surrounding nonpolyp corpus biopsies and organoids from patients with FAP for comparative studies. Polyp biopsies and polyp-derived organoids exhibited enhanced Wnt target gene expression. Polyp-derived organoids with intrinsically upregulated Wnt signaling showed poor tolerance to further induction, suggesting that high Wnt restricts growth. Targeted genomic sequencing revealed that most gastric polyps did not arise via APC loss of heterozygosity. Studies in genetic mouse models demonstrated that heterozygous Apc loss increased epithelial cell proliferation in the corpus but not the antrum, while homozygous Apc loss was not maintained in the corpus yet induced hyperproliferation in the antrum. Our findings suggest that heterozygous APC mutation in patients with FAP may be sufficient to drive polyp formation in the corpus region while subsequent loss of heterozygosity to further enhance Wnt signaling is not tolerated. This finding contextualizes the abundant yet benign nature of gastric polyps in FAP patient corpus compared with the rare, yet adenomatous polyps in the antrum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - D Kim Turgeon
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elena M Stoffel
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Linda C Samuelson
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wood KC. Hyperactivation of oncogenic driver pathways as a precision therapeutic strategy. Nat Genet 2023; 55:1613-1614. [PMID: 37749245 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01493-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kris C Wood
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chang L, Jung NY, Atari A, Rodriguez DJ, Kesar D, Song TY, Rees MG, Ronan M, Li R, Ruiz P, Chaturantabut S, Ito T, van Tienen LM, Tseng YY, Roth JA, Sellers WR. Systematic profiling of conditional pathway activation identifies context-dependent synthetic lethalities. Nat Genet 2023; 55:1709-1720. [PMID: 37749246 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01515-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
The paradigm of cancer-targeted therapies has focused largely on inhibition of critical pathways in cancer. Conversely, conditional activation of signaling pathways as a new source of selective cancer vulnerabilities has not been deeply characterized. In this study, we sought to systematically identify context-specific gene-activation-induced lethalities in cancer. To this end, we developed a method for gain-of-function genetic perturbations simultaneously across ~500 barcoded cancer cell lines. Using this approach, we queried the pan-cancer vulnerability landscape upon activating ten key pathway nodes, revealing selective activation dependencies of MAPK and PI3K pathways associated with specific biomarkers. Notably, we discovered new pathway hyperactivation dependencies in subsets of APC-mutant colorectal cancers where further activation of the WNT pathway by APC knockdown or direct β-catenin overexpression led to robust antitumor effects in xenograft and patient-derived organoid models. Together, this study reveals a new class of conditional gene-activation dependencies in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chang
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nancy Y Jung
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Adel Atari
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Devishi Kesar
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tian-Yu Song
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Melissa Ronan
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ruitong Li
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Paloma Ruiz
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Saireudee Chaturantabut
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Takahiro Ito
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Laurens M van Tienen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuen-Yi Tseng
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - William R Sellers
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
LIM SUNGHEE, CHO HEEJIN, KIM KYOUNGMEE, LIM HOYEONG, KANG WONKI, LEE JEEYUN, PARK YOUNGSUK, KIM HEECHEOL, KIM SEUNGTAE. Comprehensive molecular analysis to predict the efficacy of chemotherapy containing bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Oncol Res 2023; 31:855-866. [PMID: 37744267 PMCID: PMC10513961 DOI: 10.32604/or.2023.030374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although bevacizumab is an important treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), not all patients with CRC benefit from it; in unselected patient populations, only modest survival benefits have been reported. Methods We evaluated clinical outcomes in 110 patients using comprehensive molecular characterization to identify biomarkers for a response to bevacizumab-containing treatment. The molecular analysis comprised whole-exome sequencing, ribonucleic acid sequencing, and a methylation array on patient tissues. Results Genomic and molecular characterization was successfully conducted in 103 patients. Six of 103 CRC samples were hypermutated, and none of the non-hypermutant tumors were microsatellite unstable. Among those 103 patients, 89 had adenocarcinoma (ADC), 15 were diagnosed with mucinous ADC, and six had signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC). Consensus molecular subtype (CMS) 2 was unique to ADC. Of the four SRCCs, two were CMS1, one was CMS4, and the other was CMS3. APC mutation status was a significantly enriched factor in responders to bevacizumab treatment. Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 1/2 signaling was upregulated in non-responders, whereas cell cycle, transfer ribonucleic acid processing, nucleotide excision repair, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways were enriched in responders. In addition, IGF1 was differentially expressed in non-responders (log2 fold change = -1.43, p = 4.11 × 10-5, false discovery rate = 0.098), and FLT1 was highly methylated in non-responders (p = 7.55 × 10-3). When the molecular pathways were reanalyzed separately according to the backbone chemotherapy (FOLFOX vs. FOLFIRI), the significance of the molecular pathways varied according to the backbone chemotherapy. Conclusions This study sought a subset of CRC patients with a distinct clinical response to chemotherapy containing bevacizumab. Our results need to be validated in a large group of homogenous patient cohort and examined according to the different chemotherapy backbones to create personalized therapeutic opportunities in CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- SUNG HEE LIM
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - HEE JIN CHO
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
- Precision Medicine Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Convergence Science and Technology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Korea
| | - KYOUNG-MEE KIM
- Department of Pathology and Translational Genomics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - HO YEONG LIM
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - WON KI KANG
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - JEEYUN LEE
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - YOUNG SUK PARK
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - HEE CHEOL KIM
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - SEUNG TAE KIM
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Manirakiza F, Rutaganda E, Yamada H, Iwashita Y, Rugwizangoga B, Seminega B, Dusabejambo V, Ntakirutimana G, Ruhangaza D, Uwineza A, Shinmura K, Sugimura H. Clinicopathological Characteristics and Mutational Landscape of APC, HOXB13, and KRAS among Rwandan Patients with Colorectal Cancer. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:4359-4374. [PMID: 37232746 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45050277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer research in Rwanda is estimated to be less than 1% of the total African cancer research output with limited research on colorectal cancer (CRC). Rwandan patients with CRC are young, with more females being affected than males, and most patients present with advanced disease. Considering the paucity of oncological genetic studies in this population, we investigated the mutational status of CRC tissues, focusing on the Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS), and Homeobox B13 (HOXB13) genes. Our aim was to determine whether there were any differences between Rwandan patients and other populations. To do so, we performed Sanger sequencing of the DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded adenocarcinoma samples from 54 patients (mean age: 60 years). Most tumors were located in the rectum (83.3%), and 92.6% of the tumors were low-grade. Most patients (70.4%) reported never smoking, and 61.1% of patients had consumed alcohol. We identified 27 variants of APC, including 3 novel mutations (c.4310_4319delAAACACCTCC, c.4463_4470delinsA, and c.4506_4507delT). All three novel mutations are classified as deleterious by MutationTaster2021. We found four synonymous variants (c.330C>A, c.366C>T, c.513T>C, and c.735G>A) of HOXB13. For KRAS, we found six variants (Asp173, Gly13Asp, Gly12Ala, Gly12Asp, Gly12Val, and Gln61His), the last four of which are pathogenic. In conclusion, here we contribute new genetic variation data and provide clinicopathological information pertinent to CRC in Rwanda.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Manirakiza
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 3286, Rwanda
- Department of Pathology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali P.O. Box 655, Rwanda
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-Ku, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
| | - Eric Rutaganda
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali P.O. Box 655, Rwanda
| | - Hidetaka Yamada
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-Ku, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
| | - Yuji Iwashita
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-Ku, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
| | - Belson Rugwizangoga
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 3286, Rwanda
- Department of Pathology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali P.O. Box 655, Rwanda
| | - Benoit Seminega
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali P.O. Box 655, Rwanda
| | - Vincent Dusabejambo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali P.O. Box 655, Rwanda
| | - Gervais Ntakirutimana
- Department of Pathology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali P.O. Box 655, Rwanda
| | | | - Annette Uwineza
- Department of Pathology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali P.O. Box 655, Rwanda
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 3286, Rwanda
| | - Kazuya Shinmura
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-Ku, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Sugimura
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-Ku, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
- Sasaki Institute Sasaki Foundation, 2-2 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Huang W, Li W, Xu N, Li H, Zhang Z, Zhang X, He T, Yao J, Xu M, He Q, Guo L, Zhang S. Differences in DNA damage repair gene mutations between left- and right-sided colorectal cancer. Cancer Med 2023; 12:10187-10198. [PMID: 37096801 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Studies have shown that the DNA damage response (DDR) mutation is strongly associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) status and is an indication for patients with CRCs receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. However, DDR mutation in microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC remains unclear. METHODS In this study, Fisher's exact test, Student'st-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Cox proportional hazards regression model were performed, and a p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The most common gene alterations were APC (77%), TP53 (73%), KRAS (48%), and PIK3CA (25%). The mutationfrequency of APC and TP53 in left-sided CRC was significantly higher than that for right-sided CRC, while the mutation frequency of PIK3CA, ACVR2A, FAT4, and RNF43 in right-sided CRC was significantly higher than that for left-sided CRC. DDR mutations occurred in100% of MSI CRCs and in 83.77% of MSS CRCs, with the most frequently mutated DDR genes being ARID1A (7.5%), ATM (5.7%,) and BRCA2 (2.6%). When right- and left-sided CRCs were compared, no significant difference was observed for DDR genes and pathways. A survival analysis indicated that the DDR mutation was not associated with overall survival (OS) in MSS CRCs, while left-sided patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway mutations had a significantly prolonged OS compared with right-sided CRCs. CONCLUSIONS Here, we found that stage and grade were statistically significant independent prognostic factors in the left-sided CRC and the right-sided CRC, recommending treatment for these patients stratified by stage. For the future, utilizing DDR gene defects for expanding treatment options and improving prognosis is an issue worth exploring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- Department of Colorectal & Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Wenliang Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Yunnan, China
| | - Ning Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Colorectal & Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Department of Colorectal & Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaolong Zhang
- Department of Colorectal & Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | | | | | - Mian Xu
- Shanghai OrigiMed Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Lijie Guo
- Shanghai OrigiMed Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Sen Zhang
- Department of Colorectal & Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Groenewald W, Lund AH, Gay DM. The Role of WNT Pathway Mutations in Cancer Development and an Overview of Therapeutic Options. Cells 2023; 12:cells12070990. [PMID: 37048063 PMCID: PMC10093220 DOI: 10.3390/cells12070990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that mutations in the canonical WNT-signalling pathway play a major role in various cancers. Critical to developing new therapeutic strategies is understanding which cancers are driven by WNT pathway activation and at what level these mutations occur within the pathway. Some cancers harbour mutations in genes whose protein products operate at the receptor level of the WNT pathway. For instance, tumours with RNF43 or RSPO mutations, still require exogenous WNT ligands to drive WNT signalling (ligand-dependent mutations). Conversely, mutations within the cytoplasmic segment of the Wnt pathway, such as in APC and CTNNB1, lead to constitutive WNT pathway activation even in the absence of WNT ligands (ligand-independent). Here, we review the predominant driving mutations found in cancer that lead to WNT pathway activation, as well as explore some of the therapeutic interventions currently available against tumours harbouring either ligand-dependent or ligand-independent mutations. Finally, we discuss a potentially new therapeutic avenue by targeting the translational apparatus downstream from WNT signalling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wibke Groenewald
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders H Lund
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Michael Gay
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Fleischer JR, Schmitt AM, Haas G, Xu X, Zeisberg EM, Bohnenberger H, Küffer S, Teuwen LA, Karras PJ, Beißbarth T, Bleckmann A, Planque M, Fendt SM, Vermeulen P, Ghadimi M, Kalucka J, De Oliveira T, Conradi LC. Molecular differences of angiogenic versus vessel co-opting colorectal cancer liver metastases at single-cell resolution. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:17. [PMID: 36691028 PMCID: PMC9872436 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01713-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) are associated with a poor prognosis, reflected by a five-year survival rate of 14%. Anti-angiogenic therapy through anti-VEGF antibody administration is one of the limited therapies available. However, only a subgroup of metastases uses sprouting angiogenesis to secure their nutrients and oxygen supply, while others rely on vessel co-option (VCO). The distinct mode of vascularization is reflected by specific histopathological growth patterns (HGPs), which have proven prognostic and predictive significance. Nevertheless, their molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. METHODS We evaluated CRCLM from 225 patients regarding their HGP and clinical data. Moreover, we performed spatial (21,804 spots) and single-cell (22,419 cells) RNA sequencing analyses to explore molecular differences in detail, further validated in vitro through immunohistochemical analysis and patient-derived organoid cultures. RESULTS We detected specific metabolic alterations and a signature of WNT signalling activation in metastatic cancer cells related to the VCO phenotype. Importantly, in the corresponding healthy liver of CRCLM displaying sprouting angiogenesis, we identified a predominantly expressed capillary subtype of endothelial cells, which could be further explored as a possible predictor for HGP relying on sprouting angiogenesis. CONCLUSION These findings may prove to be novel therapeutic targets to the treatment of CRCLM, in special the ones relying on VCO.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Robert Fleischer
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Maria Schmitt
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gwendolyn Haas
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xingbo Xu
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Maria Zeisberg
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hanibal Bohnenberger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Küffer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Laure-Anne Teuwen
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Philipp Johannes Karras
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of General- and Visceral Surgery, Raphaelsklinik Münster, Loerstraße 23, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Tim Beißbarth
- Department of Medical Bioinformatics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annalen Bleckmann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Mélanie Planque
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah-Maria Fendt
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Vermeulen
- Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals, Sint-Augustinus, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Michael Ghadimi
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joanna Kalucka
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergsgade 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tiago De Oliveira
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lena-Christin Conradi
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sin SH, Yoon JH, Kim SW, Park WS, Chae HS. A Case of Sporadic Multiple Colonic Polyps in a Young Woman. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:1293-1299. [PMID: 36826061 PMCID: PMC9955090 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30020100] [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: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporadic colorectal cancer arises from an adenoma. As mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene have been frequently detected in colorectal adenomas, the APC gene is considered a gatekeeper in colorectal carcinogenesis. Here, we report a case of sporadic multiple colonic adenomas that were accompanied by an APC-truncating mutation. A 25-year-old Korean woman presented with dozens of incidentally found colonic polyps. There was no family history of colorectal polyposis or colon cancer in her first or second-degree relatives. All the polyps were removed endoscopically at once, and their pathological examination revealed tubular adenoma. Mutational analysis showed a 2-bp deletion mutation at codon 443, which generates a premature stop codon at codon 461 of the APC gene, and Western blot analysis demonstrated both wild-type and truncated APC proteins in adenoma tissue. This study suggests that a single truncating mutation of the APC gene may initiate adenoma formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seung Ho Sin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, 271, Cheonbo-ro, Uijeongbu-si 11765, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hwan Yoon
- Department of Pathology and Functional RNomics Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Woo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, 271, Cheonbo-ro, Uijeongbu-si 11765, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Sang Park
- Department of Pathology and Functional RNomics Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (W.S.P.); (H.S.C.)
| | - Hiun Suk Chae
- Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, 271, Cheonbo-ro, Uijeongbu-si 11765, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (W.S.P.); (H.S.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Parmar S, Easwaran H. Genetic and epigenetic dependencies in colorectal cancer development. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf) 2022; 10:goac035. [PMID: 35975243 PMCID: PMC9373935 DOI: 10.1093/gastro/goac035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have mapped key genetic changes in colorectal cancer (CRC) that impact important pathways contributing to the multistep models for CRC initiation and development. In parallel with genetic changes, normal and cancer tissues harbor epigenetic alterations impacting regulation of critical genes that have been shown to play profound roles in the tumor initiation. Cumulatively, these molecular changes are only loosely associated with heterogenous transcriptional programs, reflecting the heterogeneity in the various CRC molecular subtypes and the paths to CRC development. Studies from mapping molecular alterations in early CRC lesions and use of experimental models suggest that the intricate dependencies of various genetic and epigenetic hits shape the early development of CRC via different pathways and its manifestation into various CRC subtypes. We highlight the dependency of epigenetic and genetic changes in driving CRC development and discuss factors affecting epigenetic alterations over time and, by extension, risk for cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sehej Parmar
- Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hariharan Easwaran
- Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Joanito I, Wirapati P, Zhao N, Nawaz Z, Yeo G, Lee F, Eng CLP, Macalinao DC, Kahraman M, Srinivasan H, Lakshmanan V, Verbandt S, Tsantoulis P, Gunn N, Venkatesh PN, Poh ZW, Nahar R, Oh HLJ, Loo JM, Chia S, Cheow LF, Cheruba E, Wong MT, Kua L, Chua C, Nguyen A, Golovan J, Gan A, Lim WJ, Guo YA, Yap CK, Tay B, Hong Y, Chong DQ, Chok AY, Park WY, Han S, Chang MH, Seow-En I, Fu C, Mathew R, Toh EL, Hong LZ, Skanderup AJ, DasGupta R, Ong CAJ, Lim KH, Tan EKW, Koo SL, Leow WQ, Tejpar S, Prabhakar S, Tan IB. Single-cell and bulk transcriptome sequencing identifies two epithelial tumor cell states and refines the consensus molecular classification of colorectal cancer. Nat Genet 2022; 54:963-975. [PMID: 35773407 PMCID: PMC9279158 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01100-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The consensus molecular subtype (CMS) classification of colorectal cancer is based on bulk transcriptomics. The underlying epithelial cell diversity remains unclear. We analyzed 373,058 single-cell transcriptomes from 63 patients, focusing on 49,155 epithelial cells. We identified a pervasive genetic and transcriptomic dichotomy of malignant cells, based on distinct gene expression, DNA copy number and gene regulatory network. We recapitulated these subtypes in bulk transcriptomes from 3,614 patients. The two intrinsic subtypes, iCMS2 and iCMS3, refine CMS. iCMS3 comprises microsatellite unstable (MSI-H) cancers and one-third of microsatellite-stable (MSS) tumors. iCMS3 MSS cancers are transcriptomically more similar to MSI-H cancers than to other MSS cancers. CMS4 cancers had either iCMS2 or iCMS3 epithelium; the latter had the worst prognosis. We defined the intrinsic epithelial axis of colorectal cancer and propose a refined ‘IMF’ classification with five subtypes, combining intrinsic epithelial subtype (I), microsatellite instability status (M) and fibrosis (F). A single-cell transcriptomic analysis of 63 patients with colorectal cancer classifies tumor cells into two epithelial subtypes. An improved tumor classification based on epithelial subtype, microsatellite stability and fibrosis reveals differences in pathway activation and metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ignasius Joanito
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pratyaksha Wirapati
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nancy Zhao
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zahid Nawaz
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Grace Yeo
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fiona Lee
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Christine L P Eng
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Merve Kahraman
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Harini Srinivasan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Sara Verbandt
- Molecular Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Petros Tsantoulis
- Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland.,University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Gunn
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Prasanna Nori Venkatesh
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhong Wee Poh
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rahul Nahar
- MSD International GmbH (Singapore Branch), Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Jia Min Loo
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shumei Chia
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Elsie Cheruba
- National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Lindsay Kua
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Anna Gan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan-Jun Lim
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yu Amanda Guo
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Choon Kong Yap
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Brenda Tay
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yourae Hong
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dawn Qingqing Chong
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Aik-Yong Chok
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Woong-Yang Park
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Shuting Han
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mei Huan Chang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Isaac Seow-En
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cherylin Fu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ronnie Mathew
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ee-Lin Toh
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,EL Toh Colorectal & Minimally Invasive Surgery, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lewis Z Hong
- MSD International GmbH (Singapore Branch), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anders Jacobsen Skanderup
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ramanuj DasGupta
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chin-Ann Johnny Ong
- Department of Sarcoma, Peritoneal and Rare Tumours (SPRinT), Division of Surgery and Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Sarcoma, Peritoneal and Rare Tumours (SPRinT), Division of Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,Laboratory of Applied Human Genetics, Division of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,SingHealth Duke-NUS Oncology Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,SingHealth Duke-NUS Surgery Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kiat Hon Lim
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Emile K W Tan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Si-Lin Koo
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei Qiang Leow
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sabine Tejpar
- Molecular Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Shyam Prabhakar
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Iain Beehuat Tan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore. .,National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore. .,Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Li J, Steffen P, Tse BCY, Ahadi MS, Gill AJ, Engel AF, Molloy MP. Deep Sequencing of Early T Stage Colorectal Cancers Reveals Disruption of Homologous Recombination Repair in Microsatellite Stable Tumours with High Mutational Burdens. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14122933. [PMID: 35740599 PMCID: PMC9221133 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122933] [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: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Early T stage colorectal cancers (CRC) that invade lymph nodes (Stage IIIA) are rare and greatly under-represented in large-scale genomic mapping projects. We retrieved 10 Stage IIIA CRC cases, matched these to 16 Stage 1 CRC cases (T1 depth without lymph node metastasis) and carried out deep sequencing of 409 genes using the IonTorrent system. Tumour mutational burdens (TMB) ranged from 2.4 to 77.2/Mb sequenced. No stage-related mutational differences were observed, consistent with reanalysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Stage I and IIIA datasets. We next examined mutational burdens and observed that the top five cancers were microsatellite stable (MSS) genotypes (mean TMB 49.3/Mb), while the other 16 MSS cancers had a mean TMB of 5.9/Mb. To facilitate comparison with TCGA hypermutator CRC, we included four microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) samples with the high mutation burden MSS cases to form a TMB-High group. Comparison of TMB-High with TMB-Low groups revealed differences in mutational frequency of ATM, ALK, NSD1, UBR5, BCL9, CARD11, KDM5C, MN1, PTPRT and PIK3CA, with ATM and UBR5 validated in reanalysis of TCGA hypermutator Stages I and IIIA samples. Variants in ATM were restricted to the TMB-High group, and in four of five MSS specimens, we observed the co-occurrence of mutations in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes in either two of ATM, CDK12, PTEN or ATR, with at least one of these being a likely pathogenic truncating mutation. No MSI-H specimens carried nonsense mutations in HRR genes. These findings add to our knowledge of early T stage CRC and highlight a potential therapeutic vulnerability in the HRR pathway of TMB-H MSS CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Laboratory, Kolling Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (J.L.); (P.S.); (B.C.Y.T.)
| | - Pascal Steffen
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Laboratory, Kolling Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (J.L.); (P.S.); (B.C.Y.T.)
| | - Benita C. Y. Tse
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Laboratory, Kolling Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (J.L.); (P.S.); (B.C.Y.T.)
| | - Mahsa S. Ahadi
- NSW Health Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.S.A.); (A.J.G.)
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Anthony J. Gill
- NSW Health Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.S.A.); (A.J.G.)
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Alexander F. Engel
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
- Colorectal Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Mark P. Molloy
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Laboratory, Kolling Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (J.L.); (P.S.); (B.C.Y.T.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Activating KRAS and GNAS mutations in heterotopic submucosal glands of the stomach. J Gastroenterol 2022; 57:333-343. [PMID: 35188590 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-022-01863-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The heterotopic submucosal gland (HSG) is a common incidental finding in gastrectomy specimens. The majority of HSGs are small incidental lesions, which are also known as gastritis cystica profunda. However, larger lesions may appear as an inverted growth of well-organized mucosa referred to as gastric inverted polyps. METHODS To determine whether genetic alterations are involved in HSG development, we analyzed 63 gastric HSG lesions using targeted next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Histologically, HSG lesions consistently had areas of pyloric gland differentiation with variable extent of foveolar differentiation. Although the background mucosa showed intestinal metaplasia in most cases (98%), intestinal-type epithelium was seen in only one HSG lesion (2%). Sequencing analysis identified activating KRAS, BRAF, CTNNB1, and GNAS mutations in 34 (54%), 1 (2%), 1 (2%), and 7 (11%) lesions, respectively. HSG lesions harboring a KRAS mutation were more likely to present extensive foveolar differentiation (P = 0.013) and absence of parietal cells (P = 0.0081). Five HSG lesions had a dysplastic component, and concordant genetic alterations were detected between the non-dysplastic and dysplastic areas of two lesions that were successfully analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated diffuse expression of mutant KRAS protein in lesions with the most common genetic alteration, KRAS G12D. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that a major proportion of HSGs were proliferative lesions associated with oncogenic mutations, with more than half of lesions harboring activating KRAS mutations.
Collapse
|
20
|
Abou-Fadel J, Bhalli M, Grajeda B, Zhang J. CmP Signaling Network Leads to Identification of Prognostic Biomarkers for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Caucasian Women. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2022; 26:198-219. [PMID: 35481969 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2021.0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) constitutes ∼15% of all diagnosed invasive breast cancer cases with limited options for treatment since immunotherapies that target ER, PR, and HER2 receptors are ineffective. Progesterone (PRG) can induce its effects through either classic, nonclassic, or combined responses by binding to classic nuclear PRG receptors (nPRs) or nonclassic membrane PRG receptors (mPRs). Under PRG-induced actions, we previously demonstrated that the CCM signaling complex (CSC) can couple both nPRs and mPRs into a CmPn signaling network, which plays an important role during nPR(+) breast cancer tumorigenesis. We recently defined the novel CmP signaling network in African American women (AAW)-derived TNBC cells, which overlapped with our previously defined CmPn network in nPR(+) breast cancer cells. Methods: Under mPR-specific steroid actions, we measured alterations to key tumorigenic pathways in Caucasian American women (CAW)- derived TNBC cells, with RNAseq/proteomic and systems biology approaches. Exemption from ethics approval from IRB: This study only utilized cultured NBC cell lines with publicly available TNBC clinical data sets. Results: Our results demonstrated that TNBCs in CAW share similar altered signaling pathways, as TNBCs in AAW, under mPR-specific steroid actions, demonstrating the overall aggressive nature of TNBCs, regardless of racial differences. Furthermore, in this report, we have deconvoluted the CmP signalosome, using systems biology approaches and CAW-TNBC clinical data, to identify 21 new CAW-TNBC-specific prognostic biomarkers that reinforce the definitive role of CSC and mPR signaling during CAW-TNBC tumorigenesis. Conclusion: This new set of potential prognostic biomarkers may revolutionize molecular mechanisms and currently known concepts of tumorigenesis in CAW-TNBCs, leading to hopeful new therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johnathan Abou-Fadel
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Muaz Bhalli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Brian Grajeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM), Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Lebedeva A, Shaykhutdinova Y, Seriak D, Ignatova E, Rozhavskaya E, Vardhan D, Manicka S, Sharova M, Grigoreva T, Baranova A, Mileyko V, Ivanov M. Incidental germline findings during molecular profiling of tumor tissues for precision oncology: molecular survey and methodological obstacles. J Transl Med 2022; 20:29. [PMID: 35033101 PMCID: PMC8760669 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03230-z] [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: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A fraction of patients referred for complex molecular profiling of biopsied tumors may harbor germline variants in genes associated with the development of hereditary cancer syndromes (HCS). Neither the bioinformatic analysis nor the reporting of such incidental germline findings are standardized. Methods Data from Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) of biopsied tumor samples referred for complex molecular profiling were analyzed for germline variants in HCS-associated genes. Analysis of variant origin was performed employing bioinformatic algorithms followed by manual curation. When possible, the origin of the variant was validated by Sanger sequencing of the sample of normal tissue. The variants’ pathogenicity was assessed according to ACMG/AMP. Results Tumors were sampled from 183 patients (Males: 75 [41.0%]; Females: 108 [59.0%]; mean [SD] age, 57.7 [13.3] years) and analysed by targeted NGS. The most common tumor types were colorectal (19%), pancreatic (13%), and lung cancer (10%). A total of 56 sequence variants in genes associated with HCS were detected in 40 patients. Of them, 17 variants found in 14 patients were predicted to be of germline origin, with 6 variants interpreted as pathogenic (PV) or likely pathogenic (LPV), and 9 as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). For the 41 out of 42 (97%) missense variants in HCS-associated genes, the results of computational prediction of variant origin were concordant with that of experimental examination. We estimate that Sanger sequencing of a sample of normal tissue would be required for ~ 1–7% of the total assessed cases with PV or LPV, when necessity to follow with genetic counselling referral in ~ 2–15% of total assessed cases (PV, LPV or VUS found in HCS genes). Conclusion Incidental findings of pathogenic germline variants are common in data from cancer patients referred for complex molecular profiling. We propose an algorithm for the management of patients with newly detected variants in genes associated with HCS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Lebedeva
- Atlas Oncodiagnostics, LLC, Moscow, Russia. .,Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | | | - Ekaterina Ignatova
- Atlas Oncodiagnostics, LLC, Moscow, Russia.,Department of chemotherapy №2, Federal State Budgetary Institution «N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Oncogenetics, Institute of Higher and Additional Professional Education, Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Sofia Manicka
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Mannas, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Ancha Baranova
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Mannas, VA, USA
| | | | - Maxim Ivanov
- Atlas Oncodiagnostics, LLC, Moscow, Russia.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Czapiewski P, Cornelius M, Hartig R, Kalinski T, Haybaeck J, Dittmer A, Dittmer J, Ignatov A, Nass N. BCL3 expression is strongly associated with the occurrence of breast cancer relapse under tamoxifen treatment in a retrospective cohort study. Virchows Arch 2022; 480:529-541. [PMID: 35020071 PMCID: PMC8989858 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-021-03238-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer are usually receiving an anti-estrogen therapy by either aromatase inhibitors or selective estrogen receptor mediators such as tamoxifen. Nevertheless, acquired resistance to tamoxifen under treatment frequently hampers therapy. One proposed explanation for this phenomenon is the interaction of the tumor cells with cells of the tumor microenvironment via the Insulin-like growth factor RNA binding protein 5/B-cell lymphoma 3 (IGFBP5/BCL3) axis. Here we investigated whether a high expression of BCL3 either cytoplasmic or nuclear is associated with the occurrence of a relapse under anti-estrogen therapy in patients. Formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of 180 breast cancer patients were analyzed for BCL3 expression by immunohistochemistry. An immunoreactive score (IRS) was calculated from staining intensity in cytoplasm and nucleus as well as the percentage of positive tumor cells. These scores were correlated with clinico-pathological parameters using cross-tabulation analysis and patients’ relapse free and overall survival by Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox regression. A tamoxifen-adapted MCF-7 derived cell line was investigated for BCL3 localization by immunofluorescence. The cytosolic BCL3-IRS significantly correlated with the proliferation marker Ki-67, and with the occurrence of a relapse under tamoxifen treatment. Nuclear score correlated only with tamoxifen-relapse. In survival analysis, both scores were highly significant prognostic factors for relapse free, but not for overall survival. This was especially obvious for estrogen receptor positive and HER2/NEU negative cases as well as lobular breast cancer. Tamoxifen-treated, but not aromatase-treated patients had a poor survival when BCL3 scores were high. A tamoxifen adapted cell line exhibited a reduced expression and mainly nuclear localization of BCL3, compared to the parental estrogen receptor positive cell-line MCF-7. Altogether, these data strongly support a function of BCL3 in tamoxifen resistance and its potential use as a predictive biomarker for tamoxifen resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Czapiewski
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Pathology, Dessau Medical Center, Auenweg 38, 06847, Dessau, Germany
| | - Maximilian Cornelius
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Roland Hartig
- Institute for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str.44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.,Multi-Parametric Bioimaging and Cytometry Platform, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str.44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kalinski
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Diagnostic & Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Institute of Pathology, Medical University Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010, Graz, Austria.,Institute of Pathology, Neuropathology and Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Müllerstraße 44, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Angela Dittmer
- Clinic for Gynecology, Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg Ernst-Grube-Straße 40, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jürgen Dittmer
- Clinic for Gynecology, Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg Ernst-Grube-Straße 40, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Atanas Ignatov
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Otto Von Guericke University Magdeburg, Gerhart-Hauptmann Str. 35, 39108, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Nass
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany. .,Dessau Medical Center, Department for Internal Medicine I, Auenweg 38, 06847, Dessau, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Stemness, Inflammation and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Carcinoma: The Intricate Network. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312891. [PMID: 34884696 PMCID: PMC8658015 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In global cancer statistics, colorectal carcinoma (CRC) ranks third by incidence and second by mortality, causing 10.0% of new cancer cases and 9.4% of oncological deaths worldwide. Despite the development of screening programs and preventive measures, there are still high numbers of advanced cases. Multiple problems compromise the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, one of these being cancer stem cells—a minor fraction of pluripotent, self-renewing malignant cells capable of maintaining steady, low proliferation and exhibiting an intriguing arsenal of treatment resistance mechanisms. Currently, there is an increasing body of evidence for intricate associations between inflammation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells. In this review, we focus on inflammation and its role in CRC stemness development through epithelial–mesenchymal transition.
Collapse
|
24
|
Ishizu K, Hashimoto T, Naka T, Yatabe Y, Kojima M, Kuwata T, Nonaka S, Oda I, Esaki M, Kudo M, Gotohda N, Yoshida T, Yoshikawa T, Sekine S. APC mutations are common in adenomas but infrequent in adenocarcinomas of the non-ampullary duodenum. J Gastroenterol 2021; 56:988-998. [PMID: 34514550 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-021-01823-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies highlighted the clinicopathological heterogeneity of non-ampullary duodenal adenomas and adenocarcinomas, but the detailed process of the malignant transformation remains unclear. METHODS We analyzed 144 adenomas and 54 adenocarcinomas of the non-ampullary duodenum for immunohistochemical phenotypes, genetic alterations, and mismatch repair (MMR) status to probe their histogenetic relationship. RESULTS The median ages of patients with adenoma and adenocarcinoma were the same (66 years). Adenomas were histologically classified as intestinal-type adenoma (n = 124), pyloric gland adenoma (PGA, n = 10), gastric-type adenoma, not otherwise specified (n = 9), and foveolar-type adenoma (n = 1). Protein-truncating APC mutations were highly frequent in adenomas (85%), with the highest prevalence in intestinal-type adenomas (89%), but rare in adenocarcinomas (9%; P = 2.1 × 10-23). Close associations between phenotypic marker expression and genetic alterations were observed in adenomas, but not in adenocarcinomas, excluding the common association between GNAS mutations and MUC5AC expression. MMR deficiency was more frequent in adenocarcinomas (20%) than in adenomas (1%; P = 2.6 × 10-6). One MMR-deficient adenoma and three MMR-deficient adenocarcinomas occurred in patients with Lynch syndrome. Additionally, three other patients with an MMR-deficient adenocarcinoma fulfilled the revised Bethesda criteria. CONCLUSION The discrepant APC mutation frequency between adenomas and adenocarcinomas suggests that APC-mutated adenomas, which constitute the large majority of non-ampullary duodenal adenomas, are less prone to malignant transformation. Non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinomas frequently exhibit MMR deficiency and should be subject to MMR testing to determine appropriate clinical management, including the identification of patients with Lynch syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Ishizu
- Division of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.,Department of Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taiki Hashimoto
- Division of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Naka
- Division of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan
| | - Yasushi Yatabe
- Division of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.,Division of Molecular Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motohiro Kojima
- Division of Pathology, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kuwata
- Division of Pathology, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoru Nonaka
- Endoscopy Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ichiro Oda
- Endoscopy Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Esaki
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masashi Kudo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan
| | - Naoto Gotohda
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan
| | - Teruhiko Yoshida
- Division of Genetics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takaki Yoshikawa
- Department of Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeki Sekine
- Division of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan. .,Division of Molecular Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Zhang M, Wang D, Su L, Ma J, Wang S, Cui M, Hong S, Guan B, Ma X. Activity of Wnt/PCP Regulation Pathway Classifies Patients of Low-Grade Glioma Into Molecularly Distinct Subgroups With Prognostic Difference. Front Oncol 2021; 11:726034. [PMID: 34540693 PMCID: PMC8440981 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.726034] [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: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Wingless/Int-1 (Wnt) signaling is one of the most well-known oncogenic pathways. Numerous studies have uncovered an aberrant expression of Wnt in cancer and its association with multiple oncogenic processes, such as cell proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and invasiveness. Most previous studies mainly focused on the canonical branch of Wnt signaling pathway, i.e., Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway, as the most recently described branch of Wnt signaling, was much less investigated in oncology research. In this study, we thoroughly characterized the activity of the Wnt/PCP regulation pathway in low-grade glioma (LGG) patients. Subtyping based on the expression pattern of the Wnt/PCP regulation pathway revealed three (C1–C3) subgroups with significant survival differences. Each group displayed distinct genomic characteristics. For instance, C1 was enriched with capicua transcriptional repressor (CIC) truncating mutations and 1p19q codel. C2 was characterized with tumor protein p53 (TP53) and ATRX chromatin remodeler (ATRX) inactivating mutations but depletion of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations. C3 showed elevated malignancy reflected from several oncogenic characteristics, such as tumor heterogeneity and cell stemness, and demonstrated the worst survival outcome. In addition, C3 showed elevated macrophage segregation via induction of cytokines that are able to enhance the permeability of the brain–blood barrier (BBB). Lastly, we developed a prognostic model based on the risk score system. Validation indicated that our model can independently predict the prognosis of LGG patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Medical School of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Southern District of Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, Sanya, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Genetron Health (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Lan Su
- Genetron Health (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Jingjiao Ma
- Genetron Health (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Sizhen Wang
- Genetron Health (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Meng Cui
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shunming Hong
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Guan
- Health Economics Department, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Parsons MJ, Tammela T, Dow LE. WNT as a Driver and Dependency in Cancer. Cancer Discov 2021; 11:2413-2429. [PMID: 34518209 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-21-0190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The WNT signaling pathway is a critical regulator of development and adult tissue homeostasis and becomes dysregulated in many cancer types. Although hyperactivation of WNT signaling is common, the type and frequency of genetic WNT pathway alterations can vary dramatically between different cancers, highlighting possible cancer-specific mechanisms for WNT-driven disease. In this review, we discuss how WNT pathway disruption contributes to tumorigenesis in different organs and how WNT affects the tumor cell and immune microenvironment. Finally, we describe recent and ongoing efforts to target oncogenic WNT signaling as a therapeutic strategy. SIGNIFICANCE: WNT signaling is a fundamental regulator of tissue homeostasis and oncogenic driver in many cancer types. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of WNT signaling in cancer, particularly the complexities of WNT activation in distinct cancer types, its role in immune evasion, and the challenge of targeting the WNT pathway as a therapeutic strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie J Parsons
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Tuomas Tammela
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Lukas E Dow
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York. .,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Goswami VG, Patel BD. Recent updates on Wnt signaling modulators: a patent review (2014-2020). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 31:1009-1043. [PMID: 34128760 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1940138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Wnt signaling is a signal transduction pathway that plays a vital role in embryonic development and normal tissue preservation. Dysfunction of it gives rise to various diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, metabolic and skeletal disorders, kidney and liver disease, etc. Thus, targeting Wnt pathway can be a potential approach to design and develop novel therapeutic classes.Areas covered: Authors provided an overview of Wnt modulators from 2014 to 2020. Different heterocyclic scaffolds and their pharmacology from a total of 104 PCT applications have been summarized.Expert opinion: The scientific community is working extensively to bring first in the class molecule to the market which targets Wnt pathway. Lorecivivint, Wnt inhibitor, for the treatment of knee Osteoarthritis and SM-04554, Wnt activator, for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia are currently under Phase III. Other molecules, LGK-974, RXC-004, ETC-159, CGX-1321, PRI-724, CWP-232291 and BC-2059 are also under different stages of clinical development for the treatment of cancer. Antibody based Wnt modulator, OTSA101-DTPA-90Y is currently under Phase I for the treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Synovial Sarcoma while OMP-18R5 is under Phase I for Metastatic Breast Cancer. Ongoing preclinical/clinical trials will define the role of the Wnt pathway in different therapeutic areas and open new opportunities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vishalgiri G Goswami
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Bhumika D Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Chang J, Xavier HW, Chen D, Liu Y, Li H, Bian Z. Potential Role of Traditional Chinese Medicines by Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Compared With Targeted Small Molecules in Colorectal Cancer Therapy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:690501. [PMID: 34381360 PMCID: PMC8350388 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.690501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become a global public health problem because of its high incidence and mortality rate worldwide. The previous clinical treatment for CRC mainly involves conventional surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. With the development of tumor molecular targeted therapy, small molecule inhibitors present a great advantage in improving the survival of patients with advanced CRC. However, various side effects and drug resistance induced by chemotherapy are still the major obstacles to improve the clinical benefit. Thus, it is crucial to find new and alternative drugs for CRC treatment. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been proved to have low toxicity and multi-target characteristics. In the last few decades, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that TCMs exhibit strong anticancer effects in both experimental and clinical models and may serve as alternative chemotherapy agents for CRC treatment. Notably, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a vital role in the initiation and progression of CRC by modulating the stability of β-catenin in the cytoplasm. Targeting Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a novel direction for developing therapies for CRC. In this review, we outlined the anti-tumor effects of small molecular inhibitors on CRC through Wnt/β-catenin pathway. More importantly, we focused on the potential role of TCMs against tumors by targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling at different stages of CRC, including precancerous lesions, early stage of CRC and advanced CRC. Furthermore, we also discussed perspectives to develop potential new drugs from TCMs via Wnt/β-catenin pathway for the treatment of CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinrong Chang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Dongfeng Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yamei Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaoxiang Bian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ghadamyari F, Heidari MM, Zeinali S, Khatami M, Merat S, Bagherian H, Rejali L, Ghasemi F. Mutational screening through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis to detect novel germline mutations in the APC gene in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 35:e23768. [PMID: 33769591 PMCID: PMC8128300 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) as a colon cancer predisposition syndrome is an autosomal‐dominant inherited condition and is diagnosed by the progress of hundreds or thousands of adenomatous colonic polyps in the colon. This study aims at the nature and effect of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) gene mutations in FAP tumorigenesis. Methods The genetic screening of 59 FAP Iranian patients in 10 families was performed by polymerase chain reactions and the direct sequencing of the entire coding exons of the APC gene. To do linkage haplotype analysis and multiplex PCR‐based microsatellite examination, six short tandem repeat loci were selected in this gene. To evaluate and predict the potentially deleterious effects, comprehensive bioinformatics pathogenicity assays were used. Results A total of 12 germline heterozygous and homozygous nucleotide variations were identified. They included two missense mutations, four nonsense mutations, which would lead to the truncated and nonfunctional protein products, four synonymous or silent variations, and two nucleotide deletions of 1 to 5 bp or frameshift mutations. In addition, three novel heterozygous nonsense mutations were found in exons 10, 14, and 15 of the gene. There was also p.Arg653Met as a novel heterozygote mutation in exon 14 of the gene. Conclusions Bioinformatics analysis and three‐dimensional structural modeling predicted that these missense and nonsense mutations generally are associated with the deleted or truncated domains of APC and have functional importance and mainly affected the APC protein. These findings may provide evidence for the progress of potential biomarkers and help to understand the role of the APC gene in FAP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sirous Zeinali
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehri Khatami
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Shahin Merat
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamideh Bagherian
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leili Rejali
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Ghasemi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Consumption of Select Dietary Emulsifiers Exacerbates the Development of Spontaneous Intestinal Adenoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052602. [PMID: 33807577 PMCID: PMC7961571 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a well-characterized critical driver of gastrointestinal cancers. Previous findings have shown that intestinal low-grade inflammation can be promoted by the consumption of select dietary emulsifiers, ubiquitous component of processed foods which alter the composition and function of the gut microbiota. Using a model of colitis-associated cancer, we previously reported that consumption of the dietary emulsifiers carboxymethylcellulose or polysorbate-80 exacerbated colonic tumor development. Here, we investigate the impact of dietary emulsifiers consumption on cancer initiation and progression in a genetical model of intestinal adenomas. In APCmin mice, we observed that dietary emulsifiers consumption enhanced small-intestine tumor development in a way that appeared to be independent of chronic intestinal inflammation but rather associated with emulsifiers' impact on the proliferative status of the intestinal epithelium as well as on intestinal microbiota composition in both male and female mice. Overall, our findings further support the hypothesis that emulsifier consumption may be a new modifiable risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) and that alterations in host-microbiota interactions can favor gastrointestinal carcinogenesis in individuals with a genetical predisposition to such disorders.
Collapse
|
31
|
Role of adenomatous polyposis coli in proliferation and differentiation of colon epithelial cells in organoid culture. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3980. [PMID: 33597597 PMCID: PMC7889860 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83590-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is a tumor-suppressing protein whose inactivation triggers the formation of colorectal polyps. Numerous studies using cell lines or genetically engineered mice have revealed its role in suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, we performed genetic analyses of APC using a three-dimensional organoid culture of mouse colon epithelia, which enables the detailed examination of epithelial properties. Analyses of Apc-knockout colon organoids not only confirmed the importance of APC in suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling and regulating cell differentiation, but also revealed several novel features: a significant decrease in proliferating speed and an increase in cross-sectional area of cells. Moreover, we found a significant number of lysozyme-positive Paneth-like cells, which were never observed in wild-type colon tissues or organoids, but have been reported to emerge in colon cancers. Therefore, APC autonomously suppresses ectopic differentiation into lysozyme-positive cells, specifically in the colon epithelia. Colon organoids would be an ideal material to investigate the molecular mechanism and biological importance of the ectopic differentiation associated with cancer development.
Collapse
|
32
|
Caspi M, Wittenstein A, Kazelnik M, Shor-Nareznoy Y, Rosin-Arbesfeld R. Therapeutic targeting of the oncogenic Wnt signaling pathway for treating colorectal cancer and other colonic disorders. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 169:118-136. [PMID: 33346022 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The canonical Wnt pathway is one of the key cellular signaling cascades that regulates, via the transcriptional co-activator β-catenin, numerous embryogenic developmental processes, as well as tissue homeostasis. It is therefore not surprising that misregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been implicated in carcinogenesis. Aberrant Wnt signaling has been reported in a variety of malignancies, and its role in both hereditary and sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC), has been the subject of intensive study. Interestingly, the vast majority of colorectal tumors harbor mutations in the tumor suppressor gene adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). The Wnt pathway is complex, and despite decades of research, the mechanisms that underlie its functions are not completely known. Thus, although the Wnt cascade is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention against CRC, one of the malignancies with the highest morbidity and mortality rates, achieving efficacy and safety is yet extremely challenging. Here, we review the current knowledge of the Wnt different epistatic signaling components and the mechanism/s by which the signal is transduced in both health and disease, focusing on CRC. We address some of the important questions in the field and describe various therapeutic strategies designed to combat unregulated Wnt signaling, the development of targeted therapy approaches and the emerging challenges that are associated with these advanced methods.
Collapse
|
33
|
Farnesyl dimethyl chromanol targets colon cancer stem cells and prevents colorectal cancer metastasis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2185. [PMID: 33500430 PMCID: PMC7838198 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80911-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation and growth of tumour-initiating cells with stem-like properties in distant organs characterize colorectal cancer (CRC) growth and metastasis. Thus, inhibition of colon cancer stem cell (CCSC) growth holds promise for CRC growth and metastasis prevention. We and others have shown that farnesyl dimethyl chromanol (FDMC) inhibits cancer cell growth and induces apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. We provide the first demonstration that FDMC inhibits CCSC viability, survival, self-renewal (spheroid formation), pluripotent transcription factors (Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2) expression, organoids formation, and Wnt/β-catenin signalling, as evidenced by comparisons with vehicle-treated controls. In addition, FDMC inhibits CCSC migration, invasion, inflammation (NF-kB), angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF), and metastasis (MMP9), which are critical tumour metastasis processes. Moreover, FDMC induced apoptosis (TUNEL, Annexin V, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved PARP) in CCSCs and CCSC-derived spheroids and organoids. Finally, in an orthotopic (cecum-injected CCSCs) xenograft metastasis model, we show that FDMC significantly retards CCSC-derived tumour growth (Ki-67); inhibits inflammation (NF-kB), angiogenesis (VEGF and CD31), and β-catenin signalling; and induces apoptosis (cleaved PARP) in tumour tissues and inhibits liver metastasis. In summary, our results demonstrate that FDMC inhibits the CCSC metastatic phenotype and thereby supports investigating its ability to prevent CRC metastases.
Collapse
|
34
|
Bugter JM, Fenderico N, Maurice MM. Mutations and mechanisms of WNT pathway tumour suppressors in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:5-21. [PMID: 33097916 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-00307-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 78.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mutation-induced activation of WNT-β-catenin signalling is a frequent driver event in human cancer. Sustained WNT-β-catenin pathway activation endows cancer cells with sustained self-renewing growth properties and is associated with therapy resistance. In healthy adult stem cells, WNT pathway activity is carefully controlled by core pathway tumour suppressors as well as negative feedback regulators. Gene inactivation experiments in mouse models unequivocally demonstrated the relevance of WNT tumour suppressor loss-of-function mutations for cancer growth. However, in human cancer, a far more complex picture has emerged in which missense or truncating mutations mediate stable expression of mutant proteins, with distinct functional and phenotypic ramifications. Herein, we review recent advances and challenges in our understanding of how different mutational subsets of WNT tumour suppressor genes link to distinct cancer types, clinical outcomes and treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen M Bugter
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Nicola Fenderico
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Madelon M Maurice
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
de Man SMA, van Amerongen R. Zooming in on the WNT/CTNNB1 Destruction Complex: Functional Mechanistic Details with Implications for Therapeutic Targeting. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 269:137-173. [PMID: 34486095 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_522] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
WNT/CTNNB1 signaling is crucial for balancing cell proliferation and differentiation in all multicellular animals. CTNNB1 accumulation is the hallmark of WNT/CTNNB1 pathway activation and the key downstream event in both a physiological and an oncogenic context. In the absence of WNT stimulation, the cytoplasmic and nuclear levels of CTNNB1 are kept low because of its sequestration and phosphorylation by the so-called destruction complex, which targets CTNNB1 for proteasomal degradation. In the presence of WNT proteins, or as a result of oncogenic mutations, this process is impaired and CTNNB1 levels become elevated.Here we discuss recent advances in our understanding of destruction complex activity and inactivation, focusing on the individual components and interactions that ultimately control CTNNB1 turnover (in the "WNT off" situation) and stabilization (in the "WNT on" situation). We especially highlight the insights gleaned from recent quantitative, image-based studies, which paint an unprecedentedly detailed picture of the dynamic events that control destruction protein complex composition and function. We argue that these mechanistic details may reveal new opportunities for therapeutic intervention and could result in the destruction complex re-emerging as a target for therapy in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Madelon Ada de Man
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Renée van Amerongen
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Molecular Mechanisms of Colon Cancer Progression and Metastasis: Recent Insights and Advancements. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010130. [PMID: 33374459 PMCID: PMC7794761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common type of cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality rates worldwide. Although modern research was able to shed light on the pathogenesis of CRC and provide enhanced screening strategies, the prevalence of CRC is still on the rise. Studies showed several cellular signaling pathways dysregulated in CRC, leading to the onset of malignant phenotypes. Therefore, analyzing signaling pathways involved in CRC metastasis is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanism of CRC progression and pharmacotherapy. This review focused on target genes as well as various cellular signaling pathways including Wnt/β-catenin, p53, TGF-β/SMAD, NF-κB, Notch, VEGF, and JAKs/STAT3, which are associated with CRC progression and metastasis. Additionally, alternations in methylation patterns in relation with signaling pathways involved in regulating various cellular mechanisms such as cell cycle, transcription, apoptosis, and angiogenesis as well as invasion and metastasis were also reviewed. To date, understanding the genomic and epigenomic instability has identified candidate biomarkers that are validated for routine clinical use in CRC management. Nevertheless, better understanding of the onset and progression of CRC can aid in the development of early detection molecular markers and risk stratification methods to improve the clinical care of CRC patients.
Collapse
|
37
|
Aitchison A, Hakkaart C, Day RC, Morrin HR, Frizelle FA, Keenan JI. APC Mutations Are Not Confined to Hotspot Regions in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123829. [PMID: 33352971 PMCID: PMC7766084 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Mutation of the APC gene is a common early event in colorectal cancer, however lower rates have been reported in younger cohorts of colorectal cancer patients. In sporadic cancer, mutations are typically clustered around a mutation cluster region, a narrowly defined hotspot within the APC gene. In this study we used a sequencing strategy aimed at identifying mutations more widely throughout the APC gene in patients aged 50 years or under. We found high rates of APC mutation in our young cohort that were similar to rates seen in older patients but the mutations we found were spread throughout the gene in a pattern more similar to that seen in inherited rather than sporadic mutations. Our study has implications both for the sequencing of the APC gene in early-onset colorectal cancer and for the etiology of this disease. Abstract While overall colorectal cancer (CRC) cases have been declining worldwide there has been an increase in the incidence of the disease among patients under 50 years of age. Mutation of the APC gene is a common early event in CRC but is reported at lower rates in early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) than in older patients. Here we investigate the APC mutation status of a cohort of EOCRC patients in New Zealand using a novel sequencing approach targeting regions of the gene encompassing the vast majority of known APC mutations. Using this strategy we find a higher rate (72%) of APC mutation than previously reported in EOCRC with mutations being spread throughout the gene rather than clustered in hotspots as seen with sporadic mutations in older patients. The rate of mutations falling within hotspots was similar to those previously seen in EOCRC and as such our study has implications for sequencing strategies for EOCRC patients. Overall there were low rates of both loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability whereas a relatively high rate (40%) of APC promoter methylation was found, possibly reflecting increasing exposure of young people to pro-oncogenic lifestyle factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Aitchison
- Department of Surgery, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; (F.A.F.); (J.I.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Christopher Hakkaart
- Mackenzie Cancer Research Group, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand;
| | - Robert C. Day
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand;
| | - Helen R. Morrin
- Cancer Society Tissue Bank, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand;
| | - Frank A. Frizelle
- Department of Surgery, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; (F.A.F.); (J.I.K.)
| | - Jacqueline I. Keenan
- Department of Surgery, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; (F.A.F.); (J.I.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
The Protective Role of Probiotics against Colorectal Cancer. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:8884583. [PMID: 33488940 PMCID: PMC7803265 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8884583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and a major global public health problem. With the rapid development of the economy, the incidence of CRC has increased linearly. Accumulating evidence indicates that changes in the gut microenvironment, such as undesirable changes in the microbiota composition, provide favorable conditions for intestinal inflammation and shaping the tumor growth environment, whereas administration of certain probiotics can reverse this situation to a certain extent. This review summarizes the roles of probiotics in the regulation of CRC, such as enhancing the immune barrier, regulating the intestinal immune state, inhibiting pathogenic enzyme activity, regulating CRC cell proliferation and apoptosis, regulating redox homeostasis, and reprograming intestinal microbial composition. Abundant studies have provided a theoretical foundation for the roles of probiotics in CRC prevention and treatment, but their mechanisms of action remain to be investigated, and further clinical trials are warranted for the application of probiotics in the target population.
Collapse
|
39
|
Wang C, Ouyang C, Cho M, Ji J, Sandhu J, Goel A, Kahn M, Fakih M. Wild-type APC Is Associated with Poor Survival in Metastatic Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer. Oncologist 2020; 26:208-214. [PMID: 33230914 DOI: 10.1002/onco.13607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognostic implication of wild-type APC (APC-WT) in microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is not well defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS APC prognostic value was evaluated retrospectively in two independent cohorts of patient with MSS mCRC with a confirmatory analysis from a public data set from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). RESULTS In comparison with the APC-mutant (APC-MT) population (n = 255), APC-WT patients (n = 86) tended to be younger (59% of age < 40 vs. 26% of age > 50), right-sided (41.7% vs. 27%), BRAFV600E mutated (23.3% vs. 0.8%), and KRAS wild type (65.1% vs. 49.8%). Alternative WNT pathway alterations, RNF43 and CTNNB1, were over-represented in the APC-WT versus APC-MT population (7% vs. 0.4% and 4.7% vs. 0.4%, respectively). APC-WT patients had a worse overall survival (OS) than APC-MT patients (22.6 vs. 45.6 months, p < .0001). Using a multivariate model correcting for primary tumor location, RAS and BRAF status, APC-WT was predictive of poor survival (APC-MT vs. APC-WT, hazard ratio [HR], 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44-0.86, p = .0037). The prognostic implication of APC-WT on OS was confirmed further in a similar multivariate model of 934 stage IV patients from MSKCC public database (APC-MT vs. APC-WT, HR, 0.63, 95% CI, 0.49-0.81, p < .0001). CONCLUSION APC-WT is associated with poor OS in MSS mCRC regardless of RAS and BRAF status. Compared with APC-MT mCRC tumors, APC-WT tumors were associated with other Wnt activating alterations, including RNF43 and CTNBB1. Our data suggest alternative therapy needs to be investigated in APC-WT patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Patients with microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer with wild-type APC had a worse overall survival than patients with mutated APC regardless of RAS/RAF status. APC status should be considered as a stratification factor in prospective trials, and novel therapeutic strategies need to be developed for this subgroup of patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chongkai Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Ching Ouyang
- Center for Informatics, Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - May Cho
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jingran Ji
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jaideep Sandhu
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Ajay Goel
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Monrovia, California, USA
| | - Michael Kahn
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Marwan Fakih
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
SLC6A14, a Na+/Cl--coupled amino acid transporter, functions as a tumor promoter in colon and is a target for Wnt signaling. Biochem J 2020; 477:1409-1425. [PMID: 32219372 PMCID: PMC7182441 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
SLC6A14 is a Na+/Cl−-coupled transporter for neutral and cationic amino acids. It is expressed at basal levels in the normal colon but is up-regulated in colon cancer. However, the relevance of this up-regulation to cancer progression and the mechanisms involved in the up-regulation remain unknown. Here, we show that SLC6A14 is essential for colon cancer and that its up-regulation involves, at least partly, Wnt signaling. The up-regulation of the transporter is evident in most human colon cancer cell lines and also in a majority of patient-derived xenografts. These findings are supported by publicly available TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database. Treatment of colon cancer cells with α-methyltryptophan (α-MT), a blocker of SLC6A14, induces amino acid deprivation, decreases mTOR activity, increases autophagy, promotes apoptosis, and suppresses cell proliferation and invasion. In xenograft and syngeneic mouse tumor models, silencing of SLC6A14 by shRNA or blocking its function by α-MT reduces tumor growth. Similarly, the deletion of Slc6a14 in mice protects against colon cancer in two different experimental models (inflammation-associated colon cancer and genetically driven colon cancer). In colon cancer cells, expression of the transporter is reduced by Wnt antagonist or by silencing of β-catenin whereas Wnt agonist or overexpression of β-catenin shows the opposite effect. Finally, SLC6A14 as a target for β-catenin is confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. These studies demonstrate that SLC6A14 plays a critical role in the promotion of colon cancer and that its up-regulation in cancer involves Wnt signaling. These findings identify SLC6A14 as a promising drug target for the treatment of colon cancer.
Collapse
|
41
|
Adam RS, van Neerven SM, Pleguezuelos-Manzano C, Simmini S, Léveillé N, de Groot NE, Holding AN, Markowetz F, Vermeulen L. Intestinal region-specific Wnt signalling profiles reveal interrelation between cell identity and oncogenic pathway activity in cancer development. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:578. [PMID: 33292279 PMCID: PMC7713000 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01661-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer results from the accumulation of mutations leading to the acquisition of cancer promoting characteristics such as increased proliferation and resistance to cell death. In colorectal cancer, an early mutation leading to such features usually occurs in the APC or CTNNB1 genes, thereby activating Wnt signalling. However, substantial phenotypic differences between cancers originating within the same organ, such as molecular subtypes, are not fully reflected by differences in mutations. Indeed, the phenotype seems to result from a complex interplay between the cell-intrinsic features and the acquired mutations, which is difficult to disentangle when established tumours are studied. METHODS We use a 3D in vitro organoid model to study the early phase of colorectal cancer development. From three different murine intestinal locations we grow organoids. These are transformed to resemble adenomas after Wnt activation through lentiviral transduction with a stable form of β-Catenin. The gene expression before and after Wnt activation is compared within each intestinal origin and across the three locations using RNA sequencing. To validate and generalize our findings, we use gene expression data from patients. RESULTS In reaction to Wnt activation we observe downregulation of location specific genes and differentiation markers. A similar effect is seen in patient data, where genes with significant differential expression between the normal left and right colon are downregulated in the cancer samples. Furthermore, the signature of Wnt target genes differs between the three intestinal locations in the organoids. The location specific Wnt signatures are dominated by genes which have been lowly expressed in the tissue of origin, and are the targets of transcription factors that are activated following enhanced Wnt signalling. CONCLUSION We observed that the region-specific cell identity has a substantial effect on the reaction to Wnt activation in a simple intestinal adenoma model. These findings provide a way forward in resolving the distinct biology between left- and right-sided human colon cancers with potential clinical relevance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ronja S Adam
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne M van Neerven
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cayetano Pleguezuelos-Manzano
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CT, The Netherlands
| | - Salvatore Simmini
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Research & Development Department at STEMCELL Technologies UK, 7100 Cambridge Research Park, Beach Drive Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9TL, UK
| | - Nicolas Léveillé
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nina E de Groot
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew N Holding
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, 96 Euston Road, Kings Cross, London, NW1 2DB, UK
- University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Florian Markowetz
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Louis Vermeulen
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Mondaca S, Walch H, Nandakumar S, Chatila WK, Schultz N, Yaeger R. Specific Mutations in APC, but Not Alterations in DNA Damage Response, Associate With Outcomes of Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Gastroenterology 2020; 159:1975-1978.e4. [PMID: 32730818 PMCID: PMC7680360 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In an integrated genomic and clinical analysis, we evaluate the effects of Wnt and DNA damage response pathway alterations on metastatic colorectal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Mondaca
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Henry Walch
- Marie-Josee and Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Subhiksha Nandakumar
- Marie-Josee and Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Walid K. Chatila
- Marie-Josee and Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY,Tri-I nstitutional Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Nikolaus Schultz
- Marie-Josee and Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Rona Yaeger
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Mukherji R, Marshall JL, Seeber A. Genomic Alterations and Their Implications on Survival in Nonmetastatic Colorectal Cancer: Status Quo and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2001. [PMID: 32707813 PMCID: PMC7465976 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The selection of treatment according to genomic alterations is a standard approach in metastatic colorectal cancer but is only starting to have an impact in the earlier stages of the disease. The status if genes like KRAS, BRAF, and MMR has substantial survival implications, and concerted research efforts have revolutionized treatment towards precision oncology. In contrast, a genomic-based approach has not changed the adjuvant setting after curative tumor-resection in the daily routine so far. This review focuses on the current knowledge regarding prognostic and predictive genomic biomarkers in patients with locally advanced nonmetastasized colorectal cancer. Furthermore, we provide an outlook on future challenges for a personalized adjuvant treatment approach in patients with colorectal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reetu Mukherji
- Ruesch Center for The Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA;
| | - John L. Marshall
- Ruesch Center for The Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA;
| | - Andreas Seeber
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria;
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Dietinger V, García de Durango CR, Wiechmann S, Boos SL, Michl M, Neumann J, Hermeking H, Kuster B, Jung P. Wnt-driven LARGE2 mediates laminin-adhesive O-glycosylation in human colonic epithelial cells and colorectal cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2020; 18:102. [PMID: 32586342 PMCID: PMC7315491 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-00561-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wnt signaling drives epithelial self-renewal and disease progression in human colonic epithelium and colorectal cancer (CRC). Characterization of Wnt effector pathways is key for our understanding of these processes and for developing therapeutic strategies that aim to preserve tissue homeostasis. O-glycosylated cell surface proteins, such as α-dystroglycan (α-DG), mediate cellular adhesion to extracellular matrix components. We revealed a Wnt/LARGE2/α-DG signaling pathway which triggers this mode of colonic epithelial cell-to-matrix interaction in health and disease. METHODS Next generation sequencing upon shRNA-mediated silencing of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), and quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation (qChIP) combined with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transcription factor binding site targeting characterized LARGE2 as a Wnt target gene. Quantitative mass spectrometry analysis on size-fractionated, glycoprotein-enriched samples revealed functional O-glycosylation of α-DG by LARGE2 in CRC. The biology of Wnt/LARGE2/α-DG signaling was assessed by affinity-based glycoprotein enrichment, laminin overlay, CRC-to-endothelial cell adhesion, and transwell migration assays. Experiments on primary tissue, human colonic (tumor) organoids, and bioinformatic analysis of CRC cohort data confirmed the biological relevance of our findings. RESULTS Next generation sequencing identified the LARGE2 O-glycosyltransferase encoding gene as differentially expressed upon Wnt activation in CRC. Silencing of APC, conditional expression of oncogenic β-catenin and endogenous β-catenin-sequestration affected LARGE2 expression. The first intron of LARGE2 contained a CTTTGATC motif essential for Wnt-driven LARGE2 expression, showed occupation by the Wnt transcription factor TCF7L2, and Wnt activation triggered LARGE2-dependent α-DG O-glycosylation and laminin-adhesion in CRC cells. Colonic crypts and organoids expressed LARGE2 mainly in stem cell-enriched subpopulations. In human adenoma organoids, activity of the LARGE2/α-DG axis was Wnt-dose dependent. LARGE2 expression was elevated in CRC and correlated with the Wnt-driven molecular subtype and intestinal stem cell features. O-glycosylated α-DG represented a Wnt/LARGE2-dependent feature in CRC cell lines and patient-derived tumor organoids. Modulation of LARGE2/α-DG signaling affected CRC cell migration through laminin-coated membranes and adhesion to endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the LARGE2 O-glycosyltransferase-encoding gene represents a direct target of canonical Wnt signaling and mediates functional O-glycosylation of α-dystroglycan (α-DG) in human colonic stem/progenitor cells and Wnt-driven CRC. Our work implies that aberrant Wnt activation augments CRC cell-matrix adhesion by increasing LARGE/α-DG-mediated laminin-adhesiveness. Video abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Dietinger
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany.,DKTK Research Group, Oncogenic Signaling Pathways of Colorectal Cancer, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Cira R García de Durango
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany.,DKTK Research Group, Oncogenic Signaling Pathways of Colorectal Cancer, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Svenja Wiechmann
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany.,Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Sophie L Boos
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany.,DKTK Research Group, Oncogenic Signaling Pathways of Colorectal Cancer, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Marlies Michl
- Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Neumann
- Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Heiko Hermeking
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Kuster
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany.,Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.,Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry, Freising, Germany
| | - Peter Jung
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany. .,DKTK Research Group, Oncogenic Signaling Pathways of Colorectal Cancer, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany. .,DKTK AG Oncogenic Signal Transduction Pathways in Colorectal/Pancreatic Cancer, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) Heidelberg, DKTK Partnerstandort München, Institut für Pathologie der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, Thalkirchner Straße 36, D-80337, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Manandhar S, Kabekkodu SP, Pai KSR. Aberrant canonical Wnt signaling: Phytochemical based modulation. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2020; 76:153243. [PMID: 32535482 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wnt signaling pathway plays a major role during development like gastrulation, axis formation, organ development and organization of body plan development. Wnt signaling aberration has been linked with various disease conditions like osteoporosis, colon cancer, hair follicle tumor, Leukemia, and Alzheimer's disease. Phytochemicals like flavonoid, glycosides, polyphenols, have been reported to directly target the markers of Wnt signaling in different disease models. PURPOSE The study deals in detail about the different phytochemical targeting key players of Wnt signaling pathway in diseases like Cancer, Osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. We have focused on the Pharmacological basis of disease alleviation by phytochemical specifically targeting the Wnt signaling markers in this study. METHODS The study focused on the published articles from the preclinical rodent and invitro cell line studies related to Wnt signaling and Phytochemicals related to Cancer, Alzheimer's and Osteoporosis. The electronic databases Scopus, Web of Science and Pubmed database were used for the systematic search of literatures from 2005 up to 2019 using keywords Canonical Wnt signaling pathway, Cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Osteoporosis, Phytochemicals. The focus was to identify the target specific modulation of Wnt signaling mediated by phytochemicals. RESULTS Approximately 30 phytochemicals of different class have been identified to modulate Wnt signaling pathway acting through Axin, β-catenin translocation, GSK-3β, AKT, Wif-1 in various experimental studies. The down regulation of Wnt signaling is observed in Cancer mostly colorectal cancer, breast cancer mediated through mutations in APC and Axin genes. Different class of Phytochemicals such as flavonoid, glycosides, polyphenol, alkaloids etc. have been found to target Wnt signaling markers and alleviate Cancer. Similarly, Up regulation of Wnt signaling has been reported in Osteoporosis and neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer's disease. CONCLUSION This review highlights the possibility of the Phytochemicals to target Wnt markers and its potential to either activate or deactivate the Wnt signaling pathway. It also describes the challenges in proper targeting of Wnt signaling and the potential risk and consequences of either up regulation or down regulation of the signaling pathway. This article highlights the possibility of Wnt signaling pathway as a therapeutic option in different diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suman Manandhar
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Shama Prasada Kabekkodu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - K Sreedhara Ranganath Pai
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
LY75 Ablation Mediates Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition (MET) in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) Cells Associated with DNA Methylation Alterations and Suppression of the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051848. [PMID: 32156068 PMCID: PMC7084525 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence demonstrates that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) progression and spreading; however, its molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined. We have previously shown that the antigen receptor LY75 can modulate EOC cell phenotype and metastatic potential, as LY75 depletion directed mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) in EOC cell lines with mesenchymal phenotype. We used the LY75-mediated modulation of EMT as a model to investigate for DNA methylation changes during EMT in EOC cells, by applying the reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) methodology. Numerous genes have displayed EMT-related DNA methylation patterns alterations in their promoter/exon regions. Ten selected genes, whose DNA methylation alterations were further confirmed by alternative methods, were further identified, some of which could represent new EOC biomarkers/therapeutic targets. Moreover, our methylation data were strongly indicative for the predominant implication of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the EMT-induced DNA methylation variations in EOC cells. Consecutive experiments, including alterations in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity in EOC cells with a specific inhibitor and the identification of LY75-interacting partners by a proteomic approach, were strongly indicative for the direct implication of the LY75 receptor in modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in EOC cells.
Collapse
|
47
|
Preston JL, Stiffler N. Epigenetic loss of heterozygosity of Apc and an inflammation-associated mutational signature detected in Lrig1 +/--driven murine colonic adenomas. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:126. [PMID: 32059662 PMCID: PMC7023705 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-6616-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The loss of a single copy of adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) in leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains 1 (Lrig1)-expressing colonic progenitor cells induces rapid growth of adenomas in mice with high penetrance and multiplicity. The tumors lack functional APC, and a genetic loss of heterozygosity of Apc was previously observed. METHODS To identify genomic features of early tumorigenesis, and to profile intertumoral genetic heterogeneity, tumor exome DNA (n = 9 tumors) and mRNA (n = 5 tumors) sequences were compared with matched nontumoral colon tissue. Putative somatic mutations were called after stringent variant filtering. Somatic signatures of mutational processes were determined and splicing patterns were observed. RESULTS The adenomas were found to be genetically heterogeneous and unexpectedly hypermutated, displaying a strong bias toward G:C > A:T mutations. A genetic loss of heterozygosity of Apc was not observed, however, an epigenetic loss of heterozygosity was apparent in the tumor transcriptomes. Complex splicing patterns characterized by a loss of intron retention were observed uniformly across tumors. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that early tumors originating from intestinal stem cells with reduced Lrig1 and Apc expression are highly mutated and genetically heterogeneous, with an inflammation-associated mutational signature and complex splicing patterns that are uniform across tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Preston
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
| | - Nicholas Stiffler
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Li Y, Li X, Qu J, Luo D, Hu Z. Cas9 Mediated Correction of β-catenin Mutation and Restoring the Expression of Protein Phosphorylation in Colon Cancer HCT-116 Cells Decrease Cell Proliferation in vitro and Hamper Tumor Growth in Mice in vivo. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:17-29. [PMID: 32021251 PMCID: PMC6954092 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s225556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major contributors to cancer mortality and morbidity. Finding strategies to fight against CRC is urgently required. Mutations in driver genes of APC or β-catenin play an important role in the occurrence and progression of CRC. In the present study, we jointly apply CRISPR/Cas9-sgRNA system and Single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (ssODN) as templates to correct a heterozygous ΔTCT deletion mutation of β-catenin present in a colon cancer cell line HCT-116. This method provides a potential strategy in gene therapy for cancer. Methods A Cas9/β-catenin-sgRNA-eGFP co-expression vector was constructed and co-transfected with ssODN into HCT-116 cells. Mutation-corrected single-cell clones were sorted by FACS and judged by TA cloning and DNA sequencing. Effects of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated correction were tested by real-time quantitative PCR, Western blotting, CCK8, EDU dyeing and cell-plated clones. Moreover, the growth of cell clones derived tumors was analyzed at nude mice xenografts. Results CRISPR/Cas9-mediated β-catenin mutation correction resulted in the presence of TCT sequence and the re-expression of phosphorylation β-catenin at Ser45, which restored the normal function of phosphorylation β-catenin including reduction of the transportation of nuclear β-catenin and the expression of downstream c-myc, survivin. Significantly reduced cell growth was observed in β-catenin mutation-corrected cells. Mice xenografted with mutation-corrected HCT-116 cells showed significantly smaller tumor size than uncorrected xenografts. Conclusion The data of this study documented that correction of the driven mutation by the combination of CRISPR/Cas9 and ssODN could greatly remedy the biological behavior of the cancer cell line, suggesting a potential application of this strategy in gene therapy of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanlan Li
- Translational Medicine Institute, the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou Affiliated to University of South China, Hunan 432000, People's Republic of China.,Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hunan 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangning Li
- Translational Medicine Institute, the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou Affiliated to University of South China, Hunan 432000, People's Republic of China.,National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for High-Through Molecular Diagnosis Technology, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Hunan 432000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiayao Qu
- Translational Medicine Institute, the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou Affiliated to University of South China, Hunan 432000, People's Republic of China.,National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for High-Through Molecular Diagnosis Technology, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Hunan 432000, People's Republic of China
| | - Dixian Luo
- Translational Medicine Institute, the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou Affiliated to University of South China, Hunan 432000, People's Republic of China.,National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for High-Through Molecular Diagnosis Technology, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Hunan 432000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Hu
- Translational Medicine Institute, the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou Affiliated to University of South China, Hunan 432000, People's Republic of China.,National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for High-Through Molecular Diagnosis Technology, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Hunan 432000, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Siraj AK, Kumar Parvathareddy S, Pratheeshkumar P, Padmaja Divya S, Ahmed SO, Melosantos R, Begum R, Concepcion RMJA, Al-Sanea N, Ashari LH, Abduljabbar A, Al-Dayel F, Al-Kuraya KS. APC truncating mutations in Middle Eastern Population: Tankyrase inhibitor is an effective strategy to sensitize APC mutant CRC To 5-FU chemotherapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 121:109572. [PMID: 31704613 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is highly heterogeneous for which prognosis is dependent mainly on clinical staging. There is a need to stratify subpopulations of CRC on molecular basis to better predict outcome and therapy response. Truncating mutations in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) are well-described events in CRC carcinogenesis. Clinical and genotypic characterization of Middle Eastern CRC based on presence and type of APC was determined in 412 CRC tumors using modern next generation sequencing. APC truncating mutations were identified in 58.2% (240/412) of CRCs. Overall, mutation was significant predictor of superior overall survival. Further, the type of APC mutations (short or long) did not have impact on clinical outcome. However, in vitro analysis showed difference between CRC cell lines carrying short truncating APC vs CRC cells that carry long truncating APC mutation in response to 5-flourouracil (5-FU). Importantly, we were able to overcome the resistance to 5-FU seen in CRC cells carrying short APC by tankyrase inhibitor, XAV939, thereby inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade. Overall, our results showed that APC mutation status plays an important role in predicting overall survival in Middle Eastern population. Furthermore, in vitro data showed that selective targeting of APC mutated CRC by tankyrase inhibitor can be an effective strategy to overcome 5-FU resistance in CRC cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdul K Siraj
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Poyil Pratheeshkumar
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sasidharan Padmaja Divya
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saeeda Omer Ahmed
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roxanne Melosantos
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rafia Begum
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Nasser Al-Sanea
- Department of Surgery, Colorectal Unit, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Luai H Ashari
- Department of Surgery, Colorectal Unit, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Fouad Al-Dayel
- Department of Pathology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khawla S Al-Kuraya
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Wnt Signaling in the Regulation of Immune Cell and Cancer Therapeutics. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111380. [PMID: 31684152 PMCID: PMC6912555 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling is one of the important pathways to play a major role in various biological processes, such as embryonic stem-cell development, tissue regeneration, cell differentiation, and immune cell regulation. Recent studies suggest that Wnt signaling performs an essential function in immune cell modulation and counteracts various disorders. Nonetheless, the emerging role and mechanism of action of this signaling cascade in immune cell regulation, as well as its involvement in various cancers, remain debatable. The Wnt signaling in immune cells is very diverse, e.g., the tolerogenic role of dendritic cells, the development of natural killer cells, thymopoiesis of T cells, B-cell-driven initiation of T-cells, and macrophage actions in tissue repair, regeneration, and fibrosis. The purpose of this review is to highlight the current therapeutic targets in (and the prospects of) Wnt signaling, as well as the potential suitability of available modulators for the development of cancer immunotherapies. Although there are several Wnt inhibitors relevant to cancer, it would be worthwhile to extend this approach to immune cells.
Collapse
|