Gene expression profiling reveals stromal genes expressed in common between Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma

AGR2 facilitates teratoma progression by regulating glycolysis via the AnXA2/EGFR axis

Anterior gradient-2 (AGR2) is highly expressed in several tumors and plays an important role in tumor development. However, the biological function of AGR2 in teratomas has not yet been thoroughly studied. In this study, AGR2 was found to be upregulated in teratoma tissues and in human testicular teratoma cell lines by Western blotting and qRT-PCR assays. A DNA Methylation-Specific PCR assay demonstrated that AGR2 upregulation resulted from hypomethylated AGR2 in teratoma cells. NCC-IT and NT2-D1 cells were transfected with pcDNA-AGR2 or sh-AGR2 to obtain AGR2-overexpressed or -silenced cells, and cell proliferation, invasion and glycolysis were determined using CCK-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), Transwell assays, and commercial kits. The results revealed that overexpression of AGR2 promoted teratoma cell proliferation and invasion and elevated glycolysis levels evidencing by the increase in lactate secretion, glucose consumption, ATP levels and the expression of glycolysis-related proteins, while knockdown of AGR2 showed the opposite results. The interactions between AGR2 and annexin A2 (AnXA2), as well as between AnXA2 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were verified by co-immunoprecipitation assay. Mechanistic studies revealed that AGR2 interacts with AnXA2 and increases the level of AnXA2 to recruit more AnXA2 to EGFR, there by promoting EGFR expression. A series of rescue experiments showed that knockdown of AnXA2 or EGFR weakened the promotional effects of AGR2 overexpression on the proliferation, invasion, and glycolysis of teratoma cells. Finally, tumorigenicity assays were performed using NT2-D1 cells stably transfected with either LV-NC-shRNA or LV-shAGR2. The results showed that AGR2 knockdown significantly inhibited teratoma tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, our data suggested that AGR2 facilitates glycolysis in teratomas through promoting EGFR expression by interacting with AnXA2, thereby promoting teratoma cells proliferation and invasion.

The role of the fibroblast in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the number one risk factor for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a deadly cancer with limited treatment options that has been increasing in incidence in the US. In this report, we discuss current studies on the role of mesenchyme and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in BE and EAC, and we highlight translational prospects of targeting these cells.

RECENT FINDINGS

New insights through studies using single-cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNA seq) have revealed an important emerging role of the mesenchyme in developmental signaling and cancer initiation. BE and EAC share similar stromal gene expression, as functional classifications of nonepithelial cells in BE show a remarkable similarity to EAC CAFs. Several recent sc-RNA seq studies and novel organoid fibroblast co-culture systems have characterized the subgroups of fibroblasts in BE and EAC, and have shown that these cells can directly influence the epithelium to induce BE development and cancer progression. Targeting the CAFs in EAC with may be a promising novel therapeutic strategy.

SUMMARY

The fibroblasts in the surrounding mesenchyme may have a direct role in influencing altered epithelial plasticity during BE development and progression to EAC.

Prediction and analysis of genetic effect in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and gastroesophageal reflux disease

With increasing research on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), more and more studies have indicated that GERD is associated with IPF, but the underlying pathological mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of the present study is to identify and analyse the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between IPF and GERD and explore the relevant molecular mechanisms via bioinformatics analysis. Four GEO datasets (GSE24206, GSE53845, GSE26886, and GSE39491) were downloaded from the GEO database, and DEGs between IPF and GERD were identified with the online tool GEO2R. Subsequently, a series of bioinformatics analyses are conducted, including Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses, the PPI network, biological characteristics, TF-gene interactions, TF-miRNA coregulatory networks, and the prediction of drug molecules. Totally, 71 genes were identified as DEGs in IPF and GERD. Five KEGG pathways, including Amoebiasis, Protein digestion and absorption, Relaxin signalling pathway, AGE-RAGE signalling pathway in diabetic complications, and Drug metabolism - cytochrome P450, were significantly enriched. In addition, eight hub genes, including POSTN, MMP1, COL3A1, COL1A2, CXCL12, TIMP3, VCAM1, and COL1A1 were selected from the PPI network by Cytoscape software. Then, five hub genes (MMP1, POSTN, COL3A1, COL1A2, and COL1A1) with high diagnostic values for IPF and GERD were validated by GEO datasets. Finally, TF-gene and miRNA interaction was identified with hub genes and predicted drug molecules for the IPF and GERD. And the results suggest that cetirizine, luteolin, and pempidine may have great potential therapeutic value in IPF and GERD. This study will provide novel strategies for the identification of potential biomarkers and valuable therapeutic targets for IPF and GERD.

Concerted epithelial and stromal changes during progression of Barrett's Esophagus to invasive adenocarcinoma exposed by multi-scale, multi-omics analysis

Esophageal adenocarcinoma arises from Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous metaplastic replacement of squamous by columnar epithelium in response to chronic inflammation. Multi-omics profiling, integrating single-cell transcriptomics, extracellular matrix proteomics, tissue-mechanics and spatial proteomics of 64 samples from 12 patients' paths of progression from squamous epithelium through metaplasia, dysplasia to adenocarcinoma, revealed shared and patient-specific progression characteristics. The classic metaplastic replacement of epithelial cells was paralleled by metaplastic changes in stromal cells, ECM and tissue stiffness. Strikingly, this change in tissue state at metaplasia was already accompanied by appearance of fibroblasts with characteristics of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts and of an NK cell-associated immunosuppressive microenvironment. Thus, Barrett's esophagus progresses as a coordinated multi-component system, supporting treatment paradigms that go beyond targeting cancerous cells to incorporating stromal reprogramming.

A Pan-Cancer Analysis to Provide Insight into the Immunological Role and Prognostic Value of HTRA3

High-temperature requirement factor A3 (HTRA3), a member of the HTRA protein family, is closely associated with apoptosis and plays a crucial role in controlling signal transmission and cancer development. However, the regulatory pathways of HTRA3 in tumors are not fully understood, necessitating a comprehensive analysis of HTRA3 in cancers. In this study, we conducted a multi-omics analysis of HTRA3 in pan-cancer using data from various databases including TCGA, cBioPortal, GeneMANIA, DAVID, TIMER2.0, SangerBox, and RNAactDrug. Our analysis included gene expression, survival prognosis, diagnostic value, mutation, gene-gene interaction, enrichment analysis, and drug sensitivity analysis. We found that HTRA3 is aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancers and significantly correlates with diagnosis, prognosis, TMB, MSI, immune checkpoint (ICP) genes, and drug sensitivity in various cancer types. HTRA3 is involved in a variety of cancer pathways, particularly extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations, and has a potential role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). HTRA3 expression is positively correlated with the abundance of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment, and is also positively correlated with immune scores, stromal scores, and ESTIMATE scores in multiple cancers. HTRA3 is often overexpressed in cancer and is associated with poor prognosis and regulation of the tumor's immune response. Therefore, it may serve as a novel biomarker for tumor diagnosis and treatment.

AGR2 expression as a predictive biomarker for therapy response in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Despite multidisciplinary therapy, the prognosis is poor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In the locally advanced stage, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery could provide survival benefits to some patients. Here, we aimed to identify for tumor therapy response a biomarker based on RNA sequencing. We collected endoscopic biopsies of 32 ESCC patients, who were divided according to nCRT response, into two groups: the complete response group (n  =  13) and the non-complete response group (n  =  19). RNA-sequencing data showed that 464 genes were differentially expressed. Increased in non-complete response group, 4 genes increased expressions were AGR2 (anterior gradient 2), GADD45B (growth arrest and DNA damage inducible beta), PPP1R15A (protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 15A) and LRG1 (leucine rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1). The areas under the curve (AUC) of the AGR2 gene was 0.671 according to read counts of RNA-seq and therapy response of nCRT. In vitro study showed that apoptosis cell was significantly increased in the AGR2-knockdown TE-2 cell line treated with cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), when compared with si-control. Results suggest that in ESCC, the AGR2 gene is a promising and predictive gene marker for the response to anti-tumor therapy.

Identification of HnRNP Family as Prognostic Biomarkers in Five Major Types of Gastrointestinal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), a large family of RNAbinding proteins, have been implicated in tumor progression in multiple cancer types. However, the expression pattern and prognostic value of hnRNPs in five gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including gastric, colorectal, esophageal, liver, and pancreatic cancer, remain to be investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The current research aimed to identify prognostic biomarkers of the hnRNP family in five major types of gastrointestinal cancer.

METHODS

Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), and Kaplan-Meier Plotter were used to explore the hnRNPs expression levels concerning clinicopathological parameters and prognostic values. The protein level of hnRNPU was validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in human tissue specimens. Genetic alterations of hnRNPs were analyzed using cBioportal, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to illustrate the biological functions of co-expressed genes of hnRNPs.

RESULTS

The vast majority of hnRNPs were highly expressed in five types of GI cancer tissues compared to their adjacent normal tissues, and mRNA levels of hnRNPA2B1, D, Q, R, and U were significantly different in various GI cancer types at different stages. In addition, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the increased hnRNPs expression levels were correlated with better prognosis in gastric and rectal cancer patients (log-rank p < 0.05). In contrast, patients with high levels of hnRNPs exhibited a worse prognosis in esophageal and liver cancer (log-rank p < 0.05). Using immunohistochemistry, we further confirmed that hnRNPU was overexpressed in gastric, rectal, and liver cancers. In addition, hnRNPs genes were altered in patients with GI cancers, and RNA-related processing was correlated with hnRNPs alterations.

CONCLUSION

We identified differentially expressed genes of hnRNPs in tumor tissues versus adjacent normal tissues, which might contribute to predicting tumor types, early diagnosis, and targeted therapies in five major types of GI cancer.

Comprehensive Landscape of STEAP Family Members Expression in Human Cancers: Unraveling the Potential Usefulness in Clinical Practice Using Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

The human Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate (STEAP) family comprises STEAP1-4. Several studies have pointed out STEAP proteins as putative biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets in several types of human cancers, particularly in prostate cancer. However, the relationships and significance of the expression pattern of STEAP1-4 in cancer cases are barely known. Herein, the Oncomine database and cBioPortal platform were selected to predict the differential expression levels of STEAP members and clinical prognosis. The most common expression pattern observed was the combination of the over- and underexpression of distinct STEAP genes, but cervical and gastric cancer and lymphoma showed overexpression of all STEAP genes. It was also found that STEAP genes’ expression levels were already deregulated in benign lesions. Regarding the prognostic value, it was found that STEAP1 (prostate), STEAP2 (brain and central nervous system), STEAP3 (kidney, leukemia and testicular) and STEAP4 (bladder, cervical, gastric) overexpression correlate with lower patient survival rate. However, in prostate cancer, overexpression of the STEAP4 gene was correlated with a higher survival rate. Overall, this study first showed that the expression levels of STEAP genes are highly variable in human cancers, which may be related to different patients’ outcomes.

Genome-wide analysis of somatic noncoding mutation patterns in cancer

We established a genome-wide compendium of somatic mutation events in 3949 whole cancer genomes representing 19 tumor types. Protein-coding events captured well-established drivers. Noncoding events near tissue-specific genes, such as ALB in the liver or KLK3 in the prostate, characterized localized passenger mutation patterns and may reflect tumor-cell-of-origin imprinting. Noncoding events in regulatory promoter and enhancer regions frequently involved cancer-relevant genes such as BCL6, FGFR2, RAD51B, SMC6, TERT, and XBP1 and represent possible drivers. Unlike most noncoding regulatory events, XBP1 mutations primarily accumulated outside the gene's promoter, and we validated their effect on gene expression using CRISPR-interference screening and luciferase reporter assays. Broadly, our study provides a blueprint for capturing mutation events across the entire genome to guide advances in biological discovery, therapies, and diagnostics.

Recent progress of palmitoyl transferase DHHC3 as a novel antitumor target

DHHC3 is a DHHC-family palmitoyl acyltransferase that is responsible for many mammalian palmitoylation events. By regulating the posttranslational modification of its specific substrates, DHHC3 has shown a strong protumor effect in various cancers. In this review, the authors introduce the research progress of DHHC3 as a new antitumor target through the expression of DHHC3 in patients with tumors, substrate proteins and potential mechanisms. Recent advances in the search for protein structures and inhibitors are also reviewed. Several design strategies to facilitate the optimization of the process of drug design based on DHHC3 are also discussed.

Comprehensive Analysis of Hexokinase 2 Immune Infiltrates and m6A Related Genes in Human Esophageal Carcinoma

Background: Hexokinase 2 not only plays a role in physiological function of human normal tissues and organs, but also plays a vital role in the process of glycolysis of tumor cells. However, there are few comprehensive studies on HK2 in esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) needs further study.

Methods: Oncomine, Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to analyze the expression differences of HK2 in Pan-cancer and ESCA cohort, and to analyze the correlation between HK2 expression level and clinicopathological features of TCGA ESCA samples. GO/KEGG, GGI, and PPI analysis of HK2 was performed using R software, LinkedOmics, GeneMANIA and STRING online tools. The correlation between HK2 and ESCA immune infiltration was analyzed TIMER and TCGA ESCA cohort. The correlation between HK2 expression level and m6A modification of ESCA was analyzed by utilizing TCGA ESCA cohort.

Results: HK2 is highly expressed in a variety of tumors, and its high expression level in ESCA is closely related to the weight, cancer stages, tumor histology and tumor grade of ESCA. The analysis results of GO/KEGG showed that HK2 was closely related to cell adhesion molecule binding, cell-cell junction, ameboidal-type cell migration, insulin signaling pathway, hif-1 signaling pathway, and insulin resistance. GGI showed that HK2 associated genes were mainly involved in the glycolytic pathway. PPI showed that HK2 was closely related to HK1, GPI, and HK3, all of which played an important role in tumor proliferation. The analysis results of TIMER and TCGA ESCA cohort indicated that the HK2 expression level was related to the infiltration of various immune cells. TCGA ESCA cohort analyze indicated that the HK2 expression level was correlated with m6A modification genes.

Conclusion: HK2 is associated with tumor immune infiltration and m6A modification of ESCA, and can be used as a potential biological target for diagnosis and therapy of ESCA.

Overview of Human HtrA Family Proteases and Their Distinctive Physiological Roles and Unique Involvement in Diseases, Especially Cancer and Pregnancy Complications

The mammalian high temperature requirement A (HtrA) proteins are a family of evolutionarily conserved serine proteases, consisting of four homologs (HtrA1-4) that are involved in many cellular processes such as growth, unfolded protein stress response and programmed cell death. In humans, while HtrA1, 2 and 3 are widely expressed in multiple tissues with variable levels, HtrA4 expression is largely restricted to the placenta with the protein released into maternal circulation during pregnancy. This limited expression sets HtrA4 apart from the rest of the family. All four HtrAs are active proteases, and their specific cellular and physiological roles depend on tissue type. The dysregulation of HtrAs has been implicated in many human diseases such as cancer, arthritis, neurogenerative ailments and reproductive disorders. This review first discusses HtrAs broadly and then focuses on the current knowledge of key molecular characteristics of individual human HtrAs, their similarities and differences and their reported physiological functions. HtrAs in other species are also briefly mentioned in the context of understanding the human HtrAs. It then reviews the distinctive involvement of each HtrA in various human diseases, especially cancer and pregnancy complications. It is noteworthy that HtrA4 expression has not yet been reported in any primary tumour samples, suggesting an unlikely involvement of this HtrA in cancer. Collectively, we accentuate that a better understanding of tissue-specific regulation and distinctive physiological and pathological roles of each HtrA will improve our knowledge of many processes that are critical for human health.

Current state of prognostication, therapy and prospective innovations for Barrett's-related esophageal adenocarcinoma: a literature review

Objective

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), which has one of the lowest 5-year survival rates in oncology. The reasons for poor survival are twofold: the large majority of diagnoses are in advanced stages (~80%) and limited treatment options, with a deficit of biology-guided therapies. As a rapidly growing public health concern with poor prognosis, research into the molecular progression for BE and novel therapeutics for EAC currently has high clinical utility. Review of the literature reveals that innovative analysis of metaplastic progression from BE to EAC at a molecular level can shed light on the underlying transformative probabilities of BE into malignant pathologies and may impact current of future therapeutic modalities for management of these diseases.

Background

EAC is the fastest increasing cancer in the United States with a 600% increase over the past 25 years. This cancer arises from dysplastic tissue of BE, a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Chronic acid and bile reflux in the distal esophagus initiates a metaplastic conversion of normal squamous epithelium to premalignant intestinalized columnar epithelium. Patients with BE have a 125-fold higher risk of cancer compared to the general population.

Methods

We critically reviewed the current status of BE monitoring, and subsequent therapeutic strategies being used in patients who have progressed to cancer. Also, new diagnostic tools and therapeutic candidates for BE-related EAC are discussed. Highly-targeted searches of databases containing recent original peer-reviewed papers were utilized for this review.

Conclusions

Novel and well-described biomarkers analyzed in the patient's diseased tissue will provide for more powerful diagnostics, but also possess the potential to develop strategies for personalized management and identify targets for intervention to either cease disease progression or treat BE and/or EAC. Since millions of Americans develop BE without progressing to cancer, there is a critical need to identify the small percentage of Barrett's patients who possess hallmarks of disease progression or carcinogenesis with novel screening techniques. Incorporation of such tools into standard screening protocols for BE surveillance and/or therapy would be critical to detect malignant transformations before clinically obvious cancer ever develops.

The effects of BAFF and APRIL signaling on non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness

Lung cancer represents the most common type of human malignancy and is the main cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. To improve the effectiveness of treatment strategies, a better understanding of the mechanisms of cancer progression and invasiveness is required. Recently, B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), two relatively newly described cytokines belonging to the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, have been shown to play a role in cancer progression. However, at present, the effects of both cytokines on lung cancer cells remain unclear. The present study aimed therefore to understand the direct effects of BAFF and APRIL on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. To do so, reverse transcription quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to evaluate whether A549 and H2030 NSCLC cells express receptors for both BAFF and APRIL. The results demonstrated that both investigated cell lines expressed BAFF-R (receptor specific to BAFF only) and transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI; shared receptor for both cytokines). In addition, functional experiments were performed to determine the effects of BAFF and APRIL stimulation on cancer cell viability. The results demonstrated no direct effects of BAFF and APRIL on NSCLC cell proliferation and invasiveness. In summary, the present study demonstrated that NSCLC cells possess the ability to respond directly to both BAFF and APRIL. However, activation of BAFF-R and TACI signaling in cancer cells did not increase the proliferative capacity and invasiveness. Further investigation is thus required to better understand the role of BAFF and APRIL on the progression of NSCLC.

UBE2T Contributes to the Prognosis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 T (UBE2T) has been shown to contribute to several types of cancer. However, no publication has reported its implication in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC).

Methods: We explored several public databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Oncomine, and gene expression Omnibus (GEO). Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were adopted to explore involved signaling pathways. We used R software to develop prognostic gene signatures with the LASSO and stepwise Cox regression analysis, separately. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to detect UBE2T in 90 ESCC patients, followed by survival analysis. We also used an R package pRRophetic to evaluate chemotherapy sensitivity for the TCGA–ESCC cohort.

Results: We found significantly increased UBE2T transcript levels and DNA copy numbers in ESCC tissues. UBE2T was associated with the p53 signaling pathway, cell cycle, Fanconi anemia pathway, and DNA replication, as indicated by Go, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. These pathways were also upregulated in ESCC. The prognostic signatures with UBE2T-associated genes could stratify ESCC patients into low- and high-risk groups with significantly different overall survival in the TCGA–ESCC cohort. We also validated the association of UBE2T with unfavorable survival in 90 ESCC patients recruited for this study. Moreover, we found that the low-risk group was significantly more sensitive to chemotherapy than the high-risk group.

Conclusions: UBE2T is involved in the development of ESCC, and gene signatures derived from UBE2T-associated genes are predictive of prognosis in ESCC.

BMPR2 expression level is correlated with low immune infiltration and predicts metastasis and poor survival in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in adolescents and young adults, and identifying biomarkers for prognosis and therapy is necessary. Bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) is involved in various cellular functions, including cell adhesion, proliferation and invasion, inflammation, apoptosis and metastatic spread. However, the correlation between BMPR2 expression levels and prognosis and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in osteosarcoma is not well understood. In the present study, the expression level of BMPR2 was investigated using the Oncomine and R2 databases. The association between the expression level of BMPR2 and the clinical prognosis of patients with cancer was analyzed using the R2 database. The relationship between the expression level of BMPR2 and immune cell infiltration in the stroma of osteosarcoma was assessed using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and CIBERSORT. The correlations between BMPR2 expression level and infiltrated immune cell gene marker sets in osteosarcoma were validated in the TIMER and R2 databases. Analysis of a cohort of patients with osteosarcoma revealed that BMPR2 expression was significantly higher in osteosarcoma compared with in normal tissue and was correlated with poor prognosis. M0 macrophages, M2 macrophages, resting mast, γ δ T and CD8+ T cells were the top five immune cells with the highest degrees of infiltration in osteosarcoma. In addition, BMPR2 expression level showed a significant negative correlation with the gene markers of CD8+ T cells, monocytes and M2 macrophages. Low levels of infiltrating CD8+ T cells, monocytes or M2 macrophages in osteosarcoma was significantly associated with poor survival. These data suggested that CD8+ T cells, monocytes and M2 macrophages play significant roles in the establishment of the immune microenvironment of osteosarcoma. High BMPR2 expression was associated with poor prognosis and low infiltration of CD8+ T cells, monocytes and M2 macrophages in osteosarcoma. Hence, BMPR2 can be considered a biomarker of the immune infiltration, metastasis and prognosis of osteosarcoma.

Prognostic Value of Gastrokine-2 (GKN2) and Its Correlation with Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells in Lung Cancer and Gastric Cancers

Background

GKN2, as a secretory protein, is involved in the inflammation and immune modulation, and its aberrant expression is closely related to tumorigenesis. However, integrated studies on the value of GKN2 as a promising clinical biomarker and immunotherapy target in multiple tumors are still rare.

Methodology

Multiple online databases, including ONCOMINE, SEGreg, UALCAN, GEPIA, K-M Plotter, cBioPortal, MethSurv, CellMarker, and Timer, were applied to assess the clinical significance of GKN2 and its correlation with tumor-infiltrating immune cells in differentially expressed cancers.

Results

Several databases confirmed that GKN2 was significantly down-regulated in lung and gastric cancers compared that in normal samples. GKN2 was altered in 3%, 5%, and 4% of the LUAD, LUSC, and STAD samples, respectively. Hyper-methylation of GKN2 was found in LUAD and LUSC samples. For the clinical values of GKN2, we found that the low transcription level of GKN2 was associated with worse OS in lung cancer, and inferior FP and PPS in gastric cancer, and the relationships between GKN2 expression and clinical variables regarding OS/FP/PPS in lung and gastric cancers were assessed. Moreover, the prognostic value of the DNA methylation patterns of GKN2 in LUAD, LUSC, and STAD was identified. Furthermore, GKN2 expression was found to be significantly correlated with the infiltrating multiple tumor immune cells, and statistically significant differences in the correlation between GKN2 expression and multiple markers of neutrophils and macrophage polarization were observed in LUAD, LUSC, and STAD.

Conclusion

The study revealed the prognosis and risk factors for deterioration in patients with low expression of GKN2. GKN2 may be used as a valuable prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in lung and gastric cancers.

Pan-Cancer Analysis of the Mitophagy-Related Protein PINK1 as a Biomarker for the Immunological and Prognostic Role

Introduction

The PINK1 gene encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase that localizes to mitochondria and has usually been considered to protect cells from stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. PINK1 mutations have been observed to lead to autosomal recessive Parkinson’s disease. However, the immunological and prognostic roles of PINK1 across cancers remain unclear.

Material and method

In the current study, we used multiple databases, including Oncomine, PrognoScan, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, GEPIA, TIMER, and cBioportal, to investigate the PINK1 expression distribution and its immunological and prognostic role across cancers.

Results and discussion

Bioinformatics data revealed that the mRNA expression of PINK1 was downregulated in most tumors. Although there was a significant prognostic value of PINK1 expression across cancers, PINK1 played a protective or detrimental role in different kinds of cancers. Liver hepatocellular carcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma were selected as representative cancer types for further exploration. We found that PINK1 always played a protective role in liver hepatocellular carcinoma patients in the stratified prognostic analyses of clinicopathological characteristics. There were contradictory results between liver hepatocellular carcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma in the correlations of PINK1 expression with immune infiltration, including infiltration of B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. Furthermore, specific markers of B cells and CD8+ T cells also exhibited different PINK1-related immune infiltration patterns. In addition, there was a significant association between PINK1 copy number variations and immune infiltrates across cancers.

Conclusion

The mitophagy-related protein PINK1 can work as a biomarker for prognosis and the immune response across cancers.

Elevated expression of RUNX3 co-expressing with EZH2 in esophageal cancer patients from India

Background

Runt related transcription factor3 (RUNX3) is considered as a tumor suppressor gene (TSG) that functions through the TGF-β dependent apoptosis. Promoter methylation of the CpG islands of RUNX3 and overexpression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been suggested to downregulate RUNX3 in cancer.

Methods

Here, we studied the expression of RUNX3 and EZH2 in 58 esophageal tumors along with paired adjacent normal tissue. mRNA levels, protein expressions and cellular localizations of EZH2 and RUNX3 were analyzed using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. DNA methylation was further assessed by the methylation specific-PCR.

Results

Compared to normal tissue, a significant increase in expression of RUNX3 mRNA in 31/57 patient’s tumor tissue (p < 0.04) was observed. The expression of EZH2 was found to be upregulated compared to normal, and a significant positive correlation between EZH2 and RUNX3 expression was observed (p = 0.002). 22 of the 27 unmethylated cases at the promoter region of the RUNX3 had elevated RUNX3 protein expression (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The data presented in this study provide new insights into the biology of RUNX3 and highlights the need to revisit our current understanding of the role of RUNX3 in cancer.

Evaluation of the TRPM protein family as potential biomarkers for various types of human cancer using public database analyses

The Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin (TRPM) protein family members have been demonstrated to be involved in a variety of different types of human cancer. However, to the best of our knowledge, there has not yet been a systematic study regarding the mRNA expression of the TRPM protein family or its prognostic value in human cancer. The present study investigated TRPM expression and its prognostic value in various human cancer types via the Oncomine database, Kaplan-Meier plotter, and the PrognoScan and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis databases. It was revealed that the transcriptional levels of TRPM1, TRPM3 and TRPM6 were decreased in the majority of cancer tissues, while TRPM2 was increased in most cancer types. In addition, the high or low transcriptional levels of the TRPM protein family members were associated with survival outcomes of different types of solid tumors. The present study suggested that certain TRPM protein family members may serve as useful biomarkers for cancer prognosis and anticancer targets for cancer treatment.

Calcium Permeable Channels in Cancer Hallmarks

Cancer, the second cause of death worldwide, is characterized by several common criteria, known as the “cancer hallmarks” such as unrestrained cell proliferation, cell death resistance, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Calcium permeable channels are proteins present in external and internal biological membranes, diffusing Ca²⁺ ions down their electrochemical gradient. Numerous physiological functions are mediated by calcium channels, ranging from intracellular calcium homeostasis to sensory transduction. Consequently, calcium channels play important roles in human physiology and it is not a surprise the increasing number of evidences connecting calcium channels disorders with tumor cells growth, survival and migration. Multiple studies suggest that calcium signals are augmented in various cancer cell types, contributing to cancer hallmarks. This review focuses in the role of calcium permeable channels signaling in cancer with special attention to the mechanisms behind the remodeling of the calcium signals. Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels and Store Operated Channels (SOC) are the main extracellular Ca²⁺ source in the plasma membrane of non-excitable cells, while inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP₃R) are the main channels releasing Ca²⁺ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Alterations in the function and/or expression of these calcium channels, as wells as, the calcium buffering by mitochondria affect intracellular calcium homeostasis and signaling, contributing to the transformation of normal cells into their tumor counterparts. Several compounds reported to counteract several cancer hallmarks also modulate the activity and/or the expression of these channels including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like sulindac and aspirin, and inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis, like difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). The possible role of the calcium permeable channels targeted by these compounds in cancer and their action mechanism will be discussed also in the review.

Pediatric Patient With Concurrent Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Erosive Reflux Esophagitis, and Barrett's Esophagus

Eosinophilic esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus are believed to be separate disease processes, with erosive esophagitis leading to Barrett's esophagus. We report a rare case of concurrent diagnoses in a pediatric patient and examine the relevant genetic profiles in the esophagus.

Minichromosome maintenance 6 complex component identified by bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the main subtype of esophageal cancer (EC), is a common lethal type of cancer with a high mortality rate. The aim of the present study was to select key relevant genes and identify potential mechanisms involved in the development of ESCC based on bioinformatics analysis. Minichromosome maintenance 6 complex component (MCM6) has been identified to be upregulated in multiple malignancies; however, its contributions to ESCC remain unclear. For the purposes of the present study, four datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE63941, GSE26886, GSE17351 and GSE77861), and the intersection of the differentially expressed genes was obtained using a Venn diagram. The protein‑protein interaction was then constructed, and the modules were verified by Cytoscape, in which the key genes have a high connectivity degree with other genes. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway were subsequently filtered out to analyze the development of ESCC. MCM6, an upregulated gene, was selected and connected with most of the other genes, for further research validation. The expression levels of MCM6 were then assessed using the Oncomine, GEPIA and UALCAN databases and validated in both ESCC tissues samples and cell lines by immunohistochemistry and RT‑qPCR. Cell counting kit‑8 (CCK‑8), flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell assays were used to determine the proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration and invasion of ESCC cells. A total of 24 genes were identified by a series of bioinformatics analyses and the results revealed that the genes were associated with DNA replication and cell cycle. Experimental validation revealed that MCM6 expression was significantly elevated in both ESCC tissues and cell lines. The results were consistent with those of bioinformatics analysis. Furthermore, the knockdown of MCM6 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion and promoted cell apoptosis, and made cells arrested in S stage. In summary, the findings of bioinformatics analysis provided a novel hypothesis for ESCC progression. In particular, the aberrantly elevated expression of MCM6 is a potential biomarker for ESCC diagnosis and treatment.

Insulin Growth Factor Binding Protein 7 (IGFBP7)-Related Cancer and IGFBP3 and IGFBP7 Crosstalk

The insulin/insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) have crucial tasks in the growth, differentiation, and proliferation of healthy and pernicious cells. They are involved in coordinated complexes, including receptors, ligands, binding proteins, and proteases. However, the systems can become dysregulated in tumorigenesis. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) is a protein belonging to the IGFBP superfamily (also termed GFBP-related proteins). Numerous studies have provided evidence that IGFBP3 and IGFBP7 are involved in a variety of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), breast cancer, gastroesophageal cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, among many others. Still, very few suggest an interaction between these two molecules. In studying several cancer types in our laboratories, we found that both proteins share some crucial signaling pathways. The objective of this review is to present a comprehensive overview of the relationship between IGFBP7 and cancer, as well as highlighting IGFBP3 crosstalk with IGFBP7 reported in recent studies.

Overexpressed gene signature of EPH receptor A/B family in cancer patients-comprehensive analyses from the public high-throughput database

Although a previous study suggested that erythropoietin-producing hepatoma (EPH) receptors play important roles in tumor progression and the overexpression of EPHs in cancer patients is related to poor prognoses, high-throughput gene expression profiling of EPH family members in different types and subtypes of cancers has so far not been conducted. We herein carried out a series of bioinformatic analyses on expressive profiles of every EPH member across 21 different types of clinical cancers versus matched normal tissues gathered from the Oncomine platform. We validated these results by protein expression study of all EPHs family members by The Human Protein Atlas repository. Our results uncovered the overexpression of most EPH subunits in numerous cancer types, especially the dramatic overexpression of six EPHs members, namely EPHA1, EPHA2, EPHA3, EPHA4 and EPHB1, EPHB2, EPHB3, EPHB4 in bladder, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, and prostate cancers. Furthermore, EPHB2 was specifically highly expressed in cervical cancer, EPHA3 in liver cancer, and EPHB1 in uterine cancer. Collectively, expressive profiles of these EPHs were confirmed and correlated with different cancer subtypes as potential biomarkers. This study provides useful information for further studies on cancer development and clinical treatments.

Transcription levels and prognostic significance of the NFI family members in human cancers

Background

The nuclear factor I (NFI) is a family of transcription factors consisting of four distinct but closely related genes, NFIA, NFIB, NFIC and NFIX, which are important in the development of various tissues and organs in mammals. Recent study results have shown that NFI family may play a critical role in the progression of various human tumors and have been identified as key tumor suppressors and oncogenes for many cancers. However, the expression levels and distinctive prognostic values of the NFI family remain poorly explored in most cancers.

Materials and Methods

In the present study, the differences in mRNA expression of the NFI family in various cancers were investigated using the Oncomine and TCGA databases, and the mRNA expression, genetic alteration and DNA methylation of the NFI family members in various cancers were examined using cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics. In addition, the prognostic significance of the NFI family was assessed in multiple cancers using the Kaplan–Meier plotter (KM plotter) and SurvExpress databases.

Results

The mRNA expression levels in the NFI family were significantly downregulated in most cancers compared with normal tissues and DNA hypermethylation might downregulate the NFI family expression. Although NFIX expression was not downregulated in kidney, colorectal and prostate cancers. Furthermore, NFIB expression was upregulated in gastric cancer. Further survival analyses based on the KM plotter and SurvExpress databases showed dysregulations of the NFI genes were significantly correlated with survival outcomes in breast, lung, and head and neck cancers. Decreased expression levels of NFIA, NFIB and NFIC were associated with poor overall survival (OS) in head and neck cancer. Low mRNA expression of NFIA and NFIB was significantly associated with OS and first progression in lung adenocarcinoma, but not in lung squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, potential correlations between NFI family members and survival outcomes were also observed in liver, esophageal, kidney and cervical cancer.

Conclusion

The results from the present study indicated certain members of the NFI family could be promising therapeutic targets and novel prognostic biomarkers for human cancers.

Biglycan as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in multiple human cancers

Biglycan (BGN), a key member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family, is an important component of the extracellular matrix. Clinical studies have demonstrated that upregulation of BGN is associated with poor prognosis in patients with various types of solid cancer. The present study analyzed the mRNA expression levels of BGN in various types of solid cancer when compared with that in normal tissues via the Oncomine database. The UALCAN, OncoLnc and Kaplan-Meier Plotter databases were additionally used to evaluate the prognostic values of BGN in patients with solid cancer and co-expression gene analysis was conducted using the protein-protein interaction networks of BGN. The present study observed that the mRNA expression levels of BGN were increased in bladder, brain and central nervous system, breast, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, head and neck, lung, ovarian and 28 subtypes of cancer compared with normal tissues. The increased expression of BGN was identified to be associated with a poor outcome in ovarian and gastric cancer. Based on the co-expression network, BGN was identified as the key gene in a 43-gene network. The present findings of increased expression of BGN in solid tumors and its positive association with poor outcome on patient survival indicate that BGN may serve as a prognostic marker and as a target for novel therapeutics for multiple types of cancer.

The anterior gradient-2 interactome

The anterior gradient-2 (AGR2) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein belonging to the protein disulfide isomerase family that mediates the formation of disulfide bonds and assists the protein quality control in the ER. In addition to its role in proteostasis, extracellular AGR2 is responsible for various cellular effects in many types of cancer, including cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. Various OMICs approaches have been used to identify AGR2 binding partners and to investigate the functions of AGR2 in the ER and outside the cell. Emerging data showed that AGR2 exists not only as monomer, but it can also form homodimeric structure and thus interact with different partners, yielding different biological outcomes. In this review, we summarize the AGR2 “interactome” and discuss the pathological and physiological role of such AGR2 interactions.

NR2F1 contributes to cancer cell dormancy, invasion and metastasis of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma by activating CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway

BACKGROUND

Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) can recur after removal of the primary tumor and treatment, where they can keep no clinical symptoms and dormant state for 10-15 years. NR2F1 has been demonstrated to regulate the tumor cell dormancy in various malignant tumors and has a potential impact on recurrence and metastasis of carcinoma. However, the role and significance of NR2F1 in SACC dormancy still remain unknown.

METHODS

A total number of 59 patients with a diagnosis of SACC were included to detected expression of NR2F1, Ki-67 by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL). Fisher's exact test was used to examine the NR2F1 expression and clinicopathologic parameters of SACC. In vitro, SACC cell lines were transfected NR2F1 and knockdown NR2F1 respectively. CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell invasion determined SACC cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration and invasion respectively. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were utilized to demonstrate the potential role of NR2F1 in SACC invasion via CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. In vivo, xenografts of nude mice via subcutaneous injection or tail vein injection were used to testify the results in vitro.

RESULTS

Among the 59 patients with SACC, 23.73% (14/59) were positive to NR2F1 expression, a lower rate of expression compared with 60% (6/10) in normal salivary gland samples. NR2F1 was correlated with metastasis, relapse and dormancy of SACC. SACC cells with transfected NR2F1 remained dormant, as well as enhanced invasion and metastasis. Knockdown of NR2F1 via siRNA after NR2F1 overexpression restored the proliferation and the cell number in G2/M phases, and reduced the abilities of migration and invasion. In addition, NR2F1 promoted the expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4, and overexpression of CXCL12 at least partly rescued the proliferation, migration, and invasion activities induced by NR2F1 silencing.

CONCLUSIONS

NR2F1 may be an underlying mechanism of SACC recurrence and metastasis via regulating tumor cell dormancy through CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway.

Transient receptor potential ion-channel subfamily V member 4: a potential target for cancer treatment

The transient receptor potential ion-channel superfamily consists of nonselective cation channels located mostly on the plasma membranes of numerous animal cell types, which are closely related to sensory information transmission (e.g., vision, pain, and temperature perception), as well as regulation of intracellular Ca2+ balance and physiological activities of growth and development. Transient receptor potential ion channel subfamily V (TRPV) is one of the largest and most diverse subfamilies, including TRPV1-TRPV6 involved in the regulation of a variety of cellular functions. TRPV4 can be activated by various physical and chemical stimuli, such as heat, mechanical force, and phorbol ester derivatives participating in the maintenance of normal cellular functions. In recent years, the roles of TRPV4 in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration have been extensively studied. Its abnormal expression has also been closely related to the onset and progression of multiple tumors, so TRPV4 may be a target for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we focused on the latest studies concerning the role of TRPV4 in tumorigenesis and the therapeutic potential. As evidenced by the effects on cancerogenesis, TRPV4 is a potential target for anticancer therapy.

Upregulated forkhead-box A3 elevates the expression of forkhead-box A1 and forkhead-box A2 to promote metastasis in esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most lethal cancers currently known. Members of the forkhead-box A (FOXA) family, including FOXA1 and FOXA2, have been reported to regulate EC progression. However, the role of FOXA3, which is another FOXA member, has not yet been investigated. In the present study, public dataset analyses and immunohistochemistry of 96 samples from patients with EC were performed to determine the potential roles of FOXA3 in EC. The results revealed that FOXA3 was significantly upregulated in EC tumor tissues and Barrett's esophagus tissues. In addition, FOXA3 upregulation was positively associated with tumor invasion, distant metastasis, tumor-node-metastasis stage and shorter overall survival in patients with EC, and multivariate analysis identified FOXA3 as an independent prognostic marker. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the migratory and invasive abilities of EC109 and EC9706 cell lines were inhibited following FOXA3 knockdown. Notably, FOXA3 expression levels were positively correlated with FOXA1 and FOXA2 expression levels according to The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset analysis. Furthermore, FOXA3 knockdown decreased the expression levels of FOXA1 and FOXA2 in EC109 and EC9706 cell lines. Conversely, FOXA1 or FOXA2 overexpression compensated for the effects of FOXA3 knockdown on the migratory and invasive capacities of EC cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that FOXA3 upregulation in EC cells promoted metastasis through regulation of other FOXA members.

Serial Endoscopic Evaluation of Esophageal Disease in a Cancer Model: A Paradigm Shift for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (EAC) Drug Discovery and Development

A rat model of surgically induced reflux recapitulates the development and progression of human esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). In this study, reflux was induced in rats followed by postoperative endoscopy with biopsy, to diagnose and monitor disease progression. Overall, percentage agreement between visual endoscopy and gold standard histology was 95%, with disease-specific classification accuracies of 100% and 75% for Barrett's with dysplasia and EAC, respectively. Additionally, the percentage agreement for biopsy in tumors >4 mm was 75%. Thereby, establishing endoscopic evaluation as a reliable tool to assess disease progression and provide biopsies for downstream correlates in a de novo EAC model.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is up-regulated during Barrett's carcinogenesis and predicts esophageal adenocarcinoma resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (SCCA) is consistently overexpressed in many different solid tumors, and has been associated with both tumor aggressiveness and chemoresistance. No data, however, is currently available on SCCA expression during esophageal Barrett's carcinogenesis, nor on SCCA expression's role on esophageal adenocarcinoma chemoresistance. The SCCA immunohistochemical expression was assessed in a series of 100 biopsy samples covering the whole histological spectrum of Barrett's oncogenesis. Squamous native mucosa was characterized by a moderate to strong cytoplasmic and nuclear SCCA expression in suprabasal, medium, and superficial layers. On the other hand, almost half of the considered lesions did not express SCCA; the other half featured weak to moderate SCCA expression. The relationship between SCCA protein expression and tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was assessed in 90 esophageal adenocarcinoma specimens (40 biopsy and 50 surgery specimens), stratified according to Mandard tumor regression grade. As observed in other settings, the presence of SCCA expression clustered in the group of tumors characterized by a lower responsiveness to neoadjuvant treatments. The present results suggest an involvement of SCCA in a subset of Barrett-related tumors, and prompt to consider the SCCA-protein expression as response-predictive marker of neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal adenocarcinomas.

PRSS8 methylation and its significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and the incidence and mortality is increasing rapidly in recent years in China, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. Herein we found that the expression of PRSS8, a serine protease prostasin, is significantly decreased in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) at mRNA and protein levels. The reduction of PRSS8 was well correlated with poor differentiation and shorter survival time. Interestingly, ESCC stromal expression of PRSS8 was significantly correlated with stromal lymphocyte infiltration and cancer progression. Methylation specific PCR showed that PRSS8 was hypermethylated in ESCC tissues and ESCC cell lines, which was linked to the downregulation of PRSS8 expression and decreased activities of PRSS8 promoter. De-methylation agent decitabine was able to restore PRSS8 expression, leading to the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, motility, migration and cell cycle arrest. However, the restored PRSS8 and its tumor inhibition could be reversed by small interfering RNA targeting PRSS8. Mechanistic study showed that tumor inhibition of PRSS8 may be associated with proliferation- and epithelial mesenchymal transition - related proteins in ESCC cells. In conclusion, our finding showed that PRSS8 methylation and its stromal expression had important clinical significance in ESCC.

Distinct lymphocyte antigens 6 (Ly6) family members Ly6D, Ly6E, Ly6K and Ly6H drive tumorigenesis and clinical outcome

Stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) is used to isolate and characterize tumor initiating cell populations from tumors of various murine models [1]. Sca-1 induced disruption of TGF-β signaling is required in vivo tumorigenesis in breast cancer models [2, 3-5]. The role of human Ly6 gene family is only beginning to be appreciated in recent literature [6-9]. To study the significance of Ly6 gene family members, we have visualized one hundred thirty gene expression omnibus (GEO) dataset using Oncomine (Invitrogen) and Georgetown Database of Cancer (G-DOC). This analysis showed that four different members Ly6D, Ly6E, Ly6H or Ly6K have increased gene expressed in bladder, brain and CNS, breast, colorectal, cervical, ovarian, lung, head and neck, pancreatic and prostate cancer than their normal counter part tissues. Increased expression of Ly6D, Ly6E, Ly6H or Ly6K was observed in sub-set of cancer type. The increased expression of Ly6D, Ly6E, Ly6H and Ly6K was found to be associated with poor outcome in ovarian, colorectal, gastric, breast, lung, bladder or brain and CNS as observed by KM plotter and PROGgeneV2 platform. The remarkable findings of increased expression of Ly6 family members and its positive correlation with poor outcome on patient survival in multiple cancer type indicate that Ly6 family members Ly6D, Ly6E, Ly6K and Ly6H will be an important targets in clinical practice as marker of poor prognosis and for developing novel therapeutics in multiple cancer type.

Cancer-type dependent expression of CK2 transcripts

A multitude of proteins are aberrantly expressed in cancer cells, including the oncogenic serine-threonine kinase CK2. In a previous report, we found increases in CK2 transcript expression that could explain the increased CK2 protein levels found in tumors from lung and bronchus, prostate, breast, colon and rectum, ovarian and pancreatic cancers. We also found that, contrary to the current notions about CK2, some CK2 transcripts were downregulated in several cancers. Here, we investigate all other cancers using Oncomine to determine whether they also display significant CK2 transcript dysregulation. As anticipated from our previous analysis, we found cancers with all CK2 transcripts upregulated (e.g. cervical), and cancers where there was a combination of upregulation and/or downregulation of the CK2 transcripts (e.g. sarcoma). Unexpectedly, we found some cancers with significant downregulation of all CK2 transcripts (e.g. testicular cancer). We also found that, in some cases, CK2 transcript levels were already dysregulated in benign lesions (e.g. Barrett’s esophagus). We also found that CK2 transcript upregulation correlated with lower patient survival in most cases where data was significant. However, there were two cancer types, glioblastoma and renal cell carcinoma, where CK2 transcript upregulation correlated with higher survival. Overall, these data show that the expression levels of CK2 genes is highly variable in cancers and can lead to different patient outcomes.

SATB1 plays an oncogenic role in esophageal cancer by up-regulation of FN1 and PDGFRB

Esophageal cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy with very poor overall prognosis. Given the strong clinical relevance of SATB1 in esophagus cancer and other cancers suggested by previous studies, the exact function of SATB1 in esophagus cancer development is still unknown. Here we showed that the knockdown of SATB1 in esophageal cancer cell lines diminished the cell proliferation, survival and invasion. Whole genome transcriptome analysis of SATB1 knockdown cells revealed the different gene expression profiles between TE-1 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells. Network analysis and functional experiments further identified FN1 and PDGFRB to be key downstream genes regulated by SATB1 in esophageal cancer cells. Importantly, FN1 and PDGFRB were found to be highly expressed in human esophageal cancer. In summary, we provided the first molecular evidence that SATB1 played an oncogenic role in esophageal cancer by up-regulation of FN1 and PDGFRB.

HtrA3 stromal expression is correlated with tumor budding in stage II colorectal cancer

Tumor budding is a well-established adverse prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). It may represent a form of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. High-temperature requirement A3 (HtrA3) is an inhibitor of the bone morphogenetic protein pathway, the suppression of which has been linked to EMT. Since HtrA3 is highly expressed in the desmoplastic stroma at the CRC invasive front, we sought to evaluate the relationship between tumor budding and HtrA3 expression in 172 stage II CRC resection specimens. All tumors were evaluated for tumor budding, with the highest budding slide selected for pan-keratin (CK) and HtrA3 immunohistochemistry. Representative areas of tumor core and invasive front, including budding and non-budding areas, were marked on CK stained slides, and then evaluated on HtrA3 stained slides. HtrA3 expression in tumor cells (tHtrA3) and peritumoral stroma (sHtrA3) was assessed for staining percentage and intensity (the product yielding a final score). Tumors with high-grade tumor budding (HGTB) showed increased expression of sHtrA3 in budding areas compared to non-budding areas at the invasive front (P<0.001). In addition, sHtrA3 expression at the invasive front was significantly higher in HGTB tumors compared to minimally budding tumors (P<0.05). tHtrA3 expression at the invasive front was significantly associated with high histological grade (P<0.05). Higher sHtrA3 expression in the tumor core (but not invasive front) was significantly associated with decreased 5-year overall survival on univariate analysis (P<0.05), but not multivariate analysis. HtrA3 expression in the peritumoral stroma of patients with stage II CRC is associated with HGTB and may be a novel marker of poor outcome.

Voltage-gated calcium channels: Novel targets for cancer therapy

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) comprise five subtypes: The L-type; R-type; N-type; P/Q-type; and T-type, which are encoded by α₁ subunit genes. Calcium ion channels also have confirmed roles in cellular functions, including mitogenesis, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and metastasis. An association between VGCCs, a reduction in proliferation and an increase in apoptosis in prostate cancer cells has also been reported. Therefore, in the present study, the online clinical database Oncomine was used to identify the alterations in the mRNA expression level of VGCCs in 19 cancer subtypes. Overall, VGCC family genes exhibited under-expression in numerous types of cancer, including brain, breast, kidney and lung cancers. Notably, the majority of VGCC family members (CACNA1C, CACNA1D, CACNA1A, CACNA1B, CACNA1E, CACNA1H and CACNA1I) exhibited low expression in brain tumors, with mRNA expression levels in the top 1–9% of downregulated gene rankings. A total of 5 VGCC family members (CACNA1A, CACNA1B, CACNA1E, CACNA1G and CACNA1I) were under-expressed in breast cancer, with a gene ranking in the top 1–10% of the low-expressed genes compared with normal tissue. In kidney and lung cancers, CACNA1S, CACNA1C, CACNA1D, CACNA1A and CACNA1H exhibited low expression, with gene rankings in the top 1–8% of downregulated genes. In conclusion, the present findings may contribute to the development of new cancer treatment approaches by identifying target genes involved in specific types of cancer.

Identification of extracellular matrix protein 1 as a potential plasma biomarker of ESCC by proteomic analysis using iTRAQ and 2D-LC-MS/MS

PURPOSE

This study was aimed to conduct a proteomics profiling analysis on plasma obtained from ESCC patients with the goal of identifying appropriate plasma protein biomarkers in the progression of ESCC.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Plasma from 28 ESCC patients and 28 healthy controls (HC) were analyzed by iTRAQ combined with 2D-LC-MS/MS. ProteinPilot software was used to identify the differentially expressed plasma proteins in ESCC compared to HC. Western blot was performed to verify the expression of selected proteins in 37 independent ESCC patients and 37 HC. Transwell and MTT assays were used to detect the biological function of ECM1 protein in vitro.

RESULTS

Nineteen (four upregulated and fifteen downregulated) proteins were identified as differentially expressed between ESCC and HC (p <0.05). Biological functions of these proteins are involved in cell adhesion, cell apoptosis and metabolic processes, visual perception and immune response. Of these, extracellular matrix 1 (ECM1) and lumican (LUM) were selected further confirmation by Western blot (p <0.05), which were consistent with the iTRAQ results. Furthermore, the migration ability of EC9706 cell line after overexpressing ECM1 was increased significantly (p <0.05). The proliferation ability of HUVEC cell was enhanced when treated with the culture supernatants of EC9706 overexpressed ECM1(p <0.05).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This proteome analysis indicate that ECM1 is a potential novel plasma protein biomarker for the detection of primary ESCC and evaluation of neoplasms progression.

Systematic analysis of the achaete-scute complex-like gene signature in clinical cancer patients

The achaete-scute complex-like (ASCL) family, also referred to as ‘achaete-scute complex homolog’ or ‘achaete-scute family basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor’, is critical for proper development of the nervous system and deregulation of ASCL plays a key role in psychiatric and neurological disorders. The ASCL family consists of five members, namely ASCL1, ASCL2, ASCL3, ASCL4 and ASCL5. The ASCL1 gene serves as a potential oncogene during lung cancer development. There is a correlation between increased ASCL2 expression and colon cancer development. Inhibition of ASCL2 reduced cellular proliferation and tumor growth in xenograft tumor experiments. Although previous studies demonstrated involvement of ASCL1 and ASCL2 in tumor development, little is known on the remaining ASCL family members and their potential effect on tumorigenesis. Therefore, a holistic approach to investigating the expression of ASCL family genes in diverse types of cancer may provide new insights in cancer research. In this study, we utilized a web-based microarray database (Oncomine; www.oncomine.org) to analyze the transcriptional expression of the ASCL family in clinical cancer and normal tissues. Our bioinformatics analysis revealed the potential involvement of multiple ASCL family members during tumor onset and progression in multiple types of cancer. Compared to normal tissue, ASCL1 exhibited a higher expression in cancers of the lung, pancreas, kidney, esophagus and head and neck, whereas ASCL2 exhibited a high expression in cancers of the breast, colon, stomach, lung, head and neck, ovary and testis. ASCL3, however, exhibited a high expression only in breast cancer. Interestingly, ASCL1 expression was downregulated in melanoma and in cancers of the bladder, breast, stomach and colon. ASCL2 exhibited low expression levels in sarcoma, melanoma, brain and prostate cancers. Reduction in the expression of ASCL3 was detected in lymphoma, bladder, cervical, kidney and epithelial cancers. Similarly, ASCL5 exhibited low expression in the majority of brain cancer subtypes, such as glioblastoma and oligodendroglioma. This analysis supports the hypothesis that specific ASCL members may play an important role in cancer development. Collectively, our data suggest that alterations in the expression of ASCL gene family members are correlated with cancer development. Furthermore, ASCL family members were categorized according to cancer subtype. The aim of this report was to provide novel insights to the significance of the ASCL family in various cancers and our findings suggested that the ASCL gene family may be an ideal target for future cancer studies.

Impact of intracellular ion channels on cancer development and progression

Cancer research is nowadays focused on the identification of possible new targets in order to try to develop new drugs for curing untreatable tumors. Ion channels have emerged as "oncogenic" proteins, since they have an aberrant expression in cancers compared to normal tissues and contribute to several hallmarks of cancer, such as metabolic re-programming, limitless proliferative potential, apoptosis-resistance, stimulation of neo-angiogenesis as well as cell migration and invasiveness. In recent years, not only the plasma membrane but also intracellular channels and transporters have arisen as oncological targets and were proposed to be associated with tumorigenesis. Therefore, the research is currently focusing on understanding the possible role of intracellular ion channels in cancer development and progression on one hand and, on the other, on developing new possible drugs able to modulate the expression and/or activity of these channels. In a few cases, the efficacy of channel-targeting drugs in reducing tumors has already been demonstrated in vivo in preclinical mouse models.

Osteopontin (OPN/SPP1) isoforms collectively enhance tumor cell invasion and dissemination in esophageal adenocarcinoma

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, thus understanding the molecular basis for EAC invasion and metastasis is critical. Here we report that SPP1/OPN was highly overexpressed in primary EACs and intracellularly localized to tumor cells. We further demonstrate that all known OPN isoforms (OPNa, b, c, 4 and 5) were frequently co-overexpressed in primary EACs. Distinct pro-invasion and dissemination phenotypes of isoform-specific OPNb and OPNc stable transfectants were observed. Expression of OPNb significantly enhanced cell migration and adhesion to laminin. In contrast, OPNc cells showed significantly decreased cell migration yet increased cell detachment. Enhanced invasion, both in vitro and in vivo, was observed for OPNb- but not OPNc-expressing cells. Inhibition of RGD integrins, one family of OPN receptors, attenuated OPNb cell migration, abrogated OPNb cell adhesion and significantly reduced OPNb cell clonogenic survival but did not affect OPNc phenotypes, indicating that OPNb but not OPNc acts through integrin-dependent signaling. Differential expression of vimentin, E-cadherin and β-catenin in OPN stable cells may account for the variation in cell adhesion and detachment between these isoforms. We conclude that while all OPN isoforms are frequently co-overexpressed in primary EACs, isoforms OPNb and OPNc enhance invasion and dissemination through collective yet distinct mechanisms.

BMP4 Signaling Is Able to Induce an Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Like Phenotype in Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma through Induction of SNAIL2

Background

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) signaling is involved in the development of Barrett’s esophagus (BE), a precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). In various cancers, BMP4 has been found to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) but its function in the development of EAC is currently unclear.

Aim

To investigate the expression of BMP4 and several members of the BMP4 pathway in EAC. Additionally, to determine the effect of BMP4 signaling in a human Barrett’s esophagus (BAR-T) and adenocarcinoma (OE33) cell line.

Methods

Expression of BMP4, its downstream target ID2 and members of the BMP4 pathway were determined by Q-RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis using biopsy samples from EAC patients. BAR-T and OE33 cells were incubated with BMP4 or the BMP4 antagonist, Noggin, and cell viability and migration assays were performed. In addition, expression of factors associated with EMT (SNAIL2, CDH1, CDH2 and Vimentin) was evaluated by Q-RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.

Results

Compared to squamous epithelium (SQ), BMP4 expression was significantly upregulated in EAC and BE. In addition, the expression of ID2 was significantly upregulated in EAC and BE compared to SQ. Western blot analysis confirmed our results, showing an upregulated expression of BMP4 and ID2 in both BE and EAC. In addition, more phosphorylation of SMAD1/5/8 was observed. BMP4 incubation inhibited cell viability, but induced cell migration in both BAR-T and OE33 cells. Upon BMP4 incubation, SNAIL2 expression was significantly upregulated in BAR-T and OE33 cells while CDH1 expression was significantly downregulated. These results were confirmed by Western blot analysis.

Conclusion

Our results indicate active BMP4 signaling in BE and EAC and suggest that this results in an invasive phenotype by inducing an EMT-like response through upregulation of SNAIL2 and subsequent downregulation of CDH1.

Surgical and Molecular Pathology of Barrett Esophagus

BACKGROUND

Patients with Barrett esophagus (BE) are predisposed to developing dysplasia and cancer. Adenocarcinoma, which is associated with BE, is the most common type of esophageal tumor and, typically, it has an aggressive clinical course and a high rate of mortality.

METHODS

The English-language literature relating to tumor epidemiology, etiology, and the pathogenesis of BE was reviewed and summarized.

RESULTS

The role of pathologists in the diagnosis and pitfalls associated with grading Barrett dysplasia is addressed. Current molecular testing for Barrett neoplasia, as well as testing methods currently in development, is discussed, focusing on relevant tests for diagnosing tumor types, determining prognosis, and assessing therapeutic response.

CONCLUSIONS

Grading is essential for developing appropriate treatment plans, follow-up visits, and therapeutic interventions for each patient. Familiarity with current molecular testing methods will help physicians correctly diagnose the disease and select the most appropriate therapy for each of their patients.

Low expression of PHLPP1 in sacral chordoma and its association with poor prognosis

Sacral chordoma is a rare spine tumor with a high recurrence rate even after optimal therapy. Previous studies have demonstrated that the PI3K/AKT pathway plays a pivotal role in chordoma, and high expression of pAKT is associated with poor prognosis. Recently, PHLPP was recognized to be a tumor suppressor that targets AKT. We analyzed the expression of PHLPP1 and AKT2 in 37 chordoma samples and 11 fetal nucleus pulposus samples by immunohistochemical staining. Of the chordoma cases, 40.5% (15/37) showed strong cytoplasmic staining (score ≥3) for PHLPP1, which was significantly lower than the 90.9% (10/11) of fetal nucleus pulposus samples (P = 0.004). Conversely, strong immunohistochemical staining for AKT2 was observed in 75.7% (28/37) of chordoma samples, which was significantly higher than 36.4% (4/11) of fetal nucleus pulposus (P = 0.021). Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank test showed that patients with high expression of PHLPP1 experienced longer progression free survival time than those with low PHLPP1 expression (P = 0.011). Further multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that PHLPP1 expression level and surgical approaches were independent risk factors for chordoma recurrence (P = 0.023 and P = 0.022). However, PHLPP1 expression was not statistically related to patients' total survival time. Conclusively, our results suggest that PHLPP1 plays a crucial role in sacral chordoma, and may be a promising biomarker for prognosis. Meanwhile, manipulation of PHLPP1 expression is also a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of sacral chordoma.

Golgi phosphoprotein 2 (GOLPH2) is a novel bile acid-responsive modulator of oesophageal cell migration and invasion

BACKGROUND

The aetiology of Barrett's oesophagus (BO) and oesophageal cancer is poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that Golgi structure and function is altered in oesophageal cancer cells. A Golgi-associated protein, GOLPH2, was previously established as a tissue biomarker for BO. Cellular functions for GOLPH2 are currently unknown, therefore in this study we sought to investigate functional roles for this Golgi-associated protein in oesophageal disease.

METHODS

Expression, intracellular localisation and secretion of GOLPH2 were identified by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and western blot. GOLPH2 expression constructs and siRNA were used to identify cellular functions for GOLPH2.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that the structure of the Golgi is fragmented and the intracellular localisation of GOLPH2 is altered in BO and oesophageal adenocarcinoma tissue. GOLPH2 is secreted by oesophageal cancer cells and GOLPH2 expression, cleavage and secretion facilitate cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, exposure of cells to DCA, a bile acid component of gastric refluxate and known tumour promoter for oesophageal cancer, causes disassembly of the Golgi structure into ministacks, resulting in cleavage and secretion of GOLPH2.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that GOLPH2 may be a useful tissue biomarker for oesophageal disease. We provide a novel mechanistic insight into the aetiology of oesophageal cancer and reveal novel functions for GOLPH2 in regulating tumour cell migration and invasion, important functions for the metastatic process in oesophageal cancer.

Afzelin exhibits anti-cancer activity against androgen-sensitive LNCaP and androgen-independent PC-3 prostate cancer cells through the inhibition of LIM domain kinase 1

Prostate cancer presents high occurrence worldwide. Medicinal plants are a major source of novel and potentially therapeutic molecules; therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the possible anti-prostate cancer activity of afzelin, a flavonol glycoside that was previously isolated from Nymphaea odorata. The effect of afzelin on the proliferation of androgen-sensitive LNCaP and androgen-independent PC-3 cells was evaluated by performing a water soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assay. In addition, the effect of afzelin on the cell cycle of the LNCaP and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines was evaluated. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of afzelin on the kinases responsible for the regulation of actin organization. Afzelin was identified to inhibit the proliferation of LNCaP and PC3 cells, and block the cell cycle in the G₀ phase. The anticancer activity of afzelin in these cells was determined to be due to inhibition of LIM domain kinase 1 expression. Thus, the in vitro efficacy of afzelin against prostate cancer is promising; however, additional studies on different animal models are required to substantiate its anticancer potential.

Meta-Analysis of Public Microarray Datasets Reveals Voltage-Gated Calcium Gene Signatures in Clinical Cancer Patients

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are well documented to play roles in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis; however, whether VGCCs regulate the onset and progression of cancer is still under investigation. The VGCC family consists of five members, which are L-type, N-type, T-type, R-type and P/Q type. To date, no holistic approach has been used to screen VGCC family genes in different types of cancer. We analyzed the transcript expression of VGCCs in clinical cancer tissue samples by accessing ONCOMINE (www.oncomine.org), a web-based microarray database, to perform a systematic analysis. Every member of the VGCCs was examined across 21 different types of cancer by comparing mRNA expression in cancer to that in normal tissue. A previous study showed that altered expression of mRNA in cancer tissue may play an oncogenic role and promote tumor development; therefore, in the present findings, we focus only on the overexpression of VGCCs in different types of cancer. This bioinformatics analysis revealed that different subtypes of VGCCs (CACNA1C, CACNA1D, CACNA1B, CACNA1G, and CACNA1I) are implicated in the development and progression of diverse types of cancer and show dramatic up-regulation in breast cancer. CACNA1F only showed high expression in testis cancer, whereas CACNA1A, CACNA1C, and CACNA1D were highly expressed in most types of cancer. The current analysis revealed that specific VGCCs likely play essential roles in specific types of cancer. Collectively, we identified several VGCC targets and classified them according to different cancer subtypes for prospective studies on the underlying carcinogenic mechanisms. The present findings suggest that VGCCs are possible targets for prospective investigation in cancer treatment.

miR-181a-5p Inhibits Cancer Cell Migration and Angiogenesis via Downregulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-14

Upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-14 (MT1-MMP) is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients, but it is unclear how MMP-14 becomes elevated in tumors. Here, we show that miR-181a-5p is downregulated in aggressive human breast and colon cancers where its levels correlate inversely with MMP-14 expression. In clinical specimens, enhanced expression of MMP-14 was observed in cancer cells located at the invasive front of tumors where miR-181a-5p was downregulated relative to adjacent normal cells. Bioinformatics analyses defined a potential miR-181a-5p response element within the 3'-untranslated region of MMP-14 that was validated in reporter gene experiments. Ectopic miR-181a-5p reduced MMP-14 expression, whereas miR-181a-5p attenuation elevated MMP-14 expression. In support of a critical relationship between these two genes, miR-181a-5p-mediated reduction of MMP-14 levels was sufficient to decrease cancer cell migration, invasion, and activation of pro-MMP-2. Furthermore, this reduction in MMP-14 levels was sufficient to reduce in vivo invasion and angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane assays. Taken together, our results establish the regulation of MMP-14 in cancers by miR-181a-5p through a posttranscriptional mechanism, and they further suggest strategies to elevate miR-181a-5p to prevent cancer metastasis.