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Li GG, Chu XF, Xing YM, Xue X, Ihtisham B, Liang XF, Xu JX, Mi Y, Zheng PY. Baicalin Prevents Colon Cancer by Suppressing CDKN2A Protein Expression. Chin J Integr Med 2024:10.1007/s11655-024-4109-6. [PMID: 38941045 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-024-4109-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To observe the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanism of baicalin against colon cancer. METHODS The effects of baicalin on the proliferation and growth of colon cancer cells MC38 and CT26. WT were observed and predicted potential molecular targets of baicalin for colon cancer therapy were studied by network pharmacology. Furthermore, molecular docking and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) analysis were performed to confirm the interaction between potential targets and baicalin. Finally, the mechanisms predicted by in silico analyses were experimentally verified in-vitro and in-vivo. RESULTS Baicalin significantly inhibited proliferation, invasion, migration, and induced apoptosis in MC38 and CT26 cells (all P<0.01). Additionally, baicalin caused cell cycle arrest at the S phase, while the G0/G1 phase was detected in the tiny portion of the cells. Subsequent network pharmacology analysis identified 6 therapeutic targets associated with baicalin, which potentially affect various pathways including 39 biological processes and 99 signaling pathways. In addition, molecular docking and DARTS predicted the potential binding of baicalin with cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), protein kinase B (AKT), caspase 3, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). In vitro, the expressions of CDKN2A, MAPK, and p-AKT were suppressed by baicalin in MC38 and CT26 cells. In vivo, baicalin significantly reduced the tumor size and weight (all P<0.01) in the colon cancer mouse model via inactivating p-AKT, CDKN2A, cyclin dependent kinase 4, cyclin dependent kinase 2, interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor α, and activating caspase 3 and mouse double minute 2 homolog signaling (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION Baicalin suppressed the CDKN2A protein level to prevent colon cancer and could be used as a therapeutic target for colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang-Gang Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers, Marshall Medical Research Center, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 400015, China
| | - Xiu-Feng Chu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers, Marshall Medical Research Center, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 400015, China
| | - Ya-Min Xing
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers, Marshall Medical Research Center, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 400015, China
| | - Xia Xue
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers, Marshall Medical Research Center, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 400015, China
| | - Bukhari Ihtisham
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers, Marshall Medical Research Center, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 400015, China
| | - Xin-Feng Liang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers, Marshall Medical Research Center, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 400015, China
| | - Ji-Xuan Xu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers, Marshall Medical Research Center, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 400015, China
| | - Yang Mi
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers, Marshall Medical Research Center, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 400015, China
| | - Peng-Yuan Zheng
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers, Marshall Medical Research Center, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 400015, China.
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El-Far AH, Saddiq AA, Mohamed SA, Almaghrabi OA, Mousa SA. Curcumin and Thymoquinone Combination Attenuates Breast Cancer Cell Lines' Progression. Integr Cancer Ther 2022; 21:15347354221099537. [PMID: 35583244 PMCID: PMC9128062 DOI: 10.1177/15347354221099537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most harmful malignancy in women worldwide. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated the combinatory effect of natural bioactive compounds, including curcumin (Cur) and thymoquinone (TQ), on MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines’ progression. We investigated the Fa values and combination index of Cur and TQ in this context. Moreover, cytotoxicity percentages, annexin-V, proliferation, colony formation, and migration assays were used along with cell cycle analysis. In addition, caspase-3, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (AKT) protein levels were determined by ELISA assessment. The results showed that Cur, TQ, and Cur + TQ induced apoptosis with cell cycle arrest and decreased cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration activities. Cur + TQ combination significantly increased caspase-3 and decreased PI3K and AKT protein levels. These results suggest the promising anticancer benefit of the Cur and TQ combination against breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shaker A Mousa
- Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Rensselaer, NY, USA
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3
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Haak VM, Huang S, Panigrahy D. Debris-stimulated tumor growth: a Pandora's box? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:791-801. [PMID: 34665387 PMCID: PMC8524220 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-09998-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Current cancer therapies aim at eradicating cancer cells from the body. However, killing cells generates cell “debris” which can promote tumor progression. Thus, therapy can be a double-edged sword. Specifically, injury and debris generated by cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, may offset their benefit by promoting the secretion of pro-tumorigenic factors (e.g., eicosanoid-driven cytokines) that stimulate regrowth and metastasis of surviving cells. The debris produced by cytotoxic cancer therapy can also contribute to a tumor microenvironment that promotes tumor progression and recurrence. Although not well understood, several molecular mechanisms have been implicated in debris-stimulated tumor growth that we review here, such as the involvement of extracellular vesicles, exosomal miR-194-5p, Bax, Bak, Smac, HMGB1, cytokines, and caspase-3. We discuss the cases of pancreatic and other cancer types where debris promotes postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis, thus offering a new opportunity to prevent cancer progression intrinsically linked to treatment by stimulating resolution of tumor-promoting debris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M Haak
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Sui Huang
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dipak Panigrahy
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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4
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Berger Fridman I, Kostas J, Gregus M, Ray S, Sullivan MR, Ivanov AR, Cohen S, Konry T. High-throughput microfluidic 3D biomimetic model enabling quantitative description of the human breast tumor microenvironment. Acta Biomater 2021; 132:473-488. [PMID: 34153511 PMCID: PMC8434998 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is driven by both genetic aberrations in the tumor cells and fundamental changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME). These changes offer potential targets for novel therapeutics, yet lack of in vitro 3D models recapitulating this complex microenvironment impedes such progress. Here, we generated several tumor-stroma scaffolds reflecting the dynamic in vivo breast TME, using a high throughput microfluidic system. Alginate (Alg) or alginate-alginate sulfate (Alg/Alg-S) hydrogels were used as ECM-mimics, enabling the encapsulation and culture of tumor cells, fibroblasts and immune cells (macrophages and T cells, of the innate and adaptive immune systems, respectively). Specifically, Alg/Alg-S was shown capable of capturing and presenting growth factors and cytokines with binding affinity that is comparable to heparin. Viability and cytotoxicity were shown to strongly correlate with the dynamics of cellular milieu, as well as hydrogel type. Using on-chip immunofluorescence, production of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis were imaged and quantitatively analyzed. We then show how macrophages in our microfluidic system were shifted from a proinflammatory to an immunosuppressive phenotype when encapsulated in Alg/Alg-S, reflecting in vivo TME dynamics. LC-MS proteomic profiling of tumor cells sorted from the TME scaffolds revealed upregulation of proteins involved in cell-cell interactions and immunomodulation in Alg/Alg-S scaffolds, correlating with in vivo findings and demonstrating the appropriateness of Alg/Alg-S as an ECM biomimetic. Finally, we show the formation of large tumor-derived vesicles, formed exclusively in Alg/Alg-S scaffolds. Altogether, our system offers a robust platform for quantitative description of the breast TME that successfully recapitulates in vivo patterns. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cancer progression is driven by profound changes in both tumor cells and surrounding stroma. Here, we present a high throughput microfluidic system for the generation and analysis of dynamic tumor-stroma scaffolds, that mimic the complex in vivo TME cell proportions and compositions, constructing robust in vitro models for the study of the TME. Utilizing Alg/Alg-S as a bioinspired ECM, mimicking heparin's in vivo capabilities of capturing and presenting signaling molecules, we show how Alg/Alg-S induces complex in vivo-like responses in our models. Alg/Alg-S is shown here to promote dynamic protein expression patterns, that can serve as potential therapeutic targets for breast cancer treatment. Formation of large tumor-derived vesicles, observed exclusively in the Alg/Alg-S scaffolds suggests a mechanism for tumor survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Berger Fridman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
| | - James Kostas
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Michal Gregus
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Somak Ray
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Matthew R Sullivan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Alexander R Ivanov
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Smadar Cohen
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
| | - Tania Konry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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5
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Abstract
Alternative splicing of precursor mRNA is a key mediator of gene expression regulation leading to greater diversity of the proteome in complex organisms. Systematic sequencing of the human genome and transcriptome has led to our understanding of how alternative splicing of critical genes leads to multiple pathological conditions such as cancer. For many years, proteases were known only for their roles as proteolytic enzymes, acting to regulate/process proteins associated with diverse cellular functions. However, the differential expression and altered function of various protease isoforms, such as (i) anti-apoptotic activities, (ii) mediating intercellular adhesion, and (iii) modifying the extracellular matrix, are evidence of their specific contribution towards shaping the tumor microenvironment. Revealing the alternative splicing of protease genes and characterization of their protein products/isoforms with distinct and opposing functions creates a platform to understand how protease isoforms contribute to specific cancer hallmarks. Here, in this review, we address cancer-specific isoforms produced by the alternative splicing of proteases and their distinctive roles in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chamikara Liyanage
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Achala Fernando
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jyotsna Batra
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
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Moreno S, Maiques O, Gatius S, Veà A, Barrera J, Barcelo C, Santacana M, Soria X, Matias-Guiu X, Martí RM. Descriptive study of naevus involution in a series of 74 patients with atypical naevus syndrome under SIAscopy digital follow-up. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019; 34:1210-1217. [PMID: 31732990 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.16084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Characterization of nevi involution could help to understand the biological behaviour of melanocytic neoplasms. OBJECTIVE To describe the frequency and morphology of naevus involution in a series of patients with atypical naevus syndrome under digital follow-up with a SIAscopy program and, in a small sample of fading nevi, to analyse histopathological features and immunohistochemical biomarkers. METHODS Seventy-four patients registered from April 2007 to July 2014 in the SIAscopy system of the Department of Dermatology of Hospital Arnau de Vilanova of Lleida, Spain, were reviewed. Fourteen naevus cases with fading features were prospectively excised during follow-up. Eleven already excised naevus controls were randomly selected from our archive. RESULTS We observed that 81% of patients showed, at least, one involutive naevus and 25% of recorded nevi presented this phenomenon; the mean time of involution was 46.7 months. The predominant structural pattern was reticular (>70%), and the most frequently observed regression structures were vascular (33.8%). Histopathological significant higher intensity of inflammatory infiltrate in controls and higher presence of laminar and compact fibrosis and increase of vessels in cases were demonstrated. Regarding immunohistochemical biomarkers, only higher expression of cytoplasmic activated caspase 3 in controls was significant. CONCLUSIONS Naevus involution is a common phenomenon in patients with dysplastic naevus syndrome. It is usually a slow process, more frequent in naevus with reticular pattern. SIAscopy regression structures are uncommon, with the exception of vascular ones. Histologically, fading involutive pattern is characterized by scarce inflammatory infiltrate and melanophages, delicate fibrosis and increase of vessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Moreno
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain.,Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Vendrell, Xarxa Sanitària i Social de Santa Tecla, Tarragona, Spain
| | - O Maiques
- University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain.,Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - S Gatius
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain.,Centre of Biomedical Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - A Veà
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain.,Department of Dermatology, Hospital Comarcal de Móra d'Ebre, Tarragona, Spain
| | - J Barrera
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - C Barcelo
- University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - M Santacana
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain.,Centre of Biomedical Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - X Soria
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - X Matias-Guiu
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain.,Centre of Biomedical Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - R M Martí
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain.,Centre of Biomedical Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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7
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Suresh K, Carino K, Johnston L, Servinsky L, Machamer CE, Kolb TM, Lam H, Dudek SM, An SS, Rane MJ, Shimoda LA, Damarla M. A nonapoptotic endothelial barrier-protective role for caspase-3. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019; 316:L1118-L1126. [PMID: 30908935 PMCID: PMC6620669 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00487.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Noncanonical roles for caspase-3 are emerging in the fields of cancer and developmental biology. However, little is known of nonapoptotic functions of caspase-3 in most cell types. We have recently demonstrated a disassociation between caspase-3 activation and execution of apoptosis with accompanying cytoplasmic caspase-3 sequestration and preserved endothelial barrier function. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that nonapoptotic caspase-3 activation promotes endothelial barrier integrity. Human lung microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to thrombin, a nonapoptotic stimulus, and endothelial barrier function was assessed using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. Actin cytoskeletal rearrangement and paracellular gap formation were assessed using phalloidin staining. Cell stiffness was evaluated using magnetic twisting cytometry. In addition, cell lysates were harvested for protein analyses. Caspase-3 was inhibited pharmacologically with pan-caspase and a caspase-3-specific inhibitor. Molecular inhibition of caspase-3 was achieved using RNA interference. Cells exposed to thrombin exhibited a cytoplasmic activation of caspase-3 with transient and nonapoptotic decrease in endothelial barrier function as measured by a drop in electrical resistance followed by a rapid recovery. Inhibition of caspases led to a more pronounced and rapid drop in thrombin-induced endothelial barrier function, accompanied by increased endothelial cell stiffness and paracellular gaps. Caspase-3-specific inhibition and caspase-3 knockdown both resulted in more pronounced thrombin-induced endothelial barrier disruption. Taken together, our results suggest cytoplasmic caspase-3 has nonapoptotic functions in human endothelium and can promote endothelial barrier integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Suresh
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kathleen Carino
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Laura Johnston
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Laura Servinsky
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Carolyn E Machamer
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Todd M Kolb
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hong Lam
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Steven M Dudek
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago, Illinois
| | - Steven S An
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Madhavi J Rane
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville , Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Larissa A Shimoda
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mahendra Damarla
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
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8
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Regan-Fendt KE, Xu J, DiVincenzo M, Duggan MC, Shakya R, Na R, Carson WE, Payne PRO, Li F. Synergy from gene expression and network mining (SynGeNet) method predicts synergistic drug combinations for diverse melanoma genomic subtypes. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2019; 5:6. [PMID: 30820351 PMCID: PMC6391384 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-019-0085-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Systems biology perspectives are crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of complex diseases, and therefore hold great promise for the discovery of novel treatment strategies. Drug combinations have been shown to improve durability and reduce resistance to available first-line therapies in a variety of cancers; however, traditional drug discovery approaches are prohibitively cost and labor-intensive to evaluate large-scale matrices of potential drug combinations. Computational methods are needed to efficiently model complex interactions of drug target pathways and identify mechanisms underlying drug combination synergy. In this study, we employ a computational approach, SynGeNet (Synergy from Gene expression and Network mining), which integrates transcriptomics-based connectivity mapping and network centrality analysis to analyze disease networks and predict drug combinations. As an exemplar of a disease in which combination therapies demonstrate efficacy in genomic-specific contexts, we investigate malignant melanoma. We employed SynGeNet to generate drug combination predictions for each of the four major genomic subtypes of melanoma (BRAF, NRAS, NF1, and triple wild type) using publicly available gene expression and mutation data. We validated synergistic drug combinations predicted by our method across all genomic subtypes using results from a high-throughput drug screening study across. Finally, we prospectively validated the drug combination for BRAF-mutant melanoma that was top ranked by our approach, vemurafenib (BRAF inhibitor) + tretinoin (retinoic acid receptor agonist), using both in vitro and in vivo models of BRAF-mutant melanoma and RNA-sequencing analysis of drug-treated melanoma cells to validate the predicted mechanisms. Our approach is applicable to a wide range of disease domains, and, importantly, can model disease-relevant protein subnetworks in precision medicine contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Regan-Fendt
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jielin Xu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mallory DiVincenzo
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Megan C Duggan
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Reena Shakya
- Target Validation Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ryejung Na
- Target Validation Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - William E Carson
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Philip R O Payne
- Institute for Informatics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Fuhai Li
- Institute for Informatics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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9
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Two Sides of the Same Coin - Compensatory Proliferation in Regeneration and Cancer. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1167:65-85. [PMID: 31520349 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-23629-8_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis has long been regarded as a tumor suppressor mechanism and evasion from apoptosis is considered to be one hallmark of cancer. However, this principle is not always consistent with clinical data which often illustrate a correlation between apoptosis and poor prognosis. Work in the last 15 years has provided an explanation for this apparent paradox. Apoptotic cells communicate with their environment and can produce signals which promote compensatory proliferation of surviving cells. This behavior of apoptotic cells is important for tissue regeneration in several model organisms, ranging from hydra to mammals. However, it may also play an important feature for tumorigenesis and tumor relapse. Several distinct forms of apoptosis-induced compensatory proliferation (AiP) have been identified, many of which involve reactive oxygen species (ROS) and immune cells. One type of AiP, "undead" AiP, in which apoptotic cells are kept in an immortalized state and continuously divide, may have particular relevance for tumorigenesis. Furthermore, given that chemo- and radiotherapy often aim to kill tumor cells, an improved understanding of the effects of apoptotic cells on the tumor and the tumor environment is of critical importance for the well-being of the patient. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of AiP and focus our attention on recent findings obtained in Drosophila and other model organisms, and relate them to tumorigenesis.
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10
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Wang X, Cheng L, Xie HJ, Ju RJ, Xiao Y, Fu M, Liu JJ, Li XT. Functional paclitaxel plus honokiol micelles destroying tumour metastasis in treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 46:1154-1169. [DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2018.1481082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, China
| | - Lan Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, China
| | | | - Rui-Jun Ju
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Xiao
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, China
| | - Min Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, China
| | - Jing-Jing Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, China
| | - Xue-Tao Li
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, China
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11
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Xu DC, Arthurton L, Baena-Lopez LA. Learning on the Fly: The Interplay between Caspases and Cancer. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:5473180. [PMID: 29854765 PMCID: PMC5949197 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5473180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ease of genetic manipulation, as well as the evolutionary conservation of gene function, has placed Drosophila melanogaster as one of the leading model organisms used to understand the implication of many proteins with disease development, including caspases and their relation to cancer. The family of proteases referred to as caspases have been studied over the years as the major regulators of apoptosis: the most common cellular mechanism involved in eliminating unwanted or defective cells, such as cancerous cells. Indeed, the evasion of the apoptotic programme resulting from caspase downregulation is considered one of the hallmarks of cancer. Recent investigations have also shown an instrumental role for caspases in non-lethal biological processes, such as cell proliferation, cell differentiation, intercellular communication, and cell migration. Importantly, malfunction of these essential biological tasks can deeply impact the initiation and progression of cancer. Here, we provide an extensive review of the literature surrounding caspase biology and its interplay with many aspects of cancer, emphasising some of the key findings obtained from Drosophila studies. We also briefly describe the therapeutic potential of caspase modulation in relation to cancer, highlighting shortcomings and hopeful promises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Cui Xu
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX13RE, UK
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lewis Arthurton
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX13RE, UK
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12
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Das TK, Cagan RL. Non-mammalian models of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:T91-T104. [PMID: 29348307 PMCID: PMC5935467 DOI: 10.1530/erc-17-0411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Twenty-five years ago, RET was identified as the primary driver of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) syndrome. MEN2 is characterized by several transformation events including pheochromocytoma, parathyroid adenoma and, especially penetrant, medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Overall, MTC is a rare but aggressive type of thyroid cancer for which no effective treatment currently exists. Surgery, radiation, radioisotope treatment and chemotherapeutics have all shown limited success, and none of these approaches have proven durable in advanced disease. Non-mammalian models that incorporate the oncogenic RET isoforms associated with MEN2 and other RET-associated diseases have been useful in delineating mechanisms underlying disease progression. These models have also identified novel targeted therapies as single agents and as combinations. These studies highlight the importance of modeling disease in the context of the whole animal, accounting for the complex interplay between tumor and normal cells in controlling disease progression as well as response to therapy. With convenient access to whole genome sequencing data from expanded thyroid cancer patient cohorts, non-mammalian models will become more complex, sophisticated and continue to complement future mammalian studies. In this review, we explore the contributions of non-mammalian models to our understanding of thyroid cancer including MTC, with a focus on Danio rerio and Drosophila melanogaster (fish and fly) models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirtha K Das
- Department of Cell Developmental and Regenerative Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ross L Cagan
- Department of Cell Developmental and Regenerative Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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13
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When dying is not the end: Apoptotic caspases as drivers of proliferation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 82:86-95. [PMID: 29199139 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.11.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Caspases are well known for their role as executioners of apoptosis. However, recent studies have revealed that these lethal enzymes also have important mitogenic functions. Caspases can promote proliferation through autonomous regulation of the cell cycle, as well as by induction of secreted signals, which have a profound impact in neighboring tissues. Here, I review the proliferative role of caspases during development and homeostasis, in addition to their key regenerative function during tissue repair upon injury. Furthermore, the emerging properties of apoptotic caspases as drivers of carcinogenesis are discussed, as well as their involvement in other diseases. Finally, I examine further effects of caspases regulating death and survival in a non-autonomous manner.
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14
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Song XL, Ju RJ, Xiao Y, Wang X, Liu S, Fu M, Liu JJ, Gu LY, Li XT, Cheng L. Application of multifunctional targeting epirubicin liposomes in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Nanomedicine 2017; 12:7433-7451. [PMID: 29066893 PMCID: PMC5644542 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s141787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy for aggressive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) usually results in a poor prognosis due to tumor metastasis, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) channels, limited killing of tumor cells, and severe systemic toxicity. Herein, we developed a kind of multifunctional targeting epirubicin liposomes to enhance antitumor efficacy for NSCLC. In the liposomes, octreotide was modified on liposomal surface for obtaining a receptor-mediated targeting effect, and honokiol was incorporated into the lipid bilayer for inhibiting tumor metastasis and eliminating VM channels. In vitro cellular assays showed that multifunctional targeting epirubicin liposomes not only exhibited the strongest cytotoxic effect on Lewis lung tumor cells but also showed the most efficient inhibition on VM channels. Action mechanism studies showed that multifunctional targeting epirubicin liposomes could downregulate PI3K, MMP-2, MMP-9, VE-Cadherin, and FAK and activate apoptotic enzyme caspase 3. In vivo results exhibited that multifunctional targeting epirubicin liposomes could accumulate selectively in tumor site and display an obvious antitumor efficacy. In addition, no significant toxicity of blood system and major organs was observed at a test dose. Therefore, multifunctional targeting epirubicin liposomes may provide a safe and efficient therapy strategy for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Li Song
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian
| | - Rui-Jun Ju
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Xiao
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian
| | - Shuang Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian
| | - Min Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian
| | - Jing-Jing Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian
| | - Li-Yan Gu
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian
| | - Xue-Tao Li
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian
| | - Lan Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian
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15
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Huang JS, Yang CM, Wang JS, Liou HH, Hsieh IC, Li GC, Huang SJ, Shu CW, Fu TY, Lin YC, Ger LP, Liu PF. Caspase-3 expression in tumorigenesis and prognosis of buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma. Oncotarget 2017; 8:84237-84247. [PMID: 29137419 PMCID: PMC5663591 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma (BMSCC) is the most common oral cancer in Southeast Asia. Caspase-3, a key molecule in regulating apoptosis, promotes the malignancy of various cancers. However, its role in BMSCC is unknown. Herein, we evaluated the association of caspase-3 expression with tumorigenesis and prognosis in BMSCC patients. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 (p<0.001) and caspase-3 (p<0.001) in 185 BMSCC tissues were significantly higher compared to those in the tumor adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, the high expression of caspase-3 was associated with poor pathological outcomes [advanced pathological stage (p=0.029) and larger tumor size (p=0.002)] and poor disease-free survival in patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy (p=0.030). Moreover, the low co-expression of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-3 was associated with better disease-specific survival in patients with early pathological stage (I + II, p=0.018) or without lymph node invasion (p=0.043) compared to the positive/high expression of either or both cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-3. Taken together, cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-3 could be biomarkers for tumorigenesis in BMSCC patients. Cleaved caspase-3 and/or caspase-3 might be prognostic biomarkers for certain stages of BMSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jer-Shyung Huang
- Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Mei Yang
- Department of Stomatology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Dental Technology, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jyh-Seng Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Huei-Han Liou
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - I-Chien Hsieh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Cheng Li
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Sin-Jhih Huang
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wen Shu
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Ying Fu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Chung Lin
- Department of Pathology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Luo-Ping Ger
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Feng Liu
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Optometry, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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16
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Liang X, Sun R, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Gu Q, Dong X, Zhang D, Sun J, Sun B. Rictor regulates the vasculogenic mimicry of melanoma via the AKT-MMP-2/9 pathway. J Cell Mol Med 2017; 21:3579-3591. [PMID: 28699701 PMCID: PMC5706568 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM)‐positive melanomas are usually associated with poor prognosis. Rictor, the key component of the rapamycin‐insensitive complex of mTOR (mTORC2), is up‐regulated in several cancers, especially in melanomas with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Rictor in the regulation of VM and the mechanism underlying this possible regulation. VM channels were found in 35 of 81 tested melanoma samples and high Rictor expression correlated with VM structures. Moreover, Kaplan–Meier survival curves indicated that VM structures and high Rictor expression correlated with shorter survival in patients with melanoma. In vitro, Rictor knockdown by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) significantly inhibited the ability of A375 and MUM‐2B melanoma cells to form VM structures, as evidenced by most tubes remaining open. Cell cycle analysis revealed that Rictor knockdown blocked cell growth and resulted in the accumulation of cells in G2/M phase, and cell migration and invasion were greatly affected after Rictor down‐regulation. Western blotting assays indicated that down‐regulating Rictor significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT at Ser473 and Thr308, which subsequently inhibited the expression and activity of downstream MMP‐2/9, as confirmed by real‐time PCR and gelatin Zymography. MK‐2206, a small‐molecule inhibitor of AKT, similarly inhibited the activity of AKT and secretion of MMP‐2/9, further supporting that Rictor down‐regulation inhibits the phosphorylation of AKT and activity of downstream MMP‐2/9 to affect VM formation. In conclusion, Rictor plays an important role in melanoma VM via the Rictor—AKT—MMP‐2/9 signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingmei Liang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ran Sun
- Department of Surgery, Tianjin Hospital of ITCWM Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiulan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanhui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Gu
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xueyi Dong
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Danfang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Junying Sun
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Baocun Sun
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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17
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Significance of Wild-Type p53 Signaling in Suppressing Apoptosis in Response to Chemical Genotoxic Agents: Impact on Chemotherapy Outcome. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18050928. [PMID: 28452953 PMCID: PMC5454841 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18050928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Our genomes are subject to potentially deleterious alterations resulting from endogenous sources (e.g., cellular metabolism, routine errors in DNA replication and recombination), exogenous sources (e.g., radiation, chemical agents), and medical diagnostic and treatment applications. Genome integrity and cellular homeostasis are maintained through an intricate network of pathways that serve to recognize the DNA damage, activate cell cycle checkpoints and facilitate DNA repair, or eliminate highly injured cells from the proliferating population. The wild-type p53 tumor suppressor and its downstream effector p21WAF1 (p21) are key regulators of these responses. Although extensively studied for its ability to control cell cycle progression, p21 has emerged as a multifunctional protein capable of downregulating p53, suppressing apoptosis, and orchestrating prolonged growth arrest through stress-induced premature senescence. Studies with solid tumors and solid tumor-derived cell lines have revealed that such growth-arrested cancer cells remain viable, secrete growth-promoting factors, and can give rise to progeny with stem-cell-like properties. This article provides an overview of the mechanisms by which p53 signaling suppresses apoptosis following genotoxic stress, facilitating repair of genomic injury under physiological conditions but having the potential to promote tumor regrowth in response to cancer chemotherapy.
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18
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Killers creating new life: caspases drive apoptosis-induced proliferation in tissue repair and disease. Cell Death Differ 2017; 24:1390-1400. [PMID: 28362431 PMCID: PMC5520457 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2017.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis is a carefully orchestrated and tightly controlled form of cell death, conserved across metazoans. As the executioners of apoptotic cell death, cysteine-dependent aspartate-directed proteases (caspases) are critical drivers of this cellular disassembly. Early studies of genetically programmed cell death demonstrated that the selective activation of caspases induces apoptosis and the precise elimination of excess cells, thereby sculpting structures and refining tissues. However, over the past decade there has been a fundamental shift in our understanding of the roles of caspases during cell death-a shift precipitated by the revelation that apoptotic cells actively engage with their surrounding environment throughout the death process, and caspases can trigger a myriad of signals, some of which drive concurrent cell proliferation regenerating damaged structures and building up lost tissues. This caspase-driven compensatory proliferation is referred to as apoptosis-induced proliferation (AiP). Diverse mechanisms of AiP have been found across species, ranging from planaria to mammals. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of AiP and we highlight recent advances in the field including the involvement of reactive oxygen species and macrophage-like immune cells in one form of AiP, novel regulatory mechanisms affecting caspases during AiP, and emerging clinical data demonstrating the critical importance of AiP in cancer.
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19
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Hass R, Jennek S, Yang Y, Friedrich K. c-Met expression and activity in urogenital cancers - novel aspects of signal transduction and medical implications. Cell Commun Signal 2017; 15:10. [PMID: 28212658 PMCID: PMC5316205 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-017-0165-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
C-Met is a receptor tyrosine kinase with multiple functions throughout embryonic development, organogenesis and wound healing and is expressed in various epithelia. The ligand of c-Met is Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) which is secreted among others by mesenchymal stroma/stem (MSC) cells. Physiological c-Met functions are centred around processes that underly cellular motility and invasive growth. Aberrant c-Met expression and activity is observed in numerous cancers and makes major contributions to cell malignancy. Importantly, HGF/c-Met signaling is crucial in the context of communication between cancer cells and the the tumor stroma. Here, we review recent findings on roles of dysregulated c-Met in urogenital tumors such as cancers of the urinary bladder, prostate, and ovary. We put emphasis on novel aspects of cancer-associated c-Met expression regulation on both, HGF-dependent and HGF-independent non-canonical mechanisms. Moreover, this review focusses on c-Met-triggered signalling with potential relevance for urogenital oncogenesis, and on strategies to specifically inhibit c-Met activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Hass
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Susanne Jennek
- Institute of Biochemistry II, University Hospital Jena, Nonnenplan 2-4, D-07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Yuanyuan Yang
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Karlheinz Friedrich
- Institute of Biochemistry II, University Hospital Jena, Nonnenplan 2-4, D-07743, Jena, Germany.
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20
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Saltari A, Truzzi F, Quadri M, Lotti R, Palazzo E, Grisendi G, Tiso N, Marconi A, Pincelli C. CD271 Down-Regulation Promotes Melanoma Progression and Invasion in Three-Dimensional Models and in Zebrafish. J Invest Dermatol 2016; 136:2049-2058. [PMID: 27328305 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.05.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
CD271 is a neurotrophin receptor variably expressed in melanoma. Although contradictory data are reported on its role as a marker of tumor-initiating cells, little is known about its function in tumor progression. CD271 expression was higher in spheroids derived from freshly isolated cells of primary melanomas and in primary WM115 and WM793-B cell lines, and it decreased during progression to advanced stages in cells isolated from metastatic melanomas and in metastatic WM266-4 and 1205Lu cell lines. Moreover, CD271 was scarcely detected in the highly invasive spheroids (SKMEL28 and 1205Lu). CD271, originally expressed in the epidermis of skin reconstructs, disappeared when melanoma started to invade the dermis. SKMEL8 CD271(-) cells showed greater proliferation and invasiveness in vitro and were associated with a higher number of metastases in zebrafish compared with CD271(+) cells. CD271 silencing in WM115 induced a more aggressive phenotype in vitro and in vivo. On the contrary, CD271 overexpression in SKMEL28 cells reduced invasion in vitro, and CD271 overexpressing 1205Lu cells was associated with a lower percentage of metastases in zebrafish. A reduced cell-cell adhesion was also observed in the absence of CD271. Taken together, these results indicate that CD271 loss is critical for melanoma progression and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Saltari
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Biology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesca Truzzi
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Biology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marika Quadri
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Biology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Roberta Lotti
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Biology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Palazzo
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Biology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Grisendi
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Advanced Cancer Therapies, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Natascia Tiso
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Marconi
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Biology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Carlo Pincelli
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Biology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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21
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Zhang M, Biswas S, Qin X, Gong W, Deng W, Yu H. Does Notch play a tumor suppressor role across diverse squamous cell carcinomas? Cancer Med 2016; 5:2048-60. [PMID: 27228302 PMCID: PMC4884632 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 02/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of Notch pathway in tumorigenesis is highly variable. It can be tumor suppressive or pro‐oncogenic, typically depending on the cellular context. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a cancer of the squamous cell, which can occur in diverse human tissues. SCCs are one of the most frequent human malignancies for which the pathologic mechanisms remain elusive. Recent genomic analysis of diverse SCCs identified marked levels of mutations in NOTCH1, implicating Notch signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of SCCs. In this review, evidences highlighting NOTCH's role in different types of SCCs are summarized. Moreover, based on accumulating structural information of the NOTCH receptor, the functional consequences of NOTCH1 gene mutations identified from diverse SCCs are analyzed, emphasizing loss of function of Notch in these cancers. Finally, we discuss the convergent view on an intriguing possibility that Notch may function as tumor suppressor in SCCs across different tissues. These mechanistic insights into Notch signaling pathways will help to guide the research of SCCs and development of therapeutic strategies for these cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Medical College, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Sangita Biswas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Xin Qin
- Medical College, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Wenrong Gong
- Medical College, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Wenbing Deng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Hongjun Yu
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Lab, NewYork
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22
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Kucerova L, Demkova L, Skolekova S, Bohovic R, Matuskova M. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU11274 increased tumorigenicity and enriched for melanoma-initiating cells by bioenergetic modulation. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:308. [PMID: 27175734 PMCID: PMC4866285 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2341-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Small molecule inhibitor of tyrosine kinase activity, compound SU11274, was reported to have antitumorigenic and antimetastatic effect in melanoma. In this study, we evaluated, whether similar effect could be achieved also in other melanoma cells including highly tumorigenic and hypermetastatic variant. Methods The effect of SU11274 was evaluated in adherent and non-adherent melanosphere cultures of human melanoma cells M14, M4Beu, A375 and EGFP-A375/Rel3. Tumorigenicity of SU11274-treated cells was tested by limiting dilution assay in xenograft model in vivo. Results Here we show that SU11274 enriched for melanoma-initiating cells in vivo. SU11274 substantially decreased number of cells in adherent and spheroid cultures, but increased their tumorigenic potential as determined by higher frequency of tumor-initiating cells in vivo. SU11274 treatment was not associated with any significant alteration in the expression of stem cell markers, but the inhibitor stimulated higher level of pluripotent markers. SU11274-treated melanoma cells exhibited higher ATP content and lactate release indicative of increased glycolysis. Our data suggest that the SU11274 altered bioenergetic state of the cells. Indeed, pharmacological intervention with a glycolytic inhibitor dichloroacetate significantly reduced SU11274-promoted increase in melanoma-initiating cells and decreased their tumorigenicity. Conclusions Our data suggest critical role of glycolysis regulation in melanoma-initiating cells. Moreover, these data unravel substantial plasticity of melanoma cells and their adoptive mechanisms, which result in ambivalent response to therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Kucerova
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute of Biomedical Research Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava, 845 05, Slovakia.
| | - Lucia Demkova
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute of Biomedical Research Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava, 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Svetlana Skolekova
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute of Biomedical Research Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava, 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Roman Bohovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute of Biomedical Research Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava, 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Miroslava Matuskova
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute of Biomedical Research Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava, 845 05, Slovakia
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23
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Pérez-Garijo A, Steller H. Spreading the word: non-autonomous effects of apoptosis during development, regeneration and disease. Development 2016; 142:3253-62. [PMID: 26443630 DOI: 10.1242/dev.127878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis, in contrast to other forms of cell death such as necrosis, was originally regarded as a 'silent' mechanism of cell elimination designed to degrade the contents of doomed cells. However, during the past decade it has become clear that apoptotic cells can produce diverse signals that have a profound impact on neighboring cells and tissues. For example, apoptotic cells can release factors that influence the proliferation and survival of adjacent tissues. Apoptosis can also affect tissue movement and morphogenesis by modifying tissue tension in surrounding cells. As we review here, these findings reveal unexpected roles for apoptosis in tissue remodeling during development, as well as in regeneration and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainhoa Pérez-Garijo
- Strang Laboratory of Apoptosis and Cancer Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Hermann Steller
- Strang Laboratory of Apoptosis and Cancer Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
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24
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Revisiting tumor angiogenesis: vessel co-option, vessel remodeling, and cancer cell-derived vasculature formation. CHINESE JOURNAL OF CANCER 2016; 35:10. [PMID: 26747273 PMCID: PMC4706692 DOI: 10.1186/s40880-015-0070-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Tumor growth and metastasis depend on the establishment of tumor vasculature to provide oxygen, nutrients, and other essential factors. The well-known vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is crucial for
sprouting angiogenesis as well as recruitment of circulating progenitor endothelial cells to tumor vasculature, which has become therapeutic targets in clinical practice. However, the survival benefits gained from targeting VEGF signaling have been very limited, with the inevitable development of treatment resistance. In this article, we discuss the most recent findings and understanding on how solid tumors evade VEGF-targeted therapy, with a special focus on vessel co-option, vessel remodeling, and tumor cell-derived vasculature establishment. Vessel co-option may occur in tumors independently of sprouting angiogenesis, and sprouting angiogenesis is not always required for tumor growth. The differences between vessel-like structure and tubule-like structure formed by tumor cells are also introduced. The exploration of the underlying mechanisms of these alternative angiogenic approaches would not only widen our knowledge of tumor angiogenesis but also provide novel therapeutic targets for better controlling cancer growth and metastasis.
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Linder M, Tschernig T. Vasculogenic mimicry: Possible role of effector caspase-3, caspase-6 and caspase-7. Ann Anat 2015; 204:114-7. [PMID: 26704356 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2015.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) describes the process by which aggressive cancer cells form extracellular matrix-rich, vessel-like mesh works, which supply nutrients and oxygen. Furthermore, it offers a new route for tumor cell invasion and metastasis and thus a correspondingly poor prognosis and survival rate for affected patients. Effector caspases are well known for their apoptotic function, whereas a non-apoptotic function in tumor progression is highly disputed. Caspase-3, -6 and -7 are expressed in aggressive tumor cells in a non-mutated form, indicating an active function independent of apoptosis. This review summarizes the possible functions of the above-mentioned caspases in VM. We also discuss the possible involvement of caspases in potential mechanisms towards the formation of vessel-like structures. Furthermore, this review illustrates the importance of new studies in the ongoing investigation into the role of effector caspases in VM, invasion, and migration of aggressive tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Linder
- Center of Human and Molecular Biology, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Thomas Tschernig
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
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26
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He J, Zhang P, Li Q, Zhou D, Liu P. Expression of high mobility group box 1 protein predicts a poorer prognosis for patients with osteosarcoma. Oncol Lett 2015; 11:293-298. [PMID: 26870206 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein functions as an extracellular signaling molecule that is critical in inflammation and carcinogenesis. The HMGB1 protein is actively secreted by natural killer cells, monocytes and macrophages, and acts as an inflammatory cytokine. The present study enrolled 174 patients that underwent a tumorectomy between 2006 and 2013 in Shandong Provincial Hospital. The age of the patients ranged between 13 and 74 years, with a median age of 27 years. The tumors of the patients were staged according to the Union for International Cancer Control 2009 tumor-node-metastasis tumor staging system. Nuclear grading was based on the Fuhrman grading system. In the osteosarcoma tissue samples, HMGB1 expression was detected in 84 samples (48.3%) with a low immunoreactivity and in 90 samples (51.7%) with a high immunoreactivity. The association between clinicopathological characteristics and tumor cell HMGB1 expression (low vs. high) was summarized. The association between HMGB1 expression and tumor size, tumor stage and nuclear grade was statistically significant (P=0.034, 0.008 and 0.019, respectively). There was no significant association between HMGB1 expression and the age of the patients (P=0.335; Table I). The current study demonstrated that patients with a high HMGB1 expression (>50% cells expressing HMGB1) had poorer survival rates, and therefore a poorer prognosis, compared with patients with low HMGB1 immunostaining (10-50% cells expressing HMGB1). The results of the present study suggest that higher expression levels of HMGB1 are significantly associated with a poorer prognosis and may act as a marker for prognosis in osteosarcoma, particularly osteosarcoma recurrence. Additional studies investigating the biological features of HMGB1 may confirm the potential role of HMGB1 as a novel target for anticancer therapy in osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiliang He
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
| | - Qinghu Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
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Qiao L, Liang N, Zhang J, Xie J, Liu F, Xu D, Yu X, Tian Y. Advanced research on vasculogenic mimicry in cancer. J Cell Mol Med 2015; 19:315-26. [PMID: 25598425 PMCID: PMC4407602 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a brand-new tumour vascular paradigm independent of angiogenesis that describes the specific capacity of aggressive cancer cells to form vessel-like networks that provide adequate blood supply for tumour growth. A variety of molecule mechanisms and signal pathways participate in VM induction. Additionally, cancer stem cell and epithelial-mesenchymal transitions are also shown to be implicated in VM formation. As a unique perfusion way, VM is associated with tumour invasion, metastasis and poor cancer patient prognosis. Due to VM's important effects on tumour progression, more VM-related strategies are being utilized for anticancer treatment. Here, with regard to the above aspects, we make a review of advanced research on VM in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Qiao
- Department of Oncology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Pro, China
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Charles EM, Rehm M. Key regulators of apoptosis execution as biomarker candidates in melanoma. Mol Cell Oncol 2014; 1:e964037. [PMID: 27308353 PMCID: PMC4904965 DOI: 10.4161/23723548.2014.964037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to apoptosis is frequently detected in malignant melanoma, a skin cancer with rapidly growing incidence rates. Apoptosis resistance may develop with disease progression and may be associated with the poor responsiveness of metastatic melanoma to apoptosis-inducing treatments, such as genotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Likewise, the efficacy of novel treatment options (targeted kinase inhibitors and immunotherapeutics) that indirectly lead to cell death may depend on the susceptibility of melanoma to apoptosis. At its core, apoptosis execution is regulated by the interplay between a comparatively small number of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, and consequently numerous studies have investigated the potential of these players as biomarker candidates. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of biomarker discovery studies focusing on key regulators of apoptosis execution, critically review the findings of these studies, and outline strategies that address current limitations and challenges in exploiting regulators of apoptosis execution as prognostic or predictive biomarkers in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie M Charles
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics; Royal College of Physics; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Dublin 2, Ireland; Centre for Systems Medicine; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Markus Rehm
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics; Royal College of Physics; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Dublin 2, Ireland; Centre for Systems Medicine; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Dublin 2, Ireland
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Robbins RM, Gbur SC, Beitel GJ. Non-canonical roles for Yorkie and Drosophila Inhibitor of Apoptosis 1 in epithelial tube size control. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101609. [PMID: 25036253 PMCID: PMC4103782 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise control of epithelial tube size is critical for organ function, yet the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we examine the roles of cell growth and a highly conserved organ growth regulatory pathway in controlling the dimensions of the Drosophila tracheal (airway) system, a well-characterized system for investigating epithelial tube morphogenesis. We find that tracheal tube-size is regulated in unexpected ways by the transcription factor Yorkie (Yki, homolog of mammalian YAP and TAZ) and the Salvador/Warts/Hippo (SWH) kinase pathway. Yki activity typically promotes cell division, inhibits apoptosis, and can promote cell growth. However, reducing Yki activity in developing embryos increases rather than decreases the length of the major tracheal tubes, the dorsal trunks (DTs). Similarly, reduction of Hippo pathway activity, which antagonizes Yki, shortens tracheal DTs. yki mutations do not alter DT cell volume or cell number, indicating that Yki and the Hippo pathway regulate cell shape and apical surface area, but not volume. Yki does not appear to act through known tracheal pathways of apical extracellular matrix, septate junctions (SJs), basolateral or tubular polarity. Instead, the Hippo pathway and Yki appear to act downstream or in parallel to SJs because a double mutant combination of an upstream Hippo pathway activator, kibra, and the SJ component sinu have the short tracheal phenotype of a kibra mutant. We demonstrate that the critical target of Yki in tube size control is Drosophila Inhibitor of Apoptosis 1 (DIAP1), which in turn antagonizes the Drosophila effector caspase, Ice. Strikingly, there is no change in tracheal cell number in DIAP1 or Ice mutants, thus epithelial tube size regulation defines new non-apoptotic roles for Yki, DIAP1 and Ice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée M. Robbins
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Samantha C. Gbur
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Greg J. Beitel
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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30
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Donato AL, Huang Q, Liu X, Li F, Zimmerman MA, Li CY. Caspase 3 promotes surviving melanoma tumor cell growth after cytotoxic therapy. J Invest Dermatol 2014; 134:1686-1692. [PMID: 24434746 PMCID: PMC4020991 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2014.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2013] [Revised: 12/08/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma often relapses despite cytotoxic treatment, so the understanding of melanoma tumor repopulation is crucial to improving our current therapies. In this study, we aim to define the role of caspase 3 in melanoma tumor growth after cytotoxic therapy. We examined a paradigm-changing hypothesis that dying melanoma cells undergoing apoptosis during cytotoxic treatment activate paracrine signaling events that promote the growth of surviving tumor cells. We propose that caspase 3 plays a key role in the initiation of the release of signals from dying cells to stimulate melanoma tumor growth. We created a model for tumor cell repopulation in which a small number of luciferase-labeled, untreated melanoma cells are seeded onto a layer of a larger number of unlabeled, lethally treated melanoma cells. We found that dying melanoma cells significantly stimulate the growth of living melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we observed that caspase 3 gene knockdown attenuated the growth-stimulating effect of irradiated, dying cells on living melanoma cell growth. Finally, we showed that caspase 3-mediated dying melanoma cell stimulation of living cell growth involves secreted PGE2. Our study therefore suggests a counterintuitive strategy to inhibit caspase 3 for therapeutic gain in melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne L Donato
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Cancer Center, First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinjian Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mary A Zimmerman
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chuan-Yuan Li
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
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