Identification of MST1 as a potential early detection biomarker for colorectal cancer through a proteomic approach. Sci Rep. 2017;7:14265. [PMID: 29079854 PMCID: PMC5660227 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14539-x]

Identification of a new class of activators of the Hippo pathway with antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo

The Hippo pathway is a key regulator of tissue growth, organ size, and tumorigenesis. Activating the Hippo pathway by gene editing or pharmaceutical intervention has been proven to be a new therapeutic strategy for treatment of the Hippo pathway-dependent cancers. To now, a number of compounds that directly target the downstream effector proteins of Hippo pathway, including YAP and TEADs, have been disclosed, but very few Hippo pathway activators are reported. Here, we discovered a new class of Hippo pathway activator, YL-602, which inhibited CTGF expression in cells irrespective of cell density and the presence of serum. Mechanistically, YL-602 activates the Hippo pathway via MST1/2, which is different from known activators of Hippo pathway. In vitro, YL-602 significantly induced tumor cell apoptosis and inhibited colony formation of tumor cells. In vivo, oral administration of YL-602 substantially suppressed the growth of cancer cells by activation of Hippo pathway. Overall, YL-602 could be a promising lead compound, and deserves further investigation for its mechanism of action and therapeutic applications.

Omics-based molecular classifications empowering in precision oncology

BACKGROUND

In the past decades, cancer enigmatical heterogeneity at distinct expression levels could interpret disparities in therapeutic response and prognosis. It built hindrances to precision medicine, a tactic to tailor customized treatment informed by the tumors' molecular profile. Single-omics analysis dissected the biological features associated with carcinogenesis to some extent but still failed to revolutionize cancer treatment as expected. Integrated omics analysis incorporated tumor biological networks from diverse layers and deciphered a holistic overview of cancer behaviors, yielding precise molecular classification to facilitate the evolution and refinement of precision medicine.

CONCLUSION

This review outlined the biomarkers at multiple expression layers to tutor molecular classification and pinpoint tumor diagnosis, and explored the paradigm shift in precision therapy: from single- to multi-omics-based subtyping to optimize therapeutic regimens. Ultimately, we firmly believe that by parsing molecular characteristics, omics-based typing will be a powerful assistant for precision oncology.

Biomarker Identification through Proteomics in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a devastating disease that ranks third in diagnosis and as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The early detection of CRC has been shown to be the most effective strategy to improve treatment outcomes and patient survival. Therefore, current lines of research focus on the development of reliable diagnostic tools. Targeted therapies, in combination with standard chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors, have emerged as promising treatment protocols in CRC. However, their effectiveness is linked to the molecular characteristics of each patient. The importance of discovering biomarkers that help predict response to therapies and assess prognosis is evident as they allow for a fundamental step towards personalized care and successful treatments. Among the ongoing efforts to identify them, mass spectrometry-based translational proteomics presents itself as a unique opportunity as it enables the discovery and application of protein biomarkers that may revolutionize the early detection and treatment of CRC. Our objective is to show the most recent studies focused on the identification of CRC-related protein markers, as well as to provide an updated view of advances in the field of proteomics and cancer.

Association of MST1 in the First Trimester of Pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Aim

We investigate the association of mammalian sterile line 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) in the first trimester with the risks of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

Pregnancies were recruited during their first antenatal care visit between 8 and 12 gestational weeks. These pregnancies underwent an oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 gestational weeks and were followed up until delivery. Serum MST1 levels at 8-12 gestational weeks and 24-28 gestational weeks were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between MST1 levels in the first trimester and the risks of GDM and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Results

This cohort study enrolled a total of 231 pregnancies. GDM was present in 42 (18.18%) women. Compared to the normal glucose tolerance (NGT) group, the GDM group had higher levels of FPG, HOMA-IR, and MST1 both in the first and second trimesters, but had lower HOMA-β levels only in the second trimester. Then participants were classified according to the median MST1 value in the first trimester. Incidences of GDM, composite adverse pregnancy outcomes, preterm birth, and macrosomia increased in women with higher MST1 values. Serum MST1 in the first trimester was correlated with FPG, 1hr PG, 2hr PG, and HOMA-IR, while inversely correlated with HOMA-β in the second trimester. Furthermore, after adjusting for traditional risk factors, women with higher first-trimester MST1 values had greater odds of GDM, composite adverse pregnancy outcomes, preterm birth, and macrosomia (aOR 2.276, P=0.030; aOR 2.690, P=0.003; aOR 3.210, P=0.048; aOR 5.488, P=0.010).

Conclusion

Elevated levels of MST1 in the first trimester of pregnancies are associated with increased risks of GDM and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

An Updated Review on Molecular Biomarkers in Diagnosis and Therapy of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancer types worldwide. Since colorectal cancer takes time to develop, its incidence and mortality can be treated effectively if it is detected in its early stages. As a result, non-invasive or invasive biomarkers play an essential role in the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Many experimental studies have been carried out to assess genetic, epigenetic, or protein markers in feces, serum, and tissue. It may be possible to find biomarkers that will help with the diagnosis of colorectal cancer by identifying the genes, RNAs, and/or proteins indicative of cancer growth. Recent advancements in the molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer, DNA methylation, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, exosomes, and their involvement in colorectal cancer have led to the discovery of novel biomarkers. In small-scale investigations, most biomarkers appear promising. However, large-scale clinical trials are required to validate their effectiveness before routine clinical implementation. Hence, this review focuses on small-scale investigations and results of big data analysis that may provide an overview of the biomarkers for the diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of colorectal cancer.

From Omic Layers to Personalized Medicine in Colorectal Cancer: The Road Ahead

Colorectal cancer is a major health concern since it is a highly diagnosed cancer and the second cause of death among cancers. Thus, the most suitable biomarkers for its diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment have been studied to improve and personalize the prevention and clinical management of colorectal cancer. The emergence of omic techniques has provided a great opportunity to better study CRC and make personalized medicine feasible. In this review, we will try to summarize how the analysis of the omic layers can be useful for personalized medicine and the existing difficulties. We will discuss how single and multiple omic layer analyses have been used to improve the prediction of the risk of CRC and its outcomes and how to overcome the challenges in the use of omic layers in personalized medicine.

Multiplexed, single-molecule, epigenetic analysis of plasma-isolated nucleosomes for cancer diagnostics

The analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma provides information on pathological processes in the body. Blood cfDNA is in the form of nucleosomes, which maintain their tissue- and cancer-specific epigenetic state. We developed a single-molecule multiparametric assay to comprehensively profile the epigenetics of plasma-isolated nucleosomes (EPINUC), DNA methylation and cancer-specific protein biomarkers. Our system allows for high-resolution detection of six active and repressive histone modifications and their ratios and combinatorial patterns on millions of individual nucleosomes by single-molecule imaging. In addition, our system provides sensitive and quantitative data on plasma proteins, including detection of non-secreted tumor-specific proteins, such as mutant p53. EPINUC analysis of a cohort of 63 colorectal cancer, 10 pancreatic cancer and 33 healthy plasma samples detected cancer with high accuracy and sensitivity, even at early stages. Finally, combining EPINUC with direct single-molecule DNA sequencing revealed the tissue of origin of colorectal, pancreatic, lung and breast tumors. EPINUC provides multilayered information of potential clinical relevance from limited (<1 ml) liquid biopsy material.

Current Role of Modern Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Investigation of Biomarkers of Endometriosis

Endometriosis has a wide range of clinical manifestations, and the disease course is unpredictable, making the diagnosis a challenging task. Despite significant advances in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and various proposed theories, the exact etiology is not fully understood and is still unknown. The most commonly used biomarker of endometriosis is CA-125, however, it is nonspecific and is applied for cancers diagnosis. Therefore, the development of reliable noninvasive diagnostic tests for the early diagnosis of endometriosis remains one of the top priorities. Omics technologies are very promising approaches for constructing diagnostic models and biomarker discovery. Their use can greatly facilitate the study of such a complex disease as endometriosis. Nowadays, powerful analytical platforms commonly used in omics, such as gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, have proven to be a promising tools for biomarker discovery. The aim of this review is to summarize the various features of the analytical approaches, practical challenges and features of gas and liquid chromatography with MS and NMR spectroscopy (including sample processing protocols, technological advancements, and methodology) used for profiling of metabolites, lipids, peptides and proteins in physiological fluids and tissues from patients with endometriosis. In addition, this report devotes special attention to the issue of how comprehensive analyses of these profiles can effectively contribute to the study of endometriosis. The search query included reports published between 2012 and 2022 years in PubMed, Web-of-Science, SCOPUS, Science Direct.

Deciphering Potential Role of Hippo Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and a leading malignancy around the world. It is a vital cause of untimely mortality among women. Drug resistance is the major challenge for effective cancer therapeutics. In contrast, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are one of the reasons for drug resistance, tumor progression, and metastasis. The small population of CSCs present in each tumor has the ability of self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity. CSCs are often identified and enriched using a variety of cell surface markers (CD44, CD24, CD133, ABCG2, CD49f, LGR5, SSEA-3, CD70) that exert their functions by different regulatory networks, i.e., Notch, Wnt/β-catenin, hedgehog (Hh), and Hippo signaling pathways. Particularly the Hippo signaling pathway is the emerging and very less explored cancer stem cell pathway. Here, in this review, the Hippo signaling molecules are elaborated with respect to their ability of stemness as epigenetic modulators and how these molecules can be targeted for better cancer treatment and to overcome drug resistance.

Molecular Pathways, Targeted Therapies, and Proteomic Investigations of Colorectal Cancer

According to the GLOBOCAN 2020 data, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. The risk factors for colorectal cancer include a diet abundant with fat, refined carbohydrates, animal protein, low fiber content, alcoholism, obesity, long-term cigarette smoking, low physical activity, and aging. Colorectal carcinomas are classified as adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine, squamous cell, adenosquamous, spindle cell, and undifferentiated carcinomas. In addition, many variants of colorectal carcinomas have been recently distinguished based on histological, immunological, and molecular characteristics. Recently developed targeted molecules in conjunction with standard chemotherapeutics or immune checkpoint inhibitors provide promising treatment protocols for colorectal cancer. However, the benefit of targeted therapies is strictly dependent on the mutational status of signaling molecules (e.g., KRAS) or mismatch repair systems. Here it is aimed to provide a comprehensive view of colorectal cancer types, molecular pathways associated, recently developed targeted therapies, as well as proteomic investigations applied to colorectal cancer for the discovery of novel biomarkers and new targets for treatment protocols.

Retraction

Bao G, Pan W, Huang J, Zhou T. K-RasG12V/T35S -ERK1/2 pathway regulates H2BS14ph through Mst1 to facilitate the advancement of breast cancer cells. BioFactors. 2023;49:202. https://doi.org/10.1002/biof.1589 This article, published online on 28 November 2019 in Wiley Online Library, has been retracted by agreement between the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Editor in Chief (Dr. Angelo Azzi), and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. Evidence for image manipulation was found in figures 1, 4, 5, and 6. As a result, the conclusions of this article are considered to be invalid.

PYY modulates the tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal cancer unveiled by proteomics

Despite decrease in mortality caused by colorectal cancer (CRC), there remains no effective therapeutic method for patients with CRC. We attempted to screen biomarkers with therapeutic values in CRC. Proteomic analysis was performed on tumor, tumor-adjacent, and normal tissues derived from five patients with colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) via label-free proteome profiling. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified, and functional annotation was performed based on the gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. The effect of marker proteins on CRC was determined via cell function experiments and using tumor organoid models. The localization of the marker proteins was determined via immunofluorescence. A total of 126 DEPs were identified in COAD tissues compared with normal tissues, of which Peptide YY (PYY) overlapped among the tumor, adjacent, and normal groups. DEPs in the cancer group vs. normal group were enriched in the regulation of cell cycle checkpoint, developmental process, focal adhesion, and apoptosis-related pathways. The low expression of PYY in CRC tissues was verified via qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Overexpression of PYY promoted apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCT116 and HT29 cells. Furthermore, PYY was secreted by neurons and its supplementation suppressed tumor organoid growth in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, PYY exerted inhibitory action on CRC and could be a therapeutic target for CRC.

Multi-Omics Approaches in Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, Recent Updates and Future Perspectives

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is common Cancer as well as the third leading cause of mortality around the world; its exact molecular mechanism remains elusive. Although CRC risk is significantly correlated with genetic factors, the pathophysiology of CRC is also influenced by external and internal exposures and their interactions with genetic factors. The field of CRC research has recently benefited from significant advances through Omics technologies for screening biomarkers, including genes, transcripts, proteins, metabolites, microbiome, and lipidome unbiasedly. A promising application of omics technologies could enable new biomarkers to be found for the screening and diagnosis of CRC. Single-omics technologies cannot fully understand the molecular mechanisms of CRC. Therefore, this review article aims to summarize the multi-omics studies of Colorectal cancer, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, microbiomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics that may shed new light on the discovery of novel biomarkers. It can contribute to identifying and validating new CRC biomarkers and better understanding colorectal carcinogenesis. Discovering biomarkers through multi-omics technologies could be difficult but valuable for disease genotyping and phenotyping. That can provide a better knowledge of CRC prognosis, diagnosis, and treatments.

The Role of Genomics and Proteomics in Lung Cancer Early Detection and Treatment

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the primary type. Unfortunately, it is often diagnosed at advanced stages, when therapy leaves patients with a dismal prognosis. Despite the advances in genomics and proteomics in the past decade, leading to progress in developing tools for early diagnosis, targeted therapies have shown promising results; however, the 5-year survival of NSCLC patients is only about 15%. Low-dose computed tomography or chest X-ray are the main types of screening tools. Lung cancer patients without specific, actionable mutations are currently treated with conventional therapies, such as platinum-based chemotherapy; however, resistances and relapses often occur in these patients. More noninvasive, inexpensive, and safer diagnostic methods based on novel biomarkers for NSCLC are of paramount importance. In the current review, we summarize genomic and proteomic biomarkers utilized for the early detection and treatment of NSCLC. We further discuss future opportunities to improve biomarkers for early detection and the effective treatment of NSCLC.

Targeting the Hippo Pathway in Gastric Cancer and Other Malignancies in the Digestive System: From Bench to Bedside

The Hippo pathway is an evolutionally conserved signaling cascade that controls organ size and tissue regeneration under physiological conditions, and its aberrations have been well studied to promote tumor initiation and progression. Dysregulation of the Hippo tumor suppressor signaling frequently occurs in gastric cancer (GC) and other solid tumors and contributes to cancer development through modulating multiple aspects, including cell proliferation, survival, metastasis, and oncotherapy resistance. In the clinic, Hippo components also possess diagnostic and prognostic values for cancer patients. Considering its crucial role in driving tumorigenesis, targeting the Hippo pathway may greatly benefit developing novel cancer therapies. This review summarizes the current research progress regarding the core components and regulation of the Hippo pathway, as well as the mechanism and functional roles of their dysregulation in gastrointestinal malignancies, especially in GC, and discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting the Hippo pathway against cancers.

Analysis of blood markers for early colorectal cancer diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a very common tumor worldwide. Its mortality can be limited by early diagnosis through screening programs. These programs are based on fecal occult blood testing and colonoscopy. Our objective was to find a model based on the determination of blood biomarkers that was efficacious enough to become part of the early diagnosis of CRC.

METHODS

In a total of 221 patients who underwent a colonoscopy, two types of markers were identified (I) classic: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA19.9, α-fetoprotein, CA125, CA72.4, and ferritin; and (II) experimental: neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG), calprotectin, and cysteine-rich 61 (Cyr61). We divided the patients into four groups according to colonoscopy results: a control group (n=83) with normal colonoscopy, a polyp group (n=56), a CRC group (n=45), and an inflammatory disease group (n=37). We built an algorithm based on multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 51.6% were males, and the median age was 63 years. We designed an algorithm based on the combination of several markers that discriminated CRC patients from the rest of the patients with a performance of 94%, a sensitivity of 95.6%, and a specificity of 80.6%. Discriminating by sex also resulted in two powerful algorithms, although it performed better in males (97% vs. 91%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study has devised a predictive model with high efficacy based on the determination of several biomarkers. We think that it could be incorporated into the set of methods used in CRC screening.

1H-NMR Based Metabolomics Technology Identifies Potential Serum Biomarkers of Colorectal Cancer Lung Metastasis in a Mouse Model

Background

Lung metastasis is a common metastasis site of colorectal cancer which largely reduces the quality of life and survival rates of patients. The discovery of potential novel diagnostic biomarkers is very meaningful for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer with lung metastasis.

Methods

In the present study, the metabonomic profiling of serum samples of lung metastasis mice was analyzed by ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR). Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to elucidate the distinguishing metabolites between different groups, and all achieved excellent separations, which indicated that metastatic mice could be differentiated from control mice based on the metabolic profiles at serum levels. Furthermore, during lung metastasis of colorectal cancer, metabolic phenotypes changed significantly, and some of metabolites were identified.

Results

Among these metabolites, approximately 15 were closely associated with the lung metastasis process. Pathway enrichment analysis results showed deregulation of metabolic pathways participating in the process of lung metastasis, such as synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies pathway, amino acid metabolism pathway and pyruvate metabolism pathway.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated the metabolic disturbances of serum samples of mice during the lung metastasis process of colorectal cancer and provides potential diagnostic biomarkers for the disease.

Advances in High Throughput Proteomics Profiling in Establishing Potential Biomarkers for Gastrointestinal Cancer

Gastrointestinal cancers (GICs) remain the most diagnosed cancers and accounted for the highest cancer-related death globally. The prognosis and treatment outcomes of many GICs are poor because most of the cases are diagnosed in advanced metastatic stages. This is primarily attributed to the deficiency of effective and reliable early diagnostic biomarkers. The existing biomarkers for GICs diagnosis exhibited inadequate specificity and sensitivity. To improve the early diagnosis of GICs, biomarkers with higher specificity and sensitivity are warranted. Proteomics study and its functional analysis focus on elucidating physiological and biological functions of unknown or annotated proteins and deciphering cellular mechanisms at molecular levels. In addition, quantitative analysis of translational proteomics is a promising approach in enhancing the early identification and proper management of GICs. In this review, we focus on the advances in mass spectrometry along with the quantitative and functional analysis of proteomics data that contributes to the establishment of biomarkers for GICs including, colorectal, gastric, hepatocellular, pancreatic, and esophageal cancer. We also discuss the future challenges in the validation of proteomics-based biomarkers for their translation into clinics.

CCL20 induces colorectal cancer neoplastic epithelial cell proliferation, migration, and further CCL20 production through autocrine HGF-c-Met and MSP-MSPR signaling pathways

CCL20-CCR6 interactions promote colorectal cancer through direct effects on neoplastic epithelial cells and through modulating the tumor microenvironment. The mechanism of these effects on neoplastic epithelial cells is poorly understood. This study demonstrates that CCL20 induces secretion of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and phosphorylation of HGF’s cognate receptor c-Met in HT29 and HCT116 colorectal cancer cell lines both in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Similar to CCL20, HGF induces migration, autofeedback CCL20 secretion, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the colon cancer cells. CCL20-dependent ERK1/2 phosphorylation is blocked by HGF inhibition, and CCL20-dependent migration and CCL20 secretion are blocked by inhibition of HGF or ERK. Interestingly, unlike CCL20, HGF does not induce proliferation of colon cancer cells, and CCL20-dependent cell proliferation is not blocked by direct HGF inhibition. CCL20-dependent proliferation, however, is blocked by the multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor crizotinib. Exploring this effect, it was found that CCL20 also induces production of MSP and phosphorylation of MSP’s receptor MSPR by the colorectal cancer cells. CCL20-dependent cell proliferation is inhibited by directly blocking MSP-MSPR interactions. Thus, CCL20-mediated migration and CCL20 secretion are regulated through a pathway involving HGF, c-Met, and ERK, while CCL20-mediated proliferation is instead regulated through MSP and its receptor MSPR.

Inflammation-related pyroptosis, a novel programmed cell death pathway, and its crosstalk with immune therapy in cancer treatment

In recent decades, chemotherapies targeting apoptosis have emerged and demonstrated remarkable achievements. However, emerging evidence has shown that chemoresistance is mediated by impairing or bypassing apoptotic cell death. Several novel types of programmed cell death, such as ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, have recently been reported to play significant roles in the modulation of cancer progression and are considered a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Thus, the switch between apoptosis and pyroptosis is also discussed. Cancer immunotherapy has gained increasing attention due to breakthroughs in immune checkpoint inhibitors; moreover, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis are highly correlated with the modulation of immunity in the tumor microenvironment. Compared with necroptosis and ferroptosis, pyroptosis is the primary mechanism for host defense and is crucial for bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Furthermore, recent evidence has demonstrated that pyroptosis exerts benefits on cancer immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T). Hence, in this review, we elucidate the role of pyroptosis in cancer progression and the modulation of immunity. We also summarize the potential small molecules and nanomaterials that target pyroptotic cell death mechanisms and their therapeutic effects on cancer.

Systems-level biomarkers identification and drug repositioning in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most commonly diagnosed fatal cancer in both women and men worldwide. CRC ranked second in mortality and third in incidence in 2020. It is difficult to diagnose CRC at an early stage as there are no clinical symptoms. Despite advances in molecular biology, only a limited number of biomarkers have been translated into routine clinical practice to predict risk, prognosis and response to treatment. In the last decades, systems biology approaches at the omics level have gained importance. Over the years, several biomarkers for CRC have been discovered in terms of disease diagnosis and prognosis. On the other hand, a few drugs are being developed and used in clinics for the treatment of CRC. However, the development of new drugs is very costly and time-consuming as the research and development takes about 10 years and more than $1 billion. Therefore, drug repositioning (DR) could save time and money by establishing new indications for existing drugs. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC from the systems biology perspective and insights into DR approaches for the prevention or treatment of CRC.

The Pivotal Player: Components of NF-κB Pathway as Promising Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer

Over the last several decades, colorectal cancer (CRC) has been one of the most prevalent cancers. While significant progress has been made in both diagnostic screening and therapeutic approaches, a large knowledge gap still remains regarding the early identification and treatment of CRC. Specifically, identification of CRC biomarkers that can help with the creation of targeted therapies as well as increasing the ability for clinicians to predict the biological response of a patient to therapeutics, is of particular importance. This review provides an overview of CRC and its progression stages, as well as the basic types of CRC biomarkers. We then lay out the synopsis of signaling pathways related to CRC, and further highlight the pivotal and multifaceted role of nuclear factor (NF) κB signaling in CRC. Particularly, we bring forth knowledge regarding the tumor microenvironment (TME) in CRC, and its complex interaction with cancer cells. We also provide examples of NF-κB signaling-related CRC biomarkers, and ongoing efforts made at targeting NF-κB signaling in CRC treatment. We conclude and anticipate that with more emerging novel regulators of the NF-κB pathway being discovered, together with their in-depth characterization and the integration of large groups of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data, the day of successful development of more ideal NF-κB inhibitors is fast approaching.

Proteomics, Personalized Medicine and Cancer

As of 2020 the human genome and proteome are both at >90% completion based on high stringency analyses. This has been largely achieved by major technological advances over the last 20 years and has enlarged our understanding of human health and disease, including cancer, and is supporting the current trend towards personalized/precision medicine. This is due to improved screening, novel therapeutic approaches and an increased understanding of underlying cancer biology. However, cancer is a complex, heterogeneous disease modulated by genetic, molecular, cellular, tissue, population, environmental and socioeconomic factors, which evolve with time. In spite of recent advances in treatment that have resulted in improved patient outcomes, prognosis is still poor for many patients with certain cancers (e.g., mesothelioma, pancreatic and brain cancer) with a high death rate associated with late diagnosis. In this review we overview key hallmarks of cancer (e.g., autophagy, the role of redox signaling), current unmet clinical needs, the requirement for sensitive and specific biomarkers for early detection, surveillance, prognosis and drug monitoring, the role of the microbiome and the goals of personalized/precision medicine, discussing how emerging omics technologies can further inform on these areas. Exemplars from recent onco-proteogenomic-related publications will be given. Finally, we will address future perspectives, not only from the standpoint of perceived advances in treatment, but also from the hurdles that have to be overcome.

A Meta-Analysis of Proteomic Blood Markers of Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Early diagnosis will significantly improve the survival rate of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the existing methods for CRC screening were either invasive or inefficient. There is an emergency need for novel markers in CRC's early diagnosis. Serum proteomics has gained great potential in discovering novel markers, providing markers that reflect the early stage of cancer and prognosis prediction of CRC. In this paper, the results of proteomics of CRC studies were summarized through a meta-analysis in order to obtain the diagnostic efficiency of novel markers.

METHODS

A systematic search on bibliographic databases was performed to collect the studies that explore blood-based markers for CRC applying proteomics. The detection and validation methods, as well as the specificity and sensitivity of the biomarkers in these studies, were evaluated. Newcastle- Ottawa Scale (NOS) case-control studies version was used for quality assessment of included studies.

RESULTS

Thirty-four studies were selected from 751 studies, in which markers detected by proteomics were summarized. In total, fifty-nine proteins were classified according to their biological function. The sensitivity, specificity, or AUC varied among these markers. Among them, Mammalian STE20-like protein kinase 1/ Serine threonine kinase 4 (MST1/STK4), S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9), and Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) were suitable for effect sizes merging, and their diagnostic efficiencies were recalculated after merging. MST1/STK4 obtained a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 78%. S100A9 achieved a sensitivity of 72%, a specificity of 83%, and an AUC of 0.88. TIMP1 obtained a sensitivity of 42%, a specificity of 88%, and an AUC of 0.71.

CONCLUSION

MST1/STK4, S100A9, and TIMP1 showed excellent performance for CRC detection. Several other markers also presented optimized diagnostic efficacy for CRC early detection, but further verification is still needed before they are suitable for clinical use. The discovering of more efficient markers will benefit CRC treatment.

Downregulation of STK4 promotes colon cancer invasion/migration through blocking β-catenin degradation

Mammalian STE20-like kinase 1 (MST1/STK4/KRS2) encodes a serine/threonine kinase that is the mammalian homolog of Drosophila Hippo. STK4 plays an important role in controlling cell growth, apoptosis, and organ size. STK4 has been studied in many cancers with previous studies indicating an involvement in colon cancer lymph node metastasis and highlighting its potential as a diagnostic marker for colon cancer. However, the role of STK4 defect in promoting colon cancer progression is still understudied. Here, we found that STK4 was significantly downregulated in colon cancer and was associated with distal metastasis and poor survival. Furthermore, STK4 knockdown enhanced sphere formation and metastasis in vitro and promoted tumor development in vivo. We found that STK4 colocalized with β-catenin and directly phosphorylated β-catenin resulting in its degradation via the ubiquitin-mediated pathway. This may suggest that STK4 knockdown causes β-catenin phosphorylation failure and subsequently β-catenin accumulation, consequently leading to anchorage-independent growth and metastasis in colon cancer. Our results support that STK4 may act as a potential candidate for the assessment of β-catenin-mediated colon cancer prognosis.

Targeting mammalian serine/threonine-protein kinase 4 through Yes-associated protein/TEA domain transcription factor-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition ameliorates diabetic nephropathy orchestrated renal fibrosis

RATIONALE

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis, which is closely related to functional injury of the kidney, can be observed in advanced stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Mammalian serine/threonine-protein kinase 4 (MST1), a core component of the Hippo pathway that is involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of multiple metabolic diseases, kidney diseases and cancer.

METHODS

In type 1 and type 2 diabetic animals, as well as in human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2), activation of MST1 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. In db/db mice, MST1 protein was knocked down or overexpressed by shRNA, and renal function, fibrosis, and downstream signaling were then investigated. RNA silencing and overexpression were performed by using an MST1 or YAP knockdown/expression lentivirus to investigate the regulation of MST1-mediated YAP/TEAD signaling pathways in the fibrosis process in HK-2 cells. Luciferase and coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) assays were used to identify whether YAP directly regulated TEAD activation by forming a YAP-TEAD heterodimer, which ultimately leads to tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

RESULTS

MST1 activation was significantly decreased in type 1 and type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Notably, the downregulation of MST1 activation was also observed in HK-2 cells in a glucose- and time-dependent manner. In vivo, downregulation of MST1 was sufficient to promote renal dysfunction and fibrosis in db/m mice, whereas overexpression of MST1 ameliorated diabetic nephropathy-induced renal fibrosis. Further mechanistic study demonstrated that activated YAP induced by MST1 inhibition directly upregulated TEAD activation by binding to TEAD and forming a YAP-TEAD heterodimer, resulting in the promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrosis in renal tubular epithelial.

CONCLUSIONS

MST1 activation represents a potential therapeutic strategy to treat or prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy-induced renal fibrosis.

MicroRNA-18a targeting of the STK4/MST1 tumour suppressor is necessary for transformation in HPV positive cervical cancer

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are a major cause of malignancy worldwide. They are the aetiological agents of almost all cervical cancers as well as a sub-set of other anogenital and head and neck cancers. Hijacking of host cellular pathways is essential for virus pathogenesis; however, a major challenge remains to identify key host targets and to define their contribution to HPV-driven malignancy. The Hippo pathway regulates epithelial homeostasis by down-regulating the function of the transcription factor YAP. Increased YAP expression has been observed in cervical cancer but the mechanisms driving this increase remain unclear. We found significant down-regulation of the master Hippo regulatory kinase STK4 (also termed MST1) in cervical disease samples and cervical cancer cell lines compared with healthy controls. Re-introduction of STK4 inhibited the proliferation of HPV positive cervical cells and this corresponded with decreased YAP nuclear localization and decreased YAP-dependent gene expression. The HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins maintained low STK4 expression in cervical cancer cells by upregulating the oncomiR miR-18a, which directly targeted the STK4 mRNA 3’UTR. Interestingly, miR-18a knockdown increased STK4 expression and activated the Hippo pathway, significantly reducing cervical cancer cell proliferation. Our results identify STK4 as a key cervical cancer tumour suppressor, which is targeted via miR-18a in HPV positive tumours. Our study indicates that activation of the Hippo pathway may offer a therapeutically beneficial option for cervical cancer treatment.

HPVs are the causative agents of ~5% of human cancers. Better understanding of the mechanisms by which these viruses deregulate cellular signalling pathways may offer therapeutic options for HPV-associated malignancies. The transcription factor YAP is active in cervical cancer but the mechanisms controlling its activation remain unclear. YAP is negatively regulated and sequestered in the cytoplasm through activation of the Hippo pathway. We discovered that expression of the master Hippo kinase, STK4 (also termed MST1), is reduced in HPV positive cervical cell lines and cervical disease samples. Low STK4 levels were maintained by the HPV oncogenes through up-regulation of miR-18a, which targeted the STK4 mRNA 3’UTR. Re-introduction of STK4 or bypassing miR-18a-dependent regulation de-activated YAP-driven transcription and reduced cell proliferation. Thus, our study identifies a novel interplay between HPV oncogenes and the STK4 tumour suppressor and identifies the Hippo pathway as a target for therapeutic intervention in HPV-associated malignancies.

Performance of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) in diagnosis of ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) for ovarian cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A thorough research was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Embase (until November 2018) to identify studies evaluating the accuracy of MALDI-TOF-MS for ovarian cancer. Using Meta-Disc1.4, Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15.1 software to analyze the pooled results: sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The summary receiver operating characteristic curves (SROC) and area under the curve (AUC) show the overall performance of MALDI-TOF-MS.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Methodological quality analysis of the included studies showed that these articles were at low risk of bias and applicability concerns in total. Summary estimates of the diagnostic parameters were as follows: sensitivity, 0.77 (95% CI: 0.73-0.80); specificity, 0.72 (95% CI: 0.70-0.74), PLR, 2.80 (95% CI: 2.41-3.24); NLR, 0.30 (95% CI: 0.22-0.40) and DOR, 10.71 (95% CI: 7.81-14.68). And the AUC was 0.8336. Egger's test showed no significant publication bias in this meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, MALDI-TOF-MS shows a good ability for diagnosing ovarian cancer. Further evaluation and optimization of standardized procedures are necessary for complete relying on MALDI-TOF-MS to diagnose ovarian cancer.

Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer: The Role of Translational Proteomics Research

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and it is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Despite recent progress in the development of screening programs and in the management of patients with colorectal cancer, there are still many gaps to fill, ranging from the prevention and early diagnosis to the determination of prognosis factors and treatment of metastatic disease, to establish a personalized approach. The genetic profile approach has been increasingly used in the decision-making process, especially in the choice of targeted therapies and in the prediction of drug response, but there are still few validated biomarkers of colorectal cancer for clinical practice. The discovery of non-invasive, sensitive, and specific biomarkers is an urgent need, and translational proteomics play a key role in this process, as they enable better comprehension of colorectal carcinogenesis, identification of potential markers, and subsequent validation. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the search for colorectal cancer biomarkers through proteomics studies according to biomarker function and clinical application.

Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway signaling in aging and cancer

Human beings are facing emerging degenerative and cancer diseases, in large part, as a consequence of increased life expectancy. In the near future, researchers will have to put even more effort into fighting these new challenges, one of which will be prevention of cancer while continuing to improve the aging process through this increased life expectancy. In the last few decades, relevance of the Hippo pathway on cancer has become an important study since it is a major regulator of organ size control and proliferation. However, its deregulation can induce tumors throughout the body by regulating cell proliferation, disrupting cell polarity, releasing YAP and TAZ from the Scribble complexes and facilitating survival gene expression via activation of TEAD transcription factors. This pathway is also involved in some of the most important mechanisms that control the aging processes, such as the AMP-activated protein kinase and sirtuin pathways, along with autophagy and oxidative stress response/antioxidant defense. This could be the link between two tightly connected processes that could open a broader range of targeted molecular therapies to fight aging and cancer. Therefore, available knowledge of the processes involved in the Hippo pathway during aging and cancer must necessarily be well understood.

MST1/Hippo promoter gene methylation predicts poor survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma in the IFCT-GFPC-0701 MAPS Phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

The Mesothelioma Avastin Cisplatin Pemetrexed Study (MAPS/NCT00651456) phase 3 trial demonstrated the superiority of bevacizumab plus pemetrexed-cisplatin triplet over chemotherapy alone in 448 malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients. Here, we evaluated the prognostic role of Hippo pathway gene promoter methylation.

METHODS

Promoter methylations were assayed using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in samples from 223 MAPS patients, evaluating their prognostic value for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival in univariate and multivariate analyses. MST1 inactivation effects on invasion, soft agar growth, apoptosis, proliferation, and YAP/TAZ activation were investigated in human mesothelial cell lines.

RESULTS

STK4 (MST1) gene promoter methylation was detected in 19/223 patients tested (8.5%), predicting poorer OS in univariate and multivariate analyses (adjusted HR: 1.78, 95% CI (1.09-2.93), p = 0.022). Internal validation by bootstrap resampling supported this prognostic impact. MST1 inactivation reduced cellular basal apoptotic activity while increasing proliferation, invasion, and soft agar or in suspension growth, resulting in nuclear YAP accumulation, yet TAZ cytoplasmic retention in mesothelial cell lines. YAP silencing decreased invasion of MST1-depleted mesothelial cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

MST1/hippo kinase expression loss is predictive of poor prognosis in MPM patients, leading to nuclear YAP accumulation and electing YAP as a putative target for therapeutic intervention in human MPM.

Poor expression of microRNA-135b results in the inhibition of cisplatin resistance and proliferation and induces the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through MST1-mediated MAPK signaling pathway

Gastric cancer (GC) has been classified as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Due to their ability to suppress the expression of target genes, microRNAs (miRNAs) are listed as one of the key elements involved in the formation and development of tumors. This study was therefore conducted to investigate the effects of microRNA-135b (miR-135b) on cisplatin [ cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)] resistance of GC cells through the MAPK signaling pathway by targeting mammalian ste20-like kinase 1 (MST1). A microarray-based gene expression analysis was performed to screen the GC-related differentially expressed genes. The 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay was performed to determine the sensitivity of GC cells to CDDP. The bioinformatics database and dual luciferase reporter gene assay were used to check whether MST1 was a direct target gene of miR-135b. GC cell lines were prepared with high CDDP resistance, after which they were cultured and transfected respectively, followed by the administration of transfected cells into nude mice and subsequent treatment with CDDP in an attempt to identify the underlying mechanisms and functions of miR-135b in relation to MST1 in GC progression. The results were highly indicative of the crucial role played by MST1 in the development of GC and the sensitivity of GC to CDDP. miR-135b was found to regulate MST1, which in turn had an impact on the development of GC. MKN28 was observed to be most sensitive to CDDP, whereas MKN45 presented with the poorest sensitivity to CDDP. Furthermore, the down-regulation of miR-135b resulted in inactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway; increased the expression of MST1 and Bax; and decreased expression of p-p38MAPK, p-ERK1/2, P-glycoprotein, p38MAPK, ERK1/2, multidrug resistance protein 1, multidrug resistance-associated protein 1, lung resistance-related protein, and Bcl-2, thus inhibiting CDDP resistance of GC cells. The down-regulation of miR-135b also restrained cell proliferation and induced the apoptosis rate of GC cells. In summary, the results of this study showed that the down-regulation of miR-135b induced apoptosis, and it inhibited proliferation and CDDP resistance of GC cells by inactivating the MAPK signaling pathway and increasing the expression of MST1.-Zhou, J., Chen, Q. Poor expression of microRNA-135b results in the inhibition of cisplatin resistance and proliferation and induces the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through MST1-mediated MAPK signaling pathway.

Mst1 regulates non-small cell lung cancer A549 cell apoptosis by inducing mitochondrial damage via ROCK1/F‑actin pathways

Mammalian STE20-like kinase 1 (Mst1) is well recognized as a major tumor suppressor in cancer development, growth, metabolic reprogramming, metastasis, cell death and recurrence. However, the roles of Mst1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cell phenotypic alterations remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to explore the functional role and underlying mechanisms of Mst1 with regards to A549 cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis; this study focused on mitochondrial homeostasis and Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1)/F‑actin pathways. The results demonstrated that Mst1 was downregulated in A549 cells compared with in a normal pulmonary epithelial cell line. Subsequently, overexpression of Mst1 in A549 cells reduced cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis. Furthermore, overexpression of Mst1 suppressed A549 cell proliferation and migration. At the molecular level, the reintroduction of Mst1 in A549 cells led to activation of mitochondrial apoptosis, as evidenced by a reduction in mitochondrial potential, overproduction of ROS, cytochrome c release from the mitochondria into the nucleus, and upregulation of pro-apoptotic protein expression. In addition, Mst1 overexpression was closely associated with impaired mitochondrial respiratory function and suppressed cellular energy metabolism. Functional studies illustrated that Mst1 overexpression activated ROCK1/F-actin pathways, which highly regulate mitochondrial function. Inhibition of ROCK1/F-actin pathways in A549 cells sustained mitochondrial homeostasis, alleviated caspase-9-dependent mitochondrial apoptosis, enhanced cancer cell migration and increased cell proliferation. In conclusion, these data firmly established the regulatory role of Mst1 in NSCLC A549 cell survival via the modulation of ROCK1/F-actin pathways, which may provide opportunities for novel treatment modalities in clinical practice.

Hypermethylated Promoters of Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein Genes are Associated with Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Aberrant DNA methylation has been recognized as one of the most common molecular alterations in CRC. The goal of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of SFRP1 and SFRP2 methylation for CRC. A total of 80 pairs of CRC patients were recruited to test the association of SFRP1 and SFRP2 promotor methylation with CRC. Methylation assay was performed using quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (qMSP) method. In this study, we found the methylation levels of SFRP1 and SFRP2 in CRC tumor tissues were significantly higher than those in the adjacent non-tumor tissues (SFRP1: P = 2E-5; SFRP2: P = 0.014). Further bioinformatics analysis of TCGA data confirmed the association of the two genes with CRC (SFRP1: P = 7E-21; SFRP2: P = 5E-24). Luciferase reporter gene assay showed that the recombinant plasmids with SFRP1 and SFRP2 fragments could significantly enhance promoter activity (SFRP1: P = 0.002; SFRP2: P = 0.004). In addition, SFRP1 and SFRP2 methylation were inversely correlated with the mRNA expression displayed by TCGA data mining (SFRP1: r = -0.432, P = 4E-11; SFRP2: r = -0.478, P = 1E-13). GEO data analysis indicated that SFRP1 and SFRP2 expression were increased in three CRC cell lines (COLO320, HCT116 and HT29) after 5'-AZA-deoxycytidine treatment, suggesting that DNA methylation played an important role in regulating gene expression of the two genes. Our results confirmed that promoter methylation of SFRP1 and SFRP2 contributed to the risk of CRC.

Hippo pathway affects survival of cancer patients: extensive analysis of TCGA data and review of literature

The disruption of the Hippo pathway occurs in many cancer types and is associated with cancer progression. Herein, we investigated the impact of 32 Hippo genes on overall survival (OS) of cancer patients, by both analysing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and reviewing the related literature. mRNA and protein expression data of all solid tumors except pure sarcomas were downloaded from TCGA database. Thirty-two Hippo genes were considered; for each gene, patients were dichotomized based on median expression value. Survival analyses were performed to identify independent predictors, taking into account the main clinical-pathological features affecting OS. Finally, independent predictors were correlated with YAP1 oncoprotein expression. At least one of the Hippo genes is an independent prognostic factor in 12 out of 13 considered tumor datasets. mRNA levels of the independent predictors coherently correlate with YAP1 in glioma, kidney renal clear cell, head and neck, and bladder cancer. Moreover, literature data revealed the association between YAP1 levels and OS in gastric, colorectal, hepatocellular, pancreatic, and lung cancer. Herein, we identified cancers in which Hippo pathway affects OS; these cancers should be candidates for YAP1 inhibitors development and testing.

ITGBL1 promotes migration, invasion and predicts a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide; its progression and prognosis are associated with oncogenes. The present study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and explore the role and potential mechanism of integrin subunit β like 1 (ITGBL1) in CRC. The microarray dataset GSE41258 was used to screen DEGs involved in CRC. Survival analysis was performed to predict the prognosis of CRC patients. To validate ITGBL1 expression, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were performed in CRC tissues and cells. Subsequently, the effects of ITGBL1 were evaluated through colony formation, cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays. Finally, we took advantage of Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to explore potential function and mechanism of ITGBL1 in CRC. In our study, 182 primary CRC tissues and 54 normal colon tissues were contained in GSE41258 dataset. A total of 318 DEGs were screened, among which ITGBL1 was found to be significantly up-regulated in CRC, and its high expression was associated with shortened survival of CRC patients. Moreover, knockdown of ITGBL1 promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Finally, GO analysis revealed that ITGBL1 was associated with cell adhesion. GSEA indicated that ITGBL1 was enriched in ECM receptor interaction and focal adhesion. In conclusion, a novel oncogene ITGBL1 was identified and demonstrated to be associated with the progression and prognosis of CRC, which might be a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for CRC patients.