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Feng J, Fang J. HOXC6-mediated transcriptional activation of ENO2 promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma progression through the Warburg effect. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2024; 38:e23752. [PMID: 38923759 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23752] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) requires an in-depth exploration of its molecular mechanisms. The Warburg effect, along with the oncogenes enolase 2 (ENO2) and homeobox C6 (HOXC6), plays a central role in cancer. However, the specific interaction between ENO2 and HOXC6 in driving the Warburg effect and OSCC progression remains poorly understood. Through differential gene expression analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, we identified upregulated ENO2 in OSCC. Silencing ENO2 in OSCC cells revealed its involvement in migration, invasion, and aerobic glycolysis of OSCC cells. Further exploration of ENO2's regulatory network identified HOXC6 as a potential transcriptional regulator. Subsequently, HOXC6 was silenced in OSCC cells, and expressions of ENO2 were assessed to validate its relationship with ENO2. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays were utilized to investigate the direct transcriptional activation of ENO2 by HOXC6. A rescue assay co-overexpressing ENO2 and silencing HOXC6 in OSCC cells affirmed HOXC6's role in ENO2-associated glycolysis. High ENO2 expression in OSCC was validated through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry analyses, which correlated with poor patient survival. Functional assays demonstrated that ENO2 silencing inhibited glycolysis and attenuated the aggressiveness of OSCC cells. In vivo studies confirmed the oncogenic role of ENO2 in OSCC growth. Notably, HOXC6 exhibited a positive correlation with ENO2 expression in clinical samples. Mechanistically, HOXC6 was identified as a direct transcriptional activator of ENO2, orchestrating the Warburg effect in OSCC cells. This study reveals the intricate link between HOXC6-mediated ENO2 transcriptional activation and the Warburg effect in OSCC, offering a potential therapeutic target for treating OSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Feng
- Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jin Fang
- Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
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Novoplansky O, Shnerb AB, Marripati D, Jagadeeshan S, Abu Shareb R, Conde-López C, Zorea J, Prasad M, Ben Lulu T, Yegodayev KM, Benafsha C, Li Y, Kong D, Kuo F, Morris LGT, Kurth I, Hess J, Elkabets M. Activation of the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway limits the efficacy of trametinib treatment in head and neck cancer. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:2618-2636. [PMID: 37501404 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway with the MEK1/2 inhibitor trametinib has produced promising results in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In the current study, we showed that trametinib treatment leads to overexpression and activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in HNSCC cell lines and patient-derived xenografts. Knockdown of EGFR improved trametinib treatment efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that trametinib-induced EGFR overexpression hyperactivates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway. In vitro, blocking the PI3K pathway with GDC-0941 (pictilisib), or BYL719 (alpelisib), prevented AKT pathway hyperactivation and enhanced the efficacy of trametinib in a synergistic manner. In vivo, a combination of trametinib and BYL719 showed superior antitumor efficacy vs. the single agents, leading to tumor growth arrest. We confirmed our findings in a syngeneic murine head and neck cancer cell line in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings show that trametinib treatment induces hyperactivation of EGFR/PI3K/AKT; thus, blocking of the EGFR/PI3K pathway is required to improve trametinib efficacy in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofra Novoplansky
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Avital B Shnerb
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Divyasree Marripati
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Sankar Jagadeeshan
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Raghda Abu Shareb
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Cristina Conde-López
- Division of Radiooncology-Radiobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonathan Zorea
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Manu Prasad
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Talal Ben Lulu
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ksenia M Yegodayev
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Chen Benafsha
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yushi Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dexin Kong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fengshen Kuo
- Immunogenomics and Precision Oncology Platform, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Luc G T Morris
- Immunogenomics and Precision Oncology Platform, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ina Kurth
- Division of Radiooncology-Radiobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jochen Hess
- Section Experimental and Translational Head and Neck Oncology, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
- Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Moshe Elkabets
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Li Q, Tie Y, Alu A, Ma X, Shi H. Targeted therapy for head and neck cancer: signaling pathways and clinical studies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:31. [PMID: 36646686 PMCID: PMC9842704 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01297-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is malignant, genetically complex and difficult to treat and is the sixth most frequent cancer, with tobacco, alcohol and human papillomavirus being major risk factors. Based on epigenetic data, HNC is remarkably heterogeneous, and treatment remains challenging. There is a lack of significant improvement in survival and quality of life in patients with HNC. Over half of HNC patients experience locoregional recurrence or distal metastasis despite the current multiple traditional therapeutic strategies and immunotherapy. In addition, resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and some targeted therapies is common. Therefore, it is urgent to explore more effective and tolerable targeted therapies to improve the clinical outcomes of HNC patients. Recent targeted therapy studies have focused on identifying promising biomarkers and developing more effective targeted therapies. A well understanding of the pathogenesis of HNC contributes to learning more about its inner association, which provides novel insight into the development of small molecule inhibitors. In this review, we summarized the vital signaling pathways and discussed the current potential therapeutic targets against critical molecules in HNC, as well as presenting preclinical animal models and ongoing or completed clinical studies about targeted therapy, which may contribute to a more favorable prognosis of HNC. Targeted therapy in combination with other therapies and its limitations were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingfang Li
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Tie
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Aqu Alu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuelei Ma
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Huashan Shi
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Chi XJ, Song YB, Liu DH, Wei LQ, An X, Feng ZZ, Lan XH, Lan D, Huang C. Significance of platelet adhesion-related genes in colon cancer based on non-negative matrix factorization-based clustering algorithm. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231203902. [PMID: 37766908 PMCID: PMC10521306 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231203902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although surgical methods are the most effective treatments for colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), the cure rates remain low, and recurrence rates remain high. Furthermore, platelet adhesion-related genes are gaining attention as potential regulators of tumorigenesis. Therefore, identifying the mechanisms responsible for the regulation of these genes in patients with COAD has become important. The present study aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms of platelet adhesion-related genes in COAD patients. Methods The present study was an experimental study. Initially, the effects of platelet number and related genomic alteration on survival were explored using real-world data and the cBioPortal database, respectively. Then, the differentially expressed platelet adhesion-related genes of COAD were analyzed using the TCGA database, and patients were further classified by employing the non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) analysis method. Afterward, some of the clinical and expression characteristics were analyzed between clusters. Finally, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis was used to establish the prognostic nomogram. All data analyses were performed using the R package. Results High platelet counts are associated with worse survival in real-world patients, and alternations to platelet adhesion-related genes have resulted in poorer prognoses, based on online data. Based on platelet adhesion-related genes, patients with COAD were classified into two clusters by NMF-based clustering analysis. Cluster2 had a better overall survival, when compared to Cluster1. The gene copy number and enrichment analysis results revealed that two pathways were differentially enriched. In addition, the differentially expressed genes between these two clusters were enriched for POU6F1 in the transcription factor signaling pathway, and for MATN3 in the ceRNA network. Finally, a prognostic nomogram, which included the ALOX12 and ACTG1 genes, was established based on the platelet adhesion-related genes, with a concordance (C) index of 0.879 (0.848-0.910). Conclusion The mRNA expression-based NMF was used to reveal the potential role of platelet adhesion-related genes in COAD. The series of experiments revealed the feasibility of targeting platelet adhesion-associated gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-jv Chi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of Guangxi Department of Education, Nanning, China
| | - Yi-bei Song
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of Guangxi Department of Education, Nanning, China
| | - Deng-he Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of Guangxi Department of Education, Nanning, China
| | - Li-qiang Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of Guangxi Department of Education, Nanning, China
| | - Xin An
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zi-zhen Feng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiao-hua Lan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Dong Lan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Chao Huang
- School of Information and Management, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
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