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Li Y, Fei H, Xiao Z, Lu X, Zhang H, Liu M. Comprehensive analysis of EphA2 in pan-cancer: A prognostic biomarker associated with cancer immunity. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2024; 51:e13902. [PMID: 38886133 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13902] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have reported a significant relationship between Ephrin receptor A2 (EphA2) and malignant progression in numerous cancers. However, there is a lack of comprehensive pan-cancer analysis on the prognostic value, mutation status, methylation landscape, and potential immunological function of EphA2. METHOD Using The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype Tissue Expression Database and GEO data, we analysed the differences in EphA2 expression between normal and tumour tissues and the effects of EphA2 on the prognosis of different tumours. Furthermore, using GSCALite, cBioPortal, TISDB, ULCLAN and TIMER 2.0 databases or platforms, we comprehensively analysed the potential oncogenic mechanisms or manifestations of EphA2 in 33 different tumour types, including tumour mutation status, DNA methylation status and immune cell infiltration. The correlation of EphA2 with immune checkpoints, tumour mutational burden, DNA microsatellite instability and DNA repair genes was also calculated. Finally, the effects of EphA2 inhibitors on the proliferation of human glioma and lung cancer cells were verified in cellular experiments. RESULTS EphA2 is differentially expressed in different tumours, and patients with overexpression have poorer overall survival. In addition, gene mutations, gene copy number variation and DNA/RNA methylation of EphA2 have been identified in various tumours. Moreover, EphA2 is positively associated with immune infiltration involving macrophages and CD8+ T cells. Further, EphA2 mRNA expression is significantly associated with immune checkpoint in various cancers, especially programmed death-ligand 1. Finally, the EphA2 inhibitor ALW-II-41-27 shows potent anti-tumour activity. CONCLUSION Our first pan-cancer study of EphA2 provides insight into the prognostic and immunological roles of EphA2 in different tumours, suggesting that EphA2 might be a potential biomarker for poor prognosis and immune infiltration in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchun Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for inflammatory diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Clinical Technology Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hanxiao Fei
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for inflammatory diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhiwen Xiao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuxia Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for inflammatory diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mengmeng Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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Han J, Xie C, Liu B, Wang Y, Pang R, Bi W, Sheng R, He G, Kong L, Yu J, Ding Z, Chen L, Jia J, Zhang J, Nie C. Tetraspanin 1 regulates papillary thyroid tumor growth and metastasis through c-Myc-mediated glycolysis. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:4535-4547. [PMID: 37750019 PMCID: PMC10728014 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15970] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common form of thyroid cancer and is characterized by its tendency for lymphatic metastasis, leading to a poor prognosis. Tetraspanin 1 (TSPAN1) is a member of the tetra-transmembrane protein superfamily and has been implicated in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis in various studies. However, the role of TSPAN1 in PTC tumor development remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of TSPAN1 on PTC cell behavior. Our results demonstrate that knockdown of TSPAN1 inhibits PTC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while overexpression of TSPAN1 has the opposite effect. These findings suggest that TSPAN1 might play a role in the tumorigenesis and invasiveness of PTC. Mechanistically, we found that TSPAN1 activates the ERK pathway by increasing its phosphorylation, subsequently leading to upregulated expression of c-Myc. Additionally, we observed that TSPAN1-ERK-c-Myc axis activation promotes glycolytic activity in PTC cells, as evidenced by the upregulation of glycolytic genes such as LDHA. Taken together, our findings indicate that TSPAN1 acts as an oncogene in PTC by regulating glycolytic metabolism. This discovery highlights the potential of TSPAN1 as a promising therapeutic target for PTC treatment. Further research in this area could provide valuable insights into the development of targeted therapies for PTC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihua Han
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Changming Xie
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of General SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Colorectal SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Rui Pang
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Wen Bi
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Rinan Sheng
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Guoqing He
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Lingyu Kong
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Jiawei Yu
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Zhaoming Ding
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Lili Chen
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Jinliang Jia
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Jiewu Zhang
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
| | - Chunlei Nie
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryHarbin Medical University Cancer HospitalHarbinChina
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Chang FL, Tsai KC, Lin TY, Chiang CW, Pan SL, Lee YC. Effectiveness of anti-erythropoietin producing Hepatocellular receptor Type-A2 antibody in pancreatic cancer treatment. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21774. [PMID: 38034633 PMCID: PMC10682614 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin-producing hepatocyte receptor type A2 (EphA2) is a tyrosine kinase that binds to ephrins (e.g., ephrin-A1) to initiate bidirectional signaling between cells. The binding of EphA2 and ephrin-A1 leads to the inhibition of Ras-MAPK activity and tumor growth. During tumorigenesis, the normal interaction between EphA2 and ephrin-A1 is hindered, which leads to the overexpression of EphA2 and induces cancer. The overexpression of EphA2 has been identified as a notable tumor marker in diagnosing and treating pancreatic cancer. In this study, we used phage display to isolate specific antibodies against the active site of EphA2 by using a discontinuous recombinant epitope for immunization. The therapeutic efficacy and inhibition mechanism of the generated antibody against pancreatic cancer was validated and clarified. The generated antibodies were bound to the conformational epitope of endogenous EphA2 on cancer cells, thus inducing cellular endocytosis and causing EphA2 degradation. Molecule signals pAKT, pERK, pFAK, and pSTAT3 were weakened, inhibiting the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. The humanized antibody hSD5 could effectively inhibit the growth of the xenograft pancreatic cancer tumor cells BxPc-3 and Mia PaCa-2 in mice, respectively. When antibody hSD5 was administered with gemcitabine, significantly improved effects on tumor growth inhibition were observed. Based on the efficacy of the IgG hSD5 antibodies, clinical administration of the hSD5 antibodies is likely to suppress tumors in patients with pancreatic cancer and abnormal activation or overexpression of EphA2 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Ling Chang
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Keng-Chang Tsai
- National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Yu Lin
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Wei Chiang
- Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shiow-Lin Pan
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center for Drug Discovery, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ching Lee
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Koutsougianni F, Alexopoulou D, Uvez A, Lamprianidou A, Sereti E, Tsimplouli C, Ilkay Armutak E, Dimas K. P90 ribosomal S6 kinases: A bona fide target for novel targeted anticancer therapies? Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 210:115488. [PMID: 36889445 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115488] [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: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
The 90 kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) family of proteins is a group of highly conserved Ser/Thr kinases. They are downstream effectors of the Ras/ERK/MAPK signaling cascade. ERK1/2 activation directly results in the phosphorylation of RSKs, which further, through interaction with a variety of different downstream substrates, activate various signaling events. In this context, they have been shown to mediate diverse cellular processes like cell survival, growth, proliferation, EMT, invasion, and metastasis. Interestingly, increased expression of RSKs has also been demonstrated in various cancers, such as breast, prostate, and lung cancer. This review aims to present the most recent advances in the field of RSK signaling that have occurred, such as biological insights, function, and mechanisms associated with carcinogenesis. We additionally present and discuss the recent advances but also the limitations in the development of pharmacological inhibitors of RSKs, in the context of the use of these kinases as putative, more efficient targets for novel anticancer therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fani Koutsougianni
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Dimitra Alexopoulou
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Ayca Uvez
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, 34500 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Andromachi Lamprianidou
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Evangelia Sereti
- Dept of Translational Medicine, Medical Faculty, Lund University and Center for Molecular Pathology, Skäne University Hospital, Jan Waldenströms gata 59, SE 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Chrisiida Tsimplouli
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Elif Ilkay Armutak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, 34500 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Konstantinos Dimas
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
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Cioce M, Fazio VM. EphA2 and EGFR: Friends in Life, Partners in Crime. Can EphA2 Be a Predictive Biomarker of Response to Anti-EGFR Agents? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040700. [PMID: 33572284 PMCID: PMC7915460 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Eph receptors represent the largest group among Receptor Tyrosine kinase (RTK) families. The Eph/ephrin signaling axis plays center stage during development, and the deep perturbation of signaling consequent to its dysregulation in cancer reveals the multiplicity and complexity underlying its function. In the last decades, they have emerged as key players in solid tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC); however, what causes EphA2 to switch between tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting function is still an active theater of investigation. This review summarizes the recent advances in understanding EphA2 function in cancer, with detail on the molecular determinants of the oncogene-tumor suppressor switch function of EphA2. We describe tumor context-specific examples of EphA2 signaling and the emerging role EphA2 plays in supporting cancer-stem-cell-like populations and overcoming therapy-induced stress. In such a frame, we detail the interaction of the EphA2 and EGFR pathway in solid tumors, including colorectal cancer. We discuss the contribution of the EphA2 oncogenic signaling to the resistance to EGFR blocking agents, including cetuximab and TKIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Cioce
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (V.M.F.)
| | - Vito Michele Fazio
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (V.M.F.)
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