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Li M, Gao X, Su Y, Shan S, Qian W, Zhang Z, Zhu D. FOXM1 transcriptional regulation. Biol Cell 2024; 116:e2400012. [PMID: 38963053 DOI: 10.1111/boc.202400012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
FOXM1 is a key transcriptional regulator involved in various biological processes in mammals, including carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, aging, immune regulation, development, and disease. Early studies have shown that FOXM1 acts as an oncogene by regulating cell proliferation, cell cycle, migration, metastasis, and apoptosis, as well as genes related to diagnosis, treatment, chemotherapy resistance, and prognosis. Researchers are increasingly focusing on FOXM1 functions in tumor microenvironment, epigenetics, and immune infiltration. However, researchers have not comprehensively described FOXM1's involvement in tumor microenvironment shaping, epigenetics, and immune cell infiltration. Here we review the role of FOXM1 in the formation and development of malignant tumors, and we will provide a comprehensive summary of the role of FOXM1 in transcriptional regulation, interacting proteins, tumor microenvironment, epigenetics, and immune infiltration, and suggest areas for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxi Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
- School of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry & Biology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Xuzheng Gao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Yanting Su
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Shigang Shan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Wenbin Qian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Zhenwang Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
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2
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Khan I, Amin MA, Eklund EA, Gartel AL. Regulation of HOX gene expression in AML. Blood Cancer J 2024; 14:42. [PMID: 38453907 PMCID: PMC10920644 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-024-01004-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
As key developmental regulators, HOX cluster genes have varied and context-specific roles in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. A complex interaction of transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, long non-coding RNAs and chromatin structural changes orchestrate HOX expression in leukemia cells. In this review we summarize molecular mechanisms underlying HOX regulation in clinical subsets of AML, with a focus on NPM1 mutated (NPM1mut) AML comprising a third of all AML patients. While the leukemia initiating function of the NPM1 mutation is clearly dependent on HOX activity, the favorable treatment responses in these patients with upregulation of HOX cluster genes is a poorly understood paradoxical observation. Recent data confirm FOXM1 as a suppressor of HOX activity and a well-known binding partner of NPM suggesting that FOXM1 inactivation may mediate the effect of cytoplasmic NPM on HOX upregulation. Conversely the residual nuclear fraction of mutant NPM has also been recently shown to have chromatin modifying effects permissive to HOX expression. Recent identification of the menin-MLL interaction as a critical vulnerability of HOX-dependent AML has fueled the development of menin inhibitors that are clinically active in NPM1 and MLL rearranged AML despite inconsistent suppression of the HOX locus. Insights into context-specific regulation of HOX in AML may provide a solid foundation for targeting this common vulnerability across several major AML subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irum Khan
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Mohammed A Amin
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Eklund
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Andrei L Gartel
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA.
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3
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Nopora A, Weidle UH. CircRNAs as New Therapeutic Entities and Tools for Target Identification in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2024; 21:118-136. [PMID: 38423599 PMCID: PMC10905271 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a genetically extremely heterogeneous disease. Drug resistance after induction therapy is a very frequent event resulting in poor medium survival times. Therefore, the identification of new targets and treatment modalities is a medical high priority issue. We addressed our attention to circular RNAs (circRNAs), which can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in AML. We searched the literature (PubMed) and identified eight up-regulated and two down-regulated circ-RNAs with activity in preclinical in vivo models. In addition, we identified twenty-two up-regulated and four down-regulated circRNAs with activity in preclinical in vitro systems, but pending in vivo activity. Up-regulated RNAs are potential targets for si- or shRNA-based approaches, and down-regulated circRNAs can be reconstituted by replacement therapy to achieve a therapeutic benefit in preclinical systems. The up-regulated targets can be tackled with small molecules, antibody-based entities, or other modes of intervention. For down-regulated targets, up-regulators must be identified. The ranking of the identified circRNAs with respect to therapy of AML will depend on further target validation experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Nopora
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich H Weidle
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
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4
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Khan I, Kaempf A, Raghuwanshi S, Chesnokov M, Zhang X, Wang Z, Domling A, Tyner JW, Camacho C, Gartel AL. Favorable outcomes of NPM1 mut AML patients are due to transcriptional inactivation of FOXM1, presenting a new target to overcome chemoresistance. Blood Cancer J 2023; 13:128. [PMID: 37607920 PMCID: PMC10444844 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-023-00898-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- I Khan
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A Kaempf
- OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Portland, OR, USA
| | - S Raghuwanshi
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - M Chesnokov
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - X Zhang
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Z Wang
- The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) of Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - A Domling
- The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) of Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - J W Tyner
- OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Portland, OR, USA
| | - C Camacho
- Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - A L Gartel
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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5
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Lin TC, Chung PJ, Shen CA, Nguyen TMH, Lin YS, Lin SC, Hsiao SC, Chiu WT. Depletion of intracellular Ca 2+ induces FOXM1 SUMOylation and accumulation on the inner nuclear membrane and accelerates G2/M cell cycle transition. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151332. [PMID: 37302175 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular calcium (Ca2+) has been reported to regulate transcription factor activity and cancer development, but how it affects the function of Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1), a crucial transcription factor and key oncogene participating in tumorigenesis, remains unclear. Here, we investigated the regulatory role of Ca2+ on FOXM1 and found that Ca2+ depletion caused the distribution of FOXM1 to aggregate on the nuclear envelope, which was also observed in many cell lines. Further experiments revealed that sequestrated FOXM1 colocalized with lamin B in the inner nuclear membrane (INM) and was affected by the activity of nuclear export protein exportin 1 (XPO1). To investigate how intracellular Ca2+ affects FOXM1, we found that among the posttranscriptional modifications, only SUMOylation of FOXM1 showed a pronounced increase under reduced Ca2+, and suppressed SUMOylation rescued FOXM1 sequestration. In addition, Ca2+-dependent SUMOylated FOXM1 appeared to enhance the G2/M transition of the cell cycle and decrease cell apoptosis. In conclusion, our findings provide a molecular basis for the relationship between Ca2+ signaling and FOXM1 regulation, and we look to elucidate Ca2+-dependent FOXM1 SUMOylation-related biological functions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Chien Lin
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Jung Chung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Chen-An Shen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Thi My Hang Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Syuan Lin
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Chieh Lin
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Chuan Hsiao
- Department of Hematology & Oncology, Saint Martin de Porres Hospital, Chiayi 600, Taiwan.
| | - Wen-Tai Chiu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
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6
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FOXM1 increases hTERT protein stability and indicates poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Neoplasia 2022; 36:100863. [PMID: 36528911 PMCID: PMC9792884 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2022.100863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is one of most lethal diseases across the world. However, the underlying mechanism of gastric cancer carcinogenesis and development is still not fully known. Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) belongs to the FOX family and has crucial roles in transactivation of multiple oncogenes in several cancer types, including gastric cancer. Recent studies have also shown the non-transcriptional function of FOXM1 via protein-protein interactions. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is the core subunit of telomerase that facilitates cancer initiation and progression by maintaining cell immortalization, promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting cell apoptosis. However, the relationship between FOXM1 and hTERT in gastric cancer is still unclear. In our study, we found that FOXM1 and hTERT were convergent to the cell cycle-related pathways and they were positively related with advanced gastric cancer stages and poor outcomes. Simultaneous high levels of FOXM1 and hTERT predicted the worst prognosis. FOXM1 could increase hTERT protein rather than mRNA levels in a non-transcriptional manner. Mechanistically, FOXM1 interrupted the interaction between the E3 ligase MKRN1 and hTERT and decreased hTERT protein degradation. Further studies revealed that FOXM1 interacted with hTERT through its DNA-binding domain (DBD) region. Finally, we found that hTERT played important roles in FOXM1-mediated activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to promote gastric cancer cell proliferation. Taken together, we found a novel non-classical function of FOXM1 to increase hTERT protein stability. Targeting the FOXM1-hTERT pathway may be a potential therapeutic strategy in treating gastric cancer.
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7
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Yang EJ, Park JH, Cho HJ, Hwang JA, Woo SH, Park CH, Kim SY, Park JT, Park SC, Hwang D, Lee YS. Co-inhibition of ATM and ROCK synergistically improves cell proliferation in replicative senescence by activating FOXM1 and E2F1. Commun Biol 2022; 5:702. [PMID: 35835838 PMCID: PMC9283421 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03658-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The multifaceted nature of senescent cell cycle arrest necessitates the targeting of multiple factors arresting or promoting the cell cycle. We report that co-inhibition of ATM and ROCK by KU-60019 and Y-27632, respectively, synergistically increases the proliferation of human diploid fibroblasts undergoing replicative senescence through activation of the transcription factors E2F1 and FOXM1. Time-course transcriptome analysis identified FOXM1 and E2F1 as crucial factors promoting proliferation. Co-inhibition of the kinases ATM and ROCK first promotes the G2/M transition via FOXM1 activation, leading to accumulation of cells undergoing the G1/S transition via E2F1 activation. The combination of both inhibitors increased this effect more significantly than either inhibitor alone, suggesting synergism. Our results demonstrate a FOXM1- and E2F1-mediated molecular pathway enhancing cell cycle progression in cells with proliferative potential under replicative senescence conditions, and treatment with the inhibitors can be tested for senomorphic effect in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Jae Yang
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hwan Park
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Ji Cho
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-A Hwang
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hwa Woo
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi Hyun Park
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Young Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, 05029, Korea
| | - Joon Tae Park
- Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Chul Park
- Well Aging Research Center, Division of Biotechnology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
- The Future Life & Society Research Center, Advanced Institute of Aging Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea.
| | - Daehee Hwang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Young-Sam Lee
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
- Well Aging Research Center, Division of Biotechnology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
- New Biology Research Center, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
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Khan I, Gartel AL. The antagonistic duality of NPM1 mutations in AML. Blood Adv 2022; 6:4028-4030. [PMID: 35507748 PMCID: PMC9278292 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Irum Khan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Andrei L. Gartel
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
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9
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Chesnokov MS, Borhani S, Halasi M, Arbieva Z, Khan I, Gartel AL. FOXM1-AKT Positive Regulation Loop Provides Venetoclax Resistance in AML. Front Oncol 2021; 11:696532. [PMID: 34381718 PMCID: PMC8350342 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.696532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) is a crucial regulator of cancer development and chemoresistance. It is often overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with poor survival and reduced efficacy of cytarabine therapy. Molecular mechanisms underlying high FOXM1 expression levels in malignant cells are still unclear. Here we demonstrate that AKT and FOXM1 constitute a positive autoregulatory loop in AML cells that sustains high activity of both pro-oncogenic regulators. Inactivation of either AKT or FOXM1 signaling results in disruption of whole loop, coordinated suppression of FOXM1 or AKT, respectively, and similar transcriptomic changes. AML cells with inhibited AKT activity or stable FOXM1 knockdown display increase in HOXA genes expression and BCL2L1 suppression that are associated with prominent sensitization to treatment with Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax. Taken together, our data indicate that AKT and FOXM1 in AML cells should not be evaluated as single independent regulators but as two parts of a common FOXM1-AKT positive feedback circuit. We also report for the first time that FOXM1 inactivation can overcome AML venetoclax resistance. Thus, targeting FOXM1-AKT loop may open new possibilities in overcoming AML drug resistance and improving outcomes for AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail S Chesnokov
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Soheila Borhani
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Marianna Halasi
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Zarema Arbieva
- Genome Research Core, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Irum Khan
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Andrei L. Gartel
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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10
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Chesnokov MS, Halasi M, Borhani S, Arbieva Z, Shah BN, Oerlemans R, Khan I, Camacho CJ, Gartel AL. Novel FOXM1 inhibitor identified via gene network analysis induces autophagic FOXM1 degradation to overcome chemoresistance of human cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:704. [PMID: 34262016 PMCID: PMC8280155 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03978-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
FOXM1 transcription factor is an oncogene and a master regulator of chemoresistance in multiple cancers. Pharmacological inhibition of FOXM1 is a promising approach but has proven to be challenging. We performed a network-centric transcriptomic analysis to identify a novel compound STL427944 that selectively suppresses FOXM1 by inducing the relocalization of nuclear FOXM1 protein to the cytoplasm and promoting its subsequent degradation by autophagosomes. Human cancer cells treated with STL427944 exhibit increased sensitivity to cytotoxic effects of conventional chemotherapeutic treatments (platinum-based agents, 5-fluorouracil, and taxanes). RNA-seq analysis of STL427944-induced gene expression changes revealed prominent suppression of gene signatures characteristic for FOXM1 and its downstream targets but no significant changes in other important regulatory pathways, thereby suggesting high selectivity of STL427944 toward the FOXM1 pathway. Collectively, the novel autophagy-dependent mode of FOXM1 suppression by STL427944 validates a unique pathway to overcome tumor chemoresistance and improve the efficacy of treatment with conventional cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marianna Halasi
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Surgery, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Soheila Borhani
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Zarema Arbieva
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Genome Research Core, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Binal N Shah
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rick Oerlemans
- University of Pittsburgh, College of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Irum Khan
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Carlos J Camacho
- University of Pittsburgh, College of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Andrei L Gartel
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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11
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Peng Q, Liu Y, Kong X, Xian J, Ye L, Yang L, Guo S, Zhang Y, Zhou L, Xiang T. The Novel Methylation Biomarker SCARA5 Sensitizes Cancer Cells to DNA Damage Chemotherapy Drugs in NSCLC. Front Oncol 2021; 11:666589. [PMID: 34150631 PMCID: PMC8213031 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.666589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Scavenger Receptor Class A Member 5 (SCARA5), also known as TESR, is expressed in various tissues and organs and participates in host defense. Recent studies have found SCARA5 to produce an anti-tumor effect for multiple tumors, although the mechanistic basis for the effect is unknown. Methods Bioinformatics, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), quantitative real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry were used to assess promoter methylation and expression of SCARA5 in lung cancer tissues and cell lines. The biological effect of SCARA5 on lung cancer cells was confirmed by the CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry. GSEA, Western blot, RNA sequencing, and luciferase-based gene reporter assay were used to explore the mechanistic basis for the anti-tumor effect of SCARA5. Chemosensitivity assays were used to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of SCARA5 in conjunction with chemotherapeutic drugs. Results We found SCARA5 to be downregulated in lung cancer cell lines and tissues with SCARA5 levels negatively related to promoter methylation. Ectopic expression of SCARA5 suppressed proliferation of lung cancer both in vitro and in vivo through upregulation of HSPA5 expression, which inhibited FOXM1 expression resulting in G2/M arrest of the A549 cell line. SCARA5 also improved susceptibility of A549 cells to chemotherapeutic drugs that damage DNA. Conclusion SCARA5 was silenced in NSCLC due to promoter methylation and could be a potential tumor marker in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Peng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuehua Kong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Xian
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Ye
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuliang Guo
- Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lan Zhou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingxiu Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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12
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Kuai XY, Lei ZY, Liu XS, Shao XY. The Interaction of GLUT1 and FOXM1 Leads to a Poor Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 20:941-950. [PMID: 32188390 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200318094618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the most common fatal diseases with high morbidity. Alteration of glucose metabolism is one of the hallmarks in the development of CRC. Glucose Transporter 1 (GLUT1) is a key rate-limiting protein in hyperactive glucose metabolism and up-regulated in CRC, however, the underlying mechanism of the altered metabolism in CRC is still unknown. METHODS In this study, immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate the expression of GLUT1 and FOXM1 in 135 paired CRC and adjacent normal tissues. The association between the expression of GLUT1/FOXM1 and clinicopathological factors was determined and the correlation between GLUT1 and FOXM1 in CRC was investigated. RESULTS Our results revealed that regardless of tumor location, GLUT1 and FOXM1 were overexpressed in CRC tissues, especially in patients with positive lymph node metastasis and TNM stage III-IV. Furthermore, GLUT1 showed a significantly strong link with FOXM1 in CRC tissue. CONCLUSION Overexpression of GLUT1 and FOXM1 may play critical roles in CRC leading to a poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yi Kuai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhi-Yi Lei
- Department of Radiology, The Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, XiNing, QingHai, China
| | - Xiao-Shuang Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Yu Shao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Kalathil D, John S, Nair AS. FOXM1 and Cancer: Faulty Cellular Signaling Derails Homeostasis. Front Oncol 2021; 10:626836. [PMID: 33680951 PMCID: PMC7927600 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.626836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box transcription factor, FOXM1 is implicated in several cellular processes such as proliferation, cell cycle progression, cell differentiation, DNA damage repair, tissue homeostasis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and redox signaling. In addition to being a boon for the normal functioning of a cell, FOXM1 turns out to be a bane by manifesting in several disease scenarios including cancer. It has been given an oncogenic status based on several evidences indicating its role in tumor development and progression. FOXM1 is highly expressed in several cancers and has also been implicated in poor prognosis. A comprehensive understanding of various aspects of this molecule has revealed its role in angiogenesis, invasion, migration, self- renewal and drug resistance. In this review, we attempt to understand various mechanisms underlying FOXM1 gene and protein regulation in cancer including the different signaling pathways, post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications. Identifying crucial molecules associated with these processes can aid in the development of potential pharmacological approaches to curb FOXM1 mediated tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanya Kalathil
- Cancer Research Program-4, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Samu John
- Cancer Research Program-4, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.,Research Centre, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Asha S Nair
- Cancer Research Program-4, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.,Research Centre, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India
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14
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Khan I, Eklund EE, Gartel AL. Therapeutic Vulnerabilities of Transcription Factors in AML. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 20:229-237. [PMID: 33158995 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by impaired myeloid lineage differentiation, uncontrolled proliferation, and inhibition of proapoptotic pathways. In spite of a relatively homogeneous clinical disease presentation, risk of long-term survival in AML varies from 20% to 80% depending on molecular disease characteristics. In recognition of the molecular heterogeneity of AML, the European Leukemia Net (ELN) and WHO classification systems now incorporate cytogenetics and increasing numbers of gene mutations into AML prognostication. Several of the genomic AML subsets are characterized by unique transcription factor alterations that are highlighted in this review. There are many mechanisms of transcriptional deregulation in leukemia. We broadly classify transcription factors based on mechanisms of transcriptional deregulation including direct involvement of transcription factors in recurrent translocations, loss-of-function mutations, and intracellular relocalization. Transcription factors, due to their pleiotropic effects, have been attractive but elusive targets. Indirect targeting approaches include inhibition of upstream kinases such as TAK1 for suppression of NFκB signaling and downstream effectors such as FGF signaling in HOXA-upregulated leukemia. Other strategies include targeting scaffolding proteins like BrD4 in the case of MYC or coactivators such as menin to suppress HOX expression; disrupting critical protein interactions in the case of β-catenin:TCF/LEF, and preventing transcription factor binding to DNA as in the case of PU.1 or FOXM1. We comprehensively describe the mechanism of deregulation of transcription factors in genomic subsets of AML, consequent pathway addictions, and potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irum Khan
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Elizabeth E Eklund
- Feinberg School of Medicine and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.,Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Andrei L Gartel
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois.
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15
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Cai X, Xiao W, Shen J, Lian H, Lu Y, Liu X, Gu J. Thiostrepton and miR-216b synergistically promote osteosarcoma cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis by targeting FoxM1. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:391. [PMID: 33193851 PMCID: PMC7656114 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.12254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is a common primary bone cancer that there are currently no effective treatment strategies for. Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is key in the development of osteosarcoma, and microRNA (miR)-216b serves an antitumor role by targeting FoxM1. Moreover, thiostrepton (TST), a natural thiazole antibiotic, induces antitumor effects and specifically targets FoxM1. Therefore, the present study investigated whether thiostrepton and miR-216b synergistically inhibited osteosarcoma cells by targeting FoxM1. The MTT assay, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, a dual-luciferase reporter assay and flow cytometry were performed. Compared with the human osteoblast cell line hFOB1.19, miR-216b expression was significantly downregulated in the osteosarcoma cell lines U2OS, MG63 and Saos-2. By contrast, FoxM1 expression was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma cell lines compared with the hFOB1.19 cell line. The results indicated that miR-216b targeted the 3′-untranslated region of FoxM1. Moreover, the results suggested that miR-216b cooperated with TST to decrease cell cytotoxicity and increase cell apoptosis. In addition, miR-216b cooperated with TST to increase Bax expression and decrease Bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, the combination of TST and miR-216b synergistically promoted osteosarcoma cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis by targeting FoxM1. Therefore, the present study suggested that the combination of TST and miR-216b may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobing Cai
- Department of Orthopedics, Chongming Branch of Tongji Univercity Affiliated the Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai 202157, P.R. China
| | - Wenyu Xiao
- Department of Orthopedics, Jiangwan Hospital, Shanghai 200434, P.R. China
| | - Juexin Shen
- Department of Orthopedics, Jiangwan Hospital, Shanghai 200434, P.R. China
| | - Hui Lian
- Department of Orthopedics, Jiangwan Hospital, Shanghai 200434, P.R. China
| | - Yi Lu
- Department of Orthopedics, Jiangwan Hospital, Shanghai 200434, P.R. China
| | - Xianmiao Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Jiangwan Hospital, Shanghai 200434, P.R. China
| | - Jisheng Gu
- Department of Orthopedics, Jiangwan Hospital, Shanghai 200434, P.R. China
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16
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Chen Y, Hu J. Nucleophosmin1 (NPM1) abnormality in hematologic malignancies, and therapeutic targeting of mutant NPM1 in acute myeloid leukemia. Ther Adv Hematol 2020; 11:2040620719899818. [PMID: 32071709 PMCID: PMC6997955 DOI: 10.1177/2040620719899818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is an abundant nucleolar protein that is
implicated in a variety of biological processes and in the pathogenesis of
several human malignancies. For hematologic malignancies, approximately
one-third of anaplastic large-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas were found to express
a fusion between NPM1 and the catalytic domain of anaplastic
lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase. About 50–60% of acute myeloid leukemia
patients with normal karyotype carry NPM1 mutations, which are
characterized by cytoplasmic dislocation of the NPM1 protein.
Nevertheless, NPM1 is overexpressed in various hematologic and
solid tumor malignancies. NPM1 overexpression is considered a
prognostic marker of recurrence and progression of cancer. Thus,
NPM1 abnormalities play a critical role in several types of
hematologic malignancies. This has led to intense interest in the development of
an NPM1 targeting strategy for cancer therapy. The aim of this
review is to summarize present knowledge on NPM1 origin,
pathogenesis, and therapeutic interventions in hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyu Chen
- Department of Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No.29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China
| | - Jianda Hu
- Department of Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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17
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Haque M, Li J, Huang YH, Almowaled M, Barger CJ, Karpf AR, Wang P, Chen W, Turner SD, Lai R. NPM-ALK Is a Key Regulator of the Oncoprotein FOXM1 in ALK-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1119. [PMID: 31390744 PMCID: PMC6721812 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead Box M1 (FOXM1) is an oncogenic transcription factor implicated in the pathogenesis of solid and hematologic cancers. In this study, we examined the significance of FOXM1 in NPM-ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (NPM-ALK + ALCL), with a focus on how it interacts with NPM-ALK, which is a key oncogenic driver in these tumors. FOXM1 was expressed in NPM-ALK + ALCL cell lines (5/5), patient samples (21/21), and tumors arising in NPM-ALK transgenic mice (4/4). FOXM1 was localized in the nuclei and confirmed to be transcriptionally active. Inhibition of FOXM1 in two NPM-ALK + ALCL cells using shRNA and pharmalogic agent (thiostrepton) resulted in reductions in cell growth and soft-agar colony formation, which were associated with apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest. FOXM1 is functionally linked to NPM-ALK, as FOXM1 enhanced phosphorylation of the NPM-ALK/STAT3 axis. Conversely, DNA binding and transcriptional activity of FOXM1 was dependent on the expression of NPM-ALK. Further studies showed that this dependency hinges on the binding of FOXM1 to NPM1 that heterodimerizes with NPM-ALK, and the phosphorylation status of NPM-ALK. In conclusion, we identified FOXM1 as an important oncogenic protein in NPM-ALK+ ALCL. Our results exemplified that NPM-ALK exerts oncogenic effects in the nuclei and illustrated a novel role of NPM1 in NPM-ALK pathobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moinul Haque
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
- Electron Microscopy Center, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150080, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yung-Hsing Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Meaad Almowaled
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Carter J Barger
- Eppley Institute and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Adam R Karpf
- Eppley Institute and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Hematology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Will Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Suzanne D Turner
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB20QQ, UK
| | - Raymond Lai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada.
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada.
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18
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Yang N, Wang C, Wang J, Wang Z, Huang D, Yan M, Kamran M, Liu Q, Xu B. Aurora kinase A stabilizes FOXM1 to enhance paclitaxel resistance in triple-negative breast cancer. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 23:6442-6453. [PMID: 31359594 PMCID: PMC6714217 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a relatively poor outcome. Acquired chemoresistance is a major clinical challenge for TNBC patients. Previously, we reported that kinase-dead Aurora kinase A (Aurora-A) could effectively transactivate the FOXM1 promoter. Here, we demonstrate an additional pathway through which Aurora-A stabilizes FOXM1 by attenuating its ubiquitin in TNBC. Specifically, Aurora-A stabilizes FOXM1 in late M phase and early G1 phase of the cell cycle, which promotes proliferation of TNBC cells. Knock-down of Aurora-A significantly suppresses cell proliferation in TNBC cell lines and can be rescued by FOXM1 overexpression. We observe that paclitaxel-resistant TNBC cells exhibit high expression of Aurora-A and FOXM1. Overexpression of Aurora-A offers TNBC cells an additional growth advantage and protection against paclitaxel. Moreover, Aurora-A and FOXM1 could be simultaneously targeted by thiostrepton. Combination of thiostrepton and paclitaxel treatment reverses paclitaxel resistance and significantly inhibits cell proliferation. In conclusion, our study reveals additional mechanism through which Aurora-A regulates FOXM1 and provides a new therapeutic strategy to treat paclitaxel-resistant triple-negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chang Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Pathology, GanZhou Municipal People's Hospital, NanChang University, GanZhou, China
| | - Zifeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Di Huang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Muhammad Kamran
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Quentin Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - BangLao Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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19
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Zanin R, Pegoraro S, Ros G, Ciani Y, Piazza S, Bossi F, Bulla R, Zennaro C, Tonon F, Lazarevic D, Stupka E, Sgarra R, Manfioletti G. HMGA1 promotes breast cancer angiogenesis supporting the stability, nuclear localization and transcriptional activity of FOXM1. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:313. [PMID: 31311575 PMCID: PMC6636010 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1307-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Among the breast cancer subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and the most difficult to treat. One of the master regulators in TNBC progression is the architectural transcription factor HMGA1. This study aimed to further explore the HMGA1 molecular network to identify molecular mechanisms involved in TNBC progression. Methods RNA from the MDA-MB-231 cell line, silenced for HMGA1 expression, was sequenced and, with a bioinformatic analysis, molecular partners HMGA1 could cooperate with in regulating common downstream gene networks were identified. Among the putative partners, the FOXM1 transcription factor was selected. The relationship occurring between HMGA1 and FOXM1 was explored by qRT-PCR, co-immunoprecipitation and protein stability assays. Subsequently, the transcriptional activity of HMGA1 and FOXM1 was analysed by luciferase assay on the VEGFA promoter. The impact on angiogenesis was assessed in vitro, evaluating the tube formation ability of endothelial cells exposed to the conditioned medium of MDA-MB-231 cells silenced for HMGA1 and FOXM1 and in vivo injecting MDA-MB-231 cells, silenced for the two factors, in zebrafish larvae. Results Here, we discover FOXM1 as a novel molecular partner of HMGA1 in regulating a gene network implicated in several breast cancer hallmarks. HMGA1 forms a complex with FOXM1 and stabilizes it in the nucleus, increasing its transcriptional activity on common target genes, among them, VEGFA, the main inducer of angiogenesis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that HMGA1 and FOXM1 synergistically drive breast cancer cells to promote tumor angiogenesis both in vitro in endothelial cells and in vivo in a zebrafish xenograft model. Moreover, using a dataset of breast cancer patients we show that the co-expression of HMGA1, FOXM1 and VEGFA is a negative prognostic factor of distant metastasis-free survival and relapse-free survival. Conclusions This study reveals FOXM1 as a crucial interactor of HMGA1 and proves that their cooperative action supports breast cancer aggressiveness, by promoting tumor angiogenesis. Therefore, the possibility to target HMGA1/FOXM1 in combination should represent an attractive therapeutic option to counteract breast cancer angiogenesis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1307-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Zanin
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Pegoraro
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Gloria Ros
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Yari Ciani
- Laboratorio Nazionale CIB, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, Trieste, Italy.,Present address: Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Silvano Piazza
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Povo, Trento, Italy
| | - Fleur Bossi
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (I.R.C.C.S.) "Burlo Garofolo", via dell'Istria 65/1, 34134, Trieste, Italy
| | - Roberta Bulla
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Cristina Zennaro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Federica Tonon
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Dejan Lazarevic
- Center for Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elia Stupka
- Center for Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Present address: Life Sciences Business Health Catalyst, Cambridge, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, USA
| | - Riccardo Sgarra
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
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20
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The Role of Forkhead Box Proteins in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11060865. [PMID: 31234353 PMCID: PMC6627614 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box (FOX) proteins are a group of transcriptional factors implicated in different cellular functions such as differentiation, proliferation and senescence. A growing number of studies have focused on the relationship between FOX proteins and cancers, particularly hematological neoplasms such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). FOX proteins are widely involved in AML biology, including leukemogenesis, relapse and drug sensitivity. Here we explore the role of FOX transcription factors in the major AML entities, according to "The 2016 revision to the World Health Organization classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemia", and in the context of the most recurrent gene mutations identified in this heterogeneous disease. Moreover, we report the new evidences about the role of FOX proteins in drug sensitivity, mechanisms of chemoresistance, and possible targeting for personalized therapies.
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21
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Osei-Sarfo K, Gudas LJ. Retinoids induce antagonism between FOXO3A and FOXM1 transcription factors in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215234. [PMID: 30978209 PMCID: PMC6461257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To gain a greater understanding of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) we investigated the actions of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA; a retinoid), bexarotene (a pan-RXR agonist), and forkhead box (FOX) transcription factors in human OSCC-derived cell lines. RA and bexarotene have been shown to limit several oncogenic pathways in many cell types. FOXO proteins typically are associated with tumor suppressive activities, whereas FOXM1 acts as an oncogene when overexpressed in several cancers. RA and/or bexarotene increased the transcript levels of FOXO1, FOXO3A, and TRAIL receptors; reduced the transcript levels of FOXM1, Aurora kinase B (AURKB), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA); and decreased the proliferation of OSCC-derived cell lines. Also, RA and/or bexarotene influenced the recruitment of FOXO3A and FOXM1 to target genes. Additionally, FOXM1 depletion reduced cell proliferation, decreased transcript levels of downstream targets of FOXM1, and increased transcript levels of TRAIL receptors. Overexpression of FOXO3A decreased proliferation and increased binding of histone deacetylases (HDACs) 1 and 2 at the FOXM1, AURKB, and VEGFA promoters. This research suggests novel influences of the drugs RA and bexarotene on the expression of FOXM1 and FOXO3A in transcriptional regulatory pathways of human OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwame Osei-Sarfo
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States of America
- Weill Cornell Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Lorraine J. Gudas
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States of America
- Weill Cornell Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States of America
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22
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Liao GB, Li XZ, Zeng S, Liu C, Yang SM, Yang L, Hu CJ, Bai JY. Regulation of the master regulator FOXM1 in cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2018; 16:57. [PMID: 30208972 PMCID: PMC6134757 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-018-0266-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
FOXM1 (forkhead box protein M1) is a critical proliferation-associated transcription factor that is widely spatiotemporally expressed during the cell cycle. It is closely involved with the processes of cell proliferation, self-renewal, and tumorigenesis. In most human cancers, FOXM1 is overexpressed, and this indicates a poor prognosis for cancer patients. FOXM1 maintains cancer hallmarks by regulating the expression of target genes at the transcriptional level. Due to its potential role as molecular target in cancer therapy, FOXM1 was named the Molecule of the Year in 2010. However, the mechanism of FOXM1 dysregulation remains indistinct. A comprehensive understanding of FOXM1 regulation will provide novel insight for cancer and other diseases in which FOXM1 plays a major role. Here, we summarize the transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications of FOXM1, which will provide extremely important implications for novel strategies targeting FOXM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Bin Liao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400037 China
| | - Xin-Zhe Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400037 China
| | - Shuo Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400037 China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400037 China
| | - Shi-Ming Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400037 China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400037 China
| | - Chang-Jiang Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400037 China
| | - Jian-Ying Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400037 China
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23
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Khan I, Halasi M, Patel A, Schultz R, Kalakota N, Chen YH, Aardsma N, Liu L, Crispino JD, Mahmud N, Frankfurt O, Gartel AL. FOXM1 contributes to treatment failure in acute myeloid leukemia. JCI Insight 2018; 3:121583. [PMID: 30089730 PMCID: PMC6129129 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.121583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with NPM1 mutations demonstrate a superior response to standard chemotherapy treatment. Our previous work has shown that these favorable outcomes are linked to the cytoplasmic relocalization and inactivation of FOXM1 driven by mutated NPM1. Here, we went on to confirm the important role of FOXM1 in increased chemoresistance in AML. A multiinstitution retrospective study was conducted to link FOXM1 expression to clinical outcomes in AML. We establish nuclear FOXM1 as an independent clinical predictor of chemotherapeutic resistance in intermediate-risk AML in a multivariate analysis incorporating standard clinicopathologic risk factors. Using colony assays, we show a dramatic decrease in colony size and numbers in AML cell lines with knockdown of FOXM1, suggesting an important role for FOXM1 in the clonogenic activity of AML cells. In order to further prove a potential role for FOXM1 in AML chemoresistance, we induced an FLT3-ITD-driven myeloid neoplasm in a FOXM1-overexpressing transgenic mouse model and demonstrated significantly higher residual disease after standard chemotherapy. This suggests that constitutive overexpression of FOXM1 in this model induces chemoresistance. Finally, we performed proof-of-principle experiments using a currently approved proteasome inhibitor, ixazomib, to target FOXM1 and demonstrated a therapeutic response in AML patient samples and animal models of AML that correlates with the suppression of FOXM1 and its transcriptional targets. Addition of low doses of ixazomib increases sensitization of AML cells to chemotherapy backbone drugs cytarabine and the hypomethylator 5-azacitidine. Our results underscore the importance of FOXM1 in AML progression and treatment, and they suggest that targeting it may have therapeutic benefit in combination with standard AML therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irum Khan
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Marianna Halasi
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Rachael Schultz
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nandini Kalakota
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yi-Hua Chen
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nathan Aardsma
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Li Liu
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Nadim Mahmud
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Andrei L Gartel
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Smirnov A, Panatta E, Lena A, Castiglia D, Di Daniele N, Melino G, Candi E. FOXM1 regulates proliferation, senescence and oxidative stress in keratinocytes and cancer cells. Aging (Albany NY) 2017; 8:1384-97. [PMID: 27385468 PMCID: PMC4993337 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Several transcription factors, including the master regulator of the epidermis, p63, are involved in controlling human keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. Here, we report that in normal keratinocytes, the expression of FOXM1, a member of the Forkhead superfamily of transcription factors, is controlled by p63. We observe that, together with p63, FOXM1 strongly contributes to the maintenance of high proliferative potential in keratinocytes, whereas its expression decreases during differentiation, as well as during replicative-induced senescence. Depletion of FOXM1 is sufficient to induce keratinocyte senescence, paralleled by an increased ROS production and an inhibition of ROS-scavenger genes (SOD2, CAT, GPX2, PRDX). Interestingly, FOXM1 expression is strongly reduced in keratinocytes isolated from old human subjects compared with young subjects. FOXM1 depletion sensitizes both normal keratinocytes and squamous carcinoma cells to apoptosis and ROS-induced apoptosis. Together, these data identify FOXM1 as a key regulator of ROS in normal dividing epithelial cells and suggest that squamous carcinoma cells may also use FOXM1 to control oxidative stress to escape premature senescence and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem Smirnov
- University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Panatta
- University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - AnnaMaria Lena
- University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Castiglia
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata (IDI-IRCCS), 00166, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Di Daniele
- University of "Tor Vergata", Department of Systems Medicine, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerry Melino
- University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Candi
- University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, 00133, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata (IDI-IRCCS), 00166, Rome, Italy
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Gartel AL. FOXM1 in Cancer: Interactions and Vulnerabilities. Cancer Res 2017; 77:3135-3139. [PMID: 28584182 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-3566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
FOXM1 is a transcription factor of the Forkhead family that is required for cell proliferation of normal cells. However, FOXM1 is repeatedly overexpressed in a variety of human cancers, and it has been implicated in all major hallmarks of cancer delineated by Hanahan and Weinberg. It has been postulated that the oncogenic potential of FOXM1 is determined by its capacity to transactivate target genes that are implicated in different phases of cancer development. However, FOXM1 may also play an oncogenic role by interacting with other proteins, such as β-catenin or SMAD3 to induce oncogenic WNT and TGFβ signaling pathways, respectively. In this review, I will discuss the protein-protein interactions of FOXM1 that are critical for cancer development and may represent novel targets for anticancer drugs. Cancer Res; 77(12); 3135-9. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei L Gartel
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
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Khan I, Halasi M, Zia MF, Gann P, Gaitonde S, Mahmud N, Gartel AL. Nuclear FOXM1 drives chemoresistance in AML. Leukemia 2016; 31:251-255. [PMID: 27694928 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2016.270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I Khan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - M Halasi
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine,University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - M F Zia
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - P Gann
- Division of Research Histology and Tissue Imaging Core, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - S Gaitonde
- Division of Research Histology and Tissue Imaging Core, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - N Mahmud
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A L Gartel
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine,University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
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HIFI-α activation underlies a functional switch in the paradoxical role of Ezh2/PRC2 in breast cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E3735-44. [PMID: 27303043 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1602079113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the established oncogenic function of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) in human cancers, its role as a tumor suppressor is also evident; however, the mechanism underlying the regulation of the paradoxical functions of PRC2 in tumorigenesis is poorly understood. Here we show that hypoxia-inducible factor 1, α-subunit (HIFI-α) is a crucial modulator of PRC2 and enhancer of zeste 2 (EZH2) function in breast cancer. Interrogating the genomic expression of breast cancer indicates high HIF1A activity correlated with high EZH2 expression but low PRC2 activity in triple-negative breast cancer compared with other cancer subtypes. In the absence of HIFIA activation, PRC2 represses the expression of matrix metalloproteinase genes (MMPs) and invasion, whereas a discrete Ezh2 complexed with Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) acts to promote the expression of MMPs. HIF1-α induction upon hypoxia results in PRC2 inactivation by selective suppression of the expression of suppressor of zeste 12 protein homolog (SUZ12) and embryonic ectoderm development (EED), leading to a functional switch toward Ezh2/FoxM1-dependent induction of the expression of MMPs and invasion. Our study suggests a tumor-suppressive function of PRC2, which is restricted by HIF1-α, and an oncogenic function of Ezh2, which cooperates with FoxM1 to promote invasion in triple-negative breast cancer.
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Pandit B, Gartel AL. Mutual Regulation of FOXM1, NPM and ARF Proteins. J Cancer 2015; 6:538-41. [PMID: 26000045 PMCID: PMC4439939 DOI: 10.7150/jca.11766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
ARF, NPM and FOXM1 proteins interact with each other in mammalian cells. We showed previously that proteasome inhibitors suppress not only FOXM1 expression, but also the expression of ARF and NPM proteins. Using RNA interference we found that the depletion of each of these proteins by RNAi in human cancer HeLa cells leads to down-regulation of the two other partners, suggesting that these proteins stabilize each other in human cancer cells. Since the suppression of FOXM1 is one of hallmarks of proteasome inhibition, suppression of ARF and NPM by proteasome inhibitors may be explained in part as a secondary effect of downregulation of FOXM1 that modulate stability of ARF and NPM1 proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bulbul Pandit
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Andrei L Gartel
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
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Zhu H. Targeting forkhead box transcription factors FOXM1 and FOXO in leukemia (Review). Oncol Rep 2014; 32:1327-34. [PMID: 25175498 DOI: 10.3892/or.2014.3357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of forkhead box (FOX) proteins has been found in many genetic diseases and malignancies including leukemia. Leukemia is a common neoplastic disease of the blood or bone marrow characterized by the presence of immature leukocytes and is one of the leading causes of death due to cancer. Forkhead transcription factors, FOXM1 and FOXO family members (FOXOs), are important mediators in leukemia development. Aberrant expression of FOXM1 and FOXOs results in leukemogenesis. Usually the expression of FOXM1 is upregulated, whereas the expression of FOXOs is downregulated due to phosphorylation, nuclear exclusion and degradation in leukemia. On the one hand, FOXOs are bona fide tumor suppressors, on the other hand, active FOXOs maintain leukemia stem cells and stimulate drug resistance genes, contributing to leukemogenesis. FOXM1 and FOXOs have been proven to be potential targets for the development of leukemia therapeutics. They are also valuable diagnostic and prognostic markers in leukemia for clinical applications. This review summarizes the present knowledge concerning the molecular mechanisms by which FOXM1 and FOXOs modulate leukemogenesis and leukemia development, the clinical relevance of these FOX proteins in leukemia and related areas that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, P.R. China
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Gartel AL. Suppression of the Oncogenic Transcription Factor FOXM1 by Proteasome Inhibitors. SCIENTIFICA 2014; 2014:596528. [PMID: 25093142 PMCID: PMC4095980 DOI: 10.1155/2014/596528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/14/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The oncogenic transcription factor FOXM1 is one of the key regulators of tumorigenesis. We found that FOXM1 upregulates its own transcription and its protein stability depends on its interaction with the chaperone nucleophosmin. We also determined that FOXM1 is negatively regulated by the tumor suppressor p53. We identified the thiazole antibiotics Siomycin A and thiostrepton as inhibitors of transcriptional activity and FOXM1 expression via proteasome inhibition. In addition, we found that all tested proteasome inhibitors target FOXM1. We showed synergy between thiostrepton and bortezomib in different human cancer cell lines and in vivo. We generated isogenic human cancer cell lines of different origin with wild-type p53 or p53 knockdown and we demonstrated that proteasome inhibitors induce p53-independent apoptosis in these cells. Using RNA-interference or proteasome inhibitors to inhibit FOXM1 we found that suppression of FOXM1 sensitized human cancer cells to apoptosis induced by DNA-damaging agents or oxidative stress. We encapsulated thiostrepton into micelle-nanoparticles and after injection we detected accumulation of nanoparticles in tumors and in the livers of treated mice. This treatment led to inhibition of human xenograft tumor growth in nude mice. Our data indicate that targeting FOXM1 increases apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei L. Gartel
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 606012, USA
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Ren Z, Aerts JL, Pen JJ, Heirman C, Breckpot K, De Grève J. Phosphorylated STAT3 physically interacts with NPM and transcriptionally enhances its expression in cancer. Oncogene 2014; 34:1650-7. [PMID: 24793791 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2014.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) can be activated by the tyrosine kinase domain of the chimeric protein nucleophosmin/anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM/ALK), and has a pivotal role in mediating NPM/ALK-related malignant cell transformation. Although the role of STAT3 and wild-type NPM in oncogenesis has been extensively investigated, the relationship between both molecules in cancer remains poorly understood. In the present study, we first demonstrate that STAT3 phosphorylation at tyrosine 705 is accompanied by a concomitant increase in the expression level of NPM. Nuclear co-translocation of phosphorylated STAT3 with NPM can be triggered by interferon-alpha (IFN-α) stimulation of Jurkat cells and phosphorylated STAT3 co-localizes with NPM in cancer cells showing constitutive STAT3 activation. We further demonstrate that STAT3 phosphorylation can transcriptionally mediate NPM upregulation in IFN-α-stimulated Jurkat cells and is responsible for maintaining its expression in cancer cells showing constitutive STAT3 activation. Inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation or knockdown of NPM expression abrogates their simultaneous transnuclear movements. Finally, we found evidence for a physical interaction between NPM and STAT3 in conditions of STAT3 activation. In conclusion, NPM is a downstream effector of the STAT3 signaling, and can facilitate the nuclear entry of phosphorylated STAT3. These observations might open novel opportunities for targeting the STAT3 pathway in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Ren
- 1] Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Oncology (LMMO), Department of Medical Oncology, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium [2] Department of General Surgery, The first People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China [3] Department of Medical Oncology, Oncologisch Centrum of the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - J L Aerts
- Department of Immunology-Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - J J Pen
- 1] Department of Medical Oncology, Oncologisch Centrum of the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium [2] Department of Immunology-Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Heirman
- Department of Immunology-Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - K Breckpot
- Department of Immunology-Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - J De Grève
- 1] Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Oncology (LMMO), Department of Medical Oncology, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium [2] Department of Medical Oncology, Oncologisch Centrum of the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Huang C, Du J, Xie K. FOXM1 and its oncogenic signaling in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2014; 1845:104-16. [PMID: 24418574 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2013] [Revised: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with an overall 5-year survival rate less than 5%. Multiple signaling pathways are implicated in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer, such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, hypoxia-inducible factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription, specificity proteins/Krüppel-like factors, and Forkhead box (FOX). Recently, increasing evidence has demonstrated that the transcription factor FOXM1 plays important roles in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of a variety of human tumors, including pancreatic cancer. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer with a special focus on the function and regulation of FOXM1 and rationale for FOXM1 as a novel molecular target for pancreatic cancer prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated First People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Jiawei Du
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhenjiang Second People's Hospital, Jiangsu University College of Medicine, Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Keping Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Impact of NPM, TFF3 and TACC1 on the prognosis of patients with primary gastric cancer. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82136. [PMID: 24358147 PMCID: PMC3864846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background NPM, TFF3 and TACC1 are molecular markers that play important roles in cell differentiation. Herein, we investigated their prognostic impact in patients with primary gastric cancer (GC) and determined whether they could be used as markers of more aggressive gastric carcinomas by detecting the extent of expression in human gastric carcinoma samples. Methodology/Principal Findings Tumor tissue specimens from 142 GC patients were retrospectively retrieved and immunohistochemically evaluated. Correlations between NPM, TFF3 and TACC1 over-expression and clincopathologic parameters, and their prognostic values were investigated with χ2, Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox uni- and multivariate survival models. NPM, TFF3 and TACC1 expression was significantly higher in GC patients with poorly differentiated histologic type than that in patients with well differentiated histologic type. NPM expression was significantly higher in patients with hepatic metastasis or recurrence than that in patients without metastasis. TFF3 expression was significantly higher in patients with positive lymph node metastasis than that in patients with negative lymph node metastasis. Age, lymph node metastasis, and TFF3 and TACC1 over-expression were significantly correlated with low survival (P<0.05, P<0.05, P = 0.005 and P = 0.009, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis and TFF3 and TACC1 over-expression were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions TFF3 and TACC1 over-expression in epithelial cells of surgically resected GC tissues was an independent predictor of short survival in GC patients. The prognosis was poorer in patients with positive expression of both TFF3 and TACC1 than that in patients with positive expression of TFF3 or TACC1 alone, or with negative expression of TFF3 and TACC1.
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Wierstra I. The transcription factor FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1): proliferation-specific expression, transcription factor function, target genes, mouse models, and normal biological roles. Adv Cancer Res 2013; 118:97-398. [PMID: 23768511 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407173-5.00004-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) is a typical proliferation-associated transcription factor, which stimulates cell proliferation and exhibits a proliferation-specific expression pattern. Accordingly, both the expression and the transcriptional activity of FOXM1 are increased by proliferation signals, but decreased by antiproliferation signals, including the positive and negative regulation by protooncoproteins or tumor suppressors, respectively. FOXM1 stimulates cell cycle progression by promoting the entry into S-phase and M-phase. Moreover, FOXM1 is required for proper execution of mitosis. Accordingly, FOXM1 regulates the expression of genes, whose products control G1/S-transition, S-phase progression, G2/M-transition, and M-phase progression. Additionally, FOXM1 target genes encode proteins with functions in the execution of DNA replication and mitosis. FOXM1 is a transcriptional activator with a forkhead domain as DNA binding domain and with a very strong acidic transactivation domain. However, wild-type FOXM1 is (almost) inactive because the transactivation domain is repressed by three inhibitory domains. Inactive FOXM1 can be converted into a very potent transactivator by activating signals, which release the transactivation domain from its inhibition by the inhibitory domains. FOXM1 is essential for embryonic development and the foxm1 knockout is embryonically lethal. In adults, FOXM1 is important for tissue repair after injury. FOXM1 prevents premature senescence and interferes with contact inhibition. FOXM1 plays a role for maintenance of stem cell pluripotency and for self-renewal capacity of stem cells. The functions of FOXM1 in prevention of polyploidy and aneuploidy and in homologous recombination repair of DNA-double-strand breaks suggest an importance of FOXM1 for the maintenance of genomic stability and chromosomal integrity.
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Abstract
FOXM1 is an oncogenic transcription factor of the Forkhead family and it has a well-defined role in cell proliferation and cell-cycle progression. Expression of FOXM1 is excluded in quiescent or differentiated cells, but its level is highly elevated in proliferating and malignant cells. Overexpression of FOXM1 has been reported in more than 20 types of human cancer. In recent years, FOXM1 has been implicated in diverse cellular processes and also a growing body of experimental data has underlined the relevance of FOXM1 in tumorigenesis. Although FOXM1 is under the control of three major tumor suppressors (RB, p53, and p19(ARF)), it is still active in the majority of human cancers. The oncogenic potential of FOXM1 is mainly based on its ability to transcriptionally activate genes that are involved in different facets of cancer development. In this review, the contribution of FOXM1 to each of the hallmarks of cancer will be summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Halasi
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Ando K, Tsushima H, Matsuo E, Horio K, Tominaga-Sato S, Imanishi D, Imaizumi Y, Iwanaga M, Itonaga H, Yoshida S, Hata T, Moriuchi R, Kiyoi H, Nimer S, Mano H, Naoe T, Tomonaga M, Miyazaki Y. Mutations in the nucleolar phosphoprotein, nucleophosmin, promote the expression of the oncogenic transcription factor MEF/ELF4 in leukemia cells and potentiates transformation. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:9457-67. [PMID: 23393136 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.415703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid ELF1-like factor (MEF/ELF4), a member of the ETS transcription factors, can function as an oncogene in murine cancer models and is overexpressed in various human cancers. Here, we report a mechanism by which MEF/ELF4 may be activated by a common leukemia-associated mutation in the nucleophosmin gene. By using a tandem affinity purification assay, we found that MEF/ELF4 interacts with multifactorial protein nucleophosmin (NPM1). Coimmunoprecipitation and GST pull-down experiments demonstrated that MEF/ELF4 directly forms a complex with NPM1 and also identified the region of NPM1 that is responsible for this interaction. Functional analyses showed that wild-type NPM1 inhibited the DNA binding and transcriptional activity of MEF/ELF4 on the HDM2 promoter, whereas NPM1 mutant protein (Mt-NPM1) enhanced these activities of MEF/ELF4. Induction of Mt-NPM1 into MEF/ELF4-overexpressing NIH3T3 cells facilitated malignant transformation. In addition, clinical leukemia samples with NPM1 mutations had higher human MDM2 (HDM2) mRNA expression. Our data suggest that enhanced HDM2 expression induced by mutant NPM1 may have a role in MEF/ELF4-dependent leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Ando
- Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
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Wierstra I. FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) in tumorigenesis: overexpression in human cancer, implication in tumorigenesis, oncogenic functions, tumor-suppressive properties, and target of anticancer therapy. Adv Cancer Res 2013; 119:191-419. [PMID: 23870513 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407190-2.00016-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) is a typical proliferation-associated transcription factor and is also intimately involved in tumorigenesis. FOXM1 stimulates cell proliferation and cell cycle progression by promoting the entry into S-phase and M-phase. Additionally, FOXM1 is required for proper execution of mitosis. In accordance with its role in stimulation of cell proliferation, FOXM1 exhibits a proliferation-specific expression pattern and its expression is regulated by proliferation and anti-proliferation signals as well as by proto-oncoproteins and tumor suppressors. Since these factors are often mutated, overexpressed, or lost in human cancer, the normal control of the foxm1 expression by them provides the basis for deregulated FOXM1 expression in tumors. Accordingly, FOXM1 is overexpressed in many types of human cancer. FOXM1 is intimately involved in tumorigenesis, because it contributes to oncogenic transformation and participates in tumor initiation, growth, and progression, including positive effects on angiogenesis, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated lung inflammation, self-renewal capacity of cancer cells, prevention of premature cellular senescence, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. However, in the context of urethane-induced lung tumorigenesis, FOXM1 has an unexpected tumor suppressor role in endothelial cells because it limits pulmonary inflammation and canonical Wnt signaling in epithelial lung cells, thereby restricting carcinogenesis. Accordingly, FOXM1 plays a role in homologous recombination repair of DNA double-strand breaks and maintenance of genomic stability, that is, prevention of polyploidy and aneuploidy. The implication of FOXM1 in tumorigenesis makes it an attractive target for anticancer therapy, and several antitumor drugs have been reported to decrease FOXM1 expression.
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Halasi M, Gartel AL. Targeting FOXM1 in cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2012; 85:644-652. [PMID: 23103567 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2012.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 364] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2012] [Revised: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 10/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Oncogenic transcription factor FOXM1 is overexpressed in the majority of human cancers. In addition, FOXM1 has been implicated in cell migration, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. The important role of FOXM1 in cancer affirms its significance for therapeutic intervention. Current data suggest that targeting FOXM1 in mono- or combination therapy may have promising therapeutic benefits for the treatment of cancer. However, challenges with the delivery of anti-FOXM1 siRNA to tumors and the absence of small molecules, which specifically inhibit FOXM1, are delaying the development of FOXM1 inhibitors as feasible anticancer drugs. In this review, we describe and summarize the efforts that have been made to target FOXM1 in cancer and the consequences of FOXM1 suppression in human cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Halasi
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Andrei L Gartel
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America.
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Liu Y, Zhang F, Zhang XF, Qi LS, Yang L, Guo H, Zhang N. Expression of nucleophosmin/NPM1 correlates with migration and invasiveness of colon cancer cells. J Biomed Sci 2012; 19:53. [PMID: 22631075 PMCID: PMC3404909 DOI: 10.1186/1423-0127-19-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2012] [Accepted: 05/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We aimed to examine the expression level of Nucleophosmin (NPM1) protein in colon cancer tissues and to investigate the potential role of NPM1 in the regulation of cell migration and invasiveness. Methods Immunohistochemical assay was performed to examine the expression pattern of NPM1 in 31 groups of colonic carcinoma samples, including colon tumors, adjacent normal tissues, and matched metastatic lymph nodes from the same patients. Small interfering RNA technique and exogenous expression of wild type NPM1 methods were used to further verify the function of NPM1. Results High-expression of NPM1 correlates with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0003) and poor survival rate of human colon cancer patients (P = 0.017). SiRNA-mediated reduction of NPM1 was also shown to inhibit the migration and invasiveness of metastatic colon cancer HCT116 cell line. In addition, the exogenous expression of NPM1 in HT29 cells, a NPM1 low expression and low invasive colon cancer cell line, enhanced cell migration and invasiveness along with increased cell proliferation. Conclusions The current study uncovered the critical role of NPM1 in the regulation of colon cancer cells migration and invasion, and NPM1 may serve as a potential marker for the prognosis of colon cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Tianjin Medical University, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin 300060, China
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