Identification of new targets for glioblastoma therapy based on a DNA expression microarray

This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the deregulated pathways and impaired biological functions prevalent in human glioblastoma (GBM). In order to characterize differences in gene expression between individuals diagnosed with GBM and healthy brain tissue, we have designed and manufactured a specific, custom DNA microarray. The results obtained from differential gene expression analysis were validated by RT-qPCR. The datasets obtained from the analysis of common differential expressed genes in our cohort of patients were used to generate protein-protein interaction networks of functionally enriched genes and their biological functions. This network analysis, let us to identify 16 genes that exhibited either up-regulation (CDK4, MYC, FOXM1, FN1, E2F7, HDAC1, TNC, LAMC1, EIF4EBP1 and ITGB3) or down-regulation (PRKACB, MEF2C, CAMK2B, MAPK3, MAP2K1 and PENK) in all GBM patients. Further investigation of these genes and enriched pathways uncovered in this investigation promises to serve as a foundational step in advancing our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underpinning GBM pathogenesis. Consequently, the present work emphasizes the critical role that the unveiled molecular pathways likely play in shaping innovative therapeutic approaches for GBM management. We finally proposed in this study a list of compounds that target hub of GBM-related genes, some of which are already in clinical use, underscoring the potential of those genes as targets for GBM treatment.

A Transcription Factor ZNF384, Regulated by LINC00265, Activates the Expression of IFI30 to Stimulate Malignant Progression in Glioma

Glioma remains one of the most challenging primary brain malignancies to treat. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs (mRNAs) are implicated in regulating the malignant phenotypes of cancers including glioma. This study aimed to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of lncRNA LINC00265 and mRNA IFI30 in the pathogenesis of glioma. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed the upregulated expression of LINC00265 and IFI30 in glioma cells compared to normal human astrocytes. Western blot (WB) quantified the associated proteins. Glioma stemness and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were assessed by aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity, sphere formation, and WB. Mechanistic and rescue assays evaluated the LINC00265/miR-let-7d-5p/IFI30/ZNF384/IGF2BP2 axis. The results demonstrated that LINC00265 and IFI30 were highly expressed in glioma cells, promoting stemness and EMT. ZNF384 was identified as a transcription factor that upregulates IFI30. Moreover, LINC00265 elevated ZNF384 by sponging miR-let-7d-5p and recruiting IGF2BP2. In conclusion, LINC00265 and IFI30 act as oncogenes in glioma by driving stemness and EMT, underscoring their potential as therapeutic targets.

HPV16-Related Cervical Cancers and Precancers Have Increased Levels of Host Cell DNA Methylation in Women Living with HIV

Data on human papillomavirus (HPV) type-specific cervical cancer risk in women living with human immunodeficiency virus (WLHIV) are needed to understand HPV–HIV interaction and to inform prevention programs for this population. We assessed high-risk HPV type-specific prevalence in cervical samples from 463 WLHIV from South Africa with different underlying, histologically confirmed stages of cervical disease. Secondly, we investigated DNA hypermethylation of host cell genes ASCL1, LHX8, and ST6GALNAC5, as markers of advanced cervical disease, in relation to type-specific HPV infection. Overall, HPV prevalence was 56% and positivity increased with severity of cervical disease: from 28.0% in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1 or less (≤CIN1) to 100% in invasive cervical cancer (ICC). HPV16 was the most prevalent type, accounting for 9.9% of HPV-positive ≤CIN1, 14.3% of CIN2, 31.7% of CIN3, and 45.5% of ICC. HPV16 was significantly more associated with ICC and CIN3 than with ≤CIN1 (adjusted for age, OR_MH 7.36 (95% CI 2.33–23.21) and 4.37 (95% CI 1.81–10.58), respectively), as opposed to non-16 high-risk HPV types. Methylation levels of ASCL1, LHX8, and ST6GALNAC5 in cervical scrapes of women with CIN3 or worse (CIN3+) associated with HPV16 were significantly higher compared with methylation levels in cervical scrapes of women with CIN3+ associated with non-16 high-risk HPV types (p-values 0.017, 0.019, and 0.026, respectively). When CIN3 and ICC were analysed separately, the same trend was observed, but the differences were not significant. Our results confirm the key role that HPV16 plays in uterine cervix carcinogenesis, and suggest that the evaluation of host cell gene methylation levels may monitor the progression of cervical neoplasms also in WLHIV.

Transcriptional deregulation underlying the pathogenesis of small cell lung cancer

The discovery of recurrent alterations in genes encoding transcription regulators and chromatin modifiers is one of the most important recent developments in the study of the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) genome. With advances in models and analytical methods, the field of SCLC biology has seen remarkable progress in understanding the deregulated transcription networks linked to the tumor development and malignant progression. This review will discuss recent discoveries on the roles of RB and P53 family of tumor suppressors and MYC family of oncogenes in tumor initiation and development. It will also describe the roles of lineage-specific factors in neuroendocrine (NE) cell differentiation and homeostasis and the roles of epigenetic alterations driven by changes in NFIB and chromatin modifiers in malignant progression and chemoresistance. These recent findings have led to a model of transcriptional network in which multiple pathways converge on regulatory regions of crucial genes linked to tumor development. Validation of this model and characterization of target genes will provide critical insights into the biology of SCLC and novel strategies for tumor intervention.