A case-control study of Metallothionein-1 expression in breast cancer and breast fibroadenoma

Genetic Variations in Metallothionein Genes and Susceptibility to Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Case-Control Study

Background: The involvement of oxidative stress in the pathological process of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) gives rise to the interest in exploring the association of genetic variations in antioxidant metallothionein (MT) genes with HDP susceptibility.

Methods: Seventeen single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in MT genes were selected to conduct genotyping based on a case-control study consisting of 371 HDP cases (pregnancy with chronic hypertension (66), gestational hypertension (172), and preeclampsia or preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension (133)) and 479 controls. The association between SNPs in MTs and the risk of HDP was estimated with unconditional logistic regression analysis and further tested with the false-positive report probability (FPRP) procedure. The joint effects of SNPs on the HDP risk were assessed by haplotype analysis.

Results: After the adjustment for age and pre-pregnancy body mass index (pre-BMI) in the logistic regress analysis and followed by the FPRP test, the genetic variation rs10636 (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.30–0.71 for GG vs. CC, p = 0.000 and OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.32–0.73 for GG vs. CG/CC, p = 0.001) in MT2A was associated with gestational hypertension. Other four SNPs, that is, rs11076161 (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.35–2.63 for GG vs. GA/AA, p = 0.000) in MT1A; rs7191779 (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.11–2.13 for CC vs. CG/GG, p = 0.010) in MT1B; rs8044719 (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.40–0.80 for GT vs. GG, p = 0.001) in MT1DP; and rs8052334 (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.10–2.11 for TT vs. TC/CC, p = 0.012) in MT1B were significantly associated with the susceptibility of HDP. The haplotype analysis among 11, 10, 10, and seven SNPs in MT (MT1A, MT2A, MT1M, MT1B, and MT1DP) genes showed that eight (A-C-G-T-C-G-A-G-C-G-C, OR = 4.559; A-C-T-C-C-C-A-G-C-G-C, OR = 5.777; A-C-T-T-C-G-A-G-C-G-C, OR = 4.590; G-A-T-C-C-G-C-G-G-C-C, OR = 4.065; G-A-T-C-G-C-C-G-G-C-C, OR = 4.652; G-A-T-T-C-C-C-G-G-C-C, OR = 0.404; G-C-T-C-C-C-A-G-G-C-C, OR = 1.901; G-C-T-T-C-C-A-G-G-C-C, and OR = 3.810), five (C-G-A-T-C-A-C-C-G-G, OR = 2.032; C-G-A-T-C-G-C-C-G-G, OR = 2.077; G-A-C-T-C-A-C-C-T-G, OR = 0.564; G-G-A-G-C-A-C-C-G-G, OR = 5.466; G-G-A-T-T-A-G-C-G-G, and OR = 0.284), five (A-C-G-T-C-G-A-G-C-C, OR = 2.399; A-C-T-C-C-C-C-T-G-G, OR = 0.259; G-A-T-C-C-C-C-G-G-C, OR = 1.572; G-A-T-C-G-C-C-G-G-C, OR = 0.001; G-C-T-C-G-C-A-G-G-C, and OR = 2.512), and five (A-C-T-C-C-C-G, OR = 0.634; G-A-G-C-C-C-G, OR = 4.047; G-A-T-T-G-C-G, OR = 0.499; G-C-G-T-C-A-G, and OR = 7.299; G-C-T-C-C-A-G, OR = 1.434) haplotypes were significantly associated with pregnancy with chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension and HDP.

Conclusion: These variant MT alleles and their combination patterns may be used as genetic markers for predicting HDP susceptibility.

Clinical effect of trans-areolar resection and minimally invasive mammotome biopsy in the treatment of breast fibroadenoma and its impact on the quality of life of patients

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects of trans-areolar resection and minimally invasive mammotome biopsy on therapeutic effect.

METHODS

A total of 131 patients with breast fibroadenoma were selected as the research subjects. Among them, 58 patients were treated by trans-areolar resection and included in group A (GA), and 73 patients were treated by minimally invasive mammotome biopsy and included in group B (GB). The changes of blood pressure, intraoperative blood loss and incision length in patients were detected before anesthesia, during resection and after operation. The pain score and operation time of patients were analyzed. The incidence of postoperative complications and the therapeutic effect were compared in the two groups. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used to assess scar condition of patients in the two groups, and the lower the score, the more normal the skin. After operation, the satisfaction with breast appearance was assessed, and the quality of life was compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

During resection, DBP and SBP indexes of blood pressure in GA were lower than GB . The intraoperative blood loss in GA was greater than GB, and the incision length was also greater than GB. The VAS pain score in GA was higher than GB (P<0.05), and operation time was also longer than GB. The incidence of complications in GB was significantly lower than GA. The total effective rate in GB was significantly higher than GA. The scar score in GA was significantly higher than GB. The satisfaction in GB was significantly higher than GA, and the quality of life in GB was higher than GA. All P<0.05.

CONCLUSION

Compared with trans-areolar resection, minimally invasive mammotome biopsy has a better therapeutic effect on patients with breast fibroadenoma, and it can improve their quality of life more significantly.

Metallothioneins and Megalin Expression Profiling in Premalignant and Malignant Oral Squamous Epithelial Lesions

This study aimed to assess the relationship and possible interactions between metallothioneins (MTs) and megalin (LRP-2) in different grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and premalignant lesions of the oral mucosa (oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus). The study included archived samples of 114 patients and control subjects. Protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, and staining quantification was performed by ImageJ software. Protein interaction in cancer tissue was tested and visualized by proximity ligation assay. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine the significance of differences between each group, whereas Pearson correlation coefficient was performed to test correlation. Expression of both proteins differed significantly between each group showing the same pattern of gradual increasing from oral lichen planus to poorly differentiated OSCC. Moreover, MTs and megalin were found to co-express and interact in cancer tissue, and their expression positively correlated within the overall study group. Findings of prominent nuclear and chromosomal megalin expression suggest that it undergoes regulated intramembrane proteolysis upon MTs binding, indicating its ability to directly affect gene expression and cellular division in cancer tissue. The data obtained point to the onco-driving potential of MTs-megalin interaction.

Metalloproteinases 1 and 3 as Potential Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development

Breast cancer continues to be one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality globally and was the leading cause of cancer death in women in Spain in 2020. Early diagnosis is one of the most effective methods to lower the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer. The human metalloproteinases (MMP) mainly function as proteolytic enzymes degrading the extracellular matrix and plays important roles in most steps of breast tumorigenesis. This retrospective cohort study shows the immunohistochemical expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 in 154 women with breast cancer and 42 women without tumor disease. The samples of breast tissue are assessed using several tissue matrices (TMA). The percentages of staining (≤50%–>50%) and intensity levels of staining (weak, moderate, or intense) are considered. The immunohistochemical expression of the MMP-1-intensity (p = 0.043) and MMP-3 percentage (p = 0.018) and intensity, (p = 0.025) present statistically significant associations with the variable group (control–case); therefore, expression in the tumor tissue samples of these MMPs may be related to the development of breast cancer. The relationships between these MMPs and some clinicopathological factors in breast cancer are also evaluated but no correlation is found. These results suggest the use of MMP-1 and MMP-3 as potential biomarkers of breast cancer diagnosis.

Zinc stable isotopes in urine as diagnostic for cancer of secretory organs

Breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers alter the zinc (Zn) metabolism. Combined analyses of urinary Zn concentrations [Zn] and Zn stable isotope compositions (δ66Zn) may provide a non-invasive approach for tracing malignancy-induced Zn dyshomeostasis. In this study, we measured [Zn] and δ66Zn in urine from prostate (n = 22), breast (n = 16), and from women with benign breast disease (n = 14) and compared those with age-matched healthy controls (22-49 years or 50+ years) and published data for pancreatic cancer (n = 17). Our results show that cancer-induced changes are reflected in higher urinary [Zn] and lower urinary δ66Zn for pancreatic and prostate cancer and benign breast disease when compared with healthy controls. For prostate cancer, the progression of low [Zn] and high δ66Zn for patients of low-risk disease toward high [Zn] and low δ66Zn for the higher risk patients demonstrates that [Zn] and δ66Zn in urine could serve as a reliable prognostic tool. Urinary excretion of isotopically light Zn by patients with prostatic and pancreatic cancer is probably the result of increased reactive oxygen species in cancerous cells, which limits the scavenging of hydroxyl radicals and thus facilitates the oxidation of metalloproteins with sulfur-rich ligands. Urine from breast cancer patients shows undistinguishable δ66Zn to healthy controls, implying that the expression of metalloproteins with sulfur-rich ligands is stronger in breast cancer tissues. In conclusion, urinary δ66Zn may provide a non-invasive diagnostic tool for pancreatic cancer and support disease prognosis for prostate cancer. These findings should translate to comprehensive transverse and longitudinal cohort studies in future.

Zinc stable isotope analysis reveals Zn dyshomeostasis in benign tumours, breast cancer, and adjacent histologically normal tissue

The disruption of Zn homeostasis has been linked with breast cancer development and progression. To enhance our understanding of changes in Zn homeostasis both inside and around the tumour microenvironment, Zn concentrations and isotopic compositions (δ66Zn) were determined in benign (BT) and malignant (MT) tumours, healthy tissue from reduction mammoplasty (HT), and histologically normal tissue adjacent to benign (NAT(BT)) and malignant tumours (NAT(MT)). Mean Zn concentrations in NAT(BT) are 5.5 µg g-1 greater than in NAT(MT) (p = 0.00056) and 5.1 µg g-1 greater than in HT (p = 0.0026). Zinc concentrations in MT are 12.9 µg g-1 greater than in HT (p = 0.00012) and 13.3 µg g-1 greater than in NAT(MT) (p < 0.0001), whereas δ66Zn is 0.17‰ lower in MT than HT (p = 0.017). Benign tumour Zn concentrations are also elevated compared to HT (p = 0.00013), but are not significantly elevated compared to NAT(BT) (p = 0.32). The δ66Zn of BT is 0.15‰ lower than in NAT(BT) (p = 0.045). The similar light δ66Zn of BT and MT compared to HT and NAT may be related to the isotopic compensation of increased metallothionein (64Zn-rich) expression by activated matrix metalloproteinase (66Zn-rich) in MT, and indicates a resultant 66Zn-rich reservoir may exist in patients with breast tumours. Zinc isotopic compositions thus show promise as a potential diagnostic tool for the detection of breast tumours. The revealed differences of Zn accumulation in healthy and tumour-adjacent tissues require additional investigation.

Metallothionein-3 promotes cisplatin chemoresistance remodelling in neuroblastoma

Metallothionein-3 has poorly characterized functions in neuroblastoma. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is a major regimen to treat neuroblastoma, but its clinical efficacy is limited by chemoresistance. We investigated the impact of human metallothionein-3 (hMT3) up-regulation in neuroblastoma cells and the mechanisms underlying the cisplatin-resistance. We confirmed the cisplatin-metallothionein complex formation using mass spectrometry. Overexpression of hMT3 decreased the sensitivity of neuroblastoma UKF-NB-4 cells to cisplatin. We report, for the first time, cisplatin-sensitive human UKF-NB-4 cells remodelled into cisplatin-resistant cells via high and constitutive hMT3 expression in an in vivo model using chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Comparative proteomic analysis demonstrated that several biological pathways related to apoptosis, transport, proteasome, and cellular stress were involved in cisplatin-resistance in hMT3 overexpressing UKF-NB-4 cells. Overall, our data confirmed that up-regulation of hMT3 positively correlated with increased cisplatin-chemoresistance in neuroblastoma, and a high level of hMT3 could be one of the causes of frequent tumour relapses.

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 gene polymorphism and breast cancer risk in women from the Northeastern region of Brazil

OBJECTIVES

In the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER2) rs1136201 variant, the presence of the G allele may promote cellular alterations and increase breast cancer risk, in addition to enhanced cellular proliferation, tumor aggressiveness, and metastases. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant, rs1136201, within the HER2 gene in women from the Northeastern region of Brazil and breast cancer risk.

METHODS

The study included 140 women who were divided into two groups, case (breast cancer) and control (without breast cancer), with 70 women in each group. Peripheral blood of each woman was drawn for the study of genomic Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from leukocytes using the genotyping technique by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The GG genotype occurred in 1 woman in both groups (1.4%) (p=0.32), while the AG genotype occurred in 19 (27.2%) and 13 (18.6%) women in the case and control (p=1.00) groups, respectively. No statistically significant difference in GG and AG genotypes was observed between the case and control groups in premenopausal women (p=1.00). Furthermore, no significant difference in genotypes was observed between the groups, among postmenopausal women (p=0.14).

CONCLUSION

In this study, the HER2 rs1136201 polymorphism did not show any statistically significant association with breast cancer, both in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Nevertheless, further studies with a larger sample size should be performed to assess the association of HER2 polymorphism with breast cancer risk in women from the Northeastern region of Brazil.

Identification of MT1E as a novel tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Metallothioneins (MTs) involves in the tumorigenesis and prognosis of various cancers. The biological function and methylation status of MT1E in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

We analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in tumor tissue samples and normal samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database, and identified the expression levels of MT1E in the HCC. Then, the expression levels and methylation status of MT1E in HCC tissues and cells were validated by qRT-PCR and methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Also, MTT, colony formation, transwell assays, and flow cytometry, as well as xenograft model, were used to assess the biological roles of MT1E in HCC.

RESULTS

Downregulated expression of MT1E was found in HCC tissues, and was notably correlated with an aberrant methylation level of the gene promoter. Moreover, our study verified that MT1E suppressed cell growth in vitro and vivo. Further study demonstrated that MT1E could induce apoptosis and suppress the metastasis of HCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that epigenetic silencing of MT1E due to promoter hypermethylation could play a vital role in HCC.

Expression of Nrf2 and NF-κB transcription factors in breast cancer and breast fibroadenoma: Insights for a new therapeutic approach

Background: Cancer and fibroadenoma are the most common breast tumors in women of reproductive age. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) transcription factor play an important role in the inflammatory process and in cell proliferation. However, few studies have analyzed these markers in breast cancer and fibroadenoma in women of reproductive age.

Results: Light microscopy showed a higher concentration of anti-Nrf2 and anti-NF-κB-stained nuclei in breast cancer than in fibroadenoma. The mean percentage of stained nuclei for Nrf2 was 7.12 ± 5.2 and 43.21 ± 19.83 in the control and study groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). The mean percentage of anti-NF-κB was 10.75 ± 7.09 and 56.14 ± 21.19 (mean ± standard deviation) in the control and study groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). Histological grade 3 tumors showed a significantly higher expression of Nrf2 and NF-κB than grade 1 tumors (p < 0.05).

Material and methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Federal University of Piaui and all patients assigned an inform consent term prior to the study initiation. Nrf2 and NF-κB expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 66 patients, divided into two groups, control (fibroadenoma, n = 36) and study (cancer, n = 30). The data were analyzed using ANOVA test and the statistical significance was established at p < 0.05.

Conclusion: Nrf2 and NF-κB expression was significantly higher in breast cancer than in fibroadenoma, in addition to having a greater association with more aggressive tumors.

Metallothionein isoforms as double agents - Their roles in carcinogenesis, cancer progression and chemoresistance

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small cysteine-rich intracellular proteins with four major isoforms identified in mammals, designated MT-1 through MT-4. The best known biological functions of MTs are their ability to bind and sequester metal ions as well as their active role in redox homeostasis. Despite these protective roles, numerous studies have demonstrated that changes in MT expression could be associated with the process of carcinogenesis and participation in cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Hence, MTs have the role of double agents, i.e., working with and against cancer. In view of their rich biochemical properties, it is not surprising that MTs participate in the emergence of chemoresistance in tumor cells. Many studies have demonstrated that MT overexpression is involved in the acquisition of resistance to anticancer drugs including cisplatin, anthracyclines, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and mitomycin. The evidence is gradually increasing for a cellular switch in MT functions, showing that they indeed have two faces: protector and saboteur. Initially, MTs display anti-oncogenic and protective roles; however, once the oncogenic process was launched, MTs are utilized by cancer cells for progression, survival, and contribution to chemoresistance. The duality of MTs can serve as a potential prognostic/diagnostic biomarker and can therefore pave the way towards the development of new cancer treatment strategies. Herein, we review and discuss MTs as tumor disease markers and describe their role in chemoresistance to distinct anticancer drugs.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 in breast cancer and breast fibroadenoma: a randomized, double-blind study

Background

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 may play an important role in cell proliferation and dissemination of cancer. However, few studies have compared the expression of these proteins between breast cancer and fibroadenoma.

Material and methods

A randomized, double-blind study was carried out in 66 premenopausal women, aged 20-49 years, who had been diagnosed with fibroadenoma or breast cancer. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A, control (fibroadenoma, n=36) and Group B, study (cancer, n=30). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using tissue samples of fibroadenoma and breast cancer to assess MMP-2 and MMP-9 antigen expression. Cells were considered positive if exhibiting brown cytoplasmic staining. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the percentage of cases with cells expressing MMP-2 and MMP-9 in control and study groups (p < 0.05).

Results

Light microscopy showed a higher concentration of cells with positive cytoplasmic staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in breast cancer than in fibroadenoma. The percentage of cases with cells expressing MMP-2 in the control and study groups was 41.67% and 86.11%, respectively (p < 0.0009), whereas the percentage of cases with cells expressing MMP-9 in groups A and B was 66.67% and 93.33%, respectively (p<0.0138). MMP-2 and MMP-9 positive expression was significantly higher in moderately differentiated tumors compared to well and poorly differentiated tumors, p <0.005 and p<0.001, respectively.

Conclusions

The current study shows that MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression was significantly higher in the breast cancer than in the fibroadenoma and also in moderately differentiated breast cancer.